Spanish teacher in Ireland: learning a second language<

Spanish teacher in Ireland: learning a second language

My name is María del Carmen, a native Spaniard, resident in Ireland for approximately a year.

I decided to do the Spanish teaching course ELE in order to secure my professional trajectory focused on teaching the Spanish language. As you could imagine I have felt and experienced the difficulty of learning a new language. Given my initial level of English my chances of getting involved with the Irish working world were limited. At the beginning I went to English academies in order to progress with the language, although the classes were large and heterogeneous and even though I managed to advance, I did not do it at the speed that I needed and so I started to have private English classes with a native teacher and I could see the benefit of this way of learning.

Already I was thinking about the possibilities of teaching Spanish classes to such an extent that almost by chance the Polish hairdresser of my husband asked him if he knew a Spanish teacher and he said that I could give him classes, and so there came my chance. I started to give him classes and I started to realise that I was enjoying what I was doing, also I saw how he progressed and was enjoying his classes and so I decided to look for new students and I published adverts locally.

Soon I was overflowing with requests and I needed to know whether I was doing a good job and using the adequate means and methods. In short I needed to be more professional and therefore I decided to do the course.

Doing the course helped me to improve my concepts, establish a guideline and analyse adequately the materials that support me; but above all, it gave me assurance when teaching my classes and furthermore a degree that endorses my knowledge.