Alumni Interview with Ethan McMillen

What inspired you to travel abroad?

I started studying Spanish in Elementary school and always learned about Spain and other Latin American countries. For me, they always seemed so interesting and finally during my junior year of high school I spent a summer in Valencia doing an exchange program. I stayed with a really nice host family and I had the time of my life there. I was fascinated by the culture and lifestyle that people had there. After that amazing experience I instantly knew that I would go back to live in Spain long-term.

Why did you choose your specific TEFL Madrid program?

I spent a long time searching through different websites and directories looking for the right course for me. I began looking for courses months before I was planning to leave for Spain. In the end, some of the main reasons I chose TEFL madrid over the other course in Spain was because of the location and the value of the course at TEFL madrid. Once I saw that the academy was in the heart of the city I knew my experience there would be fantastic, especially since I really enjoy big cities. Also the price was much lower than the other courses I found while also still providing the same level of TEFL accreditation.

What was your favorite part about Spain?

For me, Spain has so many great things: culture, history, food, weather, lifestyle. The list is endless, but if I had to choose my favorite thing it would have to be history. I studied history and have always loved learning about it so Spain was a natural choice for me. It has a diverse history from various cultures and civilizations dating back thousands of years. Everywhere you go you can find historical sites and buildings dating back to the Romans and even before. It’s wonderful having the chance to go see these sites which have been around for thousands of years.

What made your experience abroad extraordinary?

I would say that one of the main reasons my experience has been so extraordinary was that I came to Spain immediately after I graduated high school and community college. I had just turned 18 when I first moved to Spain. I was able to experience a freedom that I had never had before. I had never lived on my own before. I think because of this I was able to have lots of extraordinary experiences. I’ve traveled around Europe, met hundreds of people from all around the world, and improved my Spanish to a fluent level. All these things that I have been able to do are what have really made my experience here extraordinary.

How did the local TEFL Madrid staff support you throughout your program?

Without the staff’s help I don’t think my transition would have gone as smoothly as it did. I was given support on a variety of things like airport pickup, phone service, bank accounts, activities. But I would say the thing that I appreciate the most was the help I received to find accomodation in Madrid. Madrid is a big city and it can be easy to get lost or to pick an area that isn’t really suited to you. I ended up finding a great apartment in the center of the center thanks to the staff’s help and I’m really glad I did. Originally, I was planning on living a little further out of the city but I was recommended to stay closer to the center. I have heard from others who stayed out of the city about the problems they’ve had with transportation and how boring it can be and I have to say I am really grateful for the advice I was given by the staff.

What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?

The one thing I wish I would have done differently would be to take better advantage of the cheap flights and transportation in Europe. I did some traveling to Slovenia, Italy, and France but I really wish I would have visited more countries. The flights in Europe are extremely cheap and it is a total waste to not take advantage of them. After all, one of the main reasons I came to Spain was to travel more and to see more of the world so I just wish I would have taken more trips.

Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.

In my case, a typical day would start off around 10 am, I would always make coffee and eat breakfast then I had Spanish classes at 12. So then I would walk to my Spanish classes which were about 20 minutes away. My classes would last 2 hours and then I would have lunch with friends from my Spanish classes before I had to go to work. I worked for an academy in the center of Madrid teaching general English. I would generally work four hours a day and finish at about 8 pm. Then I would either go meet with friends for dinner or drinks. Some days staying out much later than expected. Then finally I would go back home and repeat the process the next day.

What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?

One of my favorite things to do during my free time abroad was to explore the city and look for new places. 

Madrid is a huge city and has a lot of variety. You can go from massive parks with monuments everywhere to old districts full of 19th century buildings then walk into a modern neighbourhood with brand new buildings. I still don’t think I got to see everything Madrid has to offer. Another thing I really enjoyed doing was visiting all of the museums. Madrid has dozens of museums about history, art, and science. One of my favorite ones to visit is the Prado museum which is the second largest art museum in the world behind the Louvre.

What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?

With the help of the staff at TEFL madrid I was able to find a shared apartment right in the center of the city, near Plaza de España. I had a large room with two windows right to the street. I shared the apartment with two other people who were Spanish students. The thing that I enjoyed most about my apartment was the location. Being right near Plaza de España and Templo de Debod was great. I would go for a walk or read in the park almost everyday, I was also close to nice restaurants and bars. I was even close to the academy and my work so the location was perfect.

What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?

One thing that everyone should know before coming and doing this program is that it is very rigorous. Most people assume that getting TEFL certified will be very easy since they are native English speakers. This is not entirely true, you will have to study and practice a lot to become a good certified English teacher. Class is everyday from 10AM to 4PM and you will have to do several teaching practice classes as well. So I would recommend that interested students come prepared to work hard and spend time to become a great teacher.

Would you recommend TEFL MAdrid to others? Why?

I would definitely recommend my program to others. Overall, they provide a great service, they give you assistance in everything you will need to start your new life here in Spain, from visa assistance, help with job search, to accomodation and bank accounts. The course itself is also great, the teacher was very friendly and really helped us to be prepared to teach. I left the course feeling confident about my abilities to give English classes for a variety of levels and situations. In the end, I was completely satisfied with the service I was given.

What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?

Personally, I would say the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is the growth you will experience as a person. Studying abroad allows you to gain a broader world view, understand a new culture and way of thinking, and learn a new language. I would say that these things are extremely beneficial in today’s world. Knowing and understanding how the rest of the world works and communicates and not being limited to a narrow point of view can really help you become a better person.

Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?

I would say that my experience has had a very positive impact in my life now that I am back home. The thing that has helped the most would be my understanding of Spanish and Spanish culture. Now that I have reached a fluent level of Spanish I can access better jobs and get more opportunities as well. I was able to get a job working with Latin American clients and my experience abroad has given me the ability to communicate with these clients not just through language but also through a better understanding of their culture.

What does meaningful travel mean to you?

For me, meaningful travel means truly immersing yourself in the culture and lifestyle of the place you are visiting. Many people go to a new place and only stay within their comfort zone, never really attempting to truly experience and live the place they are visiting. They just visit the very touristic areas and never try to understand the local people’s way of life or point of view. I think that by immersing yourself you can get a much better experience and take much more out of it than if you just go somewhere without doing it.