Program Reviews

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!

I had a fantastic time living and teaching in Valencia, a great place to teach English.

The city is not as big or touristy as Madrid or Barcelona but it's large enough to be a happening place with lots of lively bars, sights to see and has its own distinctive character. Notably, there's a verdant river which snakes its way through the city where you can go for a bike ride, a relaxing walk or a look at the futuristic Calatrava buildings.

I taught at the school for one month and witnessed the transition to the new academy. The new school is a pleasure to work in: it's rather large, clean, spacious, has a fridge, proper amenities and it's kitted out with whiteboards, teaching materials and pens. Also the students love the new environment.

Alyx and Paul who run the school are very nice, professional and helpful. They provide you with the lesson plans a few days before teaching which gives you plenty of time to prepare. Alyx and Paul don't interfere with your lessons so it's very much up to you how you teach. I completed the CELTA course before coming to Valencia so I came equipped with all the worthwhile teaching techniques and tips so the independence I had at the academy really suited me.

Most of all, the best thing about the academy are the students. Every one of them was hard-working, very friendly and respectful. There's a diverse mix of ages, levels and nationalities which really adds to the experience. There are some funny characters who come to the classes which kept me entertained.

Furthermore, the accommodation is very good. I lived by the port which was fantastic as I was only 5-10 minutes away from the beach and not too far from the nearest metro stop which takes you directly to the school.

Also, the social scene in Valencia is pretty good with regular intercambio (language exchange) events which are held in different bars, cafes and clubs across the city. I recommend Tandem, a group which hosts such events. Details can be found on their Facebook page.

Thoroughly recommended for anyone who's completed a CELTA course and wants some short term work (and doesn't mind paying a reasonable amount).

3 years after doing my TEFL degree I was finally looking into getting started as a teacher. But I was not sure if I would enjoy it, let alone be any good at it which made applying a bit difficult.

Then I found Paul and Alyx's MyTEFLexperience and signed up for 2 weeks. It was everything a beginning teacher could hope for, Paul and Alyx are fantastic, (Ramón the dog as well, see photo) the teaching environment is great and the students nice and very eager to learn.

The program answered all my questions and on top of that I had a really nice time in Valencia and hope to be back soon!

My TEFL Experience in Valencia provided me with the taster I needed to confirm that TEFL is the career for me.
Arriving in Valencia on to a great warm welcome from Alyx and Paul I was shown around the accommodation, which is in a great location. After this I got my bus pass for the week, found out where the supermarkets were and headed down for an afternoon at the beach. Both the School and the beach are within walking distance and the bus systems is really easy to use.
Paul and Alyx provided me with the lesson plans in advance and answered all the questions that I had. So heading into my first lessons on the Monday I felt well prepared and excited to meet my students. The class sizes are perfect for a first teaching experience being no more than 8 people, plus it is a nice and relaxed atmosphere. All of the students. Are adults that are keen to learn and the lesson plan subjects make the lessons really fun!
The social scene in Valencia is great, particularly the low price of beer! Plenty of places to eat, plus Paul and Alyx have lots of good suggestions.
Great students, accommodation, atmosphere and hosts help provide you with the confidence to get the teaching experience you require after an online TEFL course.

The communication from the start was great. Directions and things like help with car hire etc all happily provided.

When we arrived the guys were there meet us - the accommodation was clean and roomy - the lady who lived there was so helpful with things like places to eat and drink, buses, things to see as well as advice around the teaching.

The lessons were planned but we could place our own spin on them if we wanted to and the guys were very open with feedback and accepting any ideas.

Socially Valencia was superb.

A great place, good guys and we left confident that we could indeed this!

This is a really good option if you want to gain experience teaching small groups of adults in a relaxed and friendly environment. Having only taken my CELTA and taught children on a summer camp beforehand, I felt much more confident that I could teach adults after the week. I think the extra experience helped me get my current job in Madrid too. Alyx and Paul were very supportive and went out of their way to help us with the classes and with getting to know Valencia. Overall, I had a great time and would recommend it to all new teachers who want to practise before committing to a year-long contract somewhere.