Tess´ time as an auxiliar at Salvador Allende C.P

It´s now April and I´ve come so far!

The biggest change that I notice when thinking about how I began this experience, and how I am feeling now, is my sense of comfort and confidence in what I do here at the school. I came to be an assistant teacher, and I now actually feel like I am assisting to teach these children, helping them to learn not only the English language and science concepts, but about me, Australian culture, and our strange accents!

I have learnt a lot in my time here so far, and I expect this to continue all the way up until the last day. I am learning how to communicate ideas to kids, of all levels of English, and of all different learning capabilities. I am learning how to manage the classroom in a positive way, with all sorts of personalities, trying all sorts of tactics. I am learning about people, about different types of kids, different types of teachers, and about the journey of education for the human being and how much we as teachers and role models really impact a childs life. I am learning how to construct worksheets, and cater them to the right level of ability. I am learning how to make presentations to convey ideas and information to the students in a straight-forward, entertaining and visually pleasing way. I am learning how to teach concepts orally to a whole class and keep the students participating and active in the questions and answers. I am learning many things, but one of the most valuable things I have learnt is how to cleverly structure and simplify ideas and language to communicate to others in a way they can relate to. This is a skill I will take with me into all aspects of my life in the future.

I have enjoyed working with the different teachers, and have been fascinated at observing each of their different styles. Each Monday we have a team meeting with all of us to discuss the coming week´s work, and this I really enjoy as it makes me feel organised and confident that the teachers are able to get from me the help they need. Some ask me to stand before the class and teach and explain the concepts of the topic, while some ask me to read and explain tasks from the English textbook. Other teachers ask me to take small groups of kids and work on reviewing the topic through discussion, while others ask for my input in planning big art projects on the topic for the class. The work I do in each class is different, and my relationship with the students and the teacher varies because of this. I am enjoying very much the close relationships that I am developing with some of the students, as at this stage in my work experience at the school I can see each child as an individual personality, and they see me the same. They give me a lot of love, which is nice when your home is all the way on the other side of the world!

Overall, I am proud of the work that I am doing at the school, and of all the things I am learning, about teaching and about myself. I feel like I am part of a team here at the school, where my opinions and efforts are valued and appreciated. As for the practical side of things, the whole process has been problem-free. The school are very flexible, accomodating, and friendly to me, with the expectations of me and my work always made very clear. I expect to spend the remaining 2 months here continuing to learn about teaching and communicating, and enjoying my abundant free time living the Spanish life in a beautiful part of  the world here in Malaga.