El Patio Spanish Language School

Sydney

Why did you study to become a teacher of Spanish?

I remember when I was 10 years old I fell in love with the Harry Potter books. From that moment literature became a very important part of my life. I knew I was going to focus my studies in something related to literature and language. When I was a bit older I used to watch a TV show Españoles por el mundo. In this show they visit different countries and interview the Spanish people living around the world, and most of them were working as Spanish teachers. Then I realized that was the perfect job for me, the perfect combination of teaching, languages and travelling. So I did it!

When did you begin teaching Spanish?

In my hometown of Madrid in 2015. When I was studying at university I did some tutoring with international students and in a Spanish School in Gran Vía, one of the most popular streets in Madrid. Have you ever been there?

Uluru

How did you start in Australia?

Through a Spanish Teaching Assistant Scholarship program in 2019. It was something I did without thinking and I had low expectations as to actually being accepted (there were just 3 vacancies for all the applicants). When they granted it to me, my first thought was: okay, this is not a joke, I need to travel 17300 km, the farthest I have ever been from home. I felt so excited!

What is a loveable aspect of teaching Spanish in Australia?

The enthusiasm and curiosity my students display towards hispanic culture and their plans for travelling to different Spanish speaking countries. It is also interesting and fun to hear about the student’s experiences in their previous travels.

Hobbiton, New Zealand

Do you have any suggestions for how students can better prepare for each class?

Being conscious about the things they have previously studied and already know, and putting them into practice in their daily routines, not only during the lessons. It is also very important to have as much contact as possible with the language: tv shows, music, reading, language exchanges …

What do you think the best method for memorisation is?

Some people are afraid of this concept in teaching and learning but depending on your personality it can be very useful. If you use memorisation during your studies, depending on the type of learner you are (visual, kinaesthetic, auditory …) you might like or enjoy using one strategy or another. For visual learners I find mind maps very useful, while for kinaesthetic learners writing or other actions related to new vocabulary are the best, and for auditory learners you can just record your voice or someone else and listen to it in the car, or while cooking for example. Some people even recommend listening to audios while sleeping, but I’m not really sure about that last one! You can also combine all of them.

El Camino de Santiago, Galicia (Spain)

What teaching methods do you like to bring to the classroom?

I really like the communicative approach but my lessons are a bit eclectic. Depending on the topic, the content we are learning and the group, I adapt my lessons. But overall, for me the most important thing is to practice the language in real contexts and I always encourage my students to use the language from the very beginning of my lessons. I also try to create a good atmosphere where everybody feels comfortable.

Is there a common question that students ask about the acquisition of Spanish? And your answer?

Is it always like this? My answer is: Most of the time … but there are always exceptions. Don’t be afraid about the exceptions, when we use a language there is always a context that is going to support and help us understand the meaning of words or statements.

Clara's 'Emotions' Exercise!

How do you feel when…? Let’s talk about emotions! Take a look at the different situations in the activity below, and express how you’d feel if that were to happen to you!