International Teaching Internship in Spain
During my teaching internship in Pamplona, Spain, I had a unique opportunity to actively participate in teaching in an international environment and experience the everyday reality of the teaching profession from a new perspective. This experience was not just about daily teaching practice or another item for my CV, but above all a strong impulse for both my professional and personal development. Thanks to this international experience, I developed my didactic skills and self-confidence to a level that would have been difficult to achieve in my home environment, especially through actively engaging in new situations and a willingness to take on challenges.
During the internship, I had the opportunity to be in daily contact with people from a different country – both teachers and students – which enriched me not only linguistically and culturally, but also professionally. By participating in teaching in a different cultural context, I gained a deeper understanding of the local school environment as well as different approaches to communication and teaching.
Adapting to a new environment was one of the biggest challenges for me. I gradually realised how strongly the cultural context and individual teaching styles influence the way lessons are conducted. I had the opportunity to observe and participate in classes that differed in many ways from my own didactic approach. This required me to adjust the structure of lessons, the pace, and the way I worked with students to fit the context of the school and the teaching style they were used to, while still trying to maintain my own pedagogical identity.
Over time, I learned to see these differences not as something incorrect, but as an opportunity to learn. I began to realise that there is no single “right” way of teaching. What initially seemed unfamiliar or unusual gradually became a source of inspiration. Instead of judging quickly, I tried to stay open, ask questions, and reflect on what I could take from these approaches into my own teaching practice. This shift in perspective was one of the most valuable aspects of the internship, as it broadened my professional outlook and introduced me to new strategies, methods, and ways of working with students.
One of the most significant outcomes of the internship was the development of my professional self-confidence. I realised that confidence in teaching does not come beforehand, but is built through action – by stepping into new situations, trying different approaches, and learning from experience. I also understood that it is not necessary to wait until everything is perfectly mastered in theory before starting to act. On the contrary, the willingness to begin even in uncertainty is essential for real growth. This experience taught me to trust my own decisions more, to feel more confident speaking in front of a class, and to respond actively to situations that cannot be fully planned in advance.
At the same time, the internship contributed significantly to my personal development. I feel more confident in everyday situations and more willing to step into new challenges that I might have previously found difficult. Overall, this experience broadened my pedagogical thinking, enriched me with new methods and approaches, and confirmed my motivation to pursue a career in teaching. It also encouraged me not to be afraid of future work experiences abroad, even though they may come with certain challenges.
Link to the video from the TEFE A+ BIP (Blended Intensive Programme) in Pamplona, which served as preparation for the international teaching internship:
https://tefe.online/experiences/
Bc. Adéla Tonarová
