The BURG

Although I am ecstatic about having the summer to relax and go back to the states to see my family and friends, I am a little sad because - Today was my LAST DAY at “The Burg” or formally known as the Instituto de Educación Secundario el Burgo de las Rozas de Madrid or I.E.S. el Burgo de las Rozas for short - and now you know why I call it “The Burg”. 

Bitter Sweet

About a year ago, I received my letter to be an Assistant Teacher (Auxiliar) at a high school in Madrid; I was super excited to be in a school for more than 5 hours a week and to have more real classroom experience. However, I was a bit nervous, because quite frankly, other than speaking the language, I knew nothing about English. I have been teaching and preparing lesson plans on teaching English speakers how to speak Spanish, not vice-versa.  

The BURG

Contrary to popular belief, there are actually RULES to this crazy language that I was given the gift of speaking by my parents. It is also very important to note that not only did I not know these rules, but I did not know how these rules differed from British English either. I think I corrected at least five students and they were right - in Proper English.

I'd rather continue to learn Spanish under the strict teaching of Miguel and Sagrario!!!!

Furthermore, this year I was confused as the daughter of one of my co-workers Miguel, and on occasion we spoke with British Accents (his being far superior to mine, as they teach only British English in Spanish schools) even though I didn’t know much about “Proper English” other than imitating it.

Yeah, I see the resemblance... Flamenco dancing Spanish father who speaks with a British accent in English...

As the school year comes to an end, I am slowly accepting the fact that I really do love teaching *cough Miguel* and that even though it is an INSANE amount of hard work to be a Good teacher, I might just love it enough to tackle this underappreciated extremely fulfilling job and that I will be strong enough to say “those who Really can - Teach”. 

Rosa and Sagrario ready to tackle this noble task!!

I can also say that the past six years volunteer teaching for ESL programs, creating and running after school Spanish programs, working summer camps, and tutoring only SLIGHTLY prepared me for what I was getting into. My four week rotating schedule was absolutely insane, but I wouldn’t change it for the world. It allowed me to see the Spanish middle/high school system (they are together) as a whole picture rather than just having gotten to see how the Junior and Senior classes worked.

My beautiful and complex schedule. Rebecca made me snowflakes to make it better  : P

Seeing over 500 students a month taught me so much! I learned improv teaching, classroom management for a multitude of different classroom environments, lesson planning, grading techniques, found a way to bring my quirkiness to the classroom through fun skits and hands on activities for students of every level, and the list goes on and on. I honestly have to wonder if I was the teacher or they were.

I loved all my students, all 537 of them!!!

Not only have I learned from my students, but I have met some of the most amazing professors and learned more than I could have dreamed about the Spanish education system, discovered the amazing equation that converts American grades into Spanish and other 10 point scale system grades (it is not as simple as putting a comma between the percentage out of 100%!!!), and had a wonderful time watching students learn and grow.

And that is the greatest chart ever made!!!! Only because no one has ever made it before. lol

My co-workers, Blanca (also the principal), Concha, Eduardo, Lola, Luisa, Miguel, Rosa and Sagrario, have all been so much fun to work with and have each taught me something different about teaching. I could not have been luckier and I truly hope that I get to return to “The Burg” this coming year (I still haven’t heard for sure where I will be working, just that it will be SOMEWHERE in Madrid). 

 

Eduardo, Me, Concha, Rosa, Lola, Blanca, Miguel and Sagrario (Luisa not pictured)

If I don’t get to come back to “The Burg”, I will truly miss you all, I love you and this has been a wonderful year and a fantastic experience!