Sept 2014 – June 2016

LIVING AND WORKING IN ANDÚJAR

The Town

Andujar is a lovely town, very traditional with a great community atmosphere. It’s the type of town where everybody knows everybody. It isn’t jam packed with things to do, so would certainly suit someone who is ready to get stuck in with the local community. There are plenty of religious festivals and events throughout the year that are wonderful to experience – especially the Romeria in April.

Getting Around

Within the town everything is accessible by foot and if you happen to have a lot of shopping there is a local bus which runs from the centre up to the big supermarkets. If you’re going further afield, there is a train station and a bus station which have fairly regular links to Cordoba and Jaen and a few of the other major cities. Once you get to Cordoba, Spain is your oyster as there are trains to pretty much every province.

The School

The school is located right in the centre of Andujar, perfect for nipping out for breakfast or a coffee in the morning. The school is split over two buildings, the main school and the annex. The classrooms are modern and bright, with everything you need.

 Materials and Resources

All course books come with a wide variety of resources, almost all the books have ipacks and the classrooms have interactive whiteboards. Teachers are given a laptop that is “theirs” to use – so that’s useful for designing and organising your extra resources. The staff room is fully equipped with so many books and resources that I guarantee you’ll find whatever it is you need.

 The Staff

The staff are so supportive and there is always someone who can help you with an idea or solution to a problem both in work and outside. There’s a real community feel amongst the staff and there’s always somebody to do something with. I’ve made some great friends during my time here that I’ll be sad to leave behind.

Students/Classes/Levels

Each teacher will have a variety of ages and levels, from young learners to exam classes. This means that everyday is different and enjoyable! There are no more than 12 students in each class. Spanish students tend to be very passionate (noisy!) but generally are very keen and willing to learn.

Teacher Training

There is a wide variety of training both internal and external, with sessions paid for by the school, in Madrid and Seville each year.

Finding a Flat

Finding a flat is very easy during the summer, there are flats or houses to suit most budgets and generally come with all the appliances and necessities you need.

The Cost of Living

The cost of living is very reasonable, especially being able to have a drink and a tapas for less than €3 after work! The most expensive things are the utility bills, normally electricity comes every two months and water every three. On average, I would say they run a little more expensive than the UK, whereas your groceries and day to day life will probably be cheaper here.

Health Cover

You are fully covered on the health system, I have experienced both visiting the GP and attending A&E. Appointments are easy to make however you may occasionally have to wait longer and you certainly will need to establish your place in the line – Welcome to the Spanish queuing system!