Author Topic: 2011-2012 North American Lang/Cult Assistants: Castilla La Mancha (Read 8872 times)

sweetest_strawberry · « **Reply #50 on:** April 14, 2011, 04:21:02 PM »

@Teelex

The program does cover insurance

Each region is responsible for providing insurance to its auxiliares, so this private health insurance must be the insurance that Castilla-La Mancha chose to offer us. So yes, you should say that you will need the private health insurance.

Congratulations on your placement

evanjsilver · « **Reply #51 on:** April 14, 2011, 04:22:01 PM »

Quote from: sweetest_strawberry on April 14, 2011, 02:18:20 PM

@kellidoscope

Haha thank you. I was totally convinced that they skipped me! But you were right, I finally got placed today and I will be in Toledo, teaching at the Escuela Oficial de Idiomas

Jealous. I asked to be in a larger city because I've been living in a tiny village for the last year. I was placed today as well and ended up in another tiny place. Bummer. I'm gonna be a ranch hand. I just know it.

evanjsilver · « **Reply #52 on:** April 14, 2011, 04:25:22 PM »

Any clue what that second email was listed in the mini-spreadsheet?

Teelex · « **Reply #53 on:** April 14, 2011, 04:31:57 PM »

Thank you sooooo much sweetest_strawberry

BTW I googled my school ( IES Juan de Padilla ) and it seems like it's an high school; I would have preferred to work with kids, but I'm sure it will still be fun.

ac4aj · « **Reply #54 on:** April 14, 2011, 06:04:05 PM »

@ Teelex How do you know your school already? The email I got only said the region/municipality/town.

Teelex · « **Reply #55 on:** April 14, 2011, 07:14:05 PM »

"IES Juan de Padilla

45004788

Illescas

TO

Inglés"

This was part of my email.
I believe IES stands for Instituto de Educación Secundaria

http://edu.jccm.es/ies/juandepadilla/

tapasntrouble · « **Reply #56 on:** April 14, 2011, 07:37:52 PM »

Quote from: evanjsilver on April 14, 2011, 04:22:01 PM

Jealous. I asked to be in a larger city because I've been living in a tiny village for the last year. I was placed today as well and ended up in another tiny place. Bummer. I'm gonna be a ranch hand. I just know it.

Hey, I just mapped you. You're in the town just north of mine, and I'm only 22km from Toledo. You could EASILY live in Toledo and get a carpool from what I've heard. That's what I plan on doing.

evanjsilver · « **Reply #57 on:** April 15, 2011, 02:51:24 PM »

Quote from: tapasntrouble on April 14, 2011, 07:37:52 PM

Hey, I just mapped you. You're in the town just north of mine, and I'm only 22km from Toledo. You could EASILY live in Toledo and get a carpool from what I've heard. That's what I plan on doing.

That's great. I mapped it out as well. I'm probably gonna stay in Toledo. Let's talk about it. I'm a little further away then you but it will still probably take only a half hour. Also, housing in Toledo is easier to find than in my town. Maybe we could find a group of people who live within a commutes distance of Toledo.

Also, I've responded to the email we received, but have yet to receive a reply. I am concerned. Were we supposed to reply to the email or to the address in the little spreadsheet containing our information.

WindyCity · « **Reply #58 on:** April 15, 2011, 04:11:01 PM »

Quote from: evanjsilver on April 15, 2011, 02:51:24 PM

Also, I've responded to the email we received, but have yet to receive a reply. I am concerned. Were we supposed to reply to the email or to the address in the little spreadsheet containing our information.

n

I replied to the email - the one for Marcos García Turiel because he's the education director/coordinator or something for the region. About 2 days after I sent my reply he sent back a quick "muchas gracias" I guess just to let me know he got my reply.

evanjsilver · « **Reply #59 on:** April 17, 2011, 07:51:56 AM »

Profex is out of the picture at this point if we received the e-mail from CLM with our placement? Correct?

sweetest_strawberry · « **Reply #60 on:** April 17, 2011, 08:19:45 AM »

Quote from: evanjsilver on April 17, 2011, 07:51:56 AM

Profex is out of the picture at this point if we received the e-mail from CLM with our placement? Correct?

Agreed. I think that all power was handed down to Castilla-La Mancha once we were assigned to the region.

evanjsilver · « **Reply #61 on:** April 18, 2011, 06:45:54 PM »

Quote from: WindyCity on April 15, 2011, 04:11:01 PM

n

I replied to the email - the one for Marcos García Turiel because he's the education director/coordinator or something for the region. About 2 days after I sent my reply he sent back a quick "muchas gracias" I guess just to let me know he got my reply.

I have not received a reply. I know they are responsible for a lot of people but I've sent them a follow up email and still heard nothing back. Has anyone in CLM heard anything else from the administration? Received their letters?

tapasntrouble · « **Reply #62 on:** April 19, 2011, 04:11:15 PM »

Quote from: evanjsilver on April 18, 2011, 06:45:54 PM

I have not received a reply. I know they are responsible for a lot of people but I've sent them a follow up email and still heard nothing back. Has anyone in CLM heard anything else from the administration? Received their letters?

No official letter yet, just the email

WindyCity · « **Reply #63 on:** April 20, 2011, 12:02:55 AM »

@garciaotk How did you like Villarrobledo, from what you saw when you were there? On google maps it look really small - like only 3-4 miles across, does that sound about right? Would you recommend living there? That's what I'm thinking about doing because I really don't like the idea of an hour commute each way from Albacete.

To past/current auxiliares: I've read from another poster currently in Pais Vasco that the dress code for teachers at her school is casual relative to what's normal in most American schools, i.e. that clean jeans and nice shirt are ok. It that true in CLM as well?

sweetest_strawberry · « **Reply #64 on:** April 20, 2011, 04:28:02 AM »

@WindyCity
From my experience teaching in a Spanish school, I've found that you don't need to dress super formally. For example, the profesoras wore dark wash jeans, sweaters, boots, scarves, etc. The profesores wore sweaters (they love argyle) and slacks while the younger profesores wore these track pants (every young Spaniard owns a pair, seriously) with t-shirts. It's important to note that people dress differently in Spain, but you'll get to know their style once you're in Spain. But no need to comform! So yeah, you're pretty much free to wear what you want. Just remember that you're still a role model to your students

garciaotk · « **Reply #65 on:** April 20, 2011, 07:10:54 PM »

Windy City.

Villarrobledo is a small city of 25,000. I did not spend much time there ,but i lived in a city of 30,000 which is a comparable size city. Villarrobledo has a nice central square and a walking street. The benefits of living there are that there are not a lot of people who speak English, so your Spanish will improve greatly. If you are the only cultural assistant that lives there the parent association of all the schoolos will want you to teach there kids English in the afternoons. The 3 IES schools are all located right next to each other and they are about a 10 minute walk from the train station. I knew a cultural assistant who lived there in 2009 and I know she enjoyed living there and lived with Spanairds who were teachers at my school. We bought a car when we were there because it cost me 16 euros to take the train because I would have had to take the expensive national train in the afternoons wich cost 12 E oneway. The morning train only cost me 4 Euros. It was cheaper for my family to drive with 3 of us than taking the train and we traveled a lot. Most Spanairds have cars and a lot of teachers do not live there and live in Albacete or towns surrounding Villarobledo and you can always catch a ride with them. I worked only 3 days a week because I lived in Alcazar de San Juan which was 45 minutes away. Apartments tend to be furnished in Spain. what ever you decide you will have a great expierence.

jessicaks · « **Reply #66 on:** April 25, 2011, 07:45:30 PM »

Hey everyone-
I've been perusing the piso search sites, and I have a maybe silly question. Are the prices listed generally going to be per month? Because it seems really really cheap! I'm in the Ciudad Real area--my school is in Bolaños de Calatrava, but I may live in Almagro.

sweetest_strawberry · « **Reply #67 on:** April 25, 2011, 08:06:30 PM »

I've been finding that housing in Castilla-La Mancha (even in cities) is somewhat cheaper compared to that in the United States. For example, my boyfriend and his family lives in the city of Toledo. Until last fall, they lived in a piso in a newer subdivision. 2 bedrooms, a bathroom, a living room, and a kitchen for 400 Euro/month. Then they moved closer to the centre of Toledo. Their current piso is older and smaller, but it still has 2 bedrooms, a bathroom, a living room and a bathroom for 300 Euro/month.

evanjsilver · « **Reply #68 on:** April 26, 2011, 07:31:30 AM »

Has anyone received letters yet?

tapasntrouble · « **Reply #69 on:** April 28, 2011, 06:48:11 AM »

Quote from: evanjsilver on April 26, 2011, 07:31:30 AM

Has anyone received letters yet?

Still waiting.

sweetest_strawberry · « **Reply #70 on:** April 29, 2011, 05:20:05 PM »

Quote from: evanjsilver on April 26, 2011, 07:31:30 AM

Has anyone received letters yet?

I think I may have gotten my letters. My mommy said a big packet came for me in the mail yesterday. I'm pretty sure they're my acceptance letters because the other documents I'm expecting are supposed to come to my address in Minneapolis. I won't know for sure until I go home next Tuesday but maybe some others have gotten theirs too?

tapasntrouble · « **Reply #71 on:** April 30, 2011, 07:06:39 AM »

Quote from: sweetest_strawberry on April 29, 2011, 05:20:05 PM

I think I may have gotten my letters. My mommy said a big packet came for me in the mail yesterday. I'm pretty sure they're my acceptance letters because the other documents I'm expecting are supposed to come to my address in Minneapolis. I won't know for sure until I go home next Tuesday but maybe some others have gotten theirs too?

Not mine. But given that we live pretty close to one another, if yours came, mine should be here soon. If they were sent the same day, of course.

sweetest_strawberry · « **Reply #72 on:** May 01, 2011, 04:38:25 AM »

Yeah

I suppose so. Let me know when you get yours!

tapasntrouble · « **Reply #73 on:** May 01, 2011, 05:26:26 AM »

Quote from: sweetest_strawberry on May 01, 2011, 04:38:25 AM

Yeah I suppose so. Let me know when you get yours!

I definitely will. I was hoping to get it today, after I heard about your large envelope. Nothing yet.

tapasntrouble · « **Reply #74 on:** May 03, 2011, 08:05:59 PM »

I got the letter today via e-mail

evanjsilver · « **Reply #75 on:** May 05, 2011, 01:42:11 PM »

Quote from: tapasntrouble on May 03, 2011, 08:05:59 PM

I got the letter today via e-mail

Was your letter sent directly from the school or was it sent by the comunidad of CLM? I've sent an e-mail to my school basically stating that I am very excited about coming to work with them and that I have some questions about life in the region and in the town itself. Hopefully I will here from them in the next week.

tapasntrouble · « **Reply #76 on:** May 05, 2011, 07:57:53 PM »

it was from the region of CLM. I also emailed my school and heard back from them already. My coordinator seems really friendly and cool. She answered all my questions.

Quote from: evanjsilver on May 05, 2011, 01:42:11 PM

Was your letter sent directly from the school or was it sent by the comunidad of CLM? I've sent an e-mail to my school basically stating that I am very excited about coming to work with them and that I have some questions about life in the region and in the town itself. Hopefully I will here from them in the next week.

evanjsilver · « **Reply #77 on:** May 06, 2011, 10:55:59 AM »

Quote from: tapasntrouble on May 05, 2011, 07:57:53 PM

it was from the region of CLM. I also emailed my school and heard back from them already. My coordinator seems really friendly and cool. She answered all my questions.

I have yet to hear anything back from either my school or the regional coordinator. Bummer. Guess I can only be more patient.

jessica8221 · « **Reply #78 on:** May 12, 2011, 02:36:12 PM »

Hi! I was placed in Castilla La Mancha a week or so ago and just found out about this forum. I would love to meet anyone placed here and could definitely use some advice about the region, finding an apartment, etc.

tapasntrouble · « **Reply #79 on:** May 12, 2011, 07:30:13 PM »

hey! where in CLM were you placed? join our facebook group!

Quote from: jessica8221 on May 12, 2011, 02:36:12 PM

Hi! I was placed in Castilla La Mancha a week or so ago and just found out about this forum. I would love to meet anyone placed here and could definitely use some advice about the region, finding an apartment, etc.

evanjsilver · « **Reply #80 on:** May 13, 2011, 11:58:35 AM »

Quote from: tapasntrouble on May 12, 2011, 07:30:13 PM

hey! where in CLM were you placed? join our facebook group!

What is the name of your facebook group? Post a link.

sweetest_strawberry · « **Reply #81 on:** May 13, 2011, 12:31:29 PM »

It seems this forum doesn't support facebook links but you can search for it on facebook. The group name is: 2011-2012 Auxiliares de Conversación en CASTILLA-LA MANCHA

JoDuggs · « **Reply #82 on:** May 16, 2011, 08:23:14 PM »

Hi all,
I got a placement in Villarrobledo (in Castilla-La Mancha) a little while ago but just found this forum today. So WindyCity looks like we will be in the same town. I have been in touch with one of the language assistants who is there this year who told me there are 8 Americans/Brits living in the town this year. I'm also curious what it will be like in terms of options for things to do and nightlife, but I know at the least it will be a great opportunity for me to improve my Spanish.

@garciaotk - I will be teaching at CEIP Graciano Atienza next year. If you have any information specific to the school or contact information for any teachers that would be really helpful.

saludos,
Joanna

WindyCity · « **Reply #83 on:** May 17, 2011, 01:40:52 AM »

Quote from: JoDuggs on May 16, 2011, 08:23:14 PM

Hi all,
I got a placement in Villarrobledo (in Castilla-La Mancha) a little while ago but just found this forum today. So WindyCity looks like we will be in the same town. I have been in touch with one of the language assistants who is there this year who told me there are 8 Americans/Brits living in the town this year. I'm also curious what it will be like in terms of options for things to do and nightlife, but I know at the least it will be a great opportunity for me to improve my Spanish.

@garciaotk - I will be teaching at CEIP Graciano Atienza next year. If you have any information specific to the school or contact information for any teachers that would be really helpful.

saludos,
Joanna

Awesome! I'm glad to see that there will be other auxiliares in town.

I've been messaging a girl I found through facebook who is a current auxiliar there and she really enjoys it and said she's made lots of friends, so it looks like there are people in their early/mid 20s around (if that is your age group). Do you know when you'll be arriving yet?

JoDuggs · « **Reply #84 on:** May 17, 2011, 06:10:44 PM »

Sweet, I'm glad to hear that the other girl is enjoying it this year. I am indeed in that age range, though I'm afraid I'm more to the mid-20s side than early haha

I'm not sure yet exactly when I'll be arriving. I'm hoping to get there a little bit early (maybe around Sept. 20), get set up in an apartment, then take a few days to walk some of the Camino de Santiago. But this is assuming everything with my visa is ready to go by September... what about you? Did the auxiliar who is living there this year give you any info on finding a place to live? The guy I talked to (also via facebook) told me cost of living was cheap and he lives in a huge apartment for 150 euros/month. I didn't get any more specific info about apartments from him though...

garciaotk · « **Reply #85 on:** May 17, 2011, 10:35:20 PM »

To:JoAnn Duggs.

I was the 1st teaching assistant at CEIP Graciano Atienza. Email me at kurtgarciaottens@yahoo.com and I can give you a lot of information and maybe we can talk by phone which I would prefer. I know a lot of very nice people in that school who are still very good friends.

Saludos,

Kurt

Teelex · « **Reply #86 on:** May 21, 2011, 07:37:42 PM »

I'm placed at IES Juan De Padilla in Illescas, and I'm having such a hard time choosing where to stay, whenever I look for apartments at Illescas, there are only about 5-10 search results, I'm afraid that I might end up living in Madrid/Toledo... which would be ironic because I picked this region because it's not too touristic; any advices??

WindyCity · « **Reply #87 on:** May 22, 2011, 12:27:02 AM »

Quote from: Teelex on May 21, 2011, 07:37:42 PM

I'm placed at IES Juan De Padilla in Illescas, and I'm having such a hard time choosing where to stay, whenever I look for apartments at Illescas, there are only about 5-10 search results, I'm afraid that I might end up living in Madrid/Toledo... which would be ironic because I picked this region because it's not too touristic; any advices??

I wouldn't worry too much about the number of postings you see online. I'll be in Villarrobledo (pop ~25000) and when I look online I only see 2-3, but I know that there are current auxiliares living there, so they managed to find apartments. I'd say wait until you get there because I'm sure there are apartments just advertised in local newspapers etc. Maybe you could ask your school for any advise/help.

Teelex · « **Reply #88 on:** May 22, 2011, 02:45:46 AM »

Quote from: WindyCity on May 22, 2011, 12:27:02 AM

I wouldn't worry too much about the number of postings you see online. I'll be in Villarrobledo (pop ~25000) and when I look online I only see 2-3, but I know that there are current auxiliares living there, so they managed to find apartments. I'd say wait until you get there because I'm sure there are apartments just advertised in local newspapers etc. Maybe you could ask your school for any advise/help.

Thanks

I asked my school, and I was made aware that all the past auxiliaries have decided to live in Madrid, I'll give it some time before I make a decision.

sweetest_strawberry · « **Reply #89 on:** May 25, 2011, 09:34:20 AM »

I was putzing around on Castilla-La Mancha's education website and I noticed that the guidebook and the schedule for orientation came out for this coming school year. The date and place of orientation is yet to be determined but the website says it takes place during the first week of October but it also says that we are to start working at our schools on October 3rd. Hmmmmm, I guess we'll have to wait and see. It also mentions that each province organises its own orientation. I believe that last year in the province of Toledo, orientation took place at la Universidad Laboral over in Buenavista, Toledo. That location wouldn't be hard for those living in the city of Toledo to get to if they were to have orientation there again. In fact, it's probably better that it's not in el Casco because it's so confusing

.

Anyways, the links. Here's la guía:
http://www.educa.jccm.es/educa-jccm/cm/educa_jccm/images?locale=es_ES&textOnly=false&idMmedia=129091

And here is la jornada:
http://www.educa.jccm.es/educa-jccm/cm/educa_jccm/images?locale=es_ES&textOnly=false&idMmedia=129090

evanjsilver · « **Reply #90 on:** May 29, 2011, 07:46:24 PM »

Fellow CLMers. Have you received your hard copy nobramiento in the mail? Sr Turiel informed me that mine was mailed on May 4th certified mail but I have yet to receive it. How long after receiving your placement did your letter arrive? Is anyone in the same situation?

WindyCity · « **Reply #91 on:** May 29, 2011, 09:12:07 PM »

Quote from: evanjsilver on May 29, 2011, 07:46:24 PM

Fellow CLMers. Have you received your hard copy nobramiento in the mail? Sr Turiel informed me that mine was mailed on May 4th certified mail but I have yet to receive it. How long after receiving your placement did your letter arrive? Is anyone in the same situation?

I got mine last weekis (my mom picked it up for me because I'm still in my university apartment). I got the email about what school I would be placed in on April 15 and the email with the official letter attached May 6. My mom did have to go to the post office and pick it up and say that I was her dependent (or else the post office wouldn't have given her the letter).

amoresperros · « **Reply #92 on:** June 11, 2011, 10:29:37 PM »

Hey Teelex, I'm going to be in Valmojado, about 40 minutes from Madrid. I looked up Illescas and saw that it's fairly close. Did you know if you were going to live in Madrid?

amoresperros · « **Reply #93 on:** June 11, 2011, 10:32:22 PM »

Hey Teelex, I'm going to be in Valmojado, about 40 minutes from Madrid. I looked up Illescas and saw that it's fairly close. Did you know if you were going to live in Madrid?

Teelex · « **Reply #94 on:** June 12, 2011, 06:06:36 PM »

Quote from: amoresperros on June 11, 2011, 10:32:22 PM

Hey Teelex, I'm going to be in Valmojado, about 40 minutes from Madrid. I looked up Illescas and saw that it's fairly close. Did you know if you were going to live in Madrid?

Right now 75% chance that I will live in Illescas, which is 20 mins away from Madrid, but I'm still doing some thinking.

mantler · « **Reply #95 on:** June 13, 2011, 08:35:32 AM »

WindyCity and JoDuggs, that makes at least three of us for Villarrobledo! I'm going to be teaching at an EOI which I think will be my cup of tea as far as age groups are concerned (high school level and up).
I am also a little torn about living in town versus commuting from Albacete city, because I already live in a small town here in the States, and would like to go somewhere with a bit more going on... but maybe I will be content just not living in the town I grew up in! We can always move, I suppose.

amoresperros · « **Reply #96 on:** July 07, 2011, 01:58:06 AM »

I'm supposed to be teaching in a small village called Valmojado, about 40 minutes from Madrid. I was told that the majority of auxiliares in the northern la mancha region lived in Madrid and commuted. I was wondering if there is any one who would consider being roommates. I'm definitely going to Spain for an authentic experience but I was thinking that it'd be awesome to have at least one person that I know and can be friends with off the bat. I was thinking about living in southern Madrid or northern la mancha. If anyone is interested in rooming at all, please don't hesitate to post something.

tapasntrouble · « **Reply #97 on:** July 07, 2011, 06:22:47 AM »

Quote from: amoresperros on July 07, 2011, 01:58:06 AM

I'm supposed to be teaching in a small village called Valmojado, about 40 minutes from Madrid. I was told that the majority of auxiliares in the northern la mancha region lived in Madrid and commuted. I was wondering if there is any one who would consider being roommates. I'm definitely going to Spain for an authentic experience but I was thinking that it'd be awesome to have at least one person that I know and can be friends with off the bat. I was thinking about living in southern Madrid or northern la mancha. If anyone is interested in rooming at all, please don't hesitate to post something.

I'll be living in Toledo. but my pueblo is very close to Toledo. It looks like you're halfway between both. I would live in the city that has the best bus and train schedules to the pueblo you're teaching in. If that's Madrid, choose Madrid. If that's Toledo, choose Toledo.

Also, your username: is it about the movie 'Amores Perros'? I'm a huge foreign film nerd!

Jlemien · « **Reply #98 on:** July 07, 2011, 07:42:22 PM »

Hi everybody. I just found these forums, and I am gonna be in CLM too. I have been places in the tiny village (population about 4,000) of Villamalea, about 50km North-Northeast of the city of Albacete. I still haven't decided for sure, but I am definitely leaning towards living in Albacete and getting a ride to Villamalea. I am 23 now, and living in a city holds a bit more appeal to me than being stuck in a tiny pueblo. I have been in contact with other teachers at the school via email, and they tell me that there is a group of them that lives in Albacete and rides to Villamalea together. I definitely will not purchase a car while in Spain, but if I can carpool with other teachers of my school that sounds like a good option. I am liking how cheap the apartments seem there, though. What resources is everybody using to look for housing?

Also, any information on when and where our orientation/training will start?

News:

Author Topic: 2011-2012 North American Lang/Cult Assistants: Castilla La Mancha (Read 8872 times)

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