Want to know more about the team at Oxford House? We interviewed four great teachers who were happy to tell us a little about what goes on in their lives outside the school. Read on to find out about Lola, Hannah, Erica, Matt and Amy and discover some of the reasons why they were chosen to be part of our team!
12 Questions with Lola »
12 Questions with Hannah »
12 Questions with Erica »
12 Questions with Matt »
12 Questions with Lola
Name: Lola Ribalta
Age: 34
From: Washington D.C., U.S.A
Lola was born in Washington DC to an American father and a Catalan mother. She worked in the editorial world writing children’s books until deciding that teaching was the perfect job for her.
1. What do you like most about Barcelona?
I really like the eixample, the sea, Collserola…
2. What’s your favourite place to hang out in Barcelona?
I enjoy Gracia’s local shops and cafés where they sell pies and chocolate.
3. What do you miss most about your home country?
Root beer, Reese’s Pieces, Rock Creek Park, the snow, and backyard alleys.
4. What do Saturday nights mean for you?
Time to hang out and have fun.
5. Where is your favourite place in the world?
To be honest I don’t know, it’s a difficult question. But I really like Zahara de los Atunes in Cadiz.
6. What did you want to be when you were younger?
When I was younger I wanted to be a radio dj, a photographer, a journalist. I actually tried out all these jobs but the one I enjoy the most is teaching…what can I say?
7. What did you eat for breakfast?
Tea and oatmeal, going healthy today.
8. If you were an animal what would you be and why?
Easy…I’d be a grey wolf in Colorado.
9. Do you have any annoying habits?
Of course! But I’m not mentioning them here…
10. What’s your nickname?
Don’t have one, that I know of!
11. What do you like most about teaching?
It’s a job that demands for constant learning on my part and where I feel I can help people achieve their goals.
12. What are your plans for the New Year? (mention something about your own plans and also something about the classes you will have at OH next year).
Oh next year I hope to be teaching even more classes at Oxford House. I hope to keep on teaching kids, I’ve just recently began this and love it! And also I hope to be teaching some exam classes as well because I find this an interesting challenge.
12 Questions with Hannah
Name: Hannah
Age: 26
From: Germany/ America/ Scotland
Hannah has completed a Bachelor degree in Psychology and spent some time travelling, teaching and volunteering in places such as Jamaica, Switzerland and the U.S. She completed her CELTA teacher training here in Barcelona and loves discovering the Catalan and Spanish culture.
1. What do you like most about Barcelona?
Living by the sea and Barcelona
2. What’s your favourite place to hang out in Barcelona?
By the sea and in all the great cafes and bars I still have to discover
3. What do you miss most about your home country?
My friends
4. What do Saturday nights mean for you?
Time with friends and discovering BCN
5. Where is your favourite place in the world?
On my dock by a lake in Michigan, watching the sunset
6. What did you want to be when you were younger?
A helicopter pilot
7. What did you eat for breakfast?
Cornflakes, very predictable…
8. If you were an animal what would you be and why?
A cat, I´d be adventurous and lazy at the same time….
9. Do you have any annoying habits?
I’m very restless, one of many
10. What’s your nickname?
Candy
11. What do you like most about teaching?
The interaction with the students
12. What are your plans for the New Year? (mention something about your own plans and also something about the classes you will have at OH next year)
Learning Spanish and learning lots of fun things to do in class,…aiming for that teacher for the year award.
12 Questions with Erica
Name: Erica Danielle Robbins
Age: 25
From: Marquand, MO, USA
Erica graduated from Southeast Missouri State University with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary and Early Childhood Education in December 2008. She moved to Barcelona in August 2009 to become a teacher and fell in love with the city.
1. What do you like most about Barcelona?
The freedom of choice that lies within all aspects of living
2. What’s your favourite place to hang out in Barcelona?
At the beach or down by the Port
3. What do you miss most about your home country?
My family and campfires
4. What do Saturday nights mean for you?
Either a chance to catch up with friends or a time to crash and catch up on much needed rest
5. Where is your favourite place in the world?
I haven’t found it yet
6. What did you want to be when you were younger?
A ballerina, a tour guide, a business woman…
7. What did you eat for breakfast?
I don’t usually eat breakfast but I can’t start my day correctly without a cup of coffee with brown sugar and milk
8. If you were an animal what would you be and why?
A cat because they can laze around all day long and look graceful doing it…they are slinky and I love the way they talk with their ears, tails and voices…and of course, their attitude and sass!
9. Do you have any annoying habits?
Oh I’m sure I do, but the sad part is they annoy other people, not me so I’m still oblivious!
10. What’s your nickname?
E
11. What do you like most about teaching?
The freedom to create fun lessons and projects that help engage the students and really get them activated in the learning process
12. What are your plans for the New Year? (mention something about your own plans and also something about the classes you will have at OH next year)
Try to travel as much as possible, including a trip back to the United States to see my family, and as well, prepare my students for real, organic English conversation situations so when they go out to speak English they are confident and ready!
12 Questions with Matt
Name: Matthew Watson Jones
Age: 25
From: Shropshire, England
After finishing University in the UK, Matt decided to obtain a TEFL certificate. He never imagined only one month later he would be living and teaching in Barcelona.
1. What do you like most about Barcelona?
The weather. The blue sky, the sea breeze, and even the rain! English rain is much worse.
2. What’s your favourite place to hang out in Barcelona?
Parc Guinardo has always had a special place in my heart. It’s where I go to escape, to think, and to relax.
3. What do you miss most about your home country?
The cheeses! There’s so much variety in English cheese, and they’re all incredible. And English fast food may be terrible, but the cakes and desserts are heavenly. I always put on weight when I go home!
4. What do Saturday nights mean for you?
I guess the thing I love about Saturday nights is, they’re always different. Sometimes I’m out with one group of friends, sometimes with another, and sometimes, I stay home and watch a movie.
5. Where is your favourite place in the world?
Miyajima, Japan. Beautiful, peaceful, spiritual, and timeless. If I could live there, I would.
6. What did you want to be when you were younger?
An author. I’ve not COMPLETELY given up on this dream! I still love to write creatively in my free time.
7. What did you eat for breakfast?
Same as every day – a bowl of cereal and a cup of (English) tea!
8. If you were an animal what would you be and why?
An owl, for three reasons. I would love to fly, I’ve always admired wisdom, and I’m always sleepy in the mornings!
9. Do you have any annoying habits?
Oh, hundreds. What, you want me to TELL you them? OK, just one. At any event, I always take TOO MANY photos, and most of them when the people aren’t ready!
10. What’s your nickname?
I’ve never had a nickname that stayed. This used to make me sad… now I like it!
11. What do you like most about teaching?
When I can see how much a student has improved! And when a student, talking in English, tells a joke that makes me laugh.
12. What are your plans for the New Year? (mention something about your own plans and also something about the classes you will have at OH next year)
I’m studying for a Masters in Applied Linguistics, so I’m going to continue that. At the same time, I’ll continue teaching my OH classes, so I’m sure I will be very busy (and have no time for a social life)!
