English Teacher Interview: Antoine of Two People in Spain

July 09.2017.

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Antoine and Kanicia decided to move to Spain after their life in the U.S. became a bit too comfortable! Now, they teach English and run a travel blog called Two People in Spain. Read about Antoine’s experience!

1. Where are you from?

I’m from France but I moved to the United States at a young age. There I grew up in northern California in the San Francisco Bay Area.

2. What made you decide to teach abroad?

I wanted to be able to have flexibility and to do something that did not require me to be in one place which is why I like teaching online so much. I was also fascinated by the idea of exploring different cultures and places.

3. Which program hired you?

I got my TESOL certificate from Canadian Institute of English. I travelled to Vancouver and took a five day course for this. It was a great experience and I would do it again. I now work for a company called Learnship who are headquartered in Europe. They focus on teaching English to business professionals.

4. What country did you choose?

I chose to move to Spain since the culture is very interesting as well as the people and food.

5. Is teaching abroad your first experience in Spain?

Yes, teaching abroad is my first experience in Spain. It’s been a great way to understand the local people and to learn from them as well.

6. What levels do you teach?

I teach business professionals from all different backgrounds usually from France and Germany.

7. Had you worked with children or in education before teaching abroad?

I had not worked with children in education before teaching abroad. Although when I initially moved to Spain I worked in an English academy and taught children of different ages.

8. What surprises you most about the education system in Spain?

The most surprising thing about the education system in Spain is the emphasis placed on testing. Many students here seem to be entirely concerned with doing well on tests by memorizing information and then after they forget it all.

9. What were your favorite/least favorite parts of the job?

My favorite part of teaching online is that I get to do it from the comfort of my own home and I can also set my schedule. This offers me great flexibility and also eliminates time spent commuting to and from work. My least favorite part of the job is dealing with very beginner students because this can be quite exhausting and tiring.

10. What is your favorite word or phrase your students use?

I don’t think I really have a favorite word or phrase from my students. I’m just happy when they use the correct grammar when speaking.

11. What is your favorite part of living in Spain?

My favorite part of living in Spain is the balance that people seem to have between work and the rest of their lives. They spend time with their families, eat with friends and generally enjoy life a lot. This has taught me a lot and I think that its made me happier as I am more relaxed.

12. What advice would you give a prospective teacher abroad?

I would advise a prospective teacher abroad to not give up on their goals but rather to keep moving forward because even though it seems impossible at times you can achieve a lot if you work hard. Once you are actually teaching and living abroad you will experience so many amazing things that will make it all worthwhile.

¡Gracias, Antoine!