MEET OUR 2025-26 LANGUAGE ASSISTANTS!
Riley: Hello everyone! My name is Riley Nieboer and I am from Grand Rapids, Michigan. Michigan is considered to be in the Midwest of the United States, and it is surrounded by five Great Lakes! I live about a 30 minute drive from the beach, where I love spending time when the weather is nice. I studied Elementary Education and English as a Second Language in university and wanted to pursue a career in education outside of the United States. I picked Madrid because I wanted to learn more about the culture and live in a beautiful and vibrant city. Teaching abroad merges my two passions: working with students and travelling. I also wanted to practice my Spanish! I am looking forward to the rest of the year here at IES Calatalifa, as I have enjoyed getting to know the teachers and students so far.
Melanie: Hi! I'm Melanie Santiago, and I'm from Chicago, a big welcoming city filled with culture, good food, and beautiful views of Lake Michigan. I've always loved working with children, which is why I'm so excited to be teaching this year. I'm thrilled to be living in Madrid, practicing my Spanish, and traveling whenever I can. I can't wait to learn from my students and be part of this community!
Charlie: Hello! My name is Charlie and I'm from Oxford in the UK. Oxford is famous for its university and its beautiful architecture. I recently graduated from the University of Bristol in Theatre & Spanish and have come to Spain through the British Council. I love Spain and I'm really liking living in Madrid for the first time! I've taught English in Argentina and Guatemala before so I'm excited to continue teaching at IES Calatalifa!
David: Hello! My name is David and I am from Los Angeles in California. In my free time I enjoy learning languages, cooking, and watching baseball. I wanted to teach in Spain because I am passionate about teaching and learning about new cultures. Working with all of the amazing staff at IES Calatalifa has made my first few months in Spain an incredibly enriching experience.
Emily: Hi everyone! My name is Emily and I'm from San Francisco, California. San Francisco, which is on the west coast of the USA, is famous for the Golden Gate Bridge, redwood trees, and sourdough bread. I came to Spain because I love Spanish culture and am excited about the opportunity to learn a new language and travel. In the future I hope to work with youth in the mental health field, so I felt this was all around the perfect opportunity. So far I am really enjoying my time here in Madrid, and I look forward to the rest of the year! Working with the IES Calatalifa staff and students has been such a great and positive experience that I am so grateful for.
