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They prefer experience to teacher-training, and claim
that the "V@ughan Method" will get better results than the CELTA,
TEFL, TOEFL, and TEEFEL combined. Some of their methods were
useful but many teachers (especially brits) felt more confident
after some more formal training. They claimed (and still
claim) to pay better than any language joint in the country, and my experience
proved this to be true. I started on 3000 ptas/hr (editor: 18 euros) and got a little
raise after six months. Their clients included Ericsson, Phizer,
Unilever, and some other big companies.
The money was nice but the culture among the
teachers was pessimistic, and there was frequent bellyaching about the
ladies in the office who expected us to answer our cell phones on the
first ring (even during our classes), scheduled us too much or too
little, and typically required the majority of teachers to make an hour commute
between each class. The culture of the students was fairly homogenous,
as the vast majority worked at big corporations, and their thinking and learning
styles (as well as their priorities in life) were very similar, and they were
often very tired from working 10 hour days and didn't care about English. Add
this to the fact that I was a horrible teacher for the first year, and
it is easy to understand why I quit and worked independently.
The worst thing about this job was that in my training, I took it
seriously when I was instructed not to get "personal" with students,
meaning, don't go out drinking, don't swear, stick to the lesson, keep a formal distance.
Surely there are plenty of things that one shouldn't do with a student,
but my job trainer's warning got me so paranoid that I overdid it. I was
afraid to be myself with the students, and this hindered their learning. Part
of it was that I was a complete stranger to the corporate environment, had
spent very little time with people who worked 'real' jobs, was very
intimidated and my posture made it clear that I wasn't comfortable in a
suit. I worked with them for about 9 months.
Then my Spanish got better, my teaching got better, I knew my way
around the city, and I wanted to see what other classroom cultures were
like. I got some referrals from friends, and I put ads in Segundamano, InMadrid, and
a little newspaper in Lavapies (all these papers got me work - about 2
long-term classes each). (By the way, you are right about El Pais, I
got nothing for an expensive ad) I worked less and earned less, but I could
still pay rent and eat, although most of my entertainment was free. My
least expensive class was 1500 ptas (editor: 9 euros) and the most expensive was 2500 (editor: 15 euros).
This was when I began to LOVE my job. In my studens there were a greater
variety of professions, personalities, interests, and learning styles which
helped me to become more flexible as a teacher.
I went to Madrid to learn Spanish, but could never afford a study abroad
program, and certainly couldn't afford a 2-year vacation, so I worked
as a teacher. I had always loved languages and things like that, but
had never once considered teaching. But I loved it so much I've decided to teach
until the day I die. I'm currently getting certified to teach in the
U.S. and with my program I go to city schools in St. Louis (with metal
detectors at the door) and I help Jr. High kids with their English and Spanish and
I have never been happier in my entire life.
The End.
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