New Year, Fresh Starts: How to Welcome 2018 into Your ESL Classes
Welcome 2018! A new year. The first week back to school after Christmas break can be a blue one, for teachers and students. We spend a lot of time celebrating Christmas in the classroom, but we often overlook New Year. Rather than immediately jumping into coursework, what about incorporating the new year and its endless […]
The Best Things About Being an Auxiliar
Academy teaching, private classes, full-time teaching, online classes. There are heaps of options for teaching English abroad. If you want to teach in Spain or you’re already here, you’ve probably heard the word “auxiliar” thrown around a bit. Being an auxiliar, or a language assistant, is one option for you in sunny Spain. Here are […]
The Consortium for Transatlantic Studies and Scholarship (CTSS) & Instituto Franklin-UAH
Don Wallace served as the Executive Director of Consortium for Transatlantic Studies & Scholarship (CTSS) from 2014-2017. This is his experience collaborating with the Instituto Franklin-UAH. How long have you been collaborating with the Instituto Franklin-UAH? Don Wallace: Since 2011. The Consortium for Transatlantic Studies and Scholarship (CTSS) came here from the Netherlands, and affiliated itself […]
Teaching “Infantil” Tips and Resources
So the school year has already started and you’ve been placed with the youngest learners: the 3, 4 and 5 year olds! Maybe you’ve had experience teaching this age group – or perhaps it’s your first time and you’re a little nervous. Either way, don’t worry, have faith in yourself, and you’ll do a great […]
How to Celebrate Semana Santa
Semana Santa… No… not Santa’s week. Christmas has passed. (I know, I know… terrible joke). Semana Santa (Holy Week) is celebrated in Spain during the entire week before Easter Sunday. That’s right, folks, a whole week. This week is essential to Spanish culture and is the biggest religious celebration of the year, which means public […]
When you realize you may not see things the way the people around you do: Reflections on having studied abroad
So your time abroad is nearing its end, and you’re trying your best to make the most of the last bit of time you have here before returning home and having to try to summarize the last several months to friends and family. Of course, you’ll have plenty of funny stories about lost in translation […]
Excursión a “Los Lunes”
Charlotte Kishi, University of Arizona; Maggie Farrie, University of Arizona; Leah Guerrero, University of Arizona; Alexandra Wilcox, University of Arizona; George Tatoris, University of Arizona. Durante la mañana del 23 del marzo los estudiantes de la clase Español Intermedio visitamos el Mercadillo de Alcalá. Aunque hacía mal tiempo porque estaba lloviendo, nosotros disfrutamos mucho durante la actividad al ver los puestos […]
The “Who What Where Why When” of working for VIPKID: The leader of online english education for children in China
Who am I? I graduated from Instituto Franklin – UAH Teach & Learn master Program in June of 2016. In October of 2016, I started teaching English online for VIPKID, and also started working as an English Assistant at a primary school in Madrid. I firmly believe that the experience I received during the Teach & […]
Life of a Returning Study Abroad Student
When I first came to Alcalá as a study abroad student in the Spring of 2015, I felt as if I had fulfilled a lifelong obsession to see Spain. Growing up with two Spanish grandparents, the idea of Spain was a constant presence. In those years, I learned about Spain through tall tales told around […]