NARRATIVE REPORT by Mia Peters

I eagerly awaited my acceptance letter for what seemed like forever when it finally arrived on the most beautiful sunny day in May. At the time, I was just weeks away from finishing my first year as a language assistant in Osuna, a small town about an hour away from the capital of Seville.

I only planned on participating in the program for a year, but I fell so deeply in love with all that Andalusia has to offer and wanted nothing more than to continue my experience in the uniquely beautiful and charming city of Seville.

My experience at IES Nervión has exceeded all of my expectations for my second year as a language assistant. From the very beginning, the students and staff have welcomed me with open arms and made every effort to integrate me in the school’s community. The courses that I assist are varied between subjects and course levels, which was slightly intimidating at first, but the teachers I’ve had the pleasure of working with this year have been so supportive and communicate with me regularly.

The overall level of familiarity and engagement with the English language varies depending on the course level and personal backgrounds of each individual student, but all of the teachers I’ve worked with in the bilingual program have made every effort to ensure that I have the tools to work as effectively as possible with students at all levels.

That is not to say that it is always easy-there are always going to be some days that are more difficult than others as an educator-but even on the days that I find it hardest to engage with my students and maintain their interest, I never feel unsupported. Another thing that I’ve loved about my experience at IES Nervión is how deeply involved I am with the school’s community.

The students and staff at the institute truly embody the beauty of Spanish culture and kindness and have extended to me the warmest of welcomes even prior to my arrival to Seville. I have also been invited on many field trips through which I have been exposed to the immense wonders of Andalusian art, history, and landscapes, but while the school community gives me every opportunity to develop my appreciation for their home, they also express a profound interest in and appreciation for mine.

In the coming months, we will be celebrating “New York Day” at the school, in which I get to share the very many aspects of my culture that I’ve missed so dearly with my students and coworkers here. I love that I have been given the resources to recreate a piece of my home in the States thousands of miles away in Seville and that the school community shares in my excitement. Once you overcome the stress of the visa/renewal process and finding a flat, the worst part of your time participating in the language assistant program is over.

I am so grateful for the kindness and warmth that I’ve received during my time at IES Nervión and while I dread the end of my second and final year in Andalusia, I am glad that someone else is going to have the opportunity to experience everything I’ve loved about my time here. To IES Nervión’s next language assistant: enjoy every second and take every opportunity you can to fall in love with the school and the beauty of the city it’s in. Most importantly, have fun! I know you will.