A little bit about me...

Hello everybody. Before starting to write entries, I'd like to introduce myself a little bit. I began learning English when I was about 10 years old in a small local language school. I still remember the method which was used: 

a) Monday: reading the textbook (of course, not like today's).

b) Wednesday: grammar (explanation and writing sentences until you had written as many lines as James Joyce in his "Ulysses").

c) Speaking about the textbook.

Three days a week for 5 years. And in the meantime, my friends playing football on the streets having a great time. As you may have guessed, I didn't really have a passion for English. However, I have always been grateful  to that teacher, Antonio, as he started my English journey.

The turning point came when my high-school organized this 1-week long trip to England where we'd live with a host-family in Portsmouth. Getting there and being able to actually communicate made me realize that all those boring contents I had studied were of some use. And what use! Still to this day, I believe I wouldn't have become an EFL teacher if it hadn't been for that experience. 

Then, university time to get a B.A. in English (Autónoma de Madrid) and an M.A. in English (Saint Louis University) before starting my Ph.D. in English. During these years, I discovered my second passion as well: literature!

While doing this, I started teaching English (both ESL and EFL) and Spanish as well. I was aware I loved teaching, but not so much! Teaching was my passion and I fell in love with teaching modern languages. I have taught all ages and levels, but I have been teaching in a state-funded school for the last 14 years, mainly students aged 16-18. 

I am the Head of the English Department and the coordinator of a bilingual-bicultural program which consists of having an extra session with students every week where we work on projects with conversation auxiliaries.

I love teacher training and consider it an essential element in any teaching career. Unfortunately, some don't agree with this. I have no idea why, as I believe we are always students learning in an ongoing process that never ceases. 

I hope this blog, with your help, becomes a learning and discussion place for everybody interested in teaching not only English, but modern languages in general. 

David.