What Do Language Assistants Do During the Summer Holidays?

I’m actually writing this from a little table in the centre of Seville with a sangria in hand, which feels like the perfect place to answer this question.

One of the questions I get asked all the time is, “What do language assistants actually do during the summer?”

The short answer is… whatever you want.

One of the biggest advantages of being a language assistant is the amount of free time you have once the school year finishes. After months of teaching, you suddenly have the opportunity to enjoy everything you’ve been saying you’ll do “when summer comes.”

For me, this summer is all about travelling. Spain is such an incredible country and living here means places that used to feel like big holidays are now just weekend trips. I’m hoping to explore more of mainland Spain, spend some time in Portugal and just make the most of being here while I can.

I’m also planning to use the summer to properly brush up on my Spanish. During the school year you’re busy with lessons, planning and school life, but summer gives you the chance to slow down a bit. I want to keep going to language exchanges, spend more time chatting with locals and hopefully come back in September feeling much more confident.

Of course, everyone spends their summer differently.

Some language assistants head back home for a few weeks to see family and friends. Others stay in Spain and continue exploring. Some even work at English summer camps across Spain or elsewhere in Europe, which is a great way to earn a bit of extra money, meet more people and gain even more teaching experience before the new school year starts.

If travelling is your thing, this job is honestly perfect. Budget airlines make it really affordable to visit different cities and countries, especially if you book in advance. One weekend you could be wandering around Seville, the next you could be exploring Porto, hiking in northern Spain or visiting another Canary Island.

And don’t forget to enjoy where you already live.

Some of my favourite summer days don’t involve travelling anywhere. They involve driving up to Teide for sunset, spending the afternoon at the beach, hiking in Anaga, discovering a new guachinche or just sitting outside with friends until late in the evening.

That’s one of the things I love most about living in Spain. Life slows down a little in summer, people spend more time outside, and you almost feel encouraged to enjoy the longer days.

I think that’s what surprised me most about being a language assistant. Before I came, I thought it would just be another teaching job abroad.

It isn’t.

You have time to travel.

Time to learn a language.

Time to make friends.

Time to discover new places.

Time to grow as a person.

Looking back, some of my favourite memories haven’t actually happened inside a classroom. They’ve happened on spontaneous weekend trips, at language exchanges, hiking with friends or watching the sunset somewhere new.

So if you’re wondering what language assistants do during the summer holidays…

The answer is simple.

Whatever makes you happy.

And if you’re anything like me, you’ll probably find yourself writing a blog from a sunny square in Seville with a sangria in hand, already wondering where your next adventure will take you.