Hi! My name is Maia McQuillan, I’m a 21-year-old Law and Spanish student at Dublin City University  (DCU), and this past year I had the incredible opportunity to spend my Erasmus year studying at the  University of A Coruña in Spain. 

Before moving abroad, I decided to complete the 120-Hour TEFL Course with The TEFL Institute of  Ireland. At the time, I thought it would simply be a good qualification to have, but I never imagined  how much it would shape my experience abroad. Looking back, it was one of the best decisions I  made before leaving Ireland. 

I’ve always loved languages, travelling and meeting new people, which is one of the reasons I chose  to study Law and Spanish. When I found out I’d be spending a year in Spain as part of my degree, I  wanted to make the most of every opportunity available to me. 

I didn’t want my Erasmus experience to just be about attending lectures and travelling at weekends. I  really wanted to become part of the local community, improve my Spanish and meet people outside  of the university environment. Teaching English seemed like the perfect way to do all of those things. 

Last summer, before moving to Spain, I decided to complete a TEFL course because I thought it would  give me the opportunity to work while studying abroad. 

As a university student, having flexible work is incredibly important, and tutoring English allows you  to organise lessons around your own timetable. I also saw it as a chance to develop skills that would  benefit me long after university. 

I actually chose The TEFL Institute of Ireland because one of my friends had completed the course  and recommended it to me. 

One of the biggest selling points was the flexibility. Everything was online, so I could study whenever  it suited me. There were no strict deadlines or pressure to complete modules by certain dates, which  worked perfectly around my university schedule and my summer job. 

I also found the content very practical. It wasn’t just theoretical—it gave me lesson ideas, teaching  techniques and classroom strategies that I ended up using with my own students in Spain. 

My Erasmus year was part of my Law and Spanish degree at DCU. I spent almost a year studying at  the University of A Coruña in northern Spain. 

Moving abroad was both exciting and nerve-wracking. It was my first time living away from home for  such a long period, but it helped me become far more independent and confident. I improved my  Spanish every single day and experienced a completely different way of life. 

Without a doubt.

Having a recognised TEFL qualification meant I could start tutoring almost as soon as I arrived. It gave  local families confidence that I had proper training rather than simply being a native English speaker. 

Teaching also gave my weeks much more structure and purpose. It helped me settle into life in Spain  much faster than I expected. 

During my time in Spain, I worked with four or five different families, teaching English to their  children every week. 

Most lessons lasted around an hour, which worked perfectly around my university timetable. Every  child was different, so I had to adapt each lesson depending on their age, confidence and level of  English. 

We played games, practised conversations, read stories and completed fun activities that encouraged  them to speak as much English as possible. Watching them become more confident week after week  was incredibly rewarding. 

One of the reasons TEFL worked so well alongside university was because of the flexibility. 

I organised my own timetable and only took on as many students as I knew I could manage. That  meant I never felt overwhelmed and could still focus on my university studies while enjoying  everything Spain had to offer. 

Some days I’d have lectures in the morning, tutor in the afternoon and then meet friends in the  evening. It gave me a really nice routine throughout the year. 

This is probably the biggest thing TEFL gave me. 

Without tutoring, I think I would have spent most of my time with other Erasmus students. Instead, I  became part of the lives of local Spanish families. 

I learnt so much about everyday life in Spain through conversations with parents and children. My  Spanish improved naturally because I was using it every week, and I gained a much better  understanding of Spanish culture than I would have otherwise.

There are so many. 

Of course, travelling around Spain, exploring Galicia and making friends from all over the world were  unforgettable, but some of my favourite memories came from teaching. 

I loved arriving each week to hear the children excitedly tell me about their week in English. Seeing  their confidence grow over the months was incredibly rewarding. Receiving kind messages from  parents thanking me for helping their children enjoy learning English was also really special. 

Those relationships became one of the highlights of my Erasmus year. 

Definitely.

It gave me valuable work experience while living abroad and allowed me to earn money in a way that  fitted around my studies. 

It also strengthened my CV and gave me experience working independently, communicating with  families and planning lessons. These are skills that are transferable to so many careers, including law. 

Before moving to Spain, I never imagined myself teaching. The course gave me the confidence to  plan lessons, explain concepts clearly and think on my feet when things didn’t quite go to plan. 

I also became much more organised, patient and adaptable. Working with young learners taught me  that every student learns differently, so being flexible is incredibly important. 

Although I’m currently studying law, I know this qualification will continue to benefit me. 

Whether I travel again, decide to work abroad in the future or simply want flexible work alongside  further study, TEFL has given me a qualification that I can use almost anywhere in the world. 

It’s reassuring to know I’ll always have that opportunity. 

I’d absolutely recommend it. 

If you’re planning an Erasmus year, travelling or even looking for flexible work while at university,  TEFL is a fantastic qualification to have. 

For me, it completely transformed my year abroad. It wasn’t just about earning money—it helped me  meet amazing people, become part of the local community, improve my Spanish and gain confidence  in myself. 

It’s one of those qualifications that keeps opening doors long after you’ve completed the course.

Looking back now, completing my TEFL qualification before moving to Spain was one of the best  decisions I made. 

It added so much to my Erasmus experience and gave me opportunities that I simply wouldn’t have  had otherwise. From meeting wonderful families and helping children learn English to improving my  own confidence and communication skills, it became such an important part of my year abroad. 

If you’re thinking about doing a TEFL course before travelling or studying overseas, I’d definitely  encourage you to go for it. You never know where it might take you—but for me, it helped turn an  amazing year abroad into an unforgettable one.

Looking back now, completing my TEFL qualification before moving to Spain was one of the best  decisions I made. 

It added so much to my Erasmus experience and gave me opportunities that I simply wouldn’t have  had otherwise. From meeting wonderful families and helping children learn English to improving my  own confidence and communication skills, it became such an important part of my year abroad. 

If you’re thinking about doing a TEFL course before travelling or studying overseas, I’d definitely  encourage you to go for it. You never know where it might take you—but for me, it helped turn an  amazing year abroad into an unforgettable one.