Eight years ago, I had never heard of Moratalaz. Like most foreign exchange students, I moved between the city center and Ciudad Universitaria and the rest of Madrid didn’t exist for me. Now I live in Moratalaz, and I love it, just like I love my husband, which is how I got here. Juan and I met in 2012 thanks to the internet (yes, a dating website), while we were both living in the US. Coincidentally, he, the Madrileño, had studied in Missouri, my home state in the US, and this Missouri girl had studied in Madrid, so we had a lot to talk about. A wedding and four years later, we left the United States behind to make a go of it in Spain, in my husband’s natal neighborhood of Moratalaz.
In the move, I found a new vocation and profession. Teaching English brings together so much of my previous life experience. When I’m teaching children, I bring in what I learned as a preschool teacher. When I’m working with adults, I rely not only on my TEFL training but also the language expertise I’ve acquired as a writer and journalist. When teaching professionals in companies, my experience in several sectors, including customer service and marketing, helps me to create classes tailored to the needs of my students.
In teaching English, though, I have realized that language is ultimately about communication and culture, and this is why I love it. My innate love for language and culture drives me to not just teach words and rules but to make each class an exchange. I have immensely enjoyed learning the Spanish language and culture. As an English teacher, I can now give an analogous experience to my students. I may not be able to take them to America with me, but through thoughtful preparation and rich materials, I can turn our class into a mini-trip to the Anglophile world. My goal for each class is to provide authentic English language experience right here in your neighborhood. Here in Moratalaz, I can give you a portal to the English speaking world. Sign up for your trial class today!