Chandan Gill
October 1, 2023
The last couple of weeks in Madrid have been adventurous! I got to go on a weekend trip to Sevilla and Cadiz with Manuela and some new friends we met from the school. Exploring these beautiful cities was a blast, but what made it even better was getting to bond with everyone. We all come from different backgrounds, and it was a lot of fun comparing how we do things differently or the same in our cultures. I never thought I would experience language learning from going on a weekend trip. However, the two girls from Greece and Turkey aren’t fluent in English and it’s given me an additional opportunity to learn how to communicate with people who are learning English. I’ve been making a conscious effort not to jump in and finish their sentences or give them the words I think they’re looking for unless they ask for help. It’s all about being considerate of their learning process and giving them a chance to practice. It’s been a win-win for all of us.
As for the school I have been able to practice formative assessment through working with students one on one to learn sounds and create words using letter stones. It’s been fun getting to know the kids better and build connections. The year ones have been learning how to write and say certain “tricky words” like “I”, “she”, “he” etc. Before each “tricky words” lesson they listen to a song that goes with the unit and it will forever be stuck in my head. Here’s the link if you are brave enough to listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvMyssfAUx0
Next, I spontaneously decided to get last minute tickets to see Matilda the Musical and I am so glad I did! I was supposed to be sitting on the third level, but because they had extra room they offered me to sit on the main level near the stage. Although I didn’t understand everything that was being said in Spanish, I used context clues and my knowledge of Matilda to keep track of what was happening. The performances were absolutely incredible and each one offered something different!
Lastly, I surprisingly found that one of my favorite activities here in Madrid has been karaoke nights. We get to sing a mix of Spanish and English songs, and let me tell you, it’s a blast! The best part is when a Spanish song plays, and Cory tries to translate it into English based on his Spanish skills. Sometimes it makes perfect sense, and sometimes we end up laughing and confused because the translation makes no sense.
As I come to my final month in Madrid I look forward to more adventures, more cultural exchanges, and more laughs with the fantastic people I’ve met!
