About ECA:

Life as a Teacher in Spain

Teaching is both a demanding and rewarding occupation. When teaching cross-culturally, the demands and rewards are both multiplied!

ECA is nestled in an agricultural valley in the town of Camarma de Esteruelas, located 20 miles NE of Madrid. Camarma boasts a population of 3,500, and maintains the "pueblo" feel of life in rural Spain.

Most of ECA’s staff live within 5 miles of the school, and come to work either by bike, car, or public transportation. Bus service to our town of Camarma is both safe and reliable. The town of Alcalá de Henares is only 5 miles away, with an estimated population of 200,000. Public transportation, grocery shopping, sight seeing – all can be done with ease, and while a basic knowledge of Spanish is helpful, it is not necessary.

Downtown Madrid is only 45 minutes away by train, where one can enjoy the sights and sounds of big city life. While life in Madrid is modern and convenient, one still faces the challenges of living in a cross-cultural context.

Is living in Spain difficult? Yes and no. Certainly one can find anything as far as modern conveniences, opportunity to travel, culinary options, and entertainment. The difficulty comes in feeling a part of Spanish culture and even understanding at times how and why others think the way they do. Most people find that the first 3-5 months are almost a "romance" with the culture and history of a European country. But that begins to fade and, as it does, the feeling of "Am I ever going to understand or be understood?" becomes an issue. Those working at ECA for a year or two will find that a couple of hours each week with a Spanish tutor or friend to focus on language and cultural adaptation will be a HUGE help. The danger of focussing completely on teaching responsibilities should be obvious, as it closes the door to possible ministries, friendships, and real life in a foreign country without which one can never really appreciate or adapt. Many teachers find that one year is not enough to begin to feel a part of life in Spain. A second year is rich with meaning as cultural connections, friendships and understanding deepen. Take a look at these very different testimonies from recent volunteers at ECA.

5th Grade Student Interviews with teachers:

Miss Dance, the Art Teacher has been teaching for 3 months. Her favorite thing about it is she gets to share her passion. What she does not like about it is the trouble with kids. Her sister inspired her in teaching. Miss Dance had wanted to be a teacher for 3 years. She teaches elementary and high school. Her sister was also a teacher. Teaching Art in a school has not always been her dream. Miss Dance likes working at ECA. The difference between where she comes from is the weather and history.
by: Gabriela

Mrs. Schweitzer has been a teacher most of her adult life. She has taught in Mesa, Arizona, Cartagena, Colombia, SA, and in Spain. Mrs. Schweitzer has taught 1st grade, 2nd grade, and 3 & 4 year olds. She loves to see students' faces light up when they understand. However, she doesn't like it when students don't try and give up instead. She loves teaching and was inspired by her brother, sister, mother and supervising teacher. Teaching was always an option. She thinks that the most important things are people relationships.
by: Emily

Mr. Fields has been a teacher for 10 years. When he teaches, he likes to help kids to learn and know about Jesus. He doesn't like that kids complain about homework. His dad and a pastor in his town inspired him. He started teaching in 1993. He has taught 6th, 7th, 8th, 11th, and 12th grades. His favorite grade is 12th grade. His sister was a teacher. Two more interesting things are that his birthday is on Halloween, October 31 and and he is from Savannah, Georgia.
by: Youn

Mrs. Williams has been teaching since 1977. She hates complaining children but she loves math. Her mother was a Bible teacher and her grandmother was a 1 room school house teacher! The grades she teaches are 9 - 12. She didn't want to be a teacher, but after the first year she loved it! She didn't want to be a teacher, but her father said "I think you will make a good teacher." She loved it! In 1983 she faced a cheating epidemic. This is the story. There was a girl who always got the answer right, and there was a boy who was copying her. My mom couldn't prove it. So she told the girl "Get every answer wrong, and I'll give you your regular grade". So she did it. When he was done, my mom said in front of the whole class "Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong!" As she said that, all the kids erased their answers.
by: Max

A Testimony from a 2005-2006 Volunteer

June 2, 2006
Dear ECA Family,
Many, but not all of you know that I will be returning to the U.S. June 20th, completing my one-year commitment to ECA and your families. As a newcomer to Spain and ECA, this year has certainly had some big challenges for me. My strength and emotions have had some pretty wide swings, going from “I’m ready to leave on the next plane” to “ I love it here!” –and that could be in the same day! I am sure that some of you have experienced some of the same things. Adjustment — it is often just so difficult!

I am however, here at the end of my term with you all and now having so many mixed emotions about leaving! I enjoy working in the office and love it when I can have one-on-one interaction with the kids. The work has been challenging but has provided an opportunity for great personal growth.

ECA has a great staff and a wonderful group of students. I will miss not seeing the kids as they go to class, miss my conversations with the teachers and I will miss my work here at ECA.

It has been a good year. God uses our struggles to grow and mature us, if we will allow it. I pray that I have grown. I am still listening to the Lord, and we never know for sure where He may lead. For me, it may well be back to Spain in the future. For now, I want to go home and see my children and three grandchildren. (I have a new granddaughter, Sarah, whom I have not seen yet!) Just this week had mm decided to stay on for an extra month to go to language school in Salamanca; however, I found that I could not change my return ticket to the U.S. for any reason — I can’t even upgrade the ticket! I was very disappointed.

Thank you for your patience with me and for all the many, many ways you have shown love and care for me. May our Lord continue to bless you all and bless ECA.

In Christ,
Mrs. Cleo Hanks

A Testimony of Short-term Volunteers at ECA (2005)

The first work day of 2005 brought an unexpected surprise. I was no longer encumbered with a job! A corporate buy out led to a severance package that made it possible for my wife and I to do something we had long hoped for...a sabbatical from our professional world in order to commit a period of time to short term missions.

We were accepted by TEAM (The Evangelical Alliance Mission) and after a blitz of 7 days of preparation, travel, briefings at TEAM headquarters in Wheaton, IL and more travel we found ourselves being greeted at the Madrid, Spain airport by Jerry and Peg Schweitzer, staff teachers at Evangelical Christian Academy.

My wife Brenda was able to offer 31 years of teaching experience. Me? I am a retired military pilot who has spent the last 7 years in airline management. What did I know about teaching First Grade? This was going to be a real stretch for me, which is exactly what I had hoped for. Our Pastor in Anchorage, Alaska had recently completed a series of sermons on “Cultural Obstacles to Communicating the Gospel”. I realized that I was stuck on a “paradigm plateau”, i.e. I had learned from my years in the military and the business world to see the world from a fairly linear perspective. I needed stretching!

As we prepare to depart ECA after 8 weeks of volunteering I can say that the world of tutoring 3rd grade math, teaching aerodynamics to really enthusiastic 5th and 6th graders, and teaching Romans to 10th and 11th graders who are forming their own world views was God’s perfect vehicle for teaching me. ECA gave me so much. As I prepare to reenter the business world I am very thankful to TEAM, ECA and to the students, staff and parents. I have been blessed beyond my expectations by their trust, inclusiveness and genuine love and friendship. I will have fond memories, renewed vigor and a new perspective on faith and ministry as a result of our short term mission with our new good friends in Spain.