We had an interview with Sergio Bon, former student of Las Escuelas, now doing his internship.
1When did you leave the school?
I finished my humanistic baccalaureate in 2018 after 12 years in schools.
Explain what you studied and where.
Since I started ESO I knew I wanted to study English Philology and that’s what I did at the University of Valencia, which I later complemented with a master’s degree in secondary education. Now I’m studying for another master’s degree in bilingual education at the Valencia International University, which is helping me to approach foreign language from a different perspective.
Why did you choose to come to Les Escoles to do your internship?
I chose Las Escuelas as an internship centre because it has been the school where I have been educated all my life and because of this, I felt that it was the best place to learn again and put my teaching skills into practice in an environment that was optimal and familiar to me. I have always felt welcome and when I had this opportunity to return, I took it.
What do you do at the school? Courses, subjects…
In my first internship I only studied English in the 3rd ESO, 4th ESO and 1st BACH courses where I saw different contents and competences. While now, in this internship I change educational stage teaching English and Arts and Crafts in several primary school courses (2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th) and in secondary school the subject of English and physical education in 4th ESO.
Have you noticed much difference from the schools you knew as a student to the ones you have found as an internship teacher?
Honestly yes, since I studied at Las Escuelas until I returned as a teacher, many things have changed, and from my point of view, for the better. The difference is significant in terms of content, assessment, level of competence and infrastructures. The management of teaching, platforms and technology is something that has developed extensively in Las Escuelas and has created a sense of advancement and development both individually and collectively.
Students now work in a more autonomous and personalised way. Attention to the student is much more focussed, which motivates learning. Clearly in Las Escuelas, progress has been made at the same time as the current educational law, which favours a sense of topicality and inclusion in order to create a family of schools.
How did you feel about your colleagues’ acceptance of you? Wasn’t it strange for you to work with your old teachers?
At the beginning it was a bit different because the change of hierarchy between student and teacher is big. Even so, the welcome was incredible. At no time did I feel alone or working individually, but I always felt that I had my faculty and department present if I had any doubts or problems to solve.
It has been very comforting to go back to where you have been happy and have grown and to see that now you can do it in a different way and at the same time transmit your knowledge and your passion for teaching. My former teachers have become work colleagues, and that is where I have been able to see that in Las Escuelas I had been personally trained for this moment.
Tell us something funny that has happened to you.
Every day is different at school, and you never expect what might happen to you in class! The students are unpredictable and that makes it unique. But I would definitely highlight when they confuse me with another student in the corridors or when some of them, already classmates, don’t expect you to come back as a teacher.
On the other hand, whenever it comes up, I always tell anecdotes or passages that happened to me as a former student to connect more with the students and show them that we have all gone through this moment, and it is not so hard. I honestly couldn’t choose just one thing to remember, but there are many moments in the classroom that convince me that I have made the right choice in this profession.
How do you see yourself in a few years?
Personally, I don’t see myself in any other field than teaching. I think it’s something that is vocational and once you start I don’t see any way out. It is a complicated process and a lot of work, although from the outside it is not seen or appreciated. The profession is very demanding, but the dedication and passion with which you work can be seen once the results come. It is very satisfying to see how your work pays off and to see your students with the knowledge they have acquired, but much more importantly, to see them happy.
Many thanks