Hi everyone! My name is Vanessa, I am from Spain, and I am the new volunteer for Udruga Amazonas.
I am a leader of non-formal activities and I will be the one sharing our experiences through the Amazonas blog from now on. I am excited to tell you about our activities, the people we meet, the things we learn and all the small moments that make this volunteering experience special. So, let’s start with my very first week as a language teacher!
What Happens When Volunteers Become Language Teachers?
Starting something new is always exciting, especially when you do not know exactly what to expect. This week, our volunteering experience at Udruga Amazonas took us into a new role: becoming language teachers. Lenz, a volunteer from Germany, has started teaching German, while I have started teaching Spanish and conversational English. For both of us, the first classes were a chance to meet our students, share our languages and discover what it is like to be on the other side of the classroom.
From Spain to Zagreb: My First Spanish Class
There were eight students in the class. Most of them were university students, although there were a few exceptions. Almost everyone had a similar motivation: they would like to visit Spain or take part in an Erasmus programme there. It was great to see that they already had a personal reason for learning Spanish.
The students were complete beginners, so we started with the basics. We learned how to greet each other, introduce ourselves and have a short, friendly conversation. We also learned numbers and how to say our birthdays in Spanish.
I was positively surprised by how quickly they learned. Even though they were starting from zero, they understood everything very well and were not afraid to participate.
From “Hola” to a Real Conversation
At the beginning, the group was a little shy. This is completely understandable when you meet new people and have to speak a language you have never studied before.
However, something changed during the lesson. Little by little, everyone became more comfortable. By the end, the atmosphere was relaxed, friendly and welcoming. We were no longer just a group of students and a teacher. We were simply people trying to communicate, learn something new and have a good time together.
I was not particularly nervous before the class. It went more or less as I expected, but I was still very happy with the result. Seeing the students use their first Spanish words was probably my favourite part of the lesson.
What About German?
At the same time, my fellow volunteer Lenz started his German classes. Lenz comes from Berlin and, unlike me, already has some experience as a teacher. He has previously worked with children, although teaching German in this context is also a new experience for him.
Around six or seven students joined his first class. Most of them were university students as well. There was an interesting difference between the two groups: Lenz’s students already had some basic knowledge of German because they had studied it at school.
Lenz was a little more nervous before his first class than I was. However, he quickly relaxed once the lesson started. Just like in my group, the atmosphere became very friendly, and the students were willing to participate and learn.
Two Languages, One Experience
Although our classes are different, Lenz and I have already noticed some similarities. Teaching a language is not only about grammar, vocabulary or pronunciation. It is also about creating an environment where people feel comfortable making mistakes.
As a teacher, you quickly realise that students need to feel that it is okay not to know something. They need the confidence to try, even if their first sentence is not perfect.
For me, this has been especially interesting because it is my first time teaching languages. I am very satisfied with how the first class went, and it has made me even more excited about the weeks ahead.
More Than Just Language
We have only had our first classes, but we already have many things to look forward to. In the next lessons, our students will learn more vocabulary, expressions and grammar. But we also want to introduce them to our cultures.
Learning Spanish or German can be much more than learning how to construct a sentence. It can be a way to discover another country, understand different traditions and maybe even feel more confident about travelling abroad.
For me, it is especially rewarding to know that some of my students are learning Spanish because they dream of visiting Spain or doing Erasmus there. Maybe one day, some of the conversations we practise in Zagreb will actually be used in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia or another Spanish city.
The Beginning of Something New
Our first week of language classes has shown us that being a teacher can be just as much about learning as it is about teaching. We are learning how to explain things, how to adapt to our students and how to create a comfortable atmosphere in the classroom.
For now, our first “Hola” and “Hallo” have been said. There are still many words, conversations and cultural discoveries ahead of us. We cannot wait to see where these first classes will take us!
Vanessa Moreno Batuecas, ESC volunteer
