Teaching English in Spain – Barcelona

Published: 12 October, 2018  |  Last updated: 12 October, 2018

Teaching English in Barcelona, Spain

 

Report submitted on 19 Mar, 2018 by nieto.

Teaching English in Barcelona, Spain:

How can teachers find teaching jobs in Barcelona, Spain?
Just keep on trying never give up.

The main English teaching jobs available are:
part time English language school positions, agencies (send teachers to different locations), teaching at private international schools, private teaching (not through a school, agency, etc.)

What are the minimum teaching requirements?
Bring all you documents updated and sealed.

What teaching requirements would you recommend?
Same as above.

What are the levels of payment?
About 9 Euros (approx. 11 US$).

How many teaching days a week is normal?
3 days per week.

How many face-to-face teaching hours a week is normal?
3 hours per week.

What is the normal arrangement for holidays?
Many.

What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Barcelona, Spain to teach English?
Never give up.

What are the positive aspects of teaching English in Barcelona, Spain?
It makes you happy to make a difference in someones life.

What are the negative aspects for teaching English in Barcelona, Spain?
Never trust someone that says he will do everything for you. Never give personal info , bank info , personal info, never just be very careful with whom you talk to.

What are some of the teaching challenges for English teachers teaching the local people in your area?
There are no bookstores from the USA, there are a lot of books from Eengland but very hard to find something from the USA. They do not know what is ESL , and nobody has what you have to offer.

 

Living in Barcelona, Spain:

Are there any visa or other legal requirements to live in Spain?
Yes, just bring all your documents and have them updated.

What is the cost of living like in Spain?
1,000 euros (approx. 1158 US$).

What are the usual accommodation arrangements and how can you find accommodation?
With good friends or family or even better from church.

Other than teaching, what positive aspects are there for living in Barcelona, Spain?
Enjoy life be happy.

Other than teaching, what negative aspects are there for living in scenery, Spain?
Just be verrrry careful with whom you talk to never trust anybody.

What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Barcelona, Spain?
Just be careful come with an open mind and bring all your stuff that you need.

What things do you miss most (other than family and friends) from your home country?
American books from the USA , not from England with all respect just need a normal American bookstore with real American things. We do not have anything like this in my area of Barcelona. Its an open market.

What things would you recommend to new teachers in your area to bring with them from their home country?
Come with lots of money and be very careful.

Any other comments (about teaching or living in your country)?
Please open an American bookstore in Barcelona, Spain. We need
American books , esl etc and more please .

 

About Me and My Work:

My Name: nieto

Nationality: USA

Students I’ve taught in Spain: toddlers (2-4 years), pre-school / kindergarten (4-6 years), elementary (6-12 years), junior high school (12-15 years), high school (15-18 years), university, adults, business, other.

Where I teach: bcn. Teaching for 1 year.

How I found my current jobs: Working very hard over 1 year waiting.
 

My school facilities: Excellent.

 

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Teaching English in Spain – Madrid

Published: 11 October, 2018  |  Last updated: 12 October, 2018

Teaching English in Madrid, Spain

Report submitted on 26 Feb, 2017 by Elizabeth.

Teaching English in Madrid, Spain:

How can teachers find teaching jobs in Madrid, Spain?
Websites such as Lingobongo http://www.lingobongo.com/madrid/es/ or https://www.tusclasesparticulares.com/ help teachers find full time work or fill in free slots with one to one classes.

The main English teaching jobs available are:
Part time English language school positions, agencies (send teachers to different locations), teaching at state schools, teaching at companies, private teaching (not through a school, agency, etc.)
There are auxiliary teacher programs- so you can apply through the state organizations such as https://www.ecmadrid.org/en/language-assistant.

What are the minimum teaching requirements?
You can come over with no qualifications and no experience, but you really need a TEFL certificate to get your foot in the door.

What teaching requirements would you recommend?
They are quite fussy about hiring native teachers, a school will train someone up to their teaching methods if you show potential, are a good communicator etc.
Brush up on the Cambridge exams – PET, FIRST and advanced, Spanish workers need to obtain these certificates in order to get get a job or even to get int university.

What are the levels of payment?
20 – 25 € (approx. 23 – 29 US$) per hour you can charge less for conversation only classes.

How many teaching days a week is normal?
If you come on a student visa 4 usually the limit. If you are from the EU 5 is average days per week

How many face-to-face teaching hours a week is normal?
16-30 hours per week

What is the normal arrangement for holidays?
It depends, if you work in a school you have all the school holidays free and they should pay you, private academies probably will try to get away without paying you holiday or ‘finiquito’ which is the money they have to pay at the end of a contract.
https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2011-7679
The link above is a workers collective agreement which ESL teachers fall under.

What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Madrid, Spain to teach English?
Have a bit of money saved up, get connected to the ESL network on facebook, try language exchanges, make friends and enjoy the sunny weather 🙂

What are the positive aspects of teaching English in Madrid, Spain?
The weather.

What are the negative aspects for teaching English in Madrid, Spain?
If you want to stay here long term, it is difficult to find stable work and a company that will both respect your workers’ rights and pay decent money. It is expensive to employ workers in Spain – you may find that you get a lot of cash in hand jobs, which sounds good in the short term but in the long term if you find you need to claim sick benefits or maternity allowance you may be in trouble.

What are some of the teaching challenges for English teachers teaching the local people in your area?
Adults – very bad classes as children, they have terrible mistakes imprinted in their brains.
Children – behaviour – they can be rowdy.

 

Living in Madrid, Spain:

Are there any visa or other legal requirements to live in Spain?
Teachers from EU member states have no problem, other nationalities require a visa, and the process can be bureaucratic.

What is the cost of living like in Spain?
The average monthly salary for a Spaniard who is lucky enough to have a job is 800€ish (approx. 926 US$) . You are likely to earn 1200 (approx. 1390 US$) or more. Food shopping is cheap enough, and having breakfast in a cafe in the mornings is the norm (4 euro (approx. 4,60 US$) for coffee and toast).

What are the usual accommodation arrangements and how can you find accommodation?
Rent in Madrid is expensive depending on area, I pay 900  (approx. 1041 US$) for a 3 bedroomed flat in the city centre. Most ESL teachers chose to rent a room for about 400 euro  (approx. 463 US$), bills included.
If you buy a house in Spain you get an automatic visa, but I’m sure if you want to work teaching English that is not going to be your case.
This is a link for an estate agency:
http://www.fotocasa.es/es/comprar/casas/madrid-capital/todas-las-zonas/l?OrigenVisita=2&link=32121&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=g_generico_madrid&xtor=SEC-88-GOO-[Genericos_Localizacion]-[madrid]-S-[casas%20madrid]&xts=470361&gclid=Cj0KEQjwzd3GBRDks7SYuNHi3JEBEiQAIm6EI7fOi4P9HEtvJqO4pZ6ZUoEH8yT7D2d09q-gT9W06z0aAiEl8P8HAQ&utm_medium=cpc

Other than teaching, what positive aspects are there for living in Madrid, Spain?
The weather, public transport is good.

Other than teaching, what negative aspects are there for living in scenery, Spain?
Pollution level in the city is unbelievable.

What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Madrid, Spain?
Save up, get a TEFL qualification, get connected before you come, do some skype interviews with local private schools.

What things do you miss most (other than family and friends) from your home country?
Baked beans, marmite, salt and vinegar crisps and fish and chips.
When I first came here I would have said decent telly, but now with netflix etc that’s not a problem.

What do you think you will miss most when (or if) you leave Spain?
Access to theatres, spas, airport – all really close by. Madrid is a small but very compact city – there is so much to do!

What things would you recommend to new teachers in your area to bring with them from their home country?
A few food items are difficult to get hold of, maybe phones are cheaper back at home and more modern.

 

About Me and My Work:

My Name: Elizabeth

Nationality: UK

Students I’ve taught in Spain: babies (0-2 years), toddlers (2-4 years), pre-school / kindergarten (4-6 years), elementary (6-12 years), junior high school (12-15 years), high school (15-18 years), university, adults, business, other

Where I teach: … Teaching for 10 years.

How I found my current jobs: I’m self employed, I find my clients on lingobongo and tusclasesparticulares.com
 

My school facilities: Excellent. There is a lot of investment in English on a national level at the moment.

What kind of teacher support is available at your school/s?: training / workshops, lesson observations, teacher evaluations, peer support / training

Links: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbpq7yrnc1srx6viXaO9qOw        https://eslteachingtips.blog/

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Teaching English in Spain – Alcázar de San Juan

Published: 12 September, 2016  |  Last updated: 15 September, 2016

Teaching English in Alcázar de San Juan, Spain

spain_sanjuan

Report submitted on 3 Feb, 2016 by Eoghan Mc Monagle.

Teaching English in Alcázar de San Juan, Spain:

How can teachers find teaching jobs in Alcázar de San Juan, Spain?
Internet.

The main English teaching jobs available are:
Full time English language school positions, part time English language school positions, agencies (send teachers to different locations), teaching at companies, private teaching (not through a school, agency, etc.).

What are the minimum teaching requirements?
Native speakers are preferred. Normally a C1 to work in private language centres and bilingual secondary schools. B2 for all primary schools.

What teaching requirements would you recommend?
TEFL/TESOL/CELTA qualification and experience in teaching children.

What are the levels of payment?
It depends on the city and type of employment. 1 to 1 classes can range from €8 (approx. US$9) per hour in small towns to €20-25 (approx. US$22 – US$28) per hour in bigger cities. A full time schedule (24 hours contact times) is usually €1100 (US$1235) per month gross.

How many teaching days a week is normal?
5 days per week.

How many face-to-face teaching hours a week is normal?
24 hours per week.

What is the normal arrangement for holidays?
School holidays.

What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Alcázar de San Juan, Spain to teach English?
Go for it! When applying for jobs, read the requirements carefully and adapt your cover letter/CV to the job you are applying for.
If you want to also learn the language, then live with other people from the area/country.
Be aware that a lot of people will try to be your friend to get “free” English language exchanges.
Try and immerse yourself in the lifestyle there and avoid going home too often. It takes away from the experience. Make the most of your time and travel around the country. It is very easy to travel in Spain and your salary will allow you to do it.

What are the positive aspects of teaching English in Alcázar de San Juan, Spain?
The people are friendly and welcoming. EVERYONE wants to speak in English and they are aware that Spain has a low level of English. They generally respond well to conversation based classes meaning it is easier for native teachers. Grammar is taught well in school so conversation and pronunciation is the very important to them. They have very inquisitive minds and respond well to foreign teachers

What are the negative aspects for teaching English in Alcázar de San Juan, Spain?
The Spanish have extreme difficulty in certain pronunciation aspects. This is due to the fact that a lot of the sounds simply don’t exist in their language and also they have been taught incorrectly in the past. Most people think for example that the “l” in “walk”, “talk”, “should”, “could” is pronounced because of the way they were taught in the past.

What are some of the teaching challenges for English teachers teaching the local people in your area?
The children and adults expect you to speak Spanish and the parents of the children will always try to speak to you in Spanish personally… this is especially true in small towns where the parents are more friendly and like to get to know you more.
As an employer it is difficult to find native English speakers.

 

Living in Alcázar de San Juan, Spain:

Are there any visa or other legal requirements to live in Spain?
You have to be an EU citizen or have permission to work in the EU.

What is the cost of living like in Spain?
If you flat-share you can expect to pay €300 to €400 (approx. US$337 – US$450) in Madrid and Barcelona. In other smaller towns €100-150 (approx. US$112 – US$168). To live on your own €300-500 (approx. US$337 – US$561). Daily necessities are a lot cheaper than English-speaking countries.

What are the usual accommodation arrangements and how can you find accommodation?
I found it myself on the internet. I started sharing a house with a family and then rented a flat on my own and then bought my own house.

Other than teaching, what positive aspects are there for living in Alcázar de San Juan, Spain?
The lifestyle is amazing, relaxed and people are very welcoming.

Other than teaching, what negative aspects are there for living in Alcázar de San Juan, Spain?
The bureaucracy is unreal. Getting registered to be able to work is daunting. You have to get a NIE (you have to do this), social security number (which your employer should do), open a bank account (not that easy). People tend to prefer going out to crowded bars to meet up rather than meeting at someone’s home for a quiet dinner and drinks.

What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Alcázar de San Juan, Spain?
Book an appointment in advance to get your NIE, don’t come out a week before your job starts, it is too much stress and your first week working will be awful. Try and book appointments to view flats/houses, etc., before you get here. Ask your employer if they can help looking for accommodation.

What things do you miss most (other than family and friends) from your home country?
Nothing.

What do you think you will miss most when (or if) you leave Spain?
I won’t leave. I have my business set up here.

What things would you recommend to new teachers in your area to bring with them from their home country?
Tea, if you’re English. To be honest, I adapted really well here and didn’t miss anything or need anything.

 

About Me and My Work:

My Name: Eoghan Mc Monagle

Nationality: Irish

Students I’ve taught in Spain: Toddlers (2-4 years), pre-school / kindergarten (4-6 years), elementary (6-12 years), junior high school (12-15 years), high school (15-18 years), university, adults.

Where I teachhi! language studio, Alcázar de San Juan. 5 years.

How I found my current jobs: I opened the centre myself. 🙂

My school facilities: Excellent.

Teacher support at my school: Technology, only language centre in the region with 100% native English teachers, 100% pass rate in Cambridge exams.
 
 

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Teaching English in Spain – Palma de Mallorca

Published: 10 January, 2016  |  Last updated: 10 January, 2016

Teaching English in Palma de Mallorca, Spain

 

Palma de Mallorca, Spain

Report submitted on 16 November, 2015 by Nikki.

Teaching English in Palma de Mallorca, Spain:

How can teachers find teaching jobs in Palma de Mallorca, Spain?
Through the internet mainly although word of mouth is the best way.

The main English teaching jobs available are:
Part time English language school positions, teaching at kindergartens / pre-schools, teaching at state schools, teaching at private international schools, private teaching (not through a school, agency, etc.)

What are the minimum teaching requirements?
You can be a volunteer native language teacher without any qualifications although this only entails helping the teachers in the class.
For language schools or private schools you need the CELTA certificate or similar.

What teaching requirements would you recommend?
People here are looking mainly for native speakers. Experience teaching is valued but it doesn’t necessarily have to have been English teaching. CELTA certificates are the most valued.

What are the levels of payment?
That depends on the school or type of lesson and can vary from 10 to 25 euros an hour.

How many teaching days a week is normal?
2 days per week

How many face-to-face teaching hours a week is normal?
4 hours per week.

What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Palma de Mallorca, Spain to teach English?
The Spanish teaching system doesn’t allow non-Spanish citizens to teach full time so your only options are private schools, language schools or private teaching. To seriously consider coming here especially to earn a good living teaching English would be unwise but if you want sun, sea and a bit of fun come along.

What are the positive aspects of teaching English in Palma de Mallorca, Spain?
The English levels in schools here is very poor so it is very positive to see how your students finally “get it!” and suddenly start making progress. Here everything is taught from the book so the ESL approach is greatly appreciated by bored students and it is gratifying to see how their faces light up with the games and fun ways of learning.

What are the negative aspects for teaching English in Palma de Mallorca, Spain?
Definitely the wages and in some cases the negativity of the school teachers to change their way of teaching.

 

Living in Palma de Mallorca, Spain:

Are there any visa or other legal requirements to live in Spain?
As far as I know, most English speaking nationalities can teach here with no visa as long as they are given a legal contract.

What is the cost of living like in Spain?
Mallorca is a tourist island therefore it can be quite expensive to find decent accommodation, sharing could be a good option. Food and essentials are reasonable compared with wages and going out isn’t too expensive as long as you stay away from the tourist areas.

What are the usual accommodation arrangements and how can you find accommodation?
Being a tourist island accommodation is easy too find, the main problem is that part time rents can be up to 60% more expensive than long term.

Other than teaching, what positive aspects are there for living in Palma de Mallorca, Spain?
The weather, the culture and above all it’s a very safe place to live. For the moment anyway!

Other than teaching, what negative aspects are there for living in Palma de Mallorca, Spain?
I can’t think of any.

What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Palma de Mallorca, Spain?
Bring plenty of sunscreen.

What things do you miss most (other than family and friends) from your home country?
Green countryside.

What do you think you will miss most when (or if) you leave Palma de Mallorca, Spain?
The freedom of being able to walk anywhere at any time without fear.

What things would you recommend to new teachers in your area to bring with them from their home country?
Mallorca is International. You can get anything here.

 

About Me and My Work:

My Name: Nikki

Nationality: British

Students I’ve taught in Spain: Toddlers (2-4 years), pre-school / kindergarten (4-6 years), elementary (6-12 years), junior high school (12-15 years), high school (15-18 years), university, adults.

Where I teach: CEIP El Terreno, Palma de Mallorca Spain. Working here for 4 years.

How I found my current teaching job(s): It is my son’s school. They asked me.

My school facilities: Adequate – We have access to normal resources, i.e. paper, pencils, crayons etc. Technology is dodgy to say the least. Internet when it feels like it. Computers work when they feel like it. Projector rarely works even when it feels like it. We do it old school. Most of the resources I bring from home.

Teacher support at my school: Training / workshops.

 

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Teaching English in Spain – Instincíon, Almeria

Published: 23 December, 2015  |  Last updated: 16 September, 2016

Teaching English in Instincíon, Almeria, Spain

Instincion, Spain

 

Report submitted on 16 November, 2015 by Patrick Heron.

Teaching English in Instincíon, Spain:

How can teachers find teaching jobs in Instincíon, Spain?
There’s a big expat community so it can be difficult. I teach in a small village where everyone knows me.

The main English teaching jobs available are:
Part time English language school positions, teaching at community centers, etc., private teaching (not through a school, agency, etc.)

What are the minimum teaching requirements?
For formal posts the most important seems to be experience. I have a TESOL qualification, but it hasn’t helped in ten years.

What teaching requirements would you recommend?
Enthusiasm, no fear of acting and a well organised partner who can find sites on the Internet like ESL KidStuff.

What are the levels of payment?
5€ an hour per child

How many teaching days a week is normal?
3 days per week

How many face-to-face teaching hours a week is normal?
5 hours per week.

What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Instincíon, Spain to teach English?
Don’t expect to make a living at it unless you’re really well qualified and experienced.

What are the positive aspects of teaching English in Instincíon, Spain?
The parents are very keen for their children to learn and the kids themselves are enthusiastic.

What are the negative aspects for teaching English in Instincíon, Spain?
At school they hardly ever do speaking and listening.

What are some of the teaching challenges for English teachers teaching the local people in your area?
A very heavy Spanish accent, also economic crisis.

 

Living in Instincíon, Spain:

Are there any visa or other legal requirements to live in Spain?
Yes if coming from outside the EU.

What is the cost of living like in Spain?
Cheaper than France or Britain but not by much.

What are the usual accommodation arrangements and how can you find accommodation?
Lots for rent.

Other than teaching, what positive aspects are there for living in Instincíon, Spain?
Great for families, good food, weather and people.

Other than teaching, what negative aspects are there for living in Instincíon, Spain?
Very high unemployment.

What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Instincíon, Spain?
Learn Spanish.

What things do you miss most (other than family and friends) from your home country?
Pork pies.

What do you think you will miss most when (or if) you leave Instincíon, Spain?
My bees.

What things would you recommend to new teachers in your area to bring with them from their home country?
Plastic fruit, printer ink.

 

About Me and My Work:

My Name: Patrick Heron

Nationality: UK

Students I’ve taught in Spain: Toddlers (2-4 years), pre-school / kindergarten (4-6 years), elementary (6-12 years).

Where I teach: I teach by appointment with families. Working here for 1 year.

How I found my current teaching job(s): People pestered me into doing it

My school facilities: Very good – It’s all ESL KidStuff’s stuff – I can’t do it without your resources!

Teacher support at my school: None.

 

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