Building community in the classroom is rewarding for both you and your students. It is, however, difficult to do. Every class, no matter the subject, is different because it’s made up of different young individuals interacting together at different times… Read more Spring has sprung and after eight months I finally made it to the legendary bar Via Lactea last week to have a drink with a friend. I have to wonder what made me take so long to hit that famous… Read more Muy buenas, gentle readers. I’m tempted to change the opening for this blog to something more catchy…maybe a little more Gossip Girl-esque. But, despite their similarities, this is Madrid, not New York, and I´m a little more Javier Calvo than… Read more One of the characteristic differences you will notice during your first weeks in on of Madrid’s secondary or bachillerato classrooms is the noise. Indeed, there’s always somebody talking, and you may not be able get the culprits in your crosshairs… Read more Well, gentle readers, it´s that time again—your weekly update to your Instituto Franklin Survival Guide, guided by your gracious program leader and honorary sherpa, Jonathan. I honestly haven´t been having a good week so far, readers, but bad spells are… Read more Master Teach & Learn in Spain How was your flight? I hope you had lots of short, relaxing layovers with no delays. Was your flight comfortable at all? I personally get a glass of wine or two while I play… Read more Master Teach & Learn in Spain So, you want to come to Madrid, do you? Dying to escape the current administration, need a sabbatical, or just need a new direction? So, you submitted all your paperwork, got all your ducks… Read more So you’ve just moved to Madrid and it’s your first year as a language assistant. You’re not really sure what to expect on that first day of school. A million thoughts are probably running through your head: “What do I… Read more I completed the Master in Bilingual and Multicultural Education through the Instituto Franklin at the University of Alcala in 2010. At the time of starting the program, I was not sure what I wanted to do as a career; I… Read more Pre Teach and Learn Program I clearly remember telling my friends and family that I was moving to Madrid to teach English for a year and receive my Master in Bilingual and Multicultural Education. My entire family and all my friends… Read more
