It’s Y Viva España for two Spanish trainee teachers who are spending four months at Haxby Road Primary Academy in York.
The teachers, Sara Sagüés Garcia and Irene de Antonio Fernándee-Gallardo, are in the fourth year of their teacher training degree at Ces Don Bosco university in Madrid. The university promotes international mobility as an essential part of improving teaching skills.
The Haxby Road school, and others in Ebor Academy Trust, have strong links with Spanish educational institutions and welcome both Spanish teachers and older primary age children on exchange trips.
“The student teachers are having a great time learning about the English education system and their presence is a rich, cultural experience for the children,” said Mrs Nieves Sadullah, Spanish teacher at the school.
“They are amazed by the creativity in our school and it’s lovely for our staff to be reminded just how special Haxby Road is.”
Sara Sagüés Garcia said: “The English children are so excited to learn – the teachers make learning so much fun. We really like the idea of whole school assemblies which reward and share all the positive things taking place.”
As well as shadowing other teachers and doing some teaching themselves, the Spanish teachers eat meals with the children at lunchtimes to help each others’ conversational skills in English and Spanish.
A further benefit, said Mrs Sadullah, was to broaden children’s horizons beyond language lessons.
The Spanish teachers say they are enjoying their stay – and are impressed with York’s heritage. “The little houses, they are so cute!” said Sara Sagüés Garcia.
Mrs Sadullah said that if any other York schools, regardless of the language being taught, were interested in taking student teachers from Spain next January, to get in touch with her at Haxby Road.
