Let’s talk about something that does not get said out loud enough. If you’re an auxiliar and something does not feel right in your role, you’re allowed to speak up. Actually, you need to.
A little backstory. This program has been around for years. It is structured. It has guidelines. It has a clear purpose. We are auxiliares de conversación. Conversation assistants. The keyword here is assistant. Not a lead teacher. Not a substitute. Not a solo act.
And yet, sometimes schools blur that line.
There are teachers who, intentionally or not, start leaning a little too hard on the fact that they have an auxiliar. Suddenly, you’re presenting the main content. Planning the full lesson. Running the class alone. Being responsible for classroom management in a language that is not even your first.
That is not the job.
Your role is to support the main teacher. They present the core material. You reinforce it. You create activities. You lead speaking exercises. You bring culture into the room. You help with pronunciation. You assist with materials. You’re there to enhance the lesson, not carry it on your back. And I am saying this from experience.
I am almost six months into my second year, and if I am being honest, I should have spoken up sooner. There were moments I felt uncomfortable. Moments, I knew this was drifting away from what the role actually is. But I stayed quiet because I did not want tension. I did not want to seem difficult. I wanted to be helpful.
Being helpful does not mean being taken advantage of.
As of 2025/2026, the program is under investigation, and discussions of restructuring are happening. That alone should tell you something. There are conversations happening about how this program functions and how it can improve. The hope is that changes will be in our favor and bring more clarity and protection to the role.
But until then, clarity starts with us.
It is literally in the title, auxiliar de conversación. You assist. You are not eligible to officially take over a Spanish classroom. You are not the certified teacher of record. You are not there to independently design and execute the curriculum from start to finish.
And here is something practical. If you attend orientation, which used to be strongly encouraged for first years and is now becoming mandatory in many regions, pay attention to the responsibilities slide. Take a picture. Download the PDF. Save the link. Keep it somewhere safe.
If you ever need to gently remind a teacher of your role, it helps to have something official to reference. It keeps the conversation calm and factual. It is not about confrontation. It is about alignment.
Standing up for yourself does not mean you are ungrateful. It does not mean you do not care about the students. It means you respect the structure of the program and your own boundaries.
We moved countries for this. We left comfort zones. We are contributing something valuable. Our presence in the classroom matters. But it only works when the role is respected. If something feels off, pause and ask yourself why. Then speak up, politely, clearly, and confidently.
I promise you, future you will be glad you did.
Love always,
American Girl Meets World
