Andrei Serban
This is my second course working as an English language assistant in El Prat, both at J.Tarradellas primary school and civic centres around town. Last year, shortly after joining this incredible experience, things got complicated and our project was severely tested by the pandemic, lockdown and uncertainty. When I returned to my school last month, things felt a lot different though.
We are now facing new challenges, such as keeping education and teaching safe in the middle of a national (and global) emergency, but our projects at school keep adapting and moving forward continuously. My personal experience with bubble classes is proving to be extremely positive. I am only working with two levels (years 5 & 6) and a total of five classes, something very different from the cross-group activities of last course. The essential work I am trying to deliver remains the same as previously, in line with the English department at school and the needs pupils require at each stage of their English lessons. Our activities vary from speaking exercises and games in small groups, to assisting the English teacher during classes or providing support with material and resources.
This fresh new start is being different for everyone, regardless of our age or experience. As someone who is new in a school environment, I find it quite helpful that communication and coordination between teachers works perfectly. During English classes, and for the rest of this term, I am working together with Cristina Cebrian, English teacher for years 5 and 6. I am trying to learn as much as I can and also getting to know each group in a better way. My main “mission” at the school is, no doubt, making children enjoy English and improving their level and pronunciation. But at the end of the day this is a very special year for all, so the main goal for both of us is working together to keep students motivated through this difficult period.
My daily routine as a language assistant is topped with several weekly workshops at Palmira Doménech and Jardins de la Pau civic centres, located really close to the school. We are currently working on different English activities for adults, but also creative workshops for the little ones and their families. Even with new restrictions in place, which have forced us to look for different ways of delivering our cultural offer to neighbours in El Prat, we are coming up with new ideas every week. Online workshops and video-calls, as well as promoting our English activities on social media channels, have become increasingly important for us.
There are lots of challenges and moments ahead of us. It makes it necessary for me and all other assistants and schools to keep up with the good work and to continue writing the lines of our project with Innova and Interseccions. This is a fresh new start for everyone, and it is just one chapter from many more to come.
