Speaking Assistants at Our School!

At our school, we believe in the importance of linguistic and cultural immersion from the earliest ages. Therefore, since the 2012-13 academic year, we have successfully carried out the Speaking Assistants program, an initiative that significantly enriches the educational experience of our Infant and Primary students.

The fundamental objective of this program is to provide our students with an enriching language learning experience, fostering oral communication and listening comprehension. We aim for our students to acquire fluency and confidence when expressing themselves in English, while also developing a greater intercultural awareness.

Our speaking assistants, native English speakers, collaborate closely with the main teachers, following their guidelines regarding the annual program and participating in various activities:

• Conversation sessions: They carry out playful and dynamic activities that promote oral interaction and the learning of vocabulary and everyday expressions.
• Cultural activities: They share aspects of their culture and traditions through songs, games, stories and celebrations, thus enriching the intercultural knowledge of our students.
• Projects: They participate in interdisciplinary projects that promote the use of English in meaningful contexts.

This program plays an important role in our school. By exposing our students to different accents and ways of life, we help them develop an open and global mindset. In addition, we prepare them to function successfully in an increasingly interconnected world, where proficiency in English and intercultural understanding are essential skills.

Since January, like every year, we have been lucky to have Speaking Assistants at Infant and Primary School. This exciting initiative has already been a big hit, and students are enjoying the opportunity to improve their speaking skills in a fun and engaging way.

Since January, like every year, we have been lucky to have Speaking Assistants at Infant and Primary School. This exciting initiative has already been a big hit, and students are enjoying the opportunity to improve their speaking skills in a fun and engaging way.

The Speaking Assistants are here to help students practice their pronunciation, read aloud, and have conversations in a relaxed and friendly environment. The sessions are very interactive, making learning both fun and motivating. The speaking assistants help students develop important listening and speaking skills that benefit them in all subjects.

We are thrilled with this new addition to our school and look forward to seeing all the wonderful progress students will make. Be sure to say hello when you see the Speaking Assistants around!

IMOGI

My name is Imogen and I’m a Speaking Assistant through the Meddeas program at Colegio Urdaneta. So far I have loved working at this school. Everyone here has made me feel like a part of a family which has been so important to me whilst living away from home. The children are always saying ‘hello’ to me in the corridors and make me feel so welcome in their school.

I never realised how different schools were here compared to back home in England. The timings of the day are different, the way languages are taught and the fact that primary school children have different teachers for different lessons is a new concept to me. This method certainly works well, and this is clear by the standard of English spoken by the children in this school. I’m so impressed that these children can speak three languages so well!

ERIN NARGI

The best part about being a language assistant is the relationships I am creating with my students and the people I have met along the way. Teaching English at Colegio Urdaneta has not only allowed me to immerse myself in the Spanish culture and experience traditions such as Día de los Tres Reyes, Carnival, and more, but it has also allowed me to make a positive impact on the lives of my students.

I feel incredibly lucky to have this opportunity and to grow as a person and a teacher. This experience has taught me new teaching strategies and techniques I will use back home, and I am excited to learn even more in the upcoming months!