Idiomas Santa Ana is a small and friendly language school founded in 1982. It is located in the historic city centre of Valladolid in the heart of Castilla y León, approximately 1 hour north of Madrid by “AVE” fast train.
Santa Ana academy has 4 classrooms which we try to ensure are well equipped and friendly. Other facilities include a whiteboard in each classroom and we have an excellent resource room with a range of teaching resources, as well as access to the internet . In the academy there is an extensive library with a wide variety of books, available to all students.
All our teachers are native or bilingual and are experienced professionals. Many of them have been with us for a number of years and each lends a personal touch to the academy.
Since 1987, Santa Ana has participated in the organization of the University of Cambridge Exams, and prepares all levels of the most prestigious exams: Cambridge, TOEFL, TOEIC, DELF, DELE, which allows us to offer guidance to anyone interested in doing these English or French exams. Teachers at Santa Ana are also able to attend nearby conferences on Cambridge exams to get to know these exams and more experienced teachers can update their knowledge. We are authorized as an examination centre in Valladolid for the London Chamber of Commerce exams (E.F.B. and E.F.T.) We are also members of F.E.C.E.I. (Spanish Federation of Language Learning Centres), and we were a founding member of ACLID (Castilla y León Language Association).
METHODS
Our teaching method is directly teacher – student based, using a course book to orientate the class, together with audiovisual materials (internet, youtube video, CD, DVD…). Language learning involves direct communication so the classes should be interesting and enjoyable, and communication should be real and relevant to the learners.
The teacher can choose the book that they use with each of their classes if they are experienced enough or those with less experience will be guided by the head of studies. We carry out a book test in the first two classes of the academic year with materials provided by Santa Ana, and the teacher chooses the textbook they think most suitable for their group, thus allowing each teacher more freedom in their teaching methods and class planning.
Our students are aged from 6 to 60 years and older, of differing levels and backgrounds. The classes are grouped according to age and language level, and are focused on general English, English for business or private conversation classes. A group is made up of 4 to 10 students in order to have a close student – teacher relationship.
Experience preparing students for the Cambridge examinations would be an advantage but not a requirement as we prepare all levels from Young Learners through to Proficiency. We offer exam specific classes to help students prepare for the Cambridge exams. As well as being orientated towards a specific exam, the classes are also useful for those who want to learn a language for work purposes or personal reasons.
Job Information
The contract is from the beginning of October to the end of June. A full time contract consists of a teaching timetable of 20 – 24 hours per week, working Monday to Friday, plus class preparation in a pleasant working environment and constant contact between the teaching team. The majority of classes are timetabled between 4 – 10 p.m. within the academy but there are some classes in the morning in local businesses. We follow the official academic calendar: approximately 2 weeks paid holidays at Christmas and Easter, as well as national and local holidays. We offer a competitive salary in accordance with national pay agreements and full national insurance cover.
Accommodation
The new teacher should think of arriving a couple of weeks before the start of the academic year to look for accommodation and we will do our best to help the teacher find a flat which will suit their needs and budget. A typical room in a shared flat costs approximately 150€ – 200€ and it is usually possible to find a flat within walking distance from the school.
Requirements
We are looking for a native English speaking teacher from the British Isles or from outside of the European Union with a work permit. We need an individual with a TEFL, TESOL, CELTA certificate and a university degree.
Personal Attributes – We are looking for an individual who exudes a passion and enthusiasm for teaching as well as having a friendly approachable character. It is important that the teacher gets to know their students in order to satisfy their needs and know what their students want out of their classes. The teacher should be able to adapt their classes and be flexible with their plan, answering any doubts which arise in class, to the satisfaction of the student. We are seeking someone who is easy to work with, as teachers and staff should be able to work and interact together as part of a team. The teacher should be able to think for themselves and bring new ideas to their classes. Knowledge of Spanish would also be an advantage in settling into the Spanish way of life and understanding the character of the “Spanish” and their doubts in the world of English.
