Alicante: My Journey as an English Conversationalist in Spain

A Year of Language, Culture, and Flames: How Alicante’s Hogueras Ignited My Journey of Connection, Growth and Thirst for Knowledge from Teaching

Teaching, they say, is the best way to learn.

Alicante, Spain—It was October 2013 when I arrived in the historic Mediterranean port city, where the sun kissed the streets with warmth, and life seemed to dance in the salt-tinged breeze. Tasked as an English conversationalist, I was in my element. My job too was a breeze, helping local students build confidence in their English capacities. My role, however, became much more than just language lessons—it was a window into the soul of the city, its people, and the lessons about culture that have stayed with me ever since.

The students were eager and curious, but often they would shy away, faltering with uncertainty about the big burly Canadian—a self-dubbed John Candy reincarnation—having landed on their campus. I felt like quite the celebrity with all the introductions and purview of each class of students aged 3-18. Over time, as we conversed and, at times, debated soccer teams—Real Madrid versus Barcelona—I witnessed their confidence bloom. By the time summer approached, their laughter and conversations flowed easily—and mine did too. Truthfully, I picked up as much Spanish as the kids (and adults) learned from yours truly. They would often say they liked how my accent wasn’t hard to understand.

What stayed with me most, though, was not only the classroom but the vibrancy of Alicante itself. I was lucky enough to witness the Hogueras de San Juan, Alicante's most spectacular annual festival. It was as if the city transformed overnight in the final weeks of June. Towering bonfires, colorful effigies, and parades filled the streets, celebrating not just the arrival of summer, but the spirit of renewal that seemed to pulse through every corner of Alicante. The bonfires, built with such care only to be consumed in flames, were symbolic—just as my time in Spain was, fleeting yet unforgettable.