A TEFL Teacher’s: Guide to Discounts in Madrid May 17, 2012

While Madrid is already far less expensive than other big cities such as London and NYC, things still add up. Fortunately for you, if you are teaching through the TtMadrid program, you will have a student ID card. If you flash it in the right places, it will save you tons!  Here at TtMadrid we have compiled a list of discounts not only for students in Madrid but also offer discounts to those under the age of 30! TOMA!

Transportation

• Metro & Bus- If you are under the age of 22 you can apply for an Abono Joven.  It is about 20 euro less than the normal adult abono!
• Renfe- If you are under the age of 26 you can apply for a youth card and save 20% on all tickets!
• Alsa- Offer discounted fairs to students and customers under the age of 25.

Culture

• Museums &Public Attractions
  • Students can find free/drastically reduced tickets to Museums and Public Attractions such as; The Reina Sofia, Prado, Palacio Real, Museo Arqueológico, just to name a few.

• Movies Theaters
  • After looking at dozens of sites I think it is safe to say ALL of the movie theaters in Madrid offer some sort of student discount ranging from 1 to 3 euros.  Go at an already discounted time such as Monday afternoon and save even more!

• Concerts
  • The Teatro Real (Metro: Opera) offers a 90% discount on Sundays to customers under the age of 30 if you buy the tickets 4 hours before the performance.
  • Depending on your area many community events also offer student discounts.  Just ask, ask, ASK!

Food

• This area varies but you are most likely to find the best deals around the university because thats where the students are.  Most places have promotonal signs near the checkout or on the menu.  If you don´t see anything, ask!

As we discover more great deals we will post them here.  So check back often and if you have any suggestions we left off feel free to let us know in the comments section!

Contributing Writer: Monica Bixby

Reina Sofia – Pablo Picasso’s Guernica
Photo: @lisettemiranda

A TEFL Teacher’s : Guide to San Isidro May 11, 2012

Photo Credit: http://www.esmadrid.com/sanisidro/

Just for a little background on the relation of the saint to the city,
we will answer the question, ´Who is San Isidro?´  Along with being
the patron saint of Madrid he is also the patron saint of farmers. He
was born in Madrid in 1082. Legend has it that once while he was
praying two angels came and ploughed his land for him. He is also
credited with many other miracles including saving his son from a well
and miraculously making a spring appear by hitting the ground with his
staff.

In celebration of its patron saint, Madrid will be hosting its annual
San Isidro festival May 11th-15th. Events will be held all over the
city.  One of the exciting perks of teaching abroad is learning about
the culture of your host country.  You can take full advantage of this
event to sample a little bit of everything Madrid, including concerts,
dancing, art exhibitions, food and wine tastings, and much much more!

Apart from attending the festival you can visit the San Isidro museum
to learn more. It has changed names many times over the years but is
popuarly known as the Casa de San Isidro.  Built in the 16th century
it eventually fell into disrepair until it was completely demolished
and rebuilt in 1974.  You can visit it with your class or just go and
get ideas for a history lesson plan. You can find it at: Plaza de San
Andrés, 2.

Follow this link to find out more information about the festival!

http://www.esmadrid.com/sanisidro/

Contributing Writer: Monica Bixby

Photo Credit: http://www.esmadrid.com/sanisidro/

A TEFL Teacher’s: Quick Stress Busters for the Classroom May 10, 2012

Lets face it.  As much as you love it…teaching abroad can be downright stressful!  We can´t always control what life throws at us but we can control how we react to it.  We all have those days where we’ve exhausted ourselves after, preparing for a complex new lesson, just to get to class to find a room full of uninterested students. Maybe they’re being loud and antsy, or they just can’t seem to concentrate because they’ve got other things on their minds. This can be very discouraging and you may very well feel your blood pressure slowly rising.  Before you explode, use some of these tried and true methods to relieve stress quickly, that were given to me by some of my fellow English teachers!
1. ¨In through your nose and out through your mouth¨ - This old school method does the trick every time.  Each one of the TEFL teachers I interviewed gave this as their  #1 go-to stress buster.  Breathing slower produces a calming psychological effect on your nervous system.  This action sends a message to your brain to stop producing stress hormones and the lack of these hormones quickly relaxes you.  Its highly effective and you can even do it with the class!

2. ¨Just keep swimming…just keep swimming¨ - Another collegue highly recommended positive thoughts to get through a stressful situation.  He said that whenever his students are unruly he takes the stress and frusturation he feels and focuses it on the positive activities going in on his class. For example, he commends the students who are paying attention to the lesson and quietly doing their work.  Therefore it highlights good examples for the other students to follow and it helps him change his mindset from negative to positive.

3. ¨29 mississippi…28 mississippi…27 mississ….¨ Counting backwards was also high on my collegues list for quick stress busters.  They said this paired with the other two was the perfect combination.  It gave them time to relax and refocus on the task at hand.

These three were the most popular at my school, but there are many others!  Find what works best for you…and use it!  We’ve all been students and we know there is nothing worse than sitting through a class with a stressed out teacher.  As a TEFL teacher, know that no matter what lesson you have planned for the day, positivity is the best thing you can share with your students.

Contributing Writer: Monica Bixby

Megan lesson planning with Maggie

A TEFL Teacher’s: Guide to Madrid’s Biggest Parks May 3, 2012

Born and raised a country girl, I love the outdoors.   As the weather grows warmer, I am constantly on the lookout for new places to go and things to do outside, in this big city.  I love to go hiking in the mountains however sometimes I just don´t have a whole day to commit or I´m just looking for a simple relaxed day outside.  Luckily,  I have found a few great parks right in the center of Madrid.

Of course I have to begin with Madrid´s most famous park, Parque del Buen Retiro.  Translated, it means, ¨Park of the Pleasant Retreat¨ and that is exactly what you will discover when you go.  Situated across 350 acres, the park is a perfect balance of fun activities for a sunny afternnoon, and quiet niches perfect to concentrate in while creating a lesson plan for your next class. It is located right near the center and very accessable by foot, car, and public transport. Apart from numerous, amusing street preformers, you can also go for a boat ride on the pond, visit their famous rose garden, and take pictures at the beautiful Palacio de Cristal.  In addition, every Sunday at noon between the months of May-October, the park hosts free concerts at the bandstand.

My next suggestion really needs no introduction.  Located just west of the center, Madrid’s largest urban park, Casa de Campo, is spread over 4,224 acres and is home to; a lake, an amusement park, the Madrid Zoo, and a large variety of wildlife.  It also has trails for running, cycling, or just casual strolls.  Casa de Campo is a rural escape in the midst of a bustling city.  Very clean and well taken care of, it is a fantastic place for families and friends to socialize and relax. It even hosts a farmers market, the first Saturday of every month, where you can find locally produced products.  Sometimes I buy things to bring to my ESL classes.  It enriches the lesson AND I get to support my local community!

Last but certainly not least is my personal favorite, Parque del Oeste.  What it is now is a sharp contrast to what it once was, the main land fill of Madrid over a hundred years ago.  Fortunately, the city has transformed this ¨dump¨ into a beautiful retreat.  You can find it between the Autovia A-6 and the Moncloa business district.While most of the hilly pathways are better suited for walking and running, there is also a stretch of road blocked off for skate boarders and roller skaters.  This park has beautiful stretches of lawn, perfect for picnics, sunbathing, and even for correcting papers!  It also has a magnificent rose garden with award winning roses from all over the world and is home to the Templo de Debod which came from Egypt and was rebuilt here in 1972.

I have found these parks to be treasure troves of culture and activity.  I can honestly say I find something new each time I go.  As an ESL teacher,  I use a lot of these discoveries to create new and inspired lesson plans for my class.  Although I have only mentioned these 3 there are so many more!

Contributing Writer: Monica Bixby

El Parque del Buen Retrio - lake and boat rentals
Photo: @lisettemiranda

 

Golden schedule when TEFL March 20, 2012

Getting a good schedule when teaching English is a bit like putting together a jigsaw of the sky. Here are some helpful tips

• Don’t say yes to the first jobs you are offered. Certainly in Madrid there are lots of job opportunities so it is better to take your time and take jobs that fit

• make the most of your prime hours. Mornings from 8 to 10, lunchtimes from 1 to 4 and evenings from 6 to 9 are all prime teaching hours for in company classes. You will find it hard to make a decent living if you take a 1 hour class at lunchtimes.

• think about the journey time. If you have to travel for one hour each way for a one hour class – again you will find it hard to make a decent salary.

• make your mark. It is never easy to get your perfect schedule straight away but staying with just a few agencies and being reliable and enthusiastic will mean in time they give you better and better hours.

Working through job options at TtMadrid

Keeping it positive in TEFL classroom March 18, 2012

Keeping your language positive in the classroom is essential for keeping your students motivated. Try not to give instructions that give them the impression that they will find it difficult. Instead tell them why they can accomplish the activity ie because of the prep work you have done and that you are there to help.

Words like ‘difficult’ ‘try’ etc will make them doubt their ability to do the activity.

So keep your language positive!

A typical TEFL class

Using linkedin to get TEFL jobs March 8, 2012

Linked in is a very powerful tool if you are in the TEFL industry in
Madrid or anywhere in the world.

Profile
Make sure your profile is keyword rich. Ie TEFL teacher, esl, teaching English, professional teacher etc. This will help people find you when searching.

Experience
Put all your experience down whether it be teaching or not. Clients are looking for a range of skills and you just might have the range they are looking for.

Groups
Get involved in TEFL and teaching groups. Start a discussion and participate in other people’s discussions. This will expand your network and create a name for yourself.

Connections
Regularly review your connections and expand your network.

Recommendations
Request recommendations from students and academies plus any other professional work experience. Remember to write recommendations back when appropriate.

Be active and engaged
With all the social media out there is very easy to be passive. If you see a comment, discussion, article or blog you like then make a comment, like it or recommend it. Its a two way street!!

Summer jobs TEFL March 6, 2012

Getting creative with children in the TEFL classroom

Summer camps are not for everyone and its therefore a good idea to have a look around and see what else is available.

Firstly talk to the academies and agencies you work for. Ask them if they are likely to have work during July and possibly August. It is much easier to find work during July than August and you need to take a holiday as well!

Most agencies won’t know much about work yet in July but let them know the dates you are willing to work and that you will be around, reliable and ready to work. Remind them of this in an email nearer the time (May) and again in mid June.

Nearer the time put an advert up on www.tusclasesparticulares.com and www.donprofesor.com. Make sure you give a wide remit of what you are able to do. Many people take the summer as an opportunity to update their English skills. Parents who are worried about their children’s level often want them to have clases during July if they are not going on a summer camp. Teachers who work in bilingual schools or teach English are also a very good market to look at.

Many companies offer intensive courses to their staff in July and August (normally in the afternoons). Send your CV out to as many agencies as possible to let them know you are available during this time.

Make some adverts to pin up in local bars, restaurants, libraries, univerities and bookshops offering specialist courses in July and/or August. Make sure they have a pull off strip so people can take your details if they don’t have a pen with them.

In July the work won’t come to you so need to be very proactive. Remember that whilst there are not many opportunities, there are even less teachers around so with some good marketing you should be able to make some decent money in both months if you wish.

Other sites worth look at are www.tefl.com and www.lingobongo.es

If you have any specific questions, please leave a comment and I will do my best to answer it for you.

Summer camps TEFL March 5, 2012

Now is the time to start looking for summer camp jobs. They are all over the world and Spain, uk, and Ireland are very popular so there are lots of opportunities to TEFL to children. The best place to look is www.tefl.com which has listings for all around the world for summer camp jobs.

Summer camps like you to have had experience with children although not necessarily teaching. Update your CV highlighting all your work with children.

Most summer camps will want to see your TEFL certificate so get it scanned now to send off for job applications.

Have a think about whether a summer camp is for you. It can be a lot of fun but very hard work and long hours. Most are residential but you can also find day camps close to big cities Enjoying working with kids helps too!!

Tomorrow we will look at alternatives to summer camp .

Showing your students their progress TEFL March 2, 2012

Beginners and elementary students make leaps and bounds when studying English and are normally very aware of their progress. For other levels in can be very frustrating and they are unable to see their progress.

So what is the solution? Try taking a load off, put your feet up and let your students teach you for the day. Giving your students some control for the day can do a lot for their motivation.

This works well in pairs for lower levels and individually for upper levels. Give them each a topic that they have been studying recently such as a new tense, presentation skills, phrasal verbs etc and help them to prepare a 10 to 15 minute class where they teach you and the other students.

It can do wonders for their confidence and shows them how much progress they have made. Be sure to discuss the outcomes and praise them for how well they have done.

Let me know how it goes.