Efficient or Deadly...?

An Apology

Dear Spain,

I'm sorry that I used to insult your cuisine to anyone who would listen. I hope you will understand that my last experience in your country consisted of many Boca-Burger looking patties, the Spanish version of the Hot Pocket, and living off of Kebobs and free tapas...AKA never eating meat outside of the kebob varietal (which some may question as being meat in the first place...)

I had certainly never been to a Spanish steak house, where I could get a very large steak cooked perfectly for 10€...

Nor had I ever been out for tapas that you had to pay for, and thus had only eaten whatever came my way in the bars and taverns of Granada...

And I certainly had never tasted the deliciousness that are cold prawns... although eating the little guys with the shells and feelers etc. was a bit too much for me...

So, although I still think you are a bit strange with your obsession with eggs, cured ham, olives, and fried food in general, I am looking forward to continuing my culinary adventure here and finding more of the hidden treasures you have to offer.

Sincerely, Lauren

Pobrecitas!

What is wrong with this picture? Oh yeah, thats right, the pet store is selling the North American Chipmunk as if it were a mere domesticated hampster... Joder!

My First Day of "Work"

My job has officially started today, and with it the frustrations of working in a different country! I am supposed to work 12 hours a week... this is what the Spanish government pays me 700€/month to do. The girls I have met who have done this before have never had a problem with their schools sticking to this time table. Of course I had to be the exception! As it is, Carmona is 45 minutes from Seville, adding an hour and a half to each day's schedule. But today, my coordinator showed me this week's "provisional" schedule. It was Monday through Thursday usually 8:00-2:30 (with breaks), 12.5 hours of teaching in total but 21 hours spent there, and on Thursday my "break" was from 9:00-1:30... WTF!?

So, I had to say something. If anything this experience will help me be more of an assertive person because I know that is the only way to not be trampled in this country! I told my coordinator that I am only contracted to work 12 hours a week, and that with a half hour break each day my schedule shouldn't exceed 14 hours at the school. She knew this already, but "it was soooo difficult because everyone wants you in their classroom" she told me. She made me a new schedule today that I will start using next week and its much better. Yet it will alternate every week which is annoying! Basically, she will be making me a "Schedule A" and "Schedule B" and I will keep alternating between the two. It also means that I see each class only once every 2 weeks! Personally, I don't see how this is very effective... wouldn't it be better if I saw only a few classes (not 20 different ones like it is now) and that I met with them more frequently?

But oh well. As long as my hours are reasonable, I don't care what they do!

Besides the schedule fiasco, my first day was fine. I introduced myself to the classes and had them "interview" me. Most classes were VERY shy and not very participative. Their level of English is very low. I met with a variety of age groups (from 12-18) and my favorite group was definitely the 12 year olds. I walked into their classroom and was overwhelmed by all the tiny people wearing pink! It must be this year's "color" or maybe it was just because the class was primarily girls... Anyway, these kids were too young to be shy! Although they probably had the lowest level of English they asked the most questions by far. My favorite had to be one little girl asking me:

"Do you like boys brown or clear?" Translation: "Do you prefer brunettes or blonds?"

I told her all like all boys! Haha. One of the hardest parts is having to pretend I don't speak any Spanish. The kids look at me like I'm crazy, and I almost slipped up and translated something many times. Oh well, I'm trying!

Other different things I've noticed so far:

• Like I mentioned previously, students don't switch classes-- teachers do.
• Students call teachers by their first names.
• Although students don't change classes, they must leave the classroom (which is then locked) and wait outside the door until the next teacher comes, then they reenter (pointless?)
• The classroom door is ALWAYS locked from the inside. Anyone who needs to get in knocks (maybe a good idea... Columbine etc.)
• The school itself is very secure. Its surrounded by tall, locked gates and the front (and only) entrance requires you to be buzzed in by security. (This is true of all Spanish Public Schools, not just mine!)
• The bell between classes is not a bell, but rather the most earsplitting siren noise I've ever heard.
• Students don't get a lunch break, but they do get a breakfast/snack break at 11:30-12:00. Lunch is served at home after they get out around 3:00.
• Teachers don't dress up AT ALL for school. They wear jeans and T-shirts, flip flops, converse sneakers, etc.
• Most teachers go to the teacher's lounge between classes or during free periods. Its a very social place since teachers don't have their own classrooms!

Well, that was my first day. We'll see how the next 120-something go...!

Why I'm Here

When first accepted to this program I didn't really know what the job entailed. Now, after an orientation and hearing firsthand from many girls who are here for a second or third year, I have a much better idea of my role in the Spanish public school system. In reality, the Spanish government is "using" me and all of the other "Auxiliares" to achieve a goal of plurilingualism here in Spain. They've finally realized that they are sadly lagging behind the rest of Europe in language abilities and have decided to try to make some schools bilingual centers, where a lot of instruction will be ideally in English.

My school is in year zero, which means I am starting with them from the very beginning. They were only just given the funding and approval of the government to become a bilingual school. This year is basically the planning year. One of my roles will be to help teachers who will have to start teaching portions of their classes in English starting next year. I'll help them improve their English and also with lesson planning. The two subjects that will go bilingual next year in my school are mathematics and science... my two least favorite subjects! As far as I understand it, these subjects were chosen over others because the teachers who teach them have the best English abilities at my school.

In addition to planning math and science classes for next year, I will also rotate around to different classrooms every week (which means kids of all ages, as high schools here range from ages 12-18). I'll try to introduce English language and content into their classes. Next year, my school will be in year one, their first year as a bilingual school. But the interesting thing is that the program will not apply to everyone. The bilingual program will start with only one class of 12 year olds, and the students will be chosen by the consent of their parents and then a lottery if there are too many kids who want to be in it. I should mention that here in Spain (and in most of Europe) students are in the same class of about 30 students from age 12-18. The teachers change classrooms here, not the students!

So beginning next year, this "chosen" class of 12 year olds will start having some content taught in English. The next year hopefully more will be taught etc. until they ideally graduate at 18 speaking both languages.

I think that Spain is taking a great first step towards bilingual education with this program. However, there are a couple of things that I'm not too crazy about. For example, is math class in English really a good idea/beneficial? Is it really that important to know the words isoceles triangle, square root, and matrix (for example) in English? Isn't math difficult enough in one's native language? (Or was it just me...!) Also, the students who are put into the bilingual class will probably be the smarter kids, giving them a hugely unfair advantage. The government technically says that every student should have an equal opportunity to be in the class, but, in reality, the kids struggling in school are strongly advised not to apply for this program, or usually don't want the extra work anyway!

Yet despite the kinks, at least Spain is recognizing the need to be multilingual in today's world. I wish the US would do the same. People from other countries already have a huge advantage over me when they speak multiple languages. Here in Europe many jobs require candidates to be fluent in 2-4 different languages. But until the US finally realizes this, people like me will be here in Spain and other countries helping people become multilingual, and thus more competitive and capable on the world stage. Don't blame me when Spain takes over the world!

*For a full explanation of the bilingual program here in Andalucía go here: http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/averroes/html/portal/com/bin/contenidos/B/InnovacionEInvestigacion/ProyectosInnovadores/Plurilinguismo/Portada/1182945265640_wysiwyg_planing.pdf