I decided to volunteer with M.F.A as I've always wanted to move to Madrid, and since they deal exclusively with families from the Comunidad de Madrid it caught my eye. Initially I wasn't looking to volunteer, I was looking for work in Madrid when I found the M.F.A website, and thought that volunteering with them would be a great way for me to get a foot in the door, as well as some work experience. I've always wanted to live in Madrid and be an English teacher, so this was killing two birds with one stone!
Alumni Spotlight: Sean Lawless
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Sean Lawless is 19, from London, UK, and apart from being an English Language Assistant in Madrid, he is also looking for a job there. He has an obsession with Madrid and Spain in general, whether it's Spanish food, music, film, or just wandering through the streets of Madrid, if it's Spanish related, he's there!
Why did you decide to volunteer abroad with MyFamilyAbroad in Spain?
Describe your day to day activities as a volunteer.
I live with a Spanish family and teach their two kids, aged 9 and 10, who both go to a bilingual school, where they are taught English, Science and Art in English. When they come back from school, I help them with their homework and we do some pre-prepared activities and games which I prepare in the mornings whilst they are at school. The idea is for them to be speaking English as much as possible, so even after my "scheduled time" with them is over, I try to incorporate as much English as possible into everything. My "Spanish mum" also speaks quite good English, so we tend to speak in Spanglish, and my "Spanish dad" doesn't know a word of English, so we stick to Spanish. Even though I technically have the weekends free to do what I want, we tend to do things as a "family", such as visit other cities (we spent the October bank holiday weekend in Marbella), go for something to eat, and go to the cinema, for example.
What made this experience unique and special?
The families M.F.A work with are carefully chosen, and they couldn't be any nicer if they tried. They bend over backwards to make you feel at home, and so far I've loved every minute of being here in Madrid. I've even been asked by my Spanish family to stay for longer; I was initially on a two month placement, but that has since been extended by the family, so who knows when I'm leaving!
How has this experience impacted your future?
Since I want to be an English teacher in Madrid after going to university here, this has been invaluable in seeing how "real" Spanish people live, as well as vital work experience. I know I've got friends for life here with my Spanish family, and it will be very hard when I do eventually leave!