Profile information
Host rating
80 %
Last replied
10 Mar 2025
Feedback
16
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Email verified
Badges (3)
Details
Description
Hi,
My name is Juan and I'm a 37 years old Basque guy that opened an English school in a small town in northern Navarra 4 years ago. I started on my own and now my partner Elena is also involved in this amazing dream.
I've done many jobs in my life ( barman, waiter, steward, cleaner, waiting staff, office work, kitchen porter....) but none of them made me feel happy and free. After travelling and volunteering around South East Asia for a year and a half i realized that what i do love is sharing my knowledge with children and young people.
On the other hand, I wanted to be as free as possible in this political system where the working conditions and workers' rights are going backwards, at least in Spain.
My main goal is to be able to pay bills and survive with not much and to give the opportunity to everyone in my town to learn English. If both parents are unemployed they just have to pay half price every month until one of them gets a job. If there are two or more members of the same family at school they get a 10% discount.
Basque people are really attached to their land, roots and family. My school wants to be a bridge to the world, a little island where students will discover that there is an entire world out there to be explored and that English is vital for that purpose.
I'd like to have fluent relationships with some schools abroad such as the orphanage I taught in Cambodia and the 2 schools I taught in Myanmar in order to put in touch different cultures, ways of living......
Volunteers will play an important role here because students will have the chance of knowing new cultures, diversity, exchange experiences, get used to different accents and be tolerant with races, gender and sexual orientation.
Furthemore it is not usual to see foreigners in our town just a couple of au pairs in summer time.
Having said that I'd like to add that we're looking for volunteers with some English teaching experience or TEFL, CELTA etc.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Language practice
Art Projects
Help with Computers/ Internet
Teaching
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
Alsasua is a small town in northern Navarra just in the middle of 3 main cities. It's 50 km away from Pamplona( the city of the running of the bulls, San Fermin), 70 km away from San Sebastian, 90km away from Bilbao and 40 km from Vitoria. You can also visit the French Basque country( Biarritz, Hendaya, Bayona....)
Alsasua is part of a valley called Sakana where there is a natural park. The landscape is awesome, there are beautiful mountains and very green forests.
People are quite friendly and kind with foreigners and all of a sudden you will be part of the town and meet people easily.
You will discover the Basque culture and its amazing gastronomy.
If you like sports this place is ideal for running, biking, trekking....
There are supermarkets, shops, bars, cultural centre and a sports centre with sauna, jacuzee, gym and a pool.
There are hourly buses to Pamplona, San Sebastian and Vitoria.
You can reach Madrid by train from Pamplona in just 3 hours.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
The lessons last around 50 minutes. Friday is a day off for volunteers so you can explore the area or visit around.
If you know how to play any instrument or you are handy with crafts, paintings, arts etc. feel free to do it in any lesson.
I will let you know their English level and what we've learned so far. Lessons must be planned in advanced and I will check them before teaching. There is plenty of material at school and we will tell you resources on the internet.
Languages spoken
English: Fluent
Spanish: Fluent
Basque: Fluent
French: Intermediate
Accommodation
You'll have your own private room in my flat or in a host family with wi fi connection, shared bathroom and kitchen.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner included. Sometimes we cook but if we are busy, you´ll have to cook your own meals with the food and ingredients provided.
What else ...
If you want to have a look to the area before coming just write in google this words: nacedero del Urederra, Urbasa, monte Beriain, Alsasua, Sakana, San Sebastian,Pamplona and you'll realize that is worthy to come.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
How many Workawayers can stay?
One
Feedback (10)
As a guest Hazel was really considerate, respectful and friendly.
We would recommend her for any teaching workaway experience. Thanks a lot Hazel!
Photos
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(4.5)
Communication:
(5.0)
As a guest Hazel was really considerate, respectful and friendly.
We would recommend her for any teaching workaway experience. Thanks a lot Hazel!
Both of them have traveled far from their countries to expose themselves to very different cultures and perfect their English.
A good experience for me… read more
She's super polite, easy-going, responsible, professional, fun and easygoing.
I wish she had stayed longer!
Absolutely every student in every class( teenagers included) were amazed by her.
Thank you!!!
Juan is a traveller at heart with a passion for travel, people, and his students. He has lots of stories, is super laid back and accommodating with volunteers. His friends are brilliant, and there are many of them, always a dinner to go to or a bar to visit,… read more
He's very active, hard-working, fun, trustworthy and sporty.
He's willing to give a hand in absolutely everything and he always has a wide smile.
Kids loved him and he's everytime more than welcome here.
He is extremely helpful, skillful and a barrel of laughs!
Little naughty kids still asking when is he coming back!
He gave me an incredible hand sorting out every bips and bops before opening the school. Thanks to him the first days were easier and a success!
He is always willing to help… read more
