| Spain is one of the most exciting countries to live in | | | | them a sense of understanding the rules of the |
| with a rich cultural blend of Romans, Romans, and | | | | language, but rules demotivate them as well. Students |
| Moors creating a way of life the envy of most of | | | | become frustrated when they can't remember |
| Europe. It is no accident that more than 5 million | | | | something. |
| foreigners choose to move to Spain. Teaching English | | | | Instead it is better to put aside the books and marker |
| in Spain is also a lot of fun, and can be a great way to | | | | pens, and simply sit with the student over a coffee |
| make new friends whilst being paid to teach. | | | | and talk. I'm constantly amazed at how quickly my |
| Teaching English isn't easy, nor does it earn much | | | | students graduate from simple phrases to complex |
| money, let's be clear on that before you get excited | | | | sentences. Of course the students aren't stupid, they |
| about living la vida espanol, the Spanish life, and earning | | | | simply need an opportunity to use the English they |
| a good income just from speaking your native | | | | know. |
| language. Teaching requires a commitment to your | | | | The way we learn and use language isn't logical, |
| students, and in fairness to them you should at least | | | | learning by rote, or choosing a conversation topic |
| have some basic qualification such as a CELTA or | | | | where the student learns several variations of the |
| TEFL certificate. | | | | same phrase doesn't instill an ability to converse. It |
| The majority of Spaniards under the age of 35 learned | | | | does help them to pass written examinations, but |
| English throughout their school years, and if you ask | | | | communicating in English is a far better outcome than |
| them to read a passage they can probably | | | | being able to recite verb conjugations. |
| understand most common English. Their major | | | | If you teach English, or if you plan to teach English to |
| frustration is that most Spaniards have never | | | | Spaniards in Spain, consider offering practical lessons |
| practiced speaking English, so they lack confidence, | | | | instead of structured lessons, and each time you meet |
| and when they do speak they mispronounce words. | | | | a student ask them about their week, talk to them |
| The system of learning in Spain is by rote, students | | | | about their job or favourite sport, don't be afraid to |
| are expected to be able to recite verb tables and the | | | | mention politics or religion, remember that when we |
| average student will probably know more language | | | | communicate with friends or business colleagues we |
| terminology than you. For some students this gives | | | | rarely stick to greetings and service related topics. |