ONIF Student Spotlight
December 8, 2023
Name: Maggie Scroggs
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Major: Sociology
Minor: Spanish
Graduation Date: May 2023
Fellowship Award: I’m participating in the North American Language and Culture Assistants (NALCAP) Program, which allows me to work as an English language assistant in a school in Spain. I live and work in Cádiz, a city on the coast of Andalucía. My school is an EOI, which is a language school for adults, and as an Auxiliar de Conversación I work with students of all levels of English. I actually work with 27 different classes which makes for a lot of new faces and friends!
What are your current or future career plans? I am thinking about renewing for another year here in Cádiz, teaching at the same school!
What did you enjoy most about the program? I’ve been surprised by how much I love teaching! Having the opportunity to share cultural concepts with students who don’t know very much about the U.S. is a lot of fun and my students have taught me a lot about the Spanish language and culture as well. Time flies when I’m at work because I enjoy each class so much.
What was the most challenging aspect of the program? For me, the most challenging aspect of the program has just been that I’ve essentially had to build a new life from scratch. When I arrived in Cádiz almost 3 months ago, I didn’t know a single person in the city, or even in the entire country. I had to find a place to live, make new friends, start a new job, navigate legal residency processes, and establish a routine in a country with a very different lifestyle than that of the United States. With that being said, my life has changed so much since arriving and I have successfully done all of those things. It’s required me to trust in myself, have hope in times of loneliness, and keep an open mind. I now have an incredible community here and have learned so much about myself in the past few months.
What advice do you have for future applicants? I would definitely recommend reaching out to someone who has participated in the program while you’re applying or while navigating the visa process. It can be difficult to navigate at times and having someone to help you and empathize can go a long way. There are many resources for support if you need it, and eventually, your experience will be well worth the stress!
What would people be surprised to know about your experience? You might be surprised to know that prior to applying for NALCAP, I was rejected from a different grant program in which I had really wanted to participate. Now that I am here in Spain and participating in the NALCAP, I couldn’t be happier with the way that things worked out. If you are really determined to seek out opportunities for personal and professional growth in another country, trust that you can and will find something that is the right fit for you.
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For more information about the NALCAP Program, visit https://www.educacionyfp.gob.es/eeuu/convocatorias-programas/convocatorias-eeuu/nalcap.html or contact ONIF.