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Teaching English in Toledo, Spain: Graham’s Story
Graham’s Story: Teaching in the wonderful city of Toledo!
4.6 out of 5 based on 9,817 reviews
Why I chose TEFL
Back in July 2020, in the midst of a global pandemic, my wife and I decided to leave our jobs in Ireland and move to Spain. Having worked in my previous job for 12 years it was a huge decision to leave, however, living outside Dublin meant having to spend up to 4 hours a day driving to and from work and it was definitely taking its toll.
My wife, who was already a qualified English language teacher, had secured a teaching job with an English teaching academy in Toledo, Spain.
How I became a TEFL teacher
As a qualified Electrician/Fiber Optic Technician with years of experience, I was confident about securing a job without too much stress. After settling in for a month or so it became apparent that the job market in Toledo in my sector for a non-Spanish speaking person was not as flourishing as I had expected.My wife encouraged me to try the free TEFL taster course on The TEFL Org website, so I said, ‘why not, I’ve got nothing to lose’. Shortly after that, I purchased the full 120-hour TEFL course and began my learning/teaching journey in October 2020. It was a simple process and the online course made it practical for me to study at my own pace. It also provided me with the foundation needed to begin teaching in a real-life environment.
Where I went and what I did
Toledo is a UNESCO world heritage site, an ancient walled city in central Spain previously the capital before Madrid and is famous for sword making. There are still two authentic bladesmith (sword making) workshops in operation there.
After much deliberation about COVID and all the 'what ifs' we could think of, we took the plunge. We said our goodbyes to families and friends and packed our bags with the intention of returning for a visit at Christmas. At the time, with COVID restrictions in place and vaccines still in the process of development, we couldn't get home for Christmas. We settled into a somewhat restricted new life in Spain, limited in some ways due to the ongoing pandemic but a very different lifestyle to back home in Ireland. Jump forward to January 2021 and I received a call from The Dublin School of English in Toledo to ask if I was available to come in and help out with some classes. I met with Niall O'Flaherty, the academy’s owner and director and shadowed him for a while to get up to speed with their teaching methods and procedures.
The school used a communicative approach to support the children to not only expand their knowledge of the English language but also to gain experience in effectively using the language with native speaking teachers. At the time, they were teaching hybrid classes, in person and online simultaneously. This had its added pressures and difficulties but nevertheless, not one to shirk a challenge, I jumped on board and began my teaching career.
Reflection and future plans
The main difference between Spain and Ireland when it comes to work/life balance is that, on the whole, life comes before work, which was not something that I was used to. The working day now begins at 4.00pm and finishes around 9.30pm. The academy also focuses on teaching Cambridge English Assessment preparation strategy classes for our students (PET to CPE level) to fully prepare the students who are approaching exams. It has been a huge change of career for me but an enjoyable and worthwhile change.
Outside of work, one of the biggest changes that still captures my attention regularly is the amazing sunlight! Even on the colder autumn days in Toledo, the bright alluring daylight is a reminder of all that's good in the world. As a keen cyclist, some of the scenery and trails around the city of Toledo and its environs are nothing short of spectacular too!
We’re excited to return to Ireland to visit family and friends this Christmas, but equally as excited to come back and continue with our new life in Spain.
I would absolutely recommend completing a TEFL course if thinking of travelling and working abroad - having a TEFL certificate and experience such as this opens the world up to you and provides many opportunities.
Are you interested in changing careers and moving overseas? Find out more about teaching English abroad through The TEFL Org.
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In The TEFL Org Guide to the World you'll learn about more than 70 of the top TEFL destinations worldwide.
This guide is packed full of information about teaching in countries across Asia, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and more. Discover how much you could earn in each country, where to find jobs, what to expect from life as a TEFL teacher, as well as lots of helpful tips and insights.
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4.6 out of 5 based on 9,817 reviews
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