TEFL Madrid Graduation!

Friday I graduated from the Madrid TEFL course! We are a proud and happy bunch.




Now it is time to celebrate with a night on the town!

We met up at Madrid's mascot bear-tree combo in the famed Sol plaza for a tapas crawl.

This was one of my favorite places we went to. See again the famous bear-tree rendered in stained glass.

A wonderful evening with people I am so proud to have worked with!

Week 4 of Madrid TEFL Course

Early in the 4th week, I endeavored to perfect my crepe making skills and to provide an opportunity to study for TEFL exams. I was very happy with the results and I think my roommates were also pleased at this improvement in my cooking skills! Oh, and my phonetics got a work-out as well! Seriously, yum.

I designed my last class around the topic of Slow Food. At the end of class, students got a chance to really put their skills into practice as I supplied some context in the form of bread, cheese, basil, tomato, and fresh juice. We toasted our accomplishments and the idea of taking time to enjoy food and the good company of friends.


The directors walked in toward the end of the lesson. I think they approved, but the camera tells it better than I could!
Wednesday brought exams and the end of big stress for me for awhile. I passed! Now what?
I had a portfolio to turn in and a Materials Assignment to present to an independent moderator for the program, but my head was spinning with what to do with the free time I suddenly found myself with!


I celebrated on Thursday by going for chocolate y churros with a friend and playing tourist for awhile.

The Spanish are really into their ham. Here I am pictured in front of one among many purveyors of the much celebrated substance. It all works out because I'm rather cheesy and we all know those two make a great combination!

It was a really nice change of pace and when I came home my roommates were in a goofy mood which added to my lifted spirits. I'm going to miss my Madrid family!

Week 3 of Madrid TEFL Course

Week 3 was incredibly intensive with classes, teaching, and an oppressive heat which threatened to drain all energy or motivation. Somehow, through the grace of God, along with supportive classmates and roommates, I made it through.

I did manage to get out to the park with my Language Partner, Ricky. There is a little pond just in front of a pretty glass building and on the path alongside it they built this cave-like tunnel with a waterfall that made for a fun photo op!

Week 2 of Madrid TEFL Course

Debut of the ninja pants!
We started teaching during the 2nd week of the course.
It is amazing how much confidence wearing ninja pants can give you.

Ben had a little hiccup with his lung collapsing. This pic is of Lisa, Julie, and I visiting him in the hospital. Truth-be-told, there was much worry over the situation and much relief as a week and a day later he finally left the hospital. We love you Ben!

The TEFL course teaching had us all in full gear with studies and stressing. This first week really had me focused on what I wanted to get out of my experience both personally and professionally.

Madrid weekend #1

Saturday of my first weekend here in Madrid was spent with some of the girls from my class. We got out and did some shopping in Fuencarral, had some tapas, and crashed a party.
I also found some sweet ninja pants which will be featured in a future post.

Here we see the lovely Cathi enjoying the grass floor of one of the shops in Fuencarral.
Lukas, you would have enjoyed it!