Siobhán Hardiman

Incredible experience!

Hello Everyone, 

Wow, it is hard to believe my time here is coming to an end. As I am finishing up my last two weeks, I have been reflecting on my entire experience teaching English at C.E.I.P. Blas Infante. My experience has been an incredible one, filled with lots of learning, enthusiasm and gratitude. The teachers have helped me practice different teaching skills and gain overall confidence in the classroom. Everyday, the students make me smile and feel excited to teach them a new language. I am going to miss everyone so much!

Here is a brief overview of what I have been practicing with the students these past two months. 

In the first grade classroom: We have been practicing how to say the days of the week, months of the year and the weather. The first graders do a great job with their speaking. 

In the second grade classroom: We have been learning how to describe different types of landscapes. We’ve played some fun games with pictures that encourage the kids to speak in English. 

In the third grade classroom: The third graders have also been practicing how to describe landscapes in English. I really enjoy working with the third graders, because they have great listening skills. 

In the fourth grade classroom: The fourth graders have been learning about different types of matter and energy. They have done a great job practicing sentences in English. 

In the fifth grade classroom: We’ve been learning about the population of Spain and Europe. The kids have learned different words to describe populations, such as birth rate and death rate. 

In the sixth grade classroom: The kids have learned how to describe different economic activities, such as agriculture, trade, and tourism. 

Last week I had a wonderful time eating tapas with the bilingual teachers. It was so nice to spend time with the teachers and enjoy some delicious Spanish food. Below is a picture of us.

Thank you so much to everyone who has helped me feel welcome this past year. This has been a wonderful experience and it wouldn’t have been the same without the extraordinary teachers and wonderful students. I will miss you all. Keep up the great English (and I will continue practicing my Spanish)!

Hasta luego, 

Siobhán

Wonderful months: February and March

Hello everyone, 

Happy Spring!! I hope you are all doing well. Springtime in Sevilla is beautiful and I am really looking forward to experiencing Semana Santa and La Feria in April. February and March have been really wonderful months. In February, I spent most of my weekends in Sevilla and started playing on a football team. The football team has been really fun and has both English and Spanish players. In March, I traveled to Valencia to visit a friend and see Las Fallas. This was a wonderful weekend! I practiced my Spanish a lot and got to experience the beautiful and unique fallas. 

Everyday at the school is so fun and the kids continue to impress me with their level of English. In the beginning of March, I got the chance to go with the third and fourth level students to the chocolate factory. I loved learning about the chocolate with the kids and of course tasting the delicious chocolate! Here is a brief description of what I’ve been working on with each level. 

In the first grade classroom: I have been helping the students learn about the geography of the world. For example, the six continents and salt water vs. fresh water. 

In the second grade classroom: The students are learning about living things in nature. Specifically, I am working with the students to practice speaking so they gain more confidence in English. 

In the third grade classroom: I have been helping the students learn about the ages of history. The students have been repeating the same sentences in English to increase understanding and correct pronunciation. 

In the fourth grade classroom: I’ve been helping the students learn about the Prehistory stage. We have played lots of fun games in the classroom and the students are always so excited to practice their English. 

In the fifth grade classroom: The students are practicing English sentences about the history of Spain during the Middle Ages and the Modern Age. 

In the sixth grade classroom: The students are practicing English sentences about the 20th & 21st centuries in Spain. 

Below are some pictures from my trip to Valencia. Thank you to everyone who helps make me feel comfortable and welcome here. I am so grateful to be at this school. 

 

Happy 2023!!

Hello everyone, 

Happy 2023! I hope everyone had a great holiday season and new year. December and January have been wonderful months for me. In the beginning of December, I went to the teacher’s Christmas dinner here in Alcalá de Guadaíra. It was so great to spend time with all the teachers and get to know them better. In December, I also traveled to Ireland for my cousin’s wedding. This was very fun! I then traveled back to Ireland for the holidays and enjoyed the season with my family. Christmas is a big holiday in my family with many days of eating and celebrating. The Christmas traditions in my family include eating LOTS of food, going to the Christmas market, playing a Secret Santa (amigo invisible) with my cousins, going to church, and most importantly spending time with everyone. After the holidays, my boyfriend and I traveled to Spain together. It was really fun to show him Spain, as this was his first time in Europe. We went to Madrid, Toledo, Sevilla and Cádiz. I am so thankful to have had this time to travel. 

It feels really great being back to school and seeing the kids everyday. Here is a quick recap of what I’ve been helping with in each class. 

In the first grade classroom: the kids have been learning about healthy habits and healthy food. We have been practicing pronunciation and playing games. 

In the second grade classroom: the kids have been learning how to classify living things. The other day we made a mind map using different categories to classify the animals. 

In the third grade classroom: the kids have also been learning about healthy habits. I am so impressed with the third graders!

In the fourth grade classroom: The kids are learning about different ecosystems and how to classify them. For example, is this ecosystem modified or unmodified? 

In the fifth grade classroom: We are learning about The Middle Ages. The kids have been doing a job participating and engaging in class.  

In the sixth grade classroom: The kids are currently learning about Spanish History. This has proven to be a difficult topic to understand in English, but the kids are doing great!

A super fun November

Hello everyone!

November has been a super fun month! I’ve really enjoyed teaching all the kids, as well as working with the teachers. Everyday I smile because the kids are so excited to see me and I feel so welcomed. 

Here is a brief recap of all the things I have helped with in the classroom.

In the first grade classroom: The kids have been learning about the parts of the body in English. They have learned the main parts of the body, as well as the joints. The kids have also been very enthusiastic to practice saying their names and talking about the weather in English. 

In the second grade classroom: I have been helping the kids learn about the vocabulary for towns and cities. 

In the third grade classroom: I have helped the kids practice speaking about their animals that they have researched. I am very impressed by how well the third graders speak English. 

In the fourth grade classroom: The kids have been learning about natural and manufactured products, as well as the types of energy. The fourth graders are always very excited to practice their English and we usually listen to music at the end of class. 

In the fifth grade classroom: The kids are learning about the climate and the atmosphere. We have played some group games to practice! 

In the sixth grade classroom: I have helped the kids learn about nutrition function and the systems of the body. 

November is an important month in the United States because, on the fourth Thursday, we celebrate Thanksgiving. Unfortunately, the week of Thanksgiving I was sick and was not able to make it to all my classes. However, each grade learned about the history of Thanksgiving, as well as common Thanksgiving traditions in the United States. The first, second and third graders really enjoyed drawing turkeys and decorating the feathers in different colors. The older kids learned about the importance the Native Americans play in the history and traditions of Thanksgiving. 

November was also an exciting month for me because my cousin got married in Ireland. I was very fortunate to be able to travel to her wedding. Although I really missed the Spanish sunshine while I was in Ireland, it was a beautiful weekend and I’m so grateful I got to go. 

Here are some pictures from the Halloween Party at the school!  

My first month as a Language Assistant

Hello everyone!

    My name is Siobhán Hardiman and I am the language assistant this year. I am so excited to be in Spain and I have really enjoyed teaching English to all the kids! I am from The United States. I grew up in a small town about an hour outside of Boston, Massachusetts. I grew up on a horse farm, because my dad breeds horses for show jumping. In my family I have my mom, stepdad, dad, and two older brothers. Although I am from the United States, my dad is from Galway, Ireland. I visit Ireland often, because I have a lot of family there. 

    In 2019, I spent a semester studying in Seville. I had an incredible time and fell in love with Spain. I knew that I always wanted to come back and I am so grateful to be in Seville again. 

    My first month teaching the kids has been fantastic! I love how enthusiastic all the kids are to learn English and I’m very impressed at their level. Everyday the children greet me with high fives and hugs. I feel so welcome and excited to be here. I also really enjoy working with all the teachers and they have helped me feel comfortable and welcome in the classrooms. 

Here is a quick description of what I have helped with in each grade. 

In the first grade classroom: I have been helping the kids learn about family vocabulary. We have also practiced saying our names and talking about the weather in English. 

In the second grade classroom: We have been learning the parts of the body in English. We have been singing songs to practice.

In the third grade classroom: The children are learning about plants and animals. The third graders are so enthusiastic and love practicing their English!

In the fourth grade classroom: I have been helping the kids learn about the parts of the body, as well as the body systems. For example, the respiratory and the circulatory systems. 

In the fifth grade classroom: The children are learning about the solar system. I am so impressed with the fifth graders!

In the sixth grade classroom: The kids have been learning about the relief of Spain and Europe in English. I love playing the jeopardy game with the sixth graders!

Thank you so much for having me! I am so excited to be here!