Sebastian Vargas
Introduction
¡Hola! Hello! My name is Sebastian Vargas. For the past four months I’ve had the great privilege of working as an Auxiliar at I.E.S. Profesor Máximo Trueba in Boadilla Del Monte.
I was born and raised in the United States in New York City and have lived in New York State my entire life. I attended Binghamton University, which is located in upstate New York. At Binghamton University I studied Spanish Literature and Latin American Caribbean Studies.
Personal Background
My parents were born in Colombia and immigrated to the United States in their late twenties. Growing up in a immigrant household, Spanish was spoken everyday and it was the only language my parents used with me. Although they quickly learned English, Spanish remained pivotal in navigating my familial life.
The need for Spanish eventually turned into a love for Spanish. I entered college and instantly began taking grammar and literature classes to improve my proficiency in the language. Although I knew I wanted to pursue a career related to foreign language, it wasn’t until my sophomore year that I decided I wanted to be a teacher. Fast forward two years, now I am thoroughly enjoying my time here in Madrid as a teaching assistant.
Maximo Trueba and my Teaching Experience
Before coming to Madrid to work as a teaching assistant, I had very limited teaching experience. For a short period of time I was a swimming instructor, but the experience I gained was limited and narrow. That being said, I wasn’t discouraged when applying to work as a teaching assistant.
Thus far, my experience as a teaching assistant at Maximo Trueba has been very rewarding. I’ve learned a lot about the dynamics of a classroom, the relationships between teacher and student, and what the job generally asks of you. It has been an eye opening experience and I am extremely grateful for the knowledge I have gained in the classroom.
The ages of my students range from 12-14 and the classes I assist in teaching are English and History/Geography. My responsibilities as a teaching assistant can vary with my classes. For instance, in some classes I prepare presentations on topics that are being studied in the textbook, while in others I lead discussions on books being covered in class. When teaching, I genuinely believe I bring new and exciting information for my students, making my experience in Maximo Trueba a very fulfilling one.