LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM

Every

Face New

Studying abroad is a difficult but exciting decision because students face a new life and new ways of looking at it Needless to say, it is surprisingly stimulating as well as demanding to commit oneself to working as an English conversation assistant or to volunteer or do an internship while studying abroad The day-to-day life of the students teaching in local schools or doing volunteer work offers them a different perspective on the local culture, on our society, but most of all on themselves

Meg Carney, Rónán Fitzgerald, Maggie Gorman and Frankie Shafer-Coffey have worked as English conversation assistants in local schools this Spring 2023, sharing different experiences and working each week to reinforce the students' oral skills They had to use a lot of energy and patience, especially with students in Secondary Education!! Still, thinking about the effect their efforts (and lesson planning) will have on the development of the children's English ability is enormously rewarding

Thank you all for your work We are grateful for the skills and knowledge you have shared with your students. Another way of helping the community is volunteering or doing an Internship It is one of the most fulfilling ways also to get involved

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Volunteering requires commitment, time management, motivation and compassion Elizabeth Ramirez, Giselle Rodriguez and Zoe Schultz have amply demonstrated these volunteer skills collaborating with Haurralde Fundazioa, a non-profit organization dedicated to the education and integration of immigrants and/or families in vulnerable situations in the San Sebastian community

Their main task is to teach English to children that come from difficult backgrounds and diverse family situations. This is a very challenging task. However, Elizabeth, Giselle and Zoe, with their effort, dedication and commitment, are making a difference in their lives. Thank you SO much.

“I appreciate this opportunity because I have learned so much more than I ever thought I would” ~Elizabeth

Ramirez

Bronte Micek y Kate Paruszkievicz-Philson have volunteered in a different community-based educational project. For a few hours a week, they were storytellers, telling stories to children between 1 and 3 years old and their parents. Such a wonderful way of giving back to the community! Baby’s storytelling is more than just telling stories, it is transcending the world of imagination and bringing in a moment where the parents get close to and share that special time with their child… Thank you very much, girls.

Finally, we have to mention Kristina Franzoia, Ashleigh Welch, and (again) Giselle Rodriguez, who are completing a Micro-Internship working for the program’s Yearbook. I love this description from Kristina about what the Yearbook is: "something that I will have worked on to help conserve memories for each and one of us for the rest of our lives, and that makes this time no matter how busy, or stressful it may be, very, very special". I could not have found better words.

Thank you very much to Kristina, Ashleigh and Giselle. In the near future you will evoke these memories and will tell your own stories.

Don't forget that the best is yet to come!

Thank you all for your wonderful contributions to our community here in San Sebastian,

Cecilia del Castillo

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Teaching a different language to Basque students has proven to be much more challenging than I initially thought. However, despite the obstacles to student engagement, I wouldn't trade this experience for anything. You never learn more than when you push yourself to do something uncomfortable.

Teaching in a local Basque school has been such an enriching experience. Being able to converse with local students and share pieces of my culture with them has been so rewarding I am so grateful for the relationships I’ve built with my students and the skills I’ve gained as a result of teaching I have learned as much as I have taught! Plus, it’s always fun to see my students around the city and say hello to them.

Of all the activities and responsibilities that I took on during this time of study abroad, this teaching class has been the most rewarding of them all Although there is a slight bit of extra work that goes into this class, there are so many extra benefits Some of them being that you are able to make connections outside of the program and within the city itself as well as that you are able to understand and gain a broader perspective of life and education in different parts of the world. After completing this class, I will be taking with me a broader perspective of education and language but also just of who I have grown into as a person this semester. I am very glad that I decided to take this class and I would highly recommend that others take it in the future.

I struggled to learn Spanish, because of this teaching English as a second language has always been one of my goals. Going into study abroad, one of the things I wanted to experience most was a foreign classroom. The teaching assistant in the Basque Country program gave me both opportunities. My favorite part of this experience was class discussions with my students. I learned so much from them about Spanish and Basque culture. I am happy to have had this experience and certificate for future opportunities.