First Day Thoughts


 Monday 21st February

12:39pm

Exposició, Valencia 


I’m sat on a bench on Passeig de L’Albereda, it’s about twenty-one degrees and I don’t want to move in case I lose sight of the street that I have to head down to make it to Colegio de San Jose de Calasanz in time for my 1pm start. 


                                 ***


After arriving in Valencia less than twenty-four hours ago, I was drained and exhausted - overwhelmed would be a good work to add to that too; the complete lack of any English signs and knowing looks from Spaniards at my painfully broken Spanish adding to the feeling. 


Two days ago were were sat in the freezing Kentish countryside; anxious and excited about the next four weeks. It’s felt like forever to get here, and finally I’m left to manage in a new city of which I have no knowledge. 


                                ***


A whole day later and I’m sat at the Bar El Musical in Moncada, catching up with other UKLC Valencianos. Five lessons down, covering the ages three to twenty-one. Each class presenting a different challenge that I’ve never encountered with adult learners (swinging from chairs being just one of many). 


It’s been a fantastic day, though. Despite the awkwardness of not knowing how to initially deal with toddlers (I’ve never had to), or how to attempt to engage teenagers (I never wanted to!), it’s been a telling insight into the difference between teaching adults at home and young learners abroad. 


The first day alone has definitely made me reconsider what I thought were concrete ideas in my head about the future of my own career in teaching - I can’t wait for the stone foundations to chipped away a little more. 

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