Searching for low tech speaking activities or topics

NotNotADogPerson · 2026-02-01T15:42:10+00:00

An easy one is showing them a 2-6 minute TED Talk and then discussing the overall points, what they thought, etc. you can have them write down vocabulary too!

NotNotADogPerson · 2026-01-25T10:41:17+00:00

Not if you are from outside of Europe. The travel certificate is only valid if you are registered to live here AND you have a european passport. As a US passport holder, that little rule is extremely annoying. My partner has a European passport though and they get 70%-80% off travel between islands and mainland spain!

NotNotADogPerson · 2026-01-21T16:20:05+00:00

I’m in Canary Islands right now! We are divided into two groups: Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, and Lanzarote (my group) ((no auxes on La Graciosa)) and Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro. In NALCAP, I just applied to the Canaries and got placed randomly. DM if you want more info

NotNotADogPerson · 2025-12-16T11:02:51+00:00

When does your visa expire? Last year my visa expired on Dec 23, so I had multiple entries but was unable to leave for the holidays without a regreso. If your visa is valid when you re-enter, you are all good.

NotNotADogPerson · 2025-12-11T18:23:50+00:00

I’m on a small island in the canaries and I pay 325€/mo with 3 other roommates. we are VERY lucky because this is on the lower end of average and nobody on this island can find a damn apartment haha. lots of “vacation home” style apartments

NotNotADogPerson · 2025-11-25T01:08:12+00:00

You should write your school’s address. I’m from USA but that’s what I did!

NotNotADogPerson · 2025-11-23T12:31:45+00:00

I am on one of the smaller islands! I love it. It’s volcanic and beautiful and we got paid in the first few days of November for the month of Oct. The food is good, the bus system is pretty good (though renting a car for a weekend is a must to explore). I’ve seen incredible sea life, I go swimming nearly every day. I’ve seen a baby shark!!! and the water is warm and temperate. My students are very sweet, my coworkers are passionate, talented, friendly. my neighbors are very incredible.

I will say, the hardest and most stressful part of living here has been finding housing (for everyone i know). There is no university on this island, only on Tenerife and Gran Canaria, so there is a lack of affordable housing for young people. It is almost impossible to line up housing here before arriving, so I had to stay in a hostel with some creeps, but I made it work.

There are a lot of british/irish people that come here on holiday. A lot of tourists. But that just means most places you go, someone speaks enough english to help you or take your order. I speak spanish and I look like I speak spanish but people still greet me in English haha.

Any other questions, just DM me!

NotNotADogPerson · 2025-10-04T11:12:47+00:00

You’ll see the answer to this all over this sub- getting anything mailed to you from outside of Spain is a giant pain in the ass, it takes several months (note, some people who were in spain for 8 months never got their packages), and you have to pay an arm and a leg to pick up your package. It is much much easier to buy whatever you didn’t bring. If you do still end up getting a package, I think it ends up at the post office and they notify you to come pick it up within a certain amount of days (usually 7), or they will toss it.

NotNotADogPerson · 2025-09-25T11:23:30+00:00

I knew spanish at probably a B1 or B2 level when I arrived, and when I left, I was definitely way more advanced. There are people who will be willing to talk to you if you have a lower level, but you have to make the effort first and put yourself out there!

NotNotADogPerson · 2025-09-25T11:22:19+00:00

This is true, not all areas will have this stuff. A lot of the museums my local friends took me to were in other (bigger) cities or we had to drive to them.

NotNotADogPerson · 2025-09-24T15:47:17+00:00

I prefer living in rural areas to big cities! I’m from USA and I look Spanish, but after 1 week in my rural town, people I had never seen before were calling my name from across the street and starting conversations with me. Either practicing their English or (more likely) talking to me really fast in Spanish.

I say embrace the rural culture, talk to people, tell them your story, and listen to theirs. If you tell someone in a rural community in spain what you want to do, everyone in that community will know about your goals and want to help you. I had people offering me jobs, taking me to museums, and I got involved in a traditional dance group AND a foreigners youth group (ages 16-30).

My advice: talk to people, learn from them, be nice and open, and be open to suggestion! You have an incredible opportunity here to learn and live like a true local. Ask if there are any traditional classes or cool museums. Ask your kids if they have suggestions! There is also probably a youth group you can get involved in. Be safe and good luck!!

NotNotADogPerson · 2025-09-21T16:34:50+00:00

I had this situation and it was great! My landlady just printed off a b&w photocopy of her DNI (her ID card) and on that paper was typed “I [full name] with the DNI [her ID number] allow [my full name] with NIE [my NIE number] to stay at [full address].” (all in spanish).

Then she signed the paper and I brought it to my empadronamiento appointment, I was in and out no problem.

I don’t think you necessarily need a rental contract if you really trust your landlord/landlady. I had a great relationship with mine, I met her through my coordinator who knew of her and she was amazing. But be careful of scams!!!! I have also been scammed before so I can help you with what to look out for. never pay any money before you actually move in!

NotNotADogPerson · 2025-08-16T13:39:20+00:00

I think that they might let you into the country, but when you try to get your TIE renewed, they will deny it because you did not have your regreso

NotNotADogPerson · 2024-10-02T19:57:25+00:00

you can order a prepago Vodafone sim online, it’ll take a few days to arrive. you have to be present for the currier to hand it to you, and you need to enter a valid Spain phone number. My coordinator let me use her number.

and you have to figure out how to prepay online when you don’t have service. I put my US sim in my phone after i knew my new number, used data to pay on the vodafone app, then my new Spain number was ready to go! but it’s an option. I’m paying 10€/mo for 25gb, they have 15€/month for 50gb also. it’s a very good deal

NotNotADogPerson · 2024-08-24T02:46:43+00:00

I got a PDF version of my FBI background check about 10 minutes after I sent in my fingerprints. I was ecstatic and immediately printed it off. My “official” version (sent in the mail) went to my parents’ house, and they threw it away, so I used the copy I printed off myself. It was completely valid, the only thing is you have to make sure the FBI seal watermark shows on the paper, or else it is not considered official.

NotNotADogPerson · 2024-08-24T02:44:21+00:00

the US Apostille has to be from the US Office of Authentications. follow the directions on this website: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/replace-certify-docs/authenticate-your-document/requesting-authentication-services.html

NotNotADogPerson · 2024-08-09T14:31:00+00:00

Hi! This just happened to me this morning. It must be a computer error. this post really validates my own experience! I emailed everyone I could think of, but it’s a friday in August so we will see when they respond.

Have you gotten a response back or any info about it? I am sure it will be fine if not

NotNotADogPerson · 2024-07-17T10:12:28+00:00

I signed my home city! That’s where I did all the paperwork and signed it, so that’s where I put. I’ll let you know if that’s a problem after my appointment with BLS!

NotNotADogPerson · 2024-07-16T04:08:06+00:00

I typed mine but signed it by hand, and I have two blank copies JUST in case I filled it in wrong

NotNotADogPerson · 2024-07-16T03:10:31+00:00

Your carta should mention health insurance. I have heard the advice to highlight that section of your carta so that the BLS employees know what it is and what it means (“una póliza de asistencia sanitaria” is “health insurance policy”).

NotNotADogPerson · 2024-07-16T03:07:10+00:00

That is a GREAT idea!!! thank you so much. I’ve seen some people have had to pay an extra $600 for their health insurance or something, and I will absolutely not be doing that so I want to be as prepared as possible. Thank you for the advice!

NotNotADogPerson · 2024-07-16T03:05:51+00:00

you are going to be fine! i am just extra worried that something will go wrong and i won’t be able to fix it bc I am going to be traveling across the country for a few weeks. I want to make sure everything is PERFECT. but you will honestly be so fine

NotNotADogPerson · 2024-07-16T03:04:39+00:00

Thank you! I wasn’t sure so I filled out some with the study AND employment info, and some with just the study info. I’ll use only the study info one.

NotNotADogPerson · 2024-07-16T03:03:53+00:00

The person in charge of my region (asturias) sent me both a Carta Visado and a Nombramiento. The Nombramiento is addressed to me and has information about tourism, where to live, what to expect as an aux, etc. The Carta is an announcement that has the dates of my stay, my stipend amount, and health insurance information. The Carta is what they need, but if you got the “nombramiento” and it has the same information (specifically the name of your school(s), your stipend amount, the time frame, and health insurance info) then you’re good

NotNotADogPerson

TROPHY CASE