What inspired you to work for Instituto Franklin-UAH?
I love American culture and helping students in their Study Abroad experience. Working at the Instituto Franklin-UAH offers me the opportunity to live both. I like that it allows me to put into practice my main passion, teaching, and that it gives me the opportunity to apply my intra and interpersonal skills.
Teach and Learn Alumni Meeting 2019
Describe a typical day at work.
A typical day at work involves having a team meeting to plan our day or our week, replying student’s emails, and answering calls and emails I receive from their schools. Depending on the day, I teach a class in the Study Abroad program and follow up meetings with students regarding their teaching experience. Sometimes I visit and observe students in the classroom while they are teaching, especially when they’ve received lower evaluations from their schools. I also compile and analyze the evaluations and feedback that I receive from schools and the students.
Why do you do what you do?
I do what I do In order to make sure we provide the best quality programs. I love my job and I feel that I improve every day due to my contact with schools and the students. On a personal level, I research about our student’s role as language assistants. I am in charge of designing their training so they can be prepared for the teaching experience in Spain. In a nutshell. I do my job because I enjoy helping the students.
What is your favorite part of your job?
Finding solutions. I love to solve challenges that our students and schools have during their teaching experience in Spain. I also love designing the training program. It’s development is based on research and I enjoy putting it into practice.
How do you use your education and international background in your current role?
My training in American studies helps me to do a better job as a mediator between the students and their schools. Having knowledge about our students' culture helps me to be more efficient while communicating with them.
What challenges do you often face and how do you overcome them?
Usually the challenges I face are related to miscommunication between schools and students. Normally it’s a conflict between different perspectives of aspects related to teaching such as planning, collaboration with staff, teaching methods, etc...
Graduation Ceremony 2016- me picking up a recognition from some students from Master's in Bilingual and Multicultural Education
What are some current projects you are working on?
Currently I've been following up with students regarding their school's teaching experience as well as writing and designing a student training plan to help them go through their teaching experience.
What makes Instituto Franklin-UAH special?
We care about our students' performance. We take interest in their personal challenges and in their difficulties while living abroad. We make sure to provide academic and personal support for our students.
Why should someone choose Instituto Franklin-UAH over competitors?
We should be chosen because we focus on experiential learning, internship opportunities in local businesses, service learning courses, and because we offer full immersion in Spanish culture in the undergraduate program. In the Master's degree program we offer tuition waivers and a school placement in a charter or private school for student’s who chose option A, and for students who chose option B we guarantee spots as language assistants in public schools. We have more than 30 years of experience collaborating with American universities and institutions that prove that our service is worth your time .
What hopes do you have for the future of Instituto Franklin-UAH?
I hope that we can keep growing and offering new opportunities to American students and also to native English speakers from other countries that want to join our programs.
Graduation Ceremony 2015- Speech by Natalia Consul, the owner of 3 of our collaborating schools
What makes Instituto Franklin-UAH easy to market to potential participants?
We deeply understand the perspectives of the two cultures we work with. We offer quality programs for our students and we have more than 30 years of experience doing what we do. We are a department at Universidad de Alcalá and we offer opportunities to research and to study in Spain. We are the complete package people are looking for.
What is Instituto Franklin-UAH's mission and how do you continue to work toward it?
Our main goal is to foster programs, events, publications, and initiatives that would establish a bridge between North America and Spain. We will continue to work hard in order to keep establishing these connections. Our mission is to create an environment for culture exchange.
What do you hope participants take away from your programs?
We hope that they can take away a degree or credits that are recognized in the US or in their home countries. We hope that they acquire an intercultural experience by teaching in Bilingual schools in Spain.
If you could participate in one of Instituto Franklin-UAH's programs, where would you go and what would you do?
I would definitely apply to our Teach and Learn in Spain program as it offers the opportunity to study a Masters and to have a teaching experience in a bilingual school in Spain.
What questions do participants often ask you, and how do you typically respond?
They ask specific questions regarding life in Spain. They request information regarding Spain’s immigration paperwork, and they inquire about the school placements and cultural differences. I try to answer them with clear and specific statements so they can follow my recommendations step by step.
Graduation Ceremony 2012- Graduation Speech
Why is it important for people to travel abroad and experience new cultures?
Because it is the only way to authentically experience a new language and culture. In a regular classroom, students do not have the opportunity to interact with locals and emerge themselves into a new culture. Travelling abroad and giving yourself the time to do so can change your life.
What advice do you have for individuals thinking about going abroad?
Make sure you are ready to be flexible and adapt to local culture and communication style. Keep in mind that the experience is going to be very rewarding and that you are going to learn a lot from it!! Talk to your family and friends to keep your motivation while you are abroad and make sure you connect with local people so you can ask them about their traditions and local customs. Understanding the reasons behind the traditions will make you learn the most!
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel is connected to a significant learning experience. It’s to be experiencing an authentic environment where you can be immersed in local culture where you can learn by interacting with local people.
What hopes do you have for the future of international education?
International Education is our present and our future. Due to globalization and the lack of barriers people can easily travel and study abroad. I hope that in the future people will still be interested in this type of experiential learning abroad.
