Comments on: Working abroad http://spanish-podcast.com/2008/04/08/middlebury-spain-language-assistants/ A bilingual blog and conversational Spanish podcast. Wed, 30 Nov 2011 02:02:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Rmss http://spanish-podcast.com/2008/04/08/middlebury-spain-language-assistants/#comment-967 Rmss Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:45:23 +0000 http://spanish-podcast.com/2008/04/08/working-abroad/#comment-967 Because I'm a citizen of the European Union, I can go and stay wherever I want within the EU. My college also sends their students our for internships in Spanish speaking countries (obviously, mostly to Spain). Next year I have the possibility to go to Spain for about 2 months for school, and then have about 6 more weeks of my own time (summer break) to stay in Spain. We're not obliged to go to school, as we may work aswell. I've been informing at friends for job possibilities, but I'm a bit afraid my level is not high enough within a year to do some specialized work... That doesn't take away I really want to go to Spain and work for about three months with only Spaniards around me. Because I’m a citizen of the European Union, I can go and stay wherever I want within the EU. My college also sends their students our for internships in Spanish speaking countries (obviously, mostly to Spain).

Next year I have the possibility to go to Spain for about 2 months for school, and then have about 6 more weeks of my own time (summer break) to stay in Spain. We’re not obliged to go to school, as we may work aswell. I’ve been informing at friends for job possibilities, but I’m a bit afraid my level is not high enough within a year to do some specialized work…

That doesn’t take away I really want to go to Spain and work for about three months with only Spaniards around me.

]]> By: eleena http://spanish-podcast.com/2008/04/08/middlebury-spain-language-assistants/#comment-965 eleena Wed, 09 Apr 2008 21:29:20 +0000 http://spanish-podcast.com/2008/04/08/working-abroad/#comment-965 You're right, but changing the current setup raises so many political bugaboos, like you mentioned. I know an American who is circulating a petition trying to get the Spanish and U.S. governments to create a special work visa for language teachers to work as full-time employees in Spain. She's been at it for almost four years. You’re right, but changing the current setup raises so many political bugaboos, like you mentioned. I know an American who is circulating a petition trying to get the Spanish and U.S. governments to create a special work visa for language teachers to work as full-time employees in Spain. She’s been at it for almost four years.

]]> By: chris http://spanish-podcast.com/2008/04/08/middlebury-spain-language-assistants/#comment-957 chris Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:52:22 +0000 http://spanish-podcast.com/2008/04/08/working-abroad/#comment-957 I just wanted to add that I don't mean Teresa is wrong when she says that this program is a great opportunity for people who want to work here, it's just the political aspects I was commenting on:) I just wanted to add that I don’t mean Teresa is wrong when she says that this program is a great opportunity for people who want to work here, it’s just the political aspects I was commenting on:)

]]> By: chris http://spanish-podcast.com/2008/04/08/middlebury-spain-language-assistants/#comment-956 chris Tue, 08 Apr 2008 10:04:34 +0000 http://spanish-podcast.com/2008/04/08/working-abroad/#comment-956 Hi, I'm sorry but I couldn't disagree more with Teresa about the Language Assistants program. This program and many other similar ideas throughout Spain are ridiculous short-term political solutions to the hot potato of English learning here. In this situation you have native speakers on a grant working alongside "qualified" teachers who enjoy all the benefits of full time employment but in many cases can barely speak the language they are supposed to be teaching. The obvious solution would be to employ native speakers as "real" teachers which is something the government won't do as it would cause political problems. Having said that, I suppose it is a way to work here, if you don't mind being totally exploited. Hi,

I’m sorry but I couldn’t disagree more with Teresa about the Language Assistants program. This program and many other similar ideas throughout Spain are ridiculous short-term political solutions to the hot potato of English learning here.

In this situation you have native speakers on a grant working alongside “qualified” teachers who enjoy all the benefits of full time employment but in many cases can barely speak the language they are supposed to be teaching. The obvious solution would be to employ native speakers as “real” teachers which is something the government won’t do as it would cause political problems.

Having said that, I suppose it is a way to work here, if you don’t mind being totally exploited.

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