John Atkinson (Chiclana) is a private language school in Chiclana de la Frontera, Cadiz in the south of Spain. Its doors opened in May 2001 as a franchise to John Atkinson (San Fernando).
It is a member of ACEIA and FECEI. The premises are located in the heart of the town, overlooking the river. The building was completely refurbished in 2005 and offers eight classrooms, computer lab, staff/resource room, administration area, central office and a very large waiting area for both students and parents.
The Installations
Each teacher has his/her own classroom which they are free to decorate as they please. Each room caters for a maximum of 12 students. All classrooms are fully – equipped. They all have windows for natural light, huge whiteboards, corkboards, cupboards, air-conditioning (hot and cold).
Besides our classrooms, our resource area offers TV, video, DVD player, video camera, video & DVD library, photocopier, computer with high speed connection as well as a selection of soft toys, flash cards, plastic food, drink, animals etc. There is also a small library with alternative resources, reference books, readers and magazines all of which is at the disposal of our teachers.
The computer lab is also at teachers’ disposal on a booking out system. Again the maximum capacity is for 12 students. Our students begin as young as five years old and we offer courses for children and adults of all ages, and preparation for Cambridge examinations.
Teachers
All teachers at John Atkinson are qualified professionals with over 100 years of collective teaching experience! However, we stress the importance of maintaining high standards and on-going personal development. The school covers the cost of attending seminars, workshops and actively encourages teachers to participate.
Aside from attending external training sessions, the school also provides in-house training on a variety of key topics and with regular meetings on a group or individual basis, teachers are made to feel supported and part of a team. Observation forms an integral part of the development programme with both pre-observation meetings and feedback sessions, all of which are carried out in a supportive, helpful and professional manner. The school strives to maintain a friendly working atmosphere and believes that teachers must feel happy within the workplace if they are to offer their best. Socialising is a must and staff parties at Christmas and summer are organised and sponsored by the school.