Work Experience Abroad
Why I chose to do Work Experience:
One of the main reasons that I chose to do work experience abroad was due to the fact that I thought it would be a brilliant chance to practice my Spanish skills in an actual Spanish environment where I had to use my Spanish and couldn’t rely on English. Also, I thought that doing work experience would be a good way of improving my Spanish in general, as well as expanding my vocabulary and giving me an insight into more colloquial Spanish. In addition to the language benefits of participating in work experience abroad, I thought that it would be a great chance to experience Spanish culture first hand, rather than reading or hearing about it from someone else. Lastly, another reason I wanted to take part in work experience in Spain was because I thought that it would look very good on my CV, both in terms of trying to get a job, as it is work experience, but also in terms of applying to University etc., as it shows a passion for the language and also shows that I done more than some other students, making me stand out during the application process.
Benefits:
In terms of the actual benefits of Work Experience abroad, while I was in Spain, I found that my Spanish improved greatly over the week, and I found myself feeling much more confident when using my spoken Spanish as well as finding that my listening skills had improved greatly as well. Another benefit of doing the work experience was that it gave me an insight into the world of work, as well as giving me a chance to fully immerse myself in the Spanish culture and life of Salamanca. Furthermore, I also had the chance to try some typical Spanish food such as “pincho moruno”, a brochette of pork pieces marinated in paprika and garlic, as well as other Spanish tapas in many of the little tapas bars in and around Spain. Also, as I said before, doing the work experience abroad also had a benefit in the way that I was able to put it on my UCAS application to my chosen universities. The benefit of this is that it sets me apart from other applicants who maybe have not done any work experience in a foreign country, possibly making me a better applicant as it shows that I care about the language and shows that I am willing to do more than others.
What I did:
While in Spain on work experience, I worked in a small men’s fashion shop called “Toro Shop”, and their website is http://www.osborne.es/en/toro-de-osborne/. This is a franchise shop that is set up as part of the “Toro de Osborne” brand, and has many products ranging from Clothes and motorbike helmets to key rings, pens and pencils, as well as things such as brandy and tea sets. While working in the shop, I got to interact with the other people who worked there, as well as the customers and people who came into the shop in order to buy something or just have a look around, meaning I had to opportunity to practice my speaking and listening skills. As well as this, I was also able to use the till in the shop when serving customers, and I was also able to assist the manager of the shop in adjusting prices for some of the watches that were on display, giving me an insight into the economics involved in running a shop, and how to work out profit margins etc. Also, while in Spain for work experience, I was able to meet other people from all over the country who were also doing work experience, and have kept in contact with some of them since.
Cultural Aspect/Language Development:
Taking part in Work Experience in Spain gave me a fantastic opportunity to immerse myself in the culture of Spain, such as having a siesta at lunchtime, as well as giving me a chance to develop my language skills. One of the best ways that I was able to develop my Language skills was actually just being able to speak in Spanish all of the time that I was in Spain, as this gave me the best opportunity to practice all of my tenses as well as giving me the chance to learn some of the more colloquial Spanish that you cannot really learn at school. The best thing that I encountered during my time in Salamanca for work experience was the “Semana Santa” celebrations and processions through the main square in Salamanca, as this gave me a real chance to experience the culture and religion that is present in Spain, as well as seeing how much of an influence and importance that religion has in Spain, as before, I didn’t realize quite how much of an influence the church did have. Below is an example of a procession through the main “Plaza Mayor” in Salamanca during “Semana Santa”, showing one of the big floats that they parade through the streets.
Would I Recommend taking Part in Work Experience Abroad?
Absolutely. I would definitely recommend participating on Work Experience abroad to anyone that is unsure about doing it, or anyone who hasn’t even thought about it. It is one of the best experiences I have had at The King John School, and the fact that the school pay half of the cost of the journey in exchange for helping out in lower year groups lessons is a brilliant thing, as not many schools would do this. Another reason I would recommend doing work experience abroad is because it gives you the chance to go to somewhere that you may not have been before, and get to see some amazing places and things. Also, there are so many benefits to participating in this scheme that I think it is a great thing to do, and a really exciting and helpful experience, especially before your exams. I had such a great times and loved every minute of my time doing work experience.
Applying:
The application process for doing Work Experience abroad is actually very simple. However, you have to do it all yourself, your teachers are not able to help you with it. All you have to do is to fill out the online forms on Halsbury’s website, and then print them off and send them off with your deposit etc. The best thing about this application process is that you actually get to put down some preferences of where you would like to work, depending on what you would like to do in the future, or what you are interested in, meaning that you are more likely to get a job that you will enjoy doing. As well as this, during the application process, you have to write a short essay about why you would like to take part in the work experience, in the language of the country you will be going to, for example, if you are going to Spain, you will need to write the paragraph in Spanish. Halsbury’s website has loads of support and has a section dedicated to frequently asked questions (FAQs), which will help to answer any other questions you may have. Their website can be found at - http://www.workexperienceabroad.co.uk