Help me improve my Spanish in Albir, Spain

  • Favourited 191 times
  • Last activity: 18 Mar 2024

Availability

  2024 

 Min stay requested: at least a week

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Details

  • Description

    Description

    I am a mature retired professional women, who enjoys life, likes going out, keep-fit, dancing, dining out, walking. I am a journalist/editor/communications director by profession and I am currently contributing editor of a website about healthy aging.

    I worked as a freelance writer/journalist/editor for several NGOs mainly dealing with health issues, trade and humanitarian law. Prior to this I was Director of Communications for an international NGO where I worked for about 18 years. I am widely travelled and have visited all five continents mainly with my work but have also travelled quite a lot in my free time. I have also previously worked as an English teacher.

    I speak fluent English and French but am struggling with the Spanish language, mainly because there are so many English speaking people in the area where i live (UK nationals but also Scandinavians, Dutch, Belgians, Germans, Spanish who want to improve their English) so it is actually a very good place for people wanting to improve their English, less so for those who want to learn Spanish. And, to be honest, like many expats, I tend to take the easy path when most people I meet speak my language well in the area where I live, so my main problem is lack of confidence resulting from lack of practice.

    I live in a small resort on the Costa Blanca in Spain about ten minutes walk from the sea. There is also a national parc only minutes walk from the house. The resort has many restaurants and cafes, three or four supermarkets and a few mini markets and some small boutiques. There is a market on Sunday mornings.

    My home is in a small gated estate with 16 other houses. There is a shared garden and swimming pool.

    I am looking for someone who can help with housework, shopping and cooking and who can help me improve my Spanish in return for board and lodging and the opportunity to practice English. There may be other projects available on an ad hoc basis depending on the volunteers interests - see below for the type of help I sometimes need.

  • Types of help and learning opportunities

    Types of help and learning opportunities

    Art Projects
    Language practice
    Teaching
    DIY and building projects
    Animal Care
    Creating/ Cooking family meals
    Help around the house
    General Maintenance
    Help with Computers/ Internet
  • Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

    I have a website on healthy aging, and i am also very widely travelled. I enjoy political discussion and am an experienced English teacher, writer, journalist, communications specialist and more recently have qualified as a clinical hypnotherapist, although not currently practicing. In their leisure time workaways can participate in my activities - e.g. I go to keep fit 3 x `per week (though this is female only) if they wish, and will have plenty of opportunities to meet with English speaking people here, both tourists and residents.

  • Help

    Help

    Looking for a Spanish speaker who can help with the housework, cleaning, shopping, cooking or maintenance and give some Spanish language practice in Spanish in return for English. I have a cat and might ask you to feed him if i am absent.

    Would appreciate a handy-man who can help me with projects - DIY, decoration, general maintenance.

    I would also appreciate help with getting rid of clutter and organization. There might also occasionally be projects connected with the website, including research, writing, web design, translation if this is something that would be of interest to workaways.

  • Languages

    Languages spoken
    English: Fluent
    French: Fluent
    Spanish: Intermediate

    This host offers a language exchange
    I live in an area of Spain which has a lot of expats which makes it quite hard to practice the local language. Therefore, I'd like to welcome a Spanish speaking person into my home as this would help me practice Spanish. I speak French and English and can offer conversation in either of these languages in return. However, there will be many opportunities to speak English outside of the house so would prefer that we speak Spanish as much as possible because, although I study a lot, I get very little opportunity to practice.

  • Accommodation

    Accommodation

    A comfortable bedroom and private bathroom. Shared meals if i am at home or use of kitchen if i am out. There is a swimming pool in the garden (both shared with other members of the community) which is usually warm enough to swim in from May to October.

  • What else ...

    What else ...

    In return for four to five hours work Monday to Friday , you will get a comfortable room and bathroom, plus meals which we will prepare together if cooking is not part of your tasks, or you can have use of the kitchen if I am out. In addition I can help you with your English ( or give you the opportunity to practice English or French with me) plus give you opportunities to meet and interact with other English speakers.

    There is a lot to do in the area besides going to the beach, nice areas for walking and places to visit. If you enjoy sightseeing I would be happy to accompany you occasionally via public transport (as I do not drove or own a car) and we can exchange language during leisure time spent together. This is optional obviously and depends on the wishes of the volunteer and the time I have available. I have had Spanish workaways who came with their own car and this has worked out well because we were able to visit places together more conveniently. If you do have a driving licence I think it might be a good idea to bring it with you, just in case.

    There is a bus serving the resort which goes to nearby Altea and Benidorm several times an hour and there is a tram to Alicante via Benidorm and, in the other direction to Denia about once an hour, with lots of different places to visit along the route. From Alicante you can also change stations and take a train to Madrid and other places in Spain. The bus station in Benidorm has buses going to Alicante airport about once an hour and also to various different towns in Spain, including Alicante and Valencia, where you can change for Barcelona and beyond. There are also some day excursions available from Albir to sightseeing destinations in the area, plus longer trips with a company called Beniconnect.

  • A little more information

    A little more information

    • Internet access

    • Limited internet access

      Limited internet access

    • We have pets

    • We are smokers

    • Can host families

  • Can host digital nomads

    Can host digital nomads

    It would be possible although the internet connection is not the best when more than one person is working or streaming.

  • How many Workawayers can stay?

    How many Workawayers can stay?

    One

  • ...

    Hours expected

    4 -5 hours cooking shopping ironing and cleaning or specific projects when available, depending on volunteers interests.

Host ref number: 675732874598

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