IES Estuaria Huelva

Estuaria

IES

About the School

About Huelva

Getting to School

Accomodation

Past Experiences

contact

Resources

Contact Information for Estuaria:

• Phone: +034 959 52 41 46
• E-mail: 21700356.edu@juntadeandalucia.es
• E-mail for the bilingual coordinator (Vanesa Auden): v.auden@estuaria.es

Helpful Links: Auxiliares de Conversación in Spain (Reddit) Auxiliares de Conversación en España (Facebook) Auxiliares de Conversación en Andalucía (Facebook) WhatsApp groups change from year to year. It is best to search the Reddit groups or Facebook pages to try to find the most recent ones.

Sample Schedule School Welcome Packet ANL Teachers Practical Questions

IES Estuaria

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Address: Calle Cortegana, s/n. 21006. Huelva- Phone: +034 959 52 41 46- Email: 21700356.edu@juntadeandalucia.es- School Location: 7377+2Q HuelvaStaff Contact for Language Assistants- Email for staff team: 21700356.edu@juntadeandalucia.es- Email for the bilingual coordinator (Vanesa Auden): v.auden@estuaria.es

Education Level- Middle School (Age 12-16) Collaboration Subjects of the Language Assistant:Mathematics, Biology and Geology, Physics and Chemistry, Physical Education, Technology, Geographic and History, Music.

IES Estuaria is located in Huelva, in the neighborhood of Isla Chica. Isla Chia is a very populated and popular part of the city, after the Center. It is a lively area of town, with many small shops, cafés, supermarkets, and convenience stores.

Huelva

About

Huelva is a city located in the southwest of Spain, in Andalucía. The population is less than 150,000 people. It is a smaller city, easily walkable, and only a quick bus ride from the beach.

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Food

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Learning Spanish

Huelva has many restaurants, bars, and cafés, especially in the center, around Plaza de Las Monjas, on Avenida de Andalucia, and in Isla Chica. Most serve typical Spanish and Andalusian foods. Huelva is famous for chock frito (fried cuttlefish) and other seafood due to its close proximity to the ocean, and has many cheap and convenient options for tapas and montaditos. Churros are often sold in the morning in some cafés, and even in the afternoon at some places. The center has some other varieties of cuisine, like sushi and Mexican food, but many of the restaurants in Huelva focus on Spanish food. You can also find many bars and small clubs in Aqualon and right on the side of the river for a nice view of the sunset, especially in warmer weather. Palos de las Fronteras grows strawberries that are sold throughout Europe, which are available locally for much of the spring, even starting in February. Oranges and other produce are also grown in the south of Spain. There are plenty of large supermarkets in Huelva, and even more small convenience stores and shops to buy fruits and vegetables.

At the Escuela Oficial de Idiomas (EOI) in Huelva, they host a language exchange between English and French language assistants and their students learning those languages. It’s a good opportunity to interact with locals and practice Spanish. They also offer classes at a small discount to learn other languages like French, Italian, and German alongside Huelva locals. They unfortunately do not offer Spanish as it is not a foreign language.

The beach, like in Mazagón and Punta Umbría, is a great place to visit on days off, and Parque Moret offers a good opportunity for walking on its many paths. The Paseo de la Ría is a nice walk alongside the river to get out of the city center. The Muelle is definitely worth a visit, especially at night! The city organizes fairs and festivals, and there are parades on or around different holidays like Carnival and Reyes. Make sure to check in with the teachers about various events happening in Huelva. Erasmus groups are very active In Huelva and offer numerous weekend excursions, parties, and opportunities to meet other English speakers and people learning Spanish. We Love Spain is a tour group that has trips leave from Huelva, both for single days and for weekend trips. They have many destinations and offer a good way to get out of Huelva conveniently for more local travel.

Getting to School

Huelva is a small and convenient city, and from most parts of town, it is an easy walk to arrive at Estuaria. If you have a bike, even better! From the center, it is also easy to come on the bus, though walking may often be about the same duration or faster. The city buses have stops for the 4 line, the 8 line, and the 2 line that are near to the school. From other parts of the city, the 1 or the 3 would get you close to the school. The local bus company, called EMTUSA, has an app which provides accurate bus schedules and the current location of all buses for all lines. Google Maps is not reliable for city bus schedules around Huelva, though it works for directing you to the closest stop and most convenient routes by bus. The bus costs 1.10€ paid only in cash, or 0.65€ using the city bus card, which can be purchased for only a few euros in some tabacco shops, called 'estancos,' and refilled in person there or online.

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Accomodations and Living in Huelva

Helpful Links: FotocasaIdealistaAirbnb

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Accomodations and Living in Huelva

The resource with the most options for housing is a website called Idealista. Idealista lists all of the available apartments in your area, allowing you to search for housing in specific neighborhoods and at a particular price point. Idealista may offer many options, but if you don’t have a Spanish phone number, landowners may not respond to your calls/requests for viewings. Fotocasa is another website that is similar to Idealista. Again, there may be issues getting viewings through Fotocasa. Other helpful resources are the Erasmus Facebook and WhatsApp groups. Many Erasmus students are also looking for apartments, and they will post listings/roommate requests in these groups. Be aware, when you arrive in September, most of the Erasmus students will have already found apartments. Therefore, it may be more helpful to reach out to other auxiliaries about apartments. Some auxiliaries use a local inmobiliaria service to find apartments. This service can be helpful, but you will have to pay an agency fee of 500 euros or more. If these avenues don’t work, reach out to teachers at Estuaria. Teachers at IES Estuaria have connections in the community and will try to help you find a place to live!

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Accomodations and Living in Huelva

We recommend looking for apartments in Isla Chica, Las Torres-Guadalupe, Center, or Molino de la Vega. IES Estuaria is located in Isla Chica, and there are many affordable apartments in the neighborhood. In fact, many auxiliaries, regardless of where their school is located, choose to live in Isla Chica. The Center is a little more expensive (still affordable) but offers many shops and bars, and it is where most of the cultural events in Huelva are held. Las Torres-Guadalupe is a neighborhood between Isla Chica and the Center. Molino de la Vega is about a 30-minute walk from Estuaria. However, there are buses that you can take from this neighborhood to school.

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Andrea

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Past Experiences and Testimonials

Nathan

2018-2019

2021-2022

2022-2023

2022-2023

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I was lucky to be placed at IES Estuaria in Huelva for my first year as a teaching assistant in the ‘Auxiliares de Conversación’ program. I was warmly welcomed by all of my coworkers, who helped me acclimate to my new school. The students were open and eager to learn about a new culture and language. The school’s inclusive environment gave me the opportunity to learn and grow as well. I consider myself very fortunate to have worked at such an amazing school my first year abroad. My time here shaped me into the person I am today. Thank you, Estuaria, for an unforgettable experience!

I came to IES Estuaria in my second year as a language assistant and had a great time. The school has a lot of students and is quite busy, but the program is well organised, the staff are very dedicated and they will make you feel at home right away. Huelva is an interesting city which is conveniently close to Seville and Portugal and is surrounded by lots of beaches, villages and other places that are worth visiting. There was no shortage of things to do and my weekends were very full. If I had participated in the Auxiliares program for a third year, I would have been more than happy to stay there!

Why did you choose Andalusia/Huelva to be an assistant? I chose Andalusia because it is sunnier and warmer here than in the rest of Spain. Plus, because the region is large and well populated, there are more opportunities as an assistant in Andalusia than in some other regions. How do you feel about living in Huelva? Huelva is a very comfortable city. It’s much easier to walk from place to place here in Huelva because of its size. I like that it is warmer here overall. The people are often very friendly, and it’s a good environment to practice Spanish. Despite a long, rich history it is certainly not the most architecturally arousing city, and some of the most beautiful and historical places in the province go without any public transportation to get to them. What advantages are there about living in Huelva? Because it is small, it is easy to get around the city. It’s a cheap city to live in as well, which I appreciate. Despite it being a smaller city, you can generally find everything you need to live without issue. There are plenty of stores and supermarkets, and two shopping malls (though Holea is better). Moreover, it is small, but there are many events that are organized locally. Information may sometimes be sparse or hard to find, but Huelva is not without fairs and concerts and other activities. What do you do in your free time here? I like to go to Parque Moret and walk the trails there. I’ve also walked the entire Paseo de la Ria to the Columbus monument, though it is very long. Otherwise, I usually cook, read, or watch movies. On some weekends, I have traveled, such as to Portugal or Sevilla, and occasionally further when time allows. There are several breaks and extra long weekends during the year that allow for that. Do you have enough time to travel and get to know the area? Yes, I think so. Despite having to rely on buses and public transport, you can travel quite easily to Sevilla and Faro, where you can fly to many other destinations. It is easy to get to the beach from Huelva, and you can even go just for the afternoon after school has ended. Was it easy to find housing in Huelva? I did not personally find it easy. It took more than two weeks of searching to find an apartment, and many people did not answer when we responded to their rental listing. The earlier you arrive, the easier it can be, and it may be necessary to contact a real estate agency to find something. Even if you are not yet in Spain, it might be prudent to start messaging potential accommodations the week ahead of your arrival to try to get a response and perhaps more information. How do you get to work? I live only about six minutes walking from Estuaria (maybe four if I’m running late) so I always just walk to the school. What do you do working as an assistant? Because I am not in English classes, it always depends on the subject. I have prepared presentations on different units such as the geography, climate, history, and government of the United States (my home country) and North America. Sometimes I help the teachers lead the lessons in English. I have also prepared subject specific vocabulary for classes such as math and geography, and worksheets or activities to help them utilize the new terminology. Sometimes, I have collaborated with the teachers to organize or assist with a project that uses English, and I often help the students with writing in English in their subjects other than English. What do you like most about your job at Estuaria? The school has been pretty welcoming and I’ve enjoyed working with both the students and the teachers. It is fun to introduce elements of my culture and my country to the students, and hear about their own in Spain. Have you had any problems or difficulties at work? I haven’t had many specific problems. But as with any school, sometimes, the students get rowdy and hard to control in class. Sometimes, there are lapses in communication between me and some teachers, and I may find myself without something to help with in class that day for one subject or another because their lesson is not conducive to having an assistant in class.