There I am. This year’s Staff Homecoming Queen, elected by the students of Rancho Verde High School in Moreno Valley, CA where I have been a Spanish Teacher for past eight years, or should I say, since I graduated from… Read more It’s that time of year again and whether it’s your first year living in Madrid or your tenth sometimes we just want a little taste of home. And if you’re not from the US (like me) or Canada (yes,… Read more So, you’re thinking about five more years of academic work post-masters. Five more years of espresso-fueled nights, of living with three roommates in a 700 square-foot apartment, of relying on the divine blessing of Moe’s Mondays to provide you at… Read more Semana Santa has come and gone, and here we are again for our final rendition of the Instituto Franklin’s Survival Guide. Some of you have reached out to me on Facebook to ask me about getting adjusted to life here… Read more 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
