Volunteering Abroad: English Teacher Assistants at EMDN school in Barcelona
Studying abroad has many layers of opportunity.
Of course it means actually “studying”–the academic experience–but it also means learning about cultural differences, perhaps navigating life in a new language, probably travel around and beyond your immediate destination, forming global connections, possibly participating in an internship, tasting food you’ve never tried before, finding your way around and gaining independence, learning how your chosen field operates internationally, and many other things.
For some students, studying abroad also includes the experience of volunteering!
In Barcelona, Spring 2022 students Lauren Casey, Aleksandra Misiewicz and Saoirse Herlihy have been volunteering as English Teacher Assistants at EMDN School where they teach 3rd and 4th primary courses and a 4th secondary course.
This experience has been beneficial to the school, as one of their connections there, Belén Clemente, explains: “We have enjoyed ASA students Lauren, Saoirse and Aleksandra for some weeks now,” she said. “The 3rd, 4th and secondary students have expanded their vocabulary and culture [knowledge] about the US in a playful and fun way by doing different oral activities with ASA students. This is a great opportunity for Catalan students to improve their English language skills.”
It’s an experience that our study abroaders won’t soon forget either.
We asked Aleksandra what the volunteer opportunity has meant to her, and she said: “My experience at EMDN has been a positive one. I usually talk to the teacher and ask her what topic I should focus on when creating an activity or lesson and then go into class with the students and interact with them.
We play different games, I teach them about me and my culture, and also include the vocabulary they are working on. It is fun to get to know the students and teach them english from a new perspective. I like working with the kids and it is a great immersive experience for me and the students as well, as we both have a very different background, but we can learn from each other.”
A few other examples of ASA students volunteering include Buenos Aires students working in a soup kitchen on a Saturday; Viña del Mar students helping foster kids with their homework after school or helping with beautification projects at the Jardín Botanico; Cuzco students making doghouses and kennels for puppies at Cuzco Animal Protection or helping the Ministry of Culture maintain archaeological sites.
If you’re interested in volunteering when you study abroad, get in touch to find out which opportunities are available in your chosen location.