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The First Step

Stepping foot into the heart of Madrid

Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever.
— Mahatma Ghandi

Often times, the firsts are the hardest part. It was a week before the classes started when I moved to Madrid. At the airport, I was welcomed with open arms and a friendly smile by my host couple. They live in a chalet 30 minutes away from the center. They provided me with a big room that has a private bathroom along with new set of toiletries and towels. They toured me around the city, taught me how to get around by taking the metro and how to go back and forth from school to home. They also got me a new sim card with a data plan. I could say I just got so lucky and that’s what I hear from them too everyday.

First Day of Class

I went out early to make sure that whatever happens I wouldn’t be late. And as it happened I was the first among all auxiliares who came in. Initially I was hesitant if I had to wait for someone or what not. And since it was cold outside, I decided to get in anyway. It was a mixed emotion of excitement and nervousness.

The Fifth Step

Living Life with a New Year’s Resolution

We cannot always build the future of our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.
— Franklin D. Roosevelt

New Year, New Year’s resolution, New routine. I decided to dedicate more effort on improving my Spanish. I took an exam at the Escuela Oficial de Idiomas (EOI) and got me to start B1 level. Private classes are coming to the point that I couldn’t accommodate them all anymore. Yes this kind of routine is tiring and at the same time very fulfilling for me. Specially when I hear commendations from parents and teachers. I am and will always be grateful of this opportunity that Spain had given me. To all future auxiliares, grab the opportunity and do your best, maximize your time and don’t forget to enjoy to the fullest!

The Fourth Step

Enjoying the festivity and the rest of the year

Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says ‘I’ll try again tomorrow.’
— Mary Anne Radmacher

Come December, the best month for me! It was when my aunt came to visit me on my birthday. We made a small trip to Portugal. She spent exactly a week here. It’s a good feeling to have a visitor who’s excited all the time. Although I know that I’m not the best tour guide, yet we have enjoyed a lot. We bonded the weeks before the Christmas holiday started. I didn’t go home and instead, opted to travel. It was an extravagant travel for me as it was my first time to be in 3 countries in one trip, namely Austria, Czech Republic and Germany.

I’m actually used to traveling as it’s something that I enjoy a lot. I like seeing different sides of the world, hearing different languages, experiencing different cuisines and cultures. And this one time is just…wow! I was amazed of how different the architecture is compared to a third world country like the Philippines. It seems like every corner is so picturesque. And as it was too cold, the people tend to become a little cold too, though still respectful. I can’t say that one is better than another.

As in the Philippines, we have the best nature and the people there are always willing to help. It’s just a matter of preferences and what you appreciate more. There were some days that I felt home sick since, you know, it was holiday and people were with their family and eating the best food prepared there is. Meanwhile me and my friend were struggling to find a restaurant that was open at Christmas eve and New Year’s eve. Well, I couldn’t complain. Having been able to do a Euro travel was a long time dream of mine. It was this month as well that I moved to my new place after living with my host couple. I am sharing the flat with 2 Spanish speakers to improve my Spanish. I also started to search for private classes on the side. It wasn’t difficult as I thought it would have.

The Third Step

Balancing personal life and work

Remember that happiness is a way of travel, not a destination.
— Roy M. Goodman

I started to book flights for the coming of my aunt from Dubai and my December holiday trips. In school this time I pretty much know the routines and how to work with the teachers. I’m more of the one who’s able to engage the students in a conversation as I can pull out small groups and sometimes even one by one, something that I enjoy the most and find myself most productive. I can also check the students’ writings which allows me to identify the area where I need to focus on for each of them.

Being assigned to the higher grade levels, the teachers and I basically prepare them for the PET and KET exam. Handling the correction of the speaking part is an easier task for me to do than discussing the grammar rules behind it. Although there are times when I do have to discuss some topics or respond to the doubts of the students, which I find to be very helpful because I can work on my introvert attitude as well.

I enjoy all the subjects that I was assigned to, especially the Natural Science subject since it makes me a language assistant with background expertise. I always like whatever topics we discuss from knowing how the world works in general to the very biological make up of organisms. When it comes to the Arts subject, I can easily see the creativity of the kids, and I take advantage of that by engaging them in small conversations. As for my History subject, all I can say is that I’m learning a lot as well as in my English subject of course, where I’m most needed in.

The Second Step

Going through the gates of my school

Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.
— Albert Einstein

I met the English coordinator who I was talking to prior via email. He is as nice as he was online. He introduced me to all teachers that we saw that morning and as expected I didn’t remember all their names even as hard as I tried. Well at least I was able to remember the names of the teachers that I got assigned to work with. A few minutes later, my co-auxiliaries came. They were all Americans who came from the same university except for one who is an Irish guy auxiliar. I felt a little intimidated by them but I had to trust myself.

School Schedule

I was given the best schedule with my requested Monday rest day aside from the weekends off. I started with a power point presentation talking a little bit of my country. I attached some pictures and did a short introduction about myself. Afterwards, the students introduced themselves. They had tons of questions that consumed the whole period. So pretty much the first week was all about introduction and observation and me trying to figure out exactly how to collaborate in class.

Mainly, I’m with the 6th graders but I have 5th and 4th graders too. I was surprised of the level of English of the children in school given the fact that most Spanish children have little exposure to the English language. I like how each teachers have their own approach and style of teaching. Starting with the 4th grader teacher, he is more of a jolly person and possesses a motivating attitude towards the students. The 5th grader teacher is the one who I like the most as he’s a little bit of everything -enthusiastic, motivating, knows all his students strengths and weaknesses, and strict when he needs to. In addition, I can be more collaborative with him because he gives me tasks, proper instructions, and all the materials that I would ever need. Now onto the 6th grader teacher who I’m with most of the time. In the beginning I was trying to figure out of how to best fit in her class because I couldn’t understand how she tends to be relentless when it comes to classroom discipline. But as time goes by I started to admire her as to whatever her teaching style is, which seems definitely effective. She has this sense of teaching structure that inspires students to push a little more.

Then comes November when people just celebrated Halloween. There was a little party and decorations were set up around the campus. It’s funny how kids are sometimes more creative than me. I also received my first pay.