Paulina's internship - Three months at a language school in Valencia

Here’s what my daily routine during the internship looked like: I helped out at the language school as an intern from Monday to Thursday. In the mornings, I worked at the reception from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM, and in the late afternoon from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM in the classrooms. My tasks at the reception mainly included updating students' contact information, making phone calls in Spanish, welcoming customers, copying school materials, and promoting the language school both digitally and in person at various institutions and schools. During my time in the classroom, I was primarily involved in interactive exercises, often communicating with the students in English and assisting them with their tasks. This gave me a good insight into the daily school life and taught me a lot about teaching techniques.

I was able to adapt to my new environment very quickly and rarely felt overwhelmed, despite some minor language barriers. This was largely due to my wonderful colleagues, who warmly welcomed me from the very beginning. They were always patient and friendly, which made me feel very comfortable. During the internship, I learned a lot in various areas and was able to expand and improve my skills and competencies.

For instance, not only did I practice my English in the classrooms, but I also improved my Spanish, as I had to speak exclusively Spanish at the reception. At first, this was a challenge for me since I had only learned Spanish for a few years in school. However, over time, I got used to it and eventually could converse fluently with the receptionist.

I didn’t just grow linguistically; working with people of different ages also helped me improve my social skills and gain more insight into understanding people. I worked with children as young as four years old, teenagers, and adults, which I particularly enjoyed.

The only negative aspect of the internship was that I initially found it difficult to make social contacts. Apart from a French intern, I was the only one, which made it harder to make friends at the beginning.

Looking back, I remember the first two weeks in Valencia as particularly challenging. The unfamiliar city, the language, and adjusting to a new routine initially overwhelmed me. That's why I was very happy to have chosen to live in a shared apartment. I lived with five other people, four of whom became close friends. They were from France, Poland, and South Africa, and thanks to their support, I was able to settle into my new environment quickly.

Although my room was small and lacked daylight, it didn’t bother me much since I spent most of my time out and about. Overall, I found the shared living experience enriching because I had never lived in such an environment before, and I learned a lot about consideration and mindfulness.

Now more about Valencia and what I particularly liked about the city! I was lucky to live close to the center, which allowed me to explore the city well. Valencia is well-connected by public transport, although buses run less frequently after midnight, which makes it harder to get home late at night.

Valencia is not only famous for its delicious Paella Valenciana, but also for its vibrant nightlife. The city attracts many young international people due to its large Erasmus community. After a rocky start, I made many new friends with whom I’m still in touch today. One particular trip to Gandía, organized by the local agency, helped me forge close friendships.

The local agency, as well as organizations like Erasmus Life Valencia and Happy Erasmus Valencia, regularly offer events like salsa classes, language exchanges, and club nights. Valencia has many great clubs and bars – my favorites were the Marina Beach Club, La Diva, Umbracle, and the Irish pubs Saint Martins and St. Patrick’s.

The cuisine in Valencia is also diverse: from sweet cafés to affordable fast-food chains and restaurants where you rarely pay more than 15 to 20 euros. A highlight is the Mercat Central, a large market hall with an impressive selection of local and international foods.

My favorite places in Valencia were Plaza de la Reina and Plaza del Ayuntamiento with their stunning architecture and many small shops. Another place I particularly loved was Turia Park, a kilometer-long park, perfect for relaxing.

In summary, my internship in Valencia was an unforgettable experience. I not only learned a lot about working in event and language management, but I also made valuable personal and linguistic progress.