Teach wonderful students, improve your Spanish and be part of a community

I taught English in Santa María for fourth months in 2016 and for a further two months in 2018 and had an incredible experience both times. The first time, I went with the aim of improving my Spanish and the second time I went simply to reconnect with my host family and friends. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend SMEF!
Santa María is a truly special place: the local community is so welcoming that you never feel alone and it's easy to make friends and build lasting relationships. When I arrived, people rushed to get to know me and make me feel at ease. My local hosts went above and beyond to make me feel like one more member of the family. Even when, during my second stay, I didn't live in their house, I was invited to lunch with them every day without fail and was included in every family gathering. It was a home away from home. The town itself is quiet, but your afternoons and weekends quickly fill up drinking tereré with friends, exploring the campo and nearby towns, attending local events and family gatherings.
The teaching experience with SMEF is unique, too, because of the level of responsibility you're given and range of ages and abilities you teach (for me, ages 8 to 30; complete beginners to near-fluent speakers). You work hard, teaching up to five or six classes, but it's genuinely stimulating work and you always have a nice long break in middle of the day. And the more you get to know your students, the more motivated you feel to help them progress; it's a great feeling seeing them develop over the course of your stay. After six months of teaching in Santa María, I know that teaching is something I could pursue as a career.