Dr. Ruth Campbell
Runner up to The “IAPA Au Pair of the Year” award 2011. CAPS - Catalonia
The CAPS (Conversation Assistant Programme in School) scheme is run by “Home to Home” a prestigious organisation based in Barcelona providing educational services to primary and secondary schools in Spain during the last 20 years www.hometohome.es. They work in collaboration with Fundacio Escola Cristiana de Catalunya. This foundation started in 1977, and has 434 schools and 264.000 students http://www.escolacristiana.org. These schools are open to anyone who wants to enter, with no discrimination for economic or any other reason. The foundation also aims to improve language and cultural awareness, and receives funding through the EU funded Comenius Project. This project provides funding for cooperation between different schools and countries. The objective is
- To develop knowledge and understanding among young people and educational staff of the diversity of European cultures and languages and its value, and
- To help young people acquire the basic life-skills and competences necessary for their personal development, for future employment and for active European citizenship
Home to Home Testimonial 1
My name is Dearbhla Farrell from Dublin. I am 23 years old and have 3 brothers back in Ireland. Previous to teaching English I studied and received a degree and post grad in Economics and Finance majoring in economics. I currently teach in Amposta but live in a smaller town approximately 15 minutes away right on the coast.
The family I live with consists of mother and father – Blanca and Josep and one daughter (15) Blanca. I was initially a little apprehensive about living with and becoming a part of a family unrelated to me but these fears were immediately quashed upon meeting them. They were extremely welcoming and helpful and I really could not have asked for a better family. The house I live in is right on the coast, minutes walk from the beach. I have my own room which looks out onto the garden and pool. Both parents work, the father a doctor and the mother works for the local town council.
The school I work in is in the town of Amposta. I travel to school everyday by bus or with the father. The school has a wide range of age groups from the kindergarten kids of P3, 4&5, then primary 1-6 and then Eso 1-4. The school has a large collection of teachers all of which have been extremely welcoming and helpful to me (some are helping me with my Spanish studies and I in return help them with English).
My position in the school is English conversation assistant. Students have English 2/3 times a week, and for one of those classes I am present. In each class I play varying roles depending on the level and the input the teacher wishes me to have. With the kindergarten age- P 3-5 my role is quite limited due to their English range. I have a book of stories and songs which I use and afterwards there is a time allocated to colouring where I can talk to the students individually. In primary my class time is split up into arts and English. With 1 and 2 primary I am with the class for art and I carry out individually conversations with the kids as they work. In 3-5 primary I have a set role; the teacher continues her normal work with the kids and I correct grammar and pronunciation. Recently she has been absent so I have been continuing on with book work but inserting education games in to keep the class enjoyable, with the help of another teacher.
In eso I have the role of conversation assistant. I Each week I use different topics to encourage them to speak. They can be shy and unsure, so I pick interesting topics such as movies, TV and songs. In 3&4 eso I take the entire class for the allotted time. With 4 eso I try to push them a little further and see how much they will talk. Topics I have tried include April fools day and traditions in Spain and Ireland.
The aspect I enjoy the most about being in the school is how I am treated by the kids. When I get on the school bus in the morning they are all smiles and ask questions about me and my life in Ireland. They find little things I do fascinating. In the hallways they stare at me and try to speak to me. At lunch they race to sit beside me at the table. Outside in the school yard (where I sit and appreciate the Spanish weather) they surround me with more questions or simply stare at me. It’s what I imagine being famous/ special feels like and its nice.
As for the benefits I think they are clear. For the family I speak with them in English a lot, but all the time with the daughter. She has no sisters and I have become that role in the house.
For the school having a native to correct grammar and pronunciation I feel is a great help. The English teachers are fluent in English but nobody is perfect . Having the students learn English from me will help them with correct pronunciation of words and phrases. I feel that students can relate to me a lot more than teachers - I talk about topics they are interested in, so they are motivated to participate.
Finally the benefits for me are three- fold. Firstly I am gaining more experience teaching English in a different environment Secondly I am learning Spanish. The best way to learn a new language is to immerse yourself in it and live with it which is exactly what I am doing. Lastly the cultural experience; I have always desired to travel to Spain and see different parts of the country and being here has given me that opportunity.
Home to Home Testimonial 2 
Hello - my name Ieona Bernes. I am 23 years old from Dublin I spent my working life in sales and customer services, but all I ever wanted to do was teach, like my father. I came across the ad for Home to Home and applied immediately. I went to the interview and was offered the position the same day. I was excited and nervous but knew that I would always regret it if I didn’t give it a go. So I said goodbye to all my friends and family and went to start my new life.
I was greeted by Home to Home and my new family with a large ‘Welcome leona’ poster. My tutor was there also to explain all about the school and welcome me.
In all my life I don’t think I have been stared at as much as I was my first day of school -
everyone wanted to speak to me and introduce themselves, even if they didn’t speak English - it didn’t matter, they just wanted to make sure I felt welcome and show me how excited they were to see me
The following weeks continued to be the same - the students were a mix of excitement and nervousness. At first they just stared at me but slowly they came up to just say hi and run off. It took so long to walk through the school as every student stopped to talk to me.
My school name is "Collegi Sagrada Familia-Horta" and it has about 2000 students and 100 teachers. Everyone knows who I am; I have twenty three different classes I take once a week with pupils from ten years old up to seventeen. It was difficult teaching the older students at first, because they were nervous about speaking, but as I spent more time with them doing different kinds of classes they have become my favourite. I split my lesson into grammar work and something more fun, like teaching them about St Patrick and Irish dancing.
This program really helps everyone, from the family learning English, the students and the teachers perfecting their skill, to me finding out about a different culture and doing my dream job in a dream location. I have fallen in love with Barcelona and everyone here and thank the organisation for giving me this opportunity.
If you would like to learn more about the experience of the young people involved in this scheme have a look at the blog - http://blogs.escolacristiana.org/pac . Applications will be accepted through the summer and even after the start of the school term in September. Contact Au Pair Ecosse for more information.
