Program Reviews

I wasn't entirely sure of what to expect when I enrolled in the Master's in Teaching Program at Instituto Franklin. The program seemed almost too good to be true, with its location in the idyllic small city of Alcala de Henares, the low cost of tuition, and a very practical course of study that combined weekly classes with a practicum as a teaching assistant at a local bilingual school.
However, Instituto Franklin not only delivered upon what it promised, but it guided me forward as I was able to build from the program's offerings and use the skills I worked on in the classroom to become more adept as a teacher and better equipped with the tools to set my career in motion. Each course is taught by a professor with a unique perspective and background in a particular area of education, and they were all very hands-on, candid, and active in mentoring us through the process of completing the program. Even for the most intimidating aspects of higher education, such as preparing thesis research or final projects, we were provided a great deal of support from the faculty and also permitted to explore a wide range of topics in accordance with our particular interests. I was able to live and teach in Alcala de Henares throughout my time at Instituto Franklin, and it is a wonderful, energetic place full of historic landmarks, great restaurants, beautiful parks, and I always felt safe at any hour walking through the streets of town. For anyone wanting to spend time abroad (especially in Spain!) while embarking upon a career in teaching, I highly recommend Instituto Franklin.

I am studying to be a language teacher in the United States, so this experience was very valuable to me. I still need a teaching degree from here to teach here but the degree I earned while in Spain was an invaluable addition to my resume. The classroom experience was also great. There is a difference between American and Spanish schools but I gained experience teaching and leading children. It was also interesting to see the difference in between teaching English and Spanish. I actually learned a lot about English! I loved using my Spanish to communicate and even had the time to make many trips to the local book store. Alcala is also a beautiful city with a lot to see and do! Madrid isn't too far either and the museums are amazing! I highly recommend this program as it can add to any resume and is an experience you won't always be able to have!

For me, the teach and learn program, and specifically the bilingual and multicultural education master, was an overall great experience. The year is certainly very intense and requires balancing many different things (teaching full time in a new city while studying and working with the masters program), but I would say it’s well worth it all in the end. I appreciate having been able to participate, and I learned and lot and had fun doing it. :)
To speak to more specific points, I found it useful to be able to have a well rounded approach to bilingual education as this is where my future work seems to be oriented now, but I would imagine that for most people, even those not necessarily interested in language or teaching, the program of study could be approached in a way that’s not overwhelmingly deep or outside of the common person’s interest. Personally, I found that the classes sparked an even greater interest in the field of language and will probably serve as the starting off point to a deeper dive into the field, but again, I imagine anyone could find interest and useful material in this masters program. It’s well balanced and IMPORTANTLY, the professors and faculty were there to answer questions and provide support at all steps along the way.

Extremely helpful and supportive staff, will answer any and all of your questions. The pay is great relative to the full time teachers in the community based on our weekly schedule, and it gives you a lot of time to plan other activities like intercambios, private lessons and trips to different cities and countries. It is a busy year but you will be provided be the time and support you need as long as you ask for it. If you are confused about something regarding the portfolio or thesis, ask about it. Proactivity is a must in order to optimize efficiency and enjoyment. The process of writing your thesis can be stressful so be sure to initiate communication between your thesis advisor early and often. If not, you may feel behind and unsupported. But remember it is your assignment, not your advisor’s, they can only help once you have put in the effort.

Hi! I completed the Masters in Bilingual and Multicultural Education program in 2014, and it was undoubtedly THE most worthwhile and beneficial decision that I have made in my professional life. While the content was strong and instructors were knowledgeable during my time, the real benefits came after returning to the US; after some wrangling, I was able to get the degree fully recognized as equivalent to a US-accredited MA, and (after even more wrangling!) I was able to use the degree to obtain a Level I teaching certification in my home state. I'd be more than happy to help guide anyone through this process - just ask Iulia for my contact information! :)

I'm no longer teaching, but simply holding a US-recognized master's degree and having demonstrable language skills has given me a serious leg up in all walks of my professional life, and has brought me some really unique opportunities in the nearly five years since completing the program. You will absolutely get out of this program what you put into it, and it will be worth your time, effort, and dedication!

This Masters program was a huge let down for many people. In the end, many concluded that the only true purpose it served was providing legal authorization to live in Spain if you're looking for a way to do that.
The Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language Masters can be improved by actually doing what the name implies--very few of us felt at the end like the Masters did a good job of teaching you how to teach the language (teachers with previous years of experience teaching Spanish and new teachers alike concluded this). We took deep, theoretical classes about the structure of the Spanish language but in terms of actual pedagogy, very little was applicable to the teaching job on the ground--maybe 20-30% of the coursework was.
Also, the thesis adviser told us all he would provide feedback on our theses (which had to be a curriculum design) and just never did! All we got was a number grade. We emailed several times and he just didn't respond. Very unfortunate since that feedback could have been used in our teaching jobs. I would not tell anyone to go out of their way to go to Spain for this program. Only worth it if you're needing a way to stay in Spain legally. And this is to say nothing of the hassle that is dealing with housing there. If you do it, make sure to set up your own job teaching English and pay your tuition yourself--the university takes a big cut if you go through them.

I participated in the Teach & Learn program at Universidad de Alcala's Instituto Franklin during the 2017-18 academic year. Since graduation, I have come to regard the experience as one of the most important pillars of my personal and professional trajectory.

This program is ideal for new or experienced teachers and anyone who wants to work within the educational field. I chose to pursue a Master of International Education, but there are a total of six different degrees that match the skills and interests of prospective applicants. Plus the transferrable skills gained during the program will be valuable to anyone, regardless of their career path.

Being able to work in an ESL classroom alongside experienced teachers was the most significant aspect of the program for me. This practical experience, coupled with the theoretical and academic exploration of education in my Master's classes, has significantly enhanced my skills as a teacher, but also in the areas of public speaking, workplace etiquette, professional networking, academic writing, and others.

The three different funding options allow for a great deal of flexibility when it comes to financing your degree. A similarly positioned Master's program in the United States would cost at least $35-40 thousand dollars, but since I chose to teach in a local school as part of my degree practicum, I never received a tuition bill as my labor helped offset the cost of tuition.

This program also offers a high degree of work-life balance. Between my commitments as an ESL teacher and my coursework at Instituto Franklin, I estimate that my time "on the clock" did not exceed 40 hours per week (except when wrapping up my thesis project in the final weeks). Pursuing a Master's degree while also working part-time originally seemed daunting, but I found that with enough foresight and time management I was able to juggle many competing priorities with a healthy level of stress. I appreciate this very much since I was really able to take advantage of living in a foreign country and didn't feel so overwhelmed from working all the time.

Lastly, the administrators and staff that operate the Teach & Learn program are very helpful, always friendly, and genuinely seem to care about their students' success and wellbeing. For example, many of my professors have offered career advice and expressed their willingness to serve as a reference for their students. I hope to always stay connected to the Instituto Franklin staff, and I will consider them to be lifelong friends and mentors. I also made great friends with my fellow students and still keep in touch with them on a regular basis even though several of us are thousands of miles away from each other.

In conclusion, the Teach & Learn program at Instituto Franklin is a unique opportunity that many people only wish they had the opportunity to pursue. I would highly recommend the experience to anyone!

I graduate from U of Alcalá's Instituto Franklin seven years ago now, and my experience there is still reaping benefits. For those who are looking to expand your academic, social, and global experiences, you really can't do better than Instituto Franklin. The faculty and staff were incredibly supportive and knowledgable. I taught in with great teachers in an excellent concertado in downtown Madrid -- teachers who tutored me well in the field of education and launched me on a new professional path (I'm a teacher now thanks to this program). The colleagues I met in classes were excellent: fun, engaged, and helpful. And the opportunity to travel while in Madrid is outstanding (visit Morocco, France, Britain, Italy, etc. via Ryan Air). This program, if you want it to, will stretch you, in soul and mind, in both comfortable and uncomfortable ways, which is to say in the very best of ways. I have recommended this program to many of my friends and will continue to do so.

I had the absolute pleasure of working with the amazing people during my time at the instituto. She guided me through the post graduation process of obtaining documents for my career after IF. She was kind, compassionate and navigated the challenging waters of Spanish bureaucracy with effortless grace and composition. A true star in the administrative staff of an efficient management.

She was able to help me obtain my diploma from the Universidad de Alcala. As well as have it apostilled by the Hague. A step critical in achieving the level of employment I so desired. If it were not for her continued commitment to alumnus there is no doubt I would not be writing this review right now.

For anyone considering this program, you will find a truly inspiring staff of persons ready to be your advocates and bring success to your aspirations.

Bravo!

Muchas Gracias por todos.

It has been two years since my time at UAH, and I still can't believe how lucky I was to be involved with this program. The classes were interesting, challenging but not impossible, and used relevant information to enrich our experiences in Spain. The faculty not only were a great resource academically, but also genuinely cared about our well-being during our time abroad. They understood that it was not always easy, and were constantly available to help us in any way they could. The program was also great because they coordinated trips for us that were extremely well thought out. During the trips, there was a great balance of allowing us space to be young adults and giving us educational experiences. I can't recommend this program enough for how much it improved my Spanish-speaking skills and my outlook on life as a whole.