September 2017 – June 2018 and continuing

LIVING AND WORKING IN ANDÚJAR

The town

Andujar is a charming little town where everything is close and people are extremely friendly. Full of shops, supermarkets, restaurants and tapas bars you can really enjoy the centre and the delicious local products. Celebrations in Andujar are another great aspect. It’s always beautiful to watch how the entire town comes to life every time.

Getting Around

To get around Andujar you only need your feet, but it’s quite easy to get to other cities as well by bus or train.

The School

The school is in the centre, in a quiet building with lots of natural light. The courtyard, which can be seen from almost all the classrooms, helps to create a great atmosphere  with its plants and flowers. Teaching there is a real pleasure.

Materials and Resources

 The school offers an incredible variety of materials and resources for all levels and age groups. Everything is extremely organised and easy to find.

The Staff

“Welcoming”and “supportive” are huge understatements when describing ECI’s staff. Everyone is kind and always ready to help you out with everything; from lesson planning to finding extra resources or just talking about your lessons to come up with better ideas. Each member of staff is competent, committed to teaching and to improving as a teacher. They put their students first and work really hard to help them get the results they want. I believe this to be the perfect environment for someone who wants to work just as hard and enjoys working in a team.

Students/Classes/Levels

Something that I really love about ECI is that you are able to teach different levels and age groups, from very young kids to adults. Students are in general very good, motivated and willing to learn. Parents are constantly kept informed about the progress of their children and you can directly talk to them during weekly meetings to discuss any problems arisen in class or worries you might have.

The classes are generally well organized and fully equipped with interactive whiteboards, computers and wi-fi connection.

Teacher Training

Being a new teacher who had just done her CELTA, when I arrived here I was looking for a school which could offer a valid teacher training programme and I believe I couldn’t have found anything better. Peer observations, meetings, workshops and conferences give you a chance to constantly improve and try new things in your class.

Here you definitely have a chance to grow as a teacher and, more importantly, you are given the freedom to do so while exploring what kind of teacher you want to become.

Finding a Flat

The school is very supportive not only for what concerns the job, it also gives you a great help in finding a flat and taking care of everything you might need in the first few months. At my arrival, Julie already had different flats lined up for me to see and the Spanish speaking staff kindly brought me to see all of them and helped me sort out the internet, my bank account and everything else I needed. Everyone is extremely patient and kind and they do their best so that you get the best deals.

The Cost of Living

The cost of living is lower than what I have experienced in any other country. The rent is very cheap considered the amount of space and type of flat that you can get. Utility bills come every 2 or 3 months and even if the water bills are fairly cheap, electricity can be a bit more expensive, but it all depends on the flat you live in.

For what concerns grocery shopping, prices vary depending on which supermarket you go to, but the central market offers quality and local products for really good prices.

Health Cover

The health care system is very good. You will have a local GP and will be able to refer to a health centre for every problem. When I needed further exams or tests they were always quick in processing my requests and I didn’t have to pay anything for the visits.