My TEFL Experience

Where can I start?

From the first moment I decided to apply for this volunteer teaching position I understood I made the right choice !

I was a bit nervous the first day but Alyx (co-ordinator) and Paul (Director) introduced to me and the other new teachers how the school works. I liked the fact Paul provided the lesson plans and materials so in advanced for the rest of the week and literally was always available to help us and give suggestions .

Spanish students were friendly and polite and I had a lot of fun working with them.

I cannot forget Kevin (the Hospitality Manager) !! He was really helpful when I arrived and ready to give me information about the flat, nearby shops and of course Valencia!

These people do an amazing job, if you are a new teacher and you need to start with the right step go !!!!!

Before coming to Valencia I had very little experience teaching English, so I was a bit apprehensive. Once I arrived at the Academy Alyx and Paul were very helpful as well as friendly and they made you feel welcomed. If you had any questions about your lesson plans, they would give you tips on how to approach it differently and they were around all the time in the school which was helpful. The lesson plans which were provided to you by Alyx and Paul in advance so you had sufficient time to plan them, they were easy to follow and I found them to be very detailed and thorough. Furthermore, the classes were very relaxed and the Spanish students were keen to learn English. My accommodation was great as I got to experience a new flat, which they only recently got. The location was ideal as it was walking distance to the school, as well as having good transport connections, also the flat was close to lots of supermarkets and not too far to the city centre. The teachers I lived with were friendly and helpful and made my stay very enjoyable. I would high recommend this experience as I have learnt so much within my three weeks of teaching, and I feel ready to continue teaching English.

I decided to try this academy in Valencia as I have 2 brothers teaching in Asia and I decided I wanted to try my hand at teaching English as a foreign language.
With no previous teaching experience I was pretty nervous but after talking with Alyx and observing a class on the Monday, I felt positive ahead of teaching my first ever class. I've got to say, it was a brilliant experience. I got valuable feedback from Paul on how to improve my teaching. One week is simply not long enough though. I felt I just started to get into it before having to head home :( but I'll definitely be back and for much longer next time!
As for Valencia, it's a great city which is easy to navigate around. I really rate this programme and you're definitely in safe hands with Alyx and Paul.

This was my first experience of teaching English so I was really nervous beforehand but I loved it. The students are really friendly (one offered to let me stay in her apartment next time I'm in Valencia) which really helped. That is a lot to do with the set up that MTE have. Both Paul and Alyx were very supportive and I got useful feedback on my teaching.

The teaching materials were easy to use so I could just jump right in. Valencia is also just a really cool city to wonder about in. I would definitely recommend it in future.

If you're thinking about getting into TEFL, don't hesitate to book a week or two with Alyx and Paul.

Before the programme I was umming and aring about whether i'd have the confidence to manage a classroom and teach as a fulltime job. The academy provides the perfect environment for you to experience the day to day problems of an EFL teacher in a more relaxed environment, great for helping to build up confidence and for teaching newbies like me!

Despite being given lesson plans, Alyx and Paul are more than happy for you to alter these and adapt them to your own personal style if you wish, again the perfect balance for newbie teachers. The lesson plans are in depth and all necessary materials are provided, making you feel in control and prepared for every lesson - but if things do go wrong they're always on hand to help you out!

The academy itself is very modern, inviting and fresh, with a very professional feel. You will enjoy working!

The students at the academy are very appreciative and respectful towards you and everyone is eager to learn both English and about you! This makes teaching them even more enjoyable as there is a chance to really build a rapport and engage with them.

Academy aside, the apartment provided by Alyx and Paul is of a very high standard. Located on a central street within Valencia with good transport links including Metro and Bus, you are never far away from something to do. The rooms are spacious and the bathroom and kitchen are also well equipped for all your needs.

Valencia itself is an amazing city with a good mixture of old and new buildings, the old town is perfect for a lazy sunday morning walk or Colon is perfect if you're partial to a bit of shopping! The people are really friendly and most can speak a little English.

This is one of the best experiences I've ever had, I would recommend it to anyone and even want to come back myself!