WELCOME+e-PACK

 Welcome e-Pack for Language Assistants  LAS MIMBRES PRIMARY SCHOOL CEIP LAS MIMBRES MARACENA, GRANADA (SPAIN) = Welcome to our school!! = We have prepared some information for you. You can have a look before you arrive to our school, so that you know more about the place you are going to work and, maybe, live in. We hope you find it useful. Once here, we will hand you a folder with more specific and updated information including maps, useful telephones, tourist brochures, timetables, etc. If you think we skipped something important, let us know for future improvements. = OUR TOWN = = = Maracena is a town close to the city of Granada (its population is almost 22,000 inhabitants). If you want to know a bit more about Maracena, have a look at these websites (some of them have only a Spanish version available!) = =

= OUR SCHOOL =

Our school is the only bilingual school in Maracena, with over x students and 33 teachers.

>>>> [] >>>> (Locate Lepe on a map) >>>> [] >>>> [|(the Town Hall's official website, only Spanish version available!!)] >>>> [] >>>> [|(Seaside resort's website,][|only Spanish version available!!)] >>>> **OUR SCHOOL **. Our town, Lepe, has got several Primary Schools and two Secondary Schools. Ours is quite a big state Secondary School (in fact the biggest in the province) with over 1,000 students and around 90 teachers. Here students have a wide range of studies (Compulsory Secondary Education, A levels, Professional Training Courses, Adult Educacion, Teacher Training, etc). >>>>

21440 Lepe (Huelva) ESPAÑA || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">**José Antonio Alcalde** || __biling@ieslaarboleda.net__ || <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">**YOUR JOB**. As a Language Assistant your working hours will be just 12 a week. Every year we agree on a flexible timetable that can suit both you and us as much as possible (at least we try!!) You will work basically with the bilingual groups of students, with teachers to create materials and activities and with the Teacher Training programme to improve their competence in spoken English. There are plenty of materials available with which to work. You will have access to the Internet, printing, making copies and making posters. There are digital projectors as well as CD players for incorporating visual and audio media in your presentations if you so choose. There are activity books and other texts available relating to English grammar and vocabulary. The teachers do not often have a syllabus created for their classes but will generally be able to tell you what you can prepare for their classes if you consult with them a few days in advance. <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">//**NIE**// **AND OTHER DOCUMENTS**. Once you are here, be ready to spend the first few days doing some paperwork. First of all, you will need your NIE card which is like an ID for foreigners living in Spain. Banks and companies will ask for it when you need any service. You may also have to sign your documents for private health assistance given to you (depending on your nationality). To start the process of obtaining your NIE, you will have to go to the Police station, the Comisaría, in Huelva. <span style="background-color: #ffcc99; color: #800000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">IMPORTANT: >>>>> <span style="background-color: #ffcc99; color: #800000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">1) Bring your passport >>>>> <span style="background-color: #ffcc99; color: #800000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">2) Bring the letters that you will receive at your orientation. >>>>> <span style="background-color: #ffcc99; color: #800000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">3) Bring 2 passport size photos of yourself. >>>>> <span style="background-color: #ffcc99; color: #800000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**4) The Oficina de Extranjeros at the Comisaría is usually open between 9am and 2pm. It is best to get to the office as soon as it opens.** >>>>> <span style="background-color: #ffcc99; font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">** You will not be able to obtain the card right away, but you will be given an I.D. number on a stamped and signed piece of paper. It is advisable to keep this paper or a copy of it in your walle **t. <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">**ACCOMMODATION**. There are several options but be prepared: prices are not cheap!! As you will stay from October to May, high season will be over at the seaside and prices are quite low but you need a car (the beach is about 5 Km from the town and buses are very rare in low season, just one a day). We recommend renting in the town or better sharing an apartment with other language assistants (every bilingual school has usually got two of them). There is a better choice, some teachers may also share accommodation to improve their English at the same time you improve your Spanish. When you arrive we will help you with all this so you don't worry. Trust us, we really have experience with this!! <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">**MONEY**. “//Money makes the world go round//” as the saying goes. Bear in mind a few things regarding money to make your life here easier. Your monthly pay (over 630€) will be transferred to your local bank account or alternatively the school can give you a cheque but never in cash. Then it is a good idea to open a bank account in a local bank as soon as you can. Anyway you will also need it for telephone or Internet bills, etc. At the same time a credit card with the same bank is also advisable as you can use it virtually anywhere. Check their commission rates. Again we can help you with this. <span style="font-family: Arial Narrow,sans-serif;"> **HEALTH**. As you probably know E-111 is the European health card for EU citizens members living temporarily in Spain (except if your are Belgian or American as your stay here is covered by a private insurance company so you do not have to worry about this). In case of a minor health problem, there are several family doctors here in Lepe (we can help with the translation if necessary). If it is something more serious, then there are some clinics and hospitals in Huelva. <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">**TRANSPORT**. We assume that you will get the most of public transport as renting a car will lead you straight to bankruptcy. First of all, **airports**. The nearest one is actually not in Spain but in Portugal. Faro airport is really convenient as there are a lot of low-cost companies that fly there. Once in Faro there is a bus service to Huelva twice a day (except on Sundays and Holidays when it doesn't run) or alternatively you can take a taxi (the ride is about 80€). Then in Spain we have Seville airport which is less popular but it is OK if you want to move around Spain. For local transport you will have to rely on DAMAS S.A., the **bus** company that runs from Lepe to Huelva, Seville, etc. **Trains** are not really good in this corner of Spain (until the High Speed one arrives in 2010) but there is a train station in Huelva that has a good connection with Madrid (check the website). Finally, in our school we have teachers from many different places that will take you almost anywhere by **car** given the chance. >>>> <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">[] >>>> <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">(Faro airport website) >>>> <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">[] >>>> <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">(It is not the official site but is available in English) >>>> <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">[] >>>> <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">(This is the bus company, available both in Spanish and English but not always updated) >>>> <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">[] >>>> <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">(The national railway company, also available in English) <span style="font-family: Arial Narrow,sans-serif;">**TELEPHONE:** <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">You will most definitely need a mobile phone while here. Forget about your national one, the bill will be longer than the river Nile. We can lend you one some previous language assistants have used to save you money. Mobile companies are global here too, so Orange and Vodafone are an option along with the national Movistar. Make sure to ask if there are any special rates for calling internationally. For example, at one point, Vodafone provided a plan called “Mi País” that would allow you to make international calls between 8pm and 12pm for 18 cents a minute. The best international calling rates can be attained by using a phone card from any Tobacco shop and calling from a landline. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Another option, if you have Internet, is to sign up on Skype. If your internet is too slow for Skype, Jajah is an international calling service that uses an Internet connection to call your phone and once you pick up, it will call the destination phone for around 16 cents a minute. A land line (it usually comes with the Internet service) is also a good idea as you can call any national land telephone free (which is really useful for booking rooms, checking prices, timetables, etc.)
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">**School Website** || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">[] ||
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">**School Address** || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Avda La Arboleda S/N
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">**School Phone** || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> <span class="skype_pnh_text_span" style="color: #49535a; font-family: Tahoma,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; vertical-align: baseline;">00 34 958 489904  ||
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">**School Fax** || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">00 34 959 384570 ||
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">**School Email** || <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif;">ieslaarboleda.averroes@juntadeandalucia.es ||
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">**Language Assistant Coordinator**

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">**INTERNET**. We found that many language assistants feel real “castaways” without their Internet connection. Despite always having access at school, it is not really expensive to have the service at home with one of the different companies that supply it. Thus, it is a good idea to bring your laptop with you. There is strong competition among companies so prices are falling although speed may be not that fast. The most famous one is the formerly state-run Telefónica. <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">**WEATHER**. Temperatures are usually very mild in Lepe, just in the summer time it can be really hot. Rain is quite frequent in autumn and winter but don't expect snowfalls. En general, sunny days are predominant. Check this page for a weekly weather forecast in all the province and click on Lepe for more detail: >>>>>> <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">[] <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">**LEISURE AND TRAVELLING**. Working "so little” at school means you will have plenty of time for leisure activities. If you like long sandy beaches, there is no better place to be. If you like monumets, Seville, Córdoba or Jerez are a must. If you like history, this area is packed with references to Christopher Columbus and his voyages to America. If you like nature, Doñana National Park and Aracena Natural Park will amaze you. If you like “country-hopping”, Portugal is just across the river Guadiana and is a great place to visit. If you like sport, outdoor activities are guaranteed by excellent weather most of the year. If you like good food, here are some delicacies such as “//jamón//” and “//gambas//” and a wide range of “//tapas//”. If you like night life, well... maybe this is not the best place for it but there is always something for everybody. In Lepe we have a multiscreen cinema (with movies always dubbed in Spanish), nightclubs, a theatre, etc. <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">We recommend you travel around at the weekends as the sorroundings are really amazing. When looking for cheap accommodation, try “//hostales, pensiones, albergue juveniles//”, they can be a good choice. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">If you are flying in or out of the Madrid airport, there are several transport options. There is a bus that runs frequently between Sevilla and Madrid during daytime hours. The ride is not too expensive but takes 6-7 hours and departs from the Estación de Autobuses de Plaza de Armas. This bus also runs overnight but less frequently and it is advisable to make reservations for the overnight bus because it fills up quickly. You can also take the AVE, the fast train, from Estación Santa Justa in Sevilla for anywhere from 60-100 euro. <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">There are also relatively cheap flights with Iberia between Sevilla and Madrid depending on the time of year. <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Check some more useful sites: >>>> <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">[] >>>> <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">(Official site of Doñana National Park, English version available) >>>> <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">[] >>>> <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">(Website with useful tourist information on this beautiful area in the province of Huelva, sorry only in Spanish) >>>> <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">[] >>>> <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">(This web, also in English, will introduce you to the province of Huelva) >>>> <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">[] >>>> <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">(This site, only in Spanish, contains loads of information on the city of Huelva) >>>> __[|www.turismo.sevilla.org]__ >>>> [|(Of] [|ficial website for information about Seville, the nearest big city)] >>>> __[]__ >>>> [|(This site, in English, will offer you information on Andalusia from the tourist point of view)] >>>> __[]__ >>>> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">(It contains information in English about the Algarve, the nearest Portuguese region) >>>> <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">[] >>>> <span style="font-family: Arial Narrow,sans-serif;">( <span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow',sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Youth Hostel Network in Andalusia, English version available)

This Welcome e-Pack is based on the one made by José Antonio Alcalde, IES La Arboleda, Lepe (Huelva)