Meet Andrew Barsch
Puesto: Fundador, propietario, director, jefe de estudios y profesor
Tras de mas de 20 años de experiencia como profesor, investigador y creador del programa educativo tanto en España como en Silicon Valley, California, tomé la decisión de volver a Madrid, después de 10 años en Silicon Valley, para aventurarme con mi propio proyecto de educación bilingüe. Sin una idea clara de qué quería hacer exactamente y recién llegado a Madrid, mi verdadero estudio de mercado comenzó mientras buscaba una escuela infantil para mi hija. Yo quería una escuela de inmersión lingüística en inglés, pero pronto me di cuenta de que todas las escuelas que había estado mirando tenían lo mismo en común: todas estaban muy enfocadas en las habilidades académicas, la memorización y el conocimiento objetivo. Y como recomienda la investigación de la Bing School de la Universidad de Stanford, este es un planteamiento erróneo con la intención de alimentar de información a la gente joven, que debe memorizar para preparar su entrada en la escuela. Sin embargo, estudios recientes demuestran que lo que los jóvenes necesitan para prepararse con éxito no tiene nada que ver con cuánto son capaces de memorizar, sino cuánto está desarrollada su inteligencia emocional, la misma que abrirá su entendimiento para desarrollar un pensamiento consciente. Un nuevo método de conocimiento para los estudiantes de Barefoot School, con otros objetivos tanto para el aprendizaje como para ellos mismos, es lo que verdaderamente les abrirá las puertas académicamente y más lejos. Y así es como planteamos todo lo que hacemos en Barefoot School.
Tel: (+34) 915 456 574 (+34) 671 294 550
Andrew@BarefootSchool.com
In English:
Founder, Owner, Director, Instructor
After 20 years experience in bilingual education as a teacher, investigator, and educational program creator both in Spain and Silicon Valley, California, I made the decision to come back to Madrid after 10 years in Silicon Valley to venture out with my own business in bilingual education. Without a clear idea of exactly what I wanted to do and recently arrived in Madrid, my true market research started while I was searching for a school for my preschool aged daughter. I wanted an English immersion school, but soon realized that all the schools I’d been researching had the same thing in common–all were hyper focused on academic skills, memorization, and factual knowledge. And as my research into Bing School at Stanford University suggests, this is a misguided approach with the intention of feeding information to young children that they can memorize in order to prepare them for school. But as recent studies suggest, what students need to prepare them for success has nothing to do with how much they’re able to memorize, but by how developed their emotional intelligence is, which opens their minds to developing a consciousness of mindful thought. A Barefoot School student’s mindful approach toward others, toward learning, and toward themselves are what will truly open doors academically and beyond, and it is how we approach everything we do at Barefoot School.
Meet Michael
Puesto: Clases particulares de apoyo escolar y tutor del taller extraescolar Kiwi.
Meet Michael, from Boston, Massachusetts, our Kiwi workshop leader. Michael’s experience teaching kids and his musical skills will make sure the 4 to 7 year olds in Michael’s KIWI workshop will be tapping their toes and singing along as he guides them through kiwico.com’s projects, activities, and experiments. And Michael never goes anywhere without his ukelele so get ready for music, creativity and fun in English!
Meet Tyson
Puesto: Profesor de Yoga para Adultos y tutor del taller extra escolar Mindful Teens.
Meet Tyson, Barefoot School’s MINDFUL TEENS workshop leader from Seattle, Washington. As a certified yoga instructor with lots of classroom experience too, Tyson’s Mindful Teens workshop for students from 12 to 15 years old will integrate group activities, creative writing, journaling, conversation, projects, and crafts, where Tyson will provide a space for students 12 to 15 years old to feel free to express themselves in English.
Y hay muchos profes mas que forman parte del Barefoot School Family dando clases particulares, Skype classes y en empresas. Son de EE.UU, Australia, Canadá, El Reino Unido, y Las Islas Filipinas.
Meet Chiara d’Ailly
Puesto: Becaria estudiando Communications
Hi! My name is Chiara d’Ailly. I am a 22-year-old student from the Netherlands and a communications professional to be. I am originally from a city called Rotterdam, where I’ve lived all my life. Even though Holland has a lot of great features, my heart lies somewhere else. That is why I decided to move to Madrid to finish my final year of studying. I will be working with Barefoot School for the upcoming few months to write a research-based thesis to finish my bachelor studies in communications. In the end, I will use my research to write a concept and advice that will help Barefoot School grow and use all its great potentials.
You will probably see me looking around, writing things down and observing classes here and there. I would also like to ask the parents and/or students some questions, but only if they are interested in participating, of course. If you have any questions about me or what I do, feel free to ask at any time!
Chiara
Barefoot School 