- January 31, 2022
"MIT's Global Teaching Labs allowed me to explore a country that few people know about or have the privilege of visiting. Teaching in Andorra was an incredible experience because it allowed me to immerse myself in a new culture ..."
Gazing at the steep rock formations of the Pyrenees Nick entered Andorra, a country with a population equivalent to his hometown in suburban Connecticut.
Creating a fun environment
Nick worked in the city of Andorra la Vella teaching math, physics, biology, and computer science to students ages 16-19. He led workshops and taught classes in English with the goal of strengthening the students' language skills and creating a fun environment that encouraged open discussion and hands-on learning. Though the national language of Andorra is Catalan, Nick was placed in a school belonging to the Spanish system. As a native speaker of Spanish, he had no trouble adapting to his host school. Speaking Spanish allowed him to interact with teachers and students when they had low English proficiency.
Warm welcomes lead to life decisions
Nick lived with a couple in the outskirts of Andorra la Vella. One of the cultural aspects that surprised him was how the people were so welcoming and friendly. Many of the teachers and students he interacted with at school invited him to their homes for dinner and treated him like part of their families. Dinner in Andorra is a very social event, often lasting for two or three hours, and full of interesting conversation. Nick enjoyed this aspect of the culture because he was able to get to know his hosts personally and build a strong relationship with them. As a result, Nick realized that he does not want to limit himself to jobs in the US when he graduates college. He really enjoyed the friendly, relaxed atmosphere, and he wants to explore the possibility of working in another country.