My experience at IES Nieves López Pastor has been one of the most teachable and fun experiences. This was my first time being an English language assistant, so I had no expectations of my experience before I got here but I was very pleasantly surprised and I very much enjoyed my time!
During my months in Villanueva, I was able to be an English assistant across all the years, teaching in different classrooms with different kinds of students. I arrived being welcomed by my coordinator Rocío, who helped me with things that I needed during school hours, about the school and even gave me advice about the town and was able to show me around the neighboring towns, especially at the beginning of my experience. It was very easy to feel at ease over many concerns or questions I had because of Rocío, and I was embraced by everyone alike. I was also introduced to the English department, the rest of the languages department and the rest of the staff, including teachers of every class that I’d be working with. They were all welcoming and introduced me to their class and subject, all with the intention that I introduce English vocabulary in the lessons and have many conversations in English with the students. They allowed me to plan my own lessons, giving me the freedom to teach each of their topics in fun ways as well as being mindful of their level.
The school is small but it’s such that you get to know the students and teachers very well. The students are full of energy and brought me a lot of laughter at times. What struck me was their curiosity to learn English and communicate with me at break times and even during the lesson about what England was like, the culture in the UK and how to properly pronounce certain words. The seasonal events that I participated in further increased their love for the language which was nice to see. I took part in organising and participating in Halloween, Christmas and St Valentine’s Day events which were full of fun games and activities that allowed the students to practice their English language skills outside of the classroom and put it towards fun themes. This grew their confidence in English and improved their engagement skills. You’ll find that you will get attached to both the students and the teachers very quickly!
Villanueva del Arzobispo is also a very small town, but you can tell that it is a close-knit community, and the sense of companionship is strong. There is always someone ready to help at any moment which for me was very comforting. It is an easy town to navigate and has stores and areas which cater to whatever you need. I also noticed how rich the culture and history of this town is. I was also able to see and experience that through yearly events that the school puts on such as the Carnival and Día de Andalucía events which were some of my highlights that really showcased Andalucian culture and identity.
