Andy is a Conversation Assistant in Escola Sagrada Família, in Lleida. He arrived in December and has since been enjoying his time here. So have the students and teachers at the school, and his two host families. Everyone’s English has improved!

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Hello my name is Andy. I am a conversation assistant in Sagrada Familia School, Lleida. I studied Philosophy at university, and after decided that I wanted to travel to another country to work. Through this I began a TEFL course, and at the beginning of November I applied to be a conversation assistant with CAPS and Home to Home. Three weeks later I was flying out to Spain.

I teach in classes from first of primary to second BATX, so I am getting the most out of my experience. My first week was spent observing classes, and after that I began to get more responsibility in them. Both of my tutors for primary and secondary are so helpful when it comes to lessons, and they made me feel very comfortable in the classroom environment.

With the younger primary classes, I play games to help improve their vocabulary, and practice speaking with them. They are always very keen to ask me lots of questions, which can only be a good thing, as they are encouraged to speak English. With the older primary classes, we divide the class into two groups, and I take one half to do an activity and the next week we switch the groups around.

In ESO classes and BATX things are very different, but I enjoy it all the same. My tutor Ana gives me many opportunities to not only help the students practice speaking, but also take control of classes on a weekly basis, where I take the class through different activities and work with them like their own teacher. I also get the opportunity to try out ideas for lessons with Ana in the class which I really enjoy, especially when I know that the students enjoy it.

In my time here in Lleida I am living with two families. The first family I was living with until the end of March. They are some of the nicest people I have ever met, and were so welcoming to me when I first arrived. The parents didn´t speak English but there was no awkwardness between us at all. They are all so nice. In the family there is a son who is roughly the same age as me which was good, as we have similar interests. The two daughters have an excellent level of English, and we were always laughing and joking every day. I felt like part of the family, even with the Gran who also lived in the house. It has been an incredible experience living with them and I was sad to leave. The new family I’m living with has given me a different but equally incredible experience. Rather than living in the city I’m staying in a village 5 minutes from the city. I’m enjoying having a different life.

So far my experience here has been incredible and literally don’t have a bad word to say about it. Some weeks ago, I was visited by Raquel, one of the girls from Home to Home, and Júlia from FECC to see how I was getting on. I thought was a good thing, as it shows both of them are doing their jobs correctly. I am having an amazing time here in Spain and don’t plan on leaving the country.