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Photo at La Alhambra Palace in Granada, Andalucía.
Tu Profe Bella
Tu Profe Bella
My name is Bella Jabra and I was a first year auxiliar in Madrid! In September 2019, I made the most courageous decision of my life and moved to Spain to teach English. I moved to Madrid from Los Angeles, California, where my family recently relocated from Detroit five years ago.
My name is Bella Jabra and I was a first year auxiliar in Madrid! In September 2019, I made the most courageous decision of my life and moved to Spain to teach English. I moved to Madrid from Los Angeles, California, where my family recently relocated from Detroit five years ago.
In Madrid, I lived in the very progressive and trendy neighborhood known as Malasaña, which is located right in the center of the city. My program placed me in two different schools, which provided me with a different experience with the Auxiliares program. One of my schools, Instituto Tirso de Molina, is located in Legazpi (in the Capital part of Madrid). I taught Infantil (4-5 year olds) at Tirso de Molina every Monday and Tuesday. My other school, Colegio Publico Antonio Machado, is located in Collado Villalba, roughly 40 km (25 miles) northwest. I taught Primaria (6-12 year olds) at this school on Wednesdays and Thursdays. I will be focusing the findings of my work done there, as that is where I worked with 3rd graders learning the verbs "to be" and "to have".
In Madrid, I lived in the very progressive and trendy neighborhood known as Malasaña, which is located right in the center of the city. My program placed me in two different schools, which provided me with a different experience with the Auxiliares program. One of my schools, Instituto Tirso de Molina, is located in Legazpi (in the Capital part of Madrid). I taught Infantil (4-5 year olds) at Tirso de Molina every Monday and Tuesday. My other school, Colegio Publico Antonio Machado, is located in Collado Villalba, roughly 40 km (25 miles) northwest. I taught Primaria (6-12 year olds) at this school on Wednesdays and Thursdays. I will be focusing the findings of my work done there, as that is where I worked with 3rd graders learning the verbs "to be" and "to have".
Photo from a weekend trip in Marrakech, Morocco.
Educational Background
Educational Background
I graduated from the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor in May 2019. I majored in Political Economics & Development as well as Spanish within our Program in International & Comparative Studies. Once learning about the Auxiliares de Conversación program through Michigan's Department of Romance Languages, I knew applying to become an English teacher in Spain was the next path for me. I was certain I wanted to take a gap year after graduating to spend my time doing governement-related work, experiencing life in a different country, travelling, and most importantly, having fun!
I graduated from the University of Michigan - Ann Arbor in May 2019. I majored in Political Economics & Development as well as Spanish within our Program in International & Comparative Studies. Once learning about the Auxiliares de Conversación program through Michigan's Department of Romance Languages, I knew applying to become an English teacher in Spain was the next path for me. I was certain I wanted to take a gap year after graduating to spend my time doing governement-related work, experiencing life in a different country, travelling, and most importantly, having fun!
Graduation photo at the University of Michigan Law Quad - Ann Arbor, MI.
Post-Graduate Life
Post-Graduate Life
Both of my undergraduate degrees helped pave the way for my success as an English teacher in a foreign country. My degree in International Studies provided me with immense background knowledge on the economics and history of developing countries around the world. By focusing my studies as an undergraduate on the Spanish-speaking regions of Central and Latin America, and more particularly Spain, I have spent countless nights in college studying the various geographic, ethnic, and religious backgrounds from which my students come from. Many of my students were Spanish natives, but I taught many others with families from Peru, Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia, Honduras, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, en even non-Spanish speaking countries like Morocco, China, England, Bulgaria, Romania, and Ukraine.
Both of my undergraduate degrees helped pave the way for my success as an English teacher in a foreign country. My degree in International Studies provided me with immense background knowledge on the economics and history of developing countries around the world. By focusing my studies as an undergraduate on the Spanish-speaking regions of Central and Latin America, and more particularly Spain, I have spent countless nights in college studying the various geographic, ethnic, and religious backgrounds from which my students come from. Many of my students were Spanish natives, but I taught many others with families from Peru, Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia, Honduras, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, en even non-Spanish speaking countries like Morocco, China, England, Bulgaria, Romania, and Ukraine.
My Spanish degree also helped me transition into my first post-grad role on the other side of the world. Having a degree in the language allowed me to navigate a foreign country completely by myself without fear of not understanding nor speaking the local tongue. Prior to living in Spain, I never had the confidence to speak with such fluidity and fluency in a foreign language with native speakers themselves.
My Spanish degree also helped me transition into my first post-grad role on the other side of the world. Having a degree in the language allowed me to navigate a foreign country completely by myself without fear of not understanding nor speaking the local tongue. Prior to living in Spain, I never had the confidence to speak with such fluidity and fluency in a foreign language with native speakers themselves.
Photo in Granada, Andalucía.
My Love for Language
My Love for Language
Despite changing one of my majors in college from Economics to International Studies, I have been dedicated to the Spanish langauge since middle school and continiously sought out ways to fuel my passion for the language. Completing a Spanish degree right before moving to Spain was critical to my livelihood there. That degree provided me with the necessary means to understand, read, write, and speak the language - all while feeling like a master at Spanish.
Despite changing one of my majors in college from Economics to International Studies, I have been dedicated to the Spanish langauge since middle school and continiously sought out ways to fuel my passion for the language. Completing a Spanish degree right before moving to Spain was critical to my livelihood there. That degree provided me with the necessary means to understand, read, write, and speak the language - all while feeling like a master at Spanish.
Photo in Sevilla, Andalucía.
Language in Madrid
Language in Madrid
Once I moved to Madrid, a whole new world of language opened for me. Immediately upon arriving to Madrid and leaving the airport, I felt nervously displaced. I had absolutely no idea what my Uber driver was saying to me on my way to my apartment for the first time! Being unfamiliar with the nuances of Spanish pragmatics in Madrid, I quickly realized for the first time that learning a foreign language in an American classroom does not make you fluent. I was then shocked at how little English is spoken in Madrid, despite being a large capital city. Madrid has one of the lowest English proficiencies in all of Europe! Because of this, I was forced to expand my Spanish vocabulary. I quickly became mesmerized with the opportunity to understand a foreign language in a deeper context than I was ever capable of doing before in a foreign language classroom.
Once I moved to Madrid, a whole new world of language opened for me. Immediately upon arriving to Madrid and leaving the airport, I felt nervously displaced. I had absolutely no idea what my Uber driver was saying to me on my way to my apartment for the first time! Being unfamiliar with the nuances of Spanish pragmatics in Madrid, I quickly realized for the first time that learning a foreign language in an American classroom does not make you fluent. I was then shocked at how little English is spoken in Madrid, despite being a large capital city. Madrid has one of the lowest English proficiencies in all of Europe! Because of this, I was forced to expand my Spanish vocabulary. I quickly became mesmerized with the opportunity to understand a foreign language in a deeper context than I was ever capable of doing before in a foreign language classroom.
Photo from the Plaza de España metro stop, Madrid.
Speaking Abroad
Speaking Abroad
As much as I value the world-renowned education the University of Michigan provided for me, I do not believe learning a foreign language at an institution outside of that given country is equivalent to living in that country itself. By living in that respective country, you are immersing yourself in a different culture, language, and lifestyle - things you are not able to learn in a foreign language classroom.
As much as I value the world-renowned education the University of Michigan provided for me, I do not believe learning a foreign language at an institution outside of that given country is equivalent to living in that country itself. By living in that respective country, you are immersing yourself in a different culture, language, and lifestyle - things you are not able to learn in a foreign language classroom.
Photo in Soller, Mallorca.
How my Passion Benefitted my Students
How my Passion Benefitted my Students
This is what I wanted for my ESL students! I hope my student's exposure to a native English speaker provided them with more confidence to speak with other English language natives. My students may not have the financial means to move to an English-speaking country to fully immerse themselves in the English language right now, but they were still learning the language in the best way possible - by speaking with a native herself. As an auxiliar, I truly feel that I accomplished this solely by being a presence in the daily lives of my students. As the school year progressed, I saw my students become much more confident when speaking English with me compared to the beginning of the year.
This is what I wanted for my ESL students! I hope my student's exposure to a native English speaker provided them with more confidence to speak with other English language natives. My students may not have the financial means to move to an English-speaking country to fully immerse themselves in the English language right now, but they were still learning the language in the best way possible - by speaking with a native herself. As an auxiliar, I truly feel that I accomplished this solely by being a presence in the daily lives of my students. As the school year progressed, I saw my students become much more confident when speaking English with me compared to the beginning of the year.
Photo of a September sunset on Gran Vía in Madrid.
How Does This Relate to My Project?
How Does This Relate to My Project?
By speaking both English and Spanish fluently, I was able to further understand and unravel the problems that my Spanish students faced in their English classrooms. I understood the obstacles they may have had with translations; and I was able to explain the reasons behind these language differences in a way that helped my students better understand the lanugage. This benefit was huge and advantageous for me as an English teacher in a foreign country. I was able to teach at a much deeper level than a non-Spanish speaking teacher may have had difficulty with in Spain.
By speaking both English and Spanish fluently, I was able to further understand and unravel the problems that my Spanish students faced in their English classrooms. I understood the obstacles they may have had with translations; and I was able to explain the reasons behind these language differences in a way that helped my students better understand the lanugage. This benefit was huge and advantageous for me as an English teacher in a foreign country. I was able to teach at a much deeper level than a non-Spanish speaking teacher may have had difficulty with in Spain.
Photo of La Alhambra Palace in Granada, Andalucía.
Spain Takeaways
Spain Takeaways
Despite encountering many challenging times working abroad, I could not have chosen a better post-grad plan for myself. As this was my first time living somewhere outside the U.S., this experience allowed me to view the world in ways that I never have been able to in my life. From my six months in Spain, I developed an immense passion for bilingual education and a large appreciation of my privileged American life.
Despite encountering many challenging times working abroad, I could not have chosen a better post-grad plan for myself. As this was my first time living somewhere outside the U.S., this experience allowed me to view the world in ways that I never have been able to in my life. From my six months in Spain, I developed an immense passion for bilingual education and a large appreciation of my privileged American life.
Photo from an afternoon run in Park Oeste, Madrid.
Program Takeaways
Program Takeaways
Besides the benefits I’ve gained as an English teacher, this position allowed me to visualize and understand how others can benefit from my passion. My role in the classroom benefited those around me much more than it did for myself. My presence in class alone excited my students in a way that I was not prepared. The second I walked into my classes, my students ran up to me - they hugged me, kissed me, told me how much they love me and missed me - an added benefit to working with such young students!
Besides the benefits I’ve gained as an English teacher, this position allowed me to visualize and understand how others can benefit from my passion. My role in the classroom benefited those around me much more than it did for myself. My presence in class alone excited my students in a way that I was not prepared. The second I walked into my classes, my students ran up to me - they hugged me, kissed me, told me how much they love me and missed me - an added benefit to working with such young students!
My students were so interested in my American life that they genuinely wanted to make conversation with me. Despite not knowing too much English, my students questioned my entire existence! The students knew that if they wanted to talk to me, it had to be in English, so it forced them to practice and become familiar with the language. They asked me questions in Spanish and because I am fluent in the language, I was able to help them frame their questions in English. By doing this teaching, my students and I were able to connect on a much deeper level that allowed me to appreciate my work much more.
My students were so interested in my American life that they genuinely wanted to make conversation with me. Despite not knowing too much English, my students questioned my entire existence! The students knew that if they wanted to talk to me, it had to be in English, so it forced them to practice and become familiar with the language. They asked me questions in Spanish and because I am fluent in the language, I was able to help them frame their questions in English. By doing this teaching, my students and I were able to connect on a much deeper level that allowed me to appreciate my work much more.
Photo of Bahia Palace in Marakech, Morocco.
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