Español, Innit: A Day in the Life Teaching Languages in an Essex School.

Español, Innit: A Day in the Life Teaching Languages in an Essex School

Alright, picture this: It’s 8:30 in the morning, and I, Mr. Levi, Essex born and bred (apart from living in Spain in my teenage years), am standing in front of a room full of teenagers, ready to dive into another day of teaching Spanish. With my Essex accent and fluent Spanish, I’m a bit of an enigma to my students. They can’t quite get their heads around how someone who sounds like them can rattle off sentences in Spanish without breaking a sweat. 

Essex Meets Español

Now, teaching Spanish in an Essex secondary school comes with its own special set of challenges. You see, my students, think that if they throw in a bit of Essex slang, the Spanish will just naturally follow. “Sir, how do you say ‘bruv’ in Spanish?” they’ll ask, convinced that it’s a vital part of the language.

One of my favorite moments was when a student, with all the confidence in the world, greeted me with, “Buenos dias, mate!” I had to laugh and give him credit for blending cultures so seamlessly. “Good try,” I said, “but in Spain, they’re more likely to say ‘tío’ instead of ‘mate.’” The lad looked at me like I’d just told him the earth was flat. “Tío? Like, uncle?” It’s always fun watching the wheels turn as they try to process that languages don’t always translate the way they expect.

The Essex twist on Spanish

If you’ve ever met an Essex teenager, you’ll know they’ve got wit sharper than a set of steak knives and enough banter to fill a football stadium. It’s part of what makes teaching them such a blast. One of my students once responded to a question in perfect Spanish but with a strong cockney accent (as they often do!), and I replied suggesting the correct pronunciation to which they said, “Nah, Sir, we should teach them about our culture, innit?” 

I see their point, but admittedly there are probably better ways to engage the Spanish speaking world in our culture without butchering the pronunciation of their language along the way!

They are very quick with their humour. They’ll walk into lessons asking, “Sir, can you teach us how to say ‘lit’ in Spanish?” And when I tell them the closest word is probably “genial,” they look at me like I’ve missed the point entirely. “Nah, Sir, there’s got to be a cooler word than that!” Sometimes, I think they’re more interested in inventing their own version of Spanish, with a heavy dose of Essex.

The Essex Flair

Teaching here, I’ve learned to appreciate the unique flair my students bring to the table. They might not always get it right, but they give it a go with that classic Essex confidence. I’ll never forget the trip to Spain where one of the boys, in his best Spanish, asked a local, “¿Hay un Nando’s por aquí?” They looked confused, and I had to step in to explain that, unfortunately, peri-peri chicken isn’t a staple of Spanish cuisine. (I personally think they’re missing out on a ‘cheeky Nando’s!’)

But it’s not just about the laughs. These kids have a genuine curiosity about the world, even if they express it in ways that make you chuckle. When they finally grasp a concept—like mastering the rolled ‘R’ in “perro” instead of saying “pero”—it’s pure magic. And when they use their Spanish in real-life situations, like ordering food or asking for directions on a school trip, it makes all the hard work worth it.

Why I Love Teaching in Essex

At the end of the day, being Mr. Levi, the Essex bloke who’s somehow fluent in Spanish, is something I wouldn’t trade for the world. My students might have trouble with their irregular verbs, and they might struggle with the difference between imperfect and preterite tenses (as all students do!), but they bring a joy and energy to the classroom that you can’t find anywhere else.

So here’s to the students who keep me on my toes, who challenge me with their banter, and who make every day in the classroom an adventure. Because teaching in Essex isn’t just about passing on knowledge—it’s about embracing the humour, the quirks, and the endless creativity that these kids bring into my life. And for that, I’m grateful. 

Innit.