Teach English as a Volunteer in Spain

Teaching English as a volunteer in Spain was a great experience for me. I taught the secondary school students at a school in Valladolid. I thoroughly enjoyed working with the other teachers because they were always welcoming to me. Many times the teachers would invite me to grab a coffee with them during the break time, or to try tapas after school. In addition, living with a Spanish family allowed me to gain a truly authentic experience. I learned a lot of Spanish along the way and I got to immerse myself in all parts of the Spanish lifestyle. My family was welcoming, fun, and always made sure that I was comfortable in their house. On top of all that, they were great cooks! I would definitly recommend this experience to anyone who is lucky enough to consider this opportunity.

This program is a great option for anyone who wants to travel and immerse themselves in another culture without leaving home for too long. This program is unique since you live with a host family, who provides you with housing, most of your food, and a truly immersive experience. Everyone’s experience will be different since there are so many towns, schools, and host families that you could be placed with, but overall the program is great and it gave me a sense of security to know that I had the support of CIEE andy host family for the duration of the trip. Spain has so many amazing cities to travel to and it is pretty easy to get around with public transportation if you are in a bigger city, like Valladolid, where I was placed. With 3 day weekends I was able to take lots of trips and learn so much about Spain.

I found this program in April of 2018 while I was at my desk at work, hating my job, and dreaming of teaching in Spain. I knew I wanted a change, but I was so worried about leaving my security for the unknown. I worked in finance and though it paid very well, I was unhappy. I couldn’t find many reviews about the 3 month teach in Spain program through CIEE, so I was nervous to go for it. Now that I’m 2 months into the program, I can say whole heartedly that it’s the best decision I’ve made. I felt supported before departure, my questions were answered very quickly, meeting at the airport was easy, and orientation with others in the same boat as me made me feel a lot better. The first week or two were overwhelming because it’s definitely an adjustment. I know a lot of Spanish, but no one speaks much English (even the English teachers), and I didn’t expect that. My host mom doesn’t speak English, and the host dad only speaks a bit, but I couldn’t have asked for a better family. They have a young boy and girl too, and I love them to death. I’m already getting emotional about leaving them!! They will forever be my family, and I feel so grateful that I was placed here. My school is amazing too! The teachers are so helpful, and the kids are very eager to learn. I could go on and on about this program because it’s been the biggest blessing. My only regret is not doing a longer program!

I was excited to experience a different culture and my stay in Spain did not disappoint . I had a lot of fun doing activities with the students and getting them to become more comfortable speaking English. The cities there are very beautigul. I stayed in Salamanca and had the chance to visit Gijon and Sevilla, which was nice. My host family was very nice and accommodating. My first week there, they took me to the main city to see some sights and try food at their favorite restaurants.
I also did private tutoring for one of the students at the school. My last week in Spain, we baked gingerbread cookies, which was a first for them and they turned out pretty good!
The orientation in the beginning of the program really help to set expectations and answer any questions. CIEE let us know how to have a safe and fun experience and kept the line of communication open for us for continuous support. Overall, it was a very cool experience and I'm glad I signed up for it.

I was excited to experience a different culture and my stay in Spain did not disappoint . I had a lot of fun doing activities with the students and getting them to become more comfortable speaking English. The cities there are very beautigul. I stayed in Salamanca and had the chance to visit Gijon and Sevilla, which was nice. My host family was very nice and accommodating. My first week there, they took me to the main city to see some sights and try food at their favorite restaurants.
I also did private tutoring for one of the students at the school. My last week in Spain, we baked gingerbread cookies, which was a first for them and they turned out pretty good!
The orientation in the beginning of the program really help to set expectations and answer any questions. CIEE let us know how to have a safe and fun experience and kept the line of communication open for us for continuous support. Overall, it was a very cool experience and I'm glad I signed up for it.

I've lived abroad in other countries, but this has been one of the best experiences abroad! From the community to the students to my host family, I am so glad I chose to do this program. I applied very late (the day of the deadline) and the staff was communicative and helpful! The orientation in Spain was thorough, and I'm glad I was able to meet the other participants. I volunteer at a high school and everyone there is extremely kind and welcoming. I do recommend this program for those who are pretty independent or have some travel experience, though. You only work 12 hours a week and can easily travel on the weekends! Last weekend, I went to Salamanca (such a beautiful city)! Also, while it's not required to participate, definitely practice your Spanish beforehand. Overall, I recommend.

As most people in this program will tell you, I spent my first week in Spain in a constant state of panic. My host family was wonderful, my school was better than I could ever hope for, and I was gaining a once in a lifetime experience; but it was also the hardest thing I have ever done. It is difficult to feel like you don´t understand anything. It is really difficult to feel like a stranger everywhere you go. And it is extremely difficult to think that it will get better. But it does. This has been the greatest experience of my life. I have made best friends here, I have traveled to Italy with Italians, explored villages with natives from Spain, and ate way more food than I ever thought possible. While I do miss the comforts of living in a big city, this experience has given me an entire new perspective that I am so grateful for.

From the time I was accepted as a three month volunteer in Castilla y Leon, I have felt supported by the US mainland staff. My questions were answered quickly, and the pre departure modules were informative. (I did need a quick tutorial on how to post answers in Canvas or whatever the platform was). Once at the Madrid airport, we met our leaders in Spain and felt we had someone to call locally should a problem occur. I appreciated the help with getting the Spanish SIM card the first night and cultural sensitivity training at the orientation.

My family is wonderful, and the school´s children and faculty are fantastic. The weather here is much warmer than in my home state of Missouri. I did not expect that. I am in a primary school and see each class in grades one through six each week (12 sessions). When I am not teaching, I am immersed in a Spanish class. Although Spanish speaking was not a requirement, I would feel more confident if I had a basic Spanish course under my belt. It would be easier to communicate with all the teachers at the school, not just the English teachers. I am expected to speak English at school and at home, so there is not much time to practice. Maybe CIEE would put suggest a basic Spanish book on the internet if needed. I could not find one that was colorful and self explanatory.

We all have at least three days to travel a week, and some have four. The bus and train systems are very efficient in Spain, and Laura compiled a list of everyone´s email and phone for group communication.

Overall, my expectations have been exceeded. This whole trip seems like a dream even after a month.

This is a chance of a lifetime. Grab it and go!