My year in Mallorca
The Schools
During my Erasmus+ stay abroad, I worked as a German language assistant at two secondary schools in Mallorca: one in Palma and one in Sóller.
As a language assistant, I supported the German teachers during lessons, assisted students with speaking and grammar exercises, prepared learning materials, and occasionally led activities independently. Working with the same classes throughout the school year allowed me to build meaningful relationships with both the students and the teachers and to observe their progress over time.
Although I am studying to become a Spanish and English teacher, I specifically chose this program because it gave me the opportunity to gain practical experience teaching a foreign language in a real classroom environment while living in Spain, which helped me expand on both my language skills as well as my cultural knowledge of Spain as a country.
My responsibilities included assisting in German lessons, supporting individual students, participating in classroom activities, and occasionally planning and teaching parts of lessons. This experience differed greatly from the teaching internships I completed during my studies in Austria. Instead of observing or teaching only a limited number of lessons, I was present in the classroom on a regular basis throughout the entire academic year. Even though I did not always actively teach, I still participated in class by supporting individual students.
This continuity allowed me to experience many different aspects of school life, including lesson planning, classroom management, assessment periods, and the development of students over time. I became much more confident in interacting with students, adapting my teaching methods, and responding flexibly to different classroom situations.
One particularly valuable aspect was teaching German to Spanish-speaking students. Explaining the structures of my native language to learners with a different linguistic background deepened my own understanding of German grammar and made me more aware of the similarities and differences between German and Spanish. I believe this experience will also benefit my future career as a Spanish teacher, as it has strengthened my ability to explain language in a clear and learner-friendly way.
During my stay, I rented an apartment in Palma. Living in the capital allowed me to experience everyday life in Mallorca while also providing good transport connections. On the days I worked in Sóller, I commuted by public transport, which gave me the opportunity to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the island and become familiar with different regions of Mallorca. The commute ended up being one of my favourite parts of the experience, as the island is absolutely beautiful and it was great to spend some mornings watching over the scenery.
Living independently abroad also helped me become more self-reliant and confident in managing everyday responsibilities in a foreign country. Although I had lived alone prior to leaving Austria, suddenly finding myself with no support network in a foreign country has made me grow increasingly independent and although it was challenging at times, I am grateful to have experienced this and feel that it allowed me to grow as a person.
Mallorca exceeded all my expectations. At first, I was a little nervous and unsure about moving there, especially because my original placement had been planned for Seville. I also had some preconceived ideas about Mallorca, mainly associating it with mass tourism and groups of German holidaymakers. However, these stereotypes quickly disappeared once I arrived. Palma is a vibrant and welcoming city with beautiful architecture, a rich cultural life, excellent restaurants, and easy access to the sea. At the same time, working in Sóller allowed me to experience a quieter and more traditional side of the island.
Beyond its natural beauty, Mallorca offered countless opportunities to immerse myself in Spanish culture. By living there for an entire year, I was able to improve my Spanish considerably, gain a deeper understanding of local customs and traditions, and experience everyday life from the perspective of a resident rather than a tourist.
Looking back, this year abroad has been one of the most valuable experiences of both my academic and personal life. It exceeded all my expectations, and I would choose to do it again without hesitation.
Academically and professionally, I gained teaching experience that would not have been possible without spending an extended period abroad. Being part of the same classrooms throughout the school year gave me valuable insights into long-term teaching and learning processes that short internships cannot provide. I also improved my classroom management skills, my confidence in front of students, and my ability to adapt my teaching to different learners.
One of the most important outcomes of this year was that it confirmed I had chosen the right career path. Although I had already decided to become a teacher before going abroad, this experience strengthened that decision even further. I genuinely looked forward to going to school every day and enjoyed working with the students. Seeing their progress, interacting with them in class, and becoming part of the school community made me realize how much I enjoy teaching and how rewarding I find it.
Of course, there were challenging moments, as there are in every school, but the positive experiences far outweighed them. It was often the small, everyday moments that made the biggest impression on me. For example, one group of students would draw a new piece of artwork on the blackboard every morning before class. It became something I looked forward to each day, and these little gestures created a warm and welcoming atmosphere that always brightened my mornings. Experiences like these reminded me that teaching is about much more than delivering lessons. This year gave me the confidence that teaching is not only the profession I want to pursue but also one that truly brings me joy.
Culturally, living in Spain enabled me to immerse myself fully in the language and everyday life. My Spanish improved significantly because I used it daily both inside and outside of school. I also developed a much deeper appreciation of Spanish culture and the educational system.
Socially, I met wonderful people from different countries, formed lasting friendships, and became much more independent. Living abroad challenged me to leave my comfort zone, solve everyday problems on my own, and adapt to new situations.
I strongly believe that this stay abroad will have a positive impact on my future career as a teacher. Besides improving my teaching skills, it has increased my confidence in using Spanish professionally and has given me valuable intercultural competence, which is essential in today’s classrooms. The experience has also made me more reflective about language learning and teaching, and I now feel much better prepared for my future profession.
Finally, I believe that this experience has changed me as a person. I have become more confident, more independent, and more open to new experiences. Living and working abroad has shown me that I am capable of adapting to unfamiliar situations and overcoming challenges. It has strengthened not only my professional identity as a future teacher but also my personal growth. Looking back, I can say with certainty that this year in Mallorca has been one of the best decisions I have ever made.
Photos & Text: Lisa-Maria Lammer