Experience as a Spanish teacher<

Experience as a Spanish teacher

I would like to write something about my experience as a Spanish teacher for foreigners. To start with, I want to say that until relatively recently I had not even considered giving Spanish clases.

I finished my degree in Hispanic Philology with the aim of entering the world of translation and I am sure that now you will all ask why I didn´t do a career in translation, which seems like the most obvious option.

Well, I graduated in Philology because it seemed like a career which I could contribute a lot more in terms of knowledge and culture, which seemed to be more enriching in all aspects. And it is true that I don´t regret having chosen it. I started to give Spanish clases with the idea that it would only be temporary, just an experience, because I had never thought that I would take it any further. But, gradually I realised how wrong I was….

I now have a totally different perspective from the beginning. I think that it is a very rewarding and enjoyable job. All the students I have taught have been marvellous and I have been delighted to be able to teach them Spanish. At the beginning they observed me with a lot of curiosity, impatient to know how the clases were going to be taught. After a few days I already noticed how they came to accept and assimilate my form of teaching and it seems that they do become fond of you. You can see everything in their faces, when they are angry, distracted, happy or when they do not understand anything. What I want to say is that a teacher needs to always show interest in their pupils, see their reactions and show them concern.

I think that everything should be done so that students feel comfortable in the clases; I learnt their names straight away, made sure that no one had any doubts, and I did not make those who were most shy go up to the whiteboard if it was going to fill them with fear. I observed the class and for me what was most important was that everyone felt happy. The students see this and they value it, and so their interest for learning increases, because they are in a place where everyone can participate without pressure.

I was teaching students, who were between 14 and 20 years old. Since I was 24 years old, it could be that this was the reason as to why it was more complicated. I gave intensive clases for one or two weeks, in which young people wanted to learn but also have fun, therefore the classes were entertaining in character.

I have been doing lots of games in order to learn the vocabulary and the grammar. Also, slides and videos on the internet have helped me with the cultural aspects of the classes. This immediately caught their attention and meant that the clases were more enjoyable and bearable. The conversation clases were very interesting, always focusing on current topics and trying to be appealing. It is incredible how much more interested they are when they are talking about subjects that they are really interested in. I always try to be aware of the most famous singers worldwide (depending on the age of my students, I try to talk about them) and from there I developed a debate about fame and physique. Amongst other topics, like sport for example football and talking about the latest signings, their favourite sports and debates about money and healthy living etc.

I think that it´s important that the students see that we as teachers are interested in listening to their opinions. If the subjects are somewhat polemical, then very often students will speak out to defend their own opinion and then suddenly they are no longer afraid or embarressed to speak.

So much so, that one of the tutors who came to observe the class was impressed by how much the students were speaking to each other, because in her class the students hardly ever spoke…

I think that it´s important to get to know the students, understand them, be friendly and interested in their welfare and needs. This way, they will come back every day smiling, eager to learn and interested in the classes.