Been thinking about Teaching English Abroad for a while but don’t know where to begin? In an effort to inspire those of you that are on the fence, we’re going to be doing a series of country specific spotlights on the LanguageCorps blog over the next couple weeks.
The goal is to provide you with a brief overview of some of our most popular TESOL destinations, without cramming an indigestible amount of information down your throat.
What better place to start than one of the most popular and beautiful TESOL destinations in the world, Spain! As always, if you have any questions or want some more information, feel free to give us a call at 978 562 2100, or check us out online at www.languagecorps.com.
TESOL aside, there are many qualities that make Spain a very desirable destination. Does a cool glass of Sangria on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world sound good? Yeah, I agree. So it’s an added bonus that despite their current economic difficulties, Spain has a very strong TESOL job market.
Experience/Requirements
Most schools in Spain require a minimum of 120 hours of TESOL training. While this can be completed in a variety of ways, in classroom training combined with practice teaching is preferred by most schools, and will lead to the best jobs (and the best pay). All LanguageCorps programs in Spain provide 140 hours of in classroom training, in addition to 6+ hours of hands on practice teaching.
TESOL Job Opportunities
Most jobs teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages in Spain are through private language institutes. Hiring remains pretty consistent year round, and the vast majority of people successfully find work. Some new Teachers go to Madrid initially, to get teaching experience, some secure positions in Seville or Barcelona, and others go to smaller cities in Spain. During the training program you will be given the names of schools to contact, and the staff will also help you with resume and interview preparation. If you are diligent and open to a variety of locations you should be able to locate work in no time.
Pay
The average teachers salary in Spain is about 900 – 1,300 euros a month. This varies depending upon location, what type of school or company you work for, and the number of hours worked.
Locations
Seville
The largest city in Southern Spain, Seville is famed for colorful festivals, vibrant cafe culture, and theatrical riches. From the flower-decked Santa Cruz quarter to the La Maestranza bullring, Seville’s graceful blending of Moorish, Gothic, and Renaissance styles defines Mediterranean elegance.
Our Training Center in Seville is centrally located in a traditional and lively neighborhood. From the rooftop terrace, trainees have a beautiful view of the world-famous Sevilla Cathedral and Giralda tower — a mere 100 meters away! The Center is also equipped with large, modern classrooms and quiet lesson-planning offices.
Seville
Barcelona
Barcelona, Catalonia’s capital, sparkles with vibrant colors and intense energy. Home to some of the most visionary artists of the modern era, this rich city inspired Picasso’s Cubism and Dali’s Surrealism, and the unique Catalan perspective has had a dramatic impact on the way we perceive the world today.
Our Training Center in Barcelona is on “La Rambla de Catalunya.” This central boulevard is easily one of the most emblematic of Barcelona — full of restaurants, museums and surrounded by centuries of glorious architecture. The Center itself has ten classrooms, a lovely terrace, and is equipped with all the comforts of home.
Weather
Weather can vary greatly by region in Spain, but Barcelona enjoys a pleasant climate year-round with mild winters and hot sunny summers with a refreshing sea breeze. Outdoor activities, from swimming in the Mediterranean to skiing in the Pyrenees, are popular and easily accessible. Generally speaking, the further South you travel, the more extreme temperatures can become.
Food and Nightlife
On to the most important part of any TESOL destination…the food! It goes without saying that Spain is a great choice if delicious food is what you’re after. And what better way to sample all these delicious eats than with Tapas, the quintessential Spanish style of dining. Invented in Seville, tapas affords you the chance to sample a wide variety of snack sized dishes, from decadent roasted meats to some of the freshest seafood in the world, Spain truly is the foodies’ paradise.
Barcelona is equally famed for its nightlife. At times it seems that there are more clubs, cafés and bars here than anywhere else in the world. Dinner only really begins to be served after 9pm and the choice and range of cuisine is excellent. Afterwards you can pick from a thousand near perfect bars tucked away in the Gothic Quarter, trendy cafes in the Eixample district and open-air nightclubs in the Tibidabo Hills.
Barcelona at night
Should I Teach English in Spain?
If you’re looking to save a ton of money and get rich while Teaching English Abroad, then Spain might not be the place for you. Due to the comparatively high cost of living it can be tough to save money in Spain on a teacher’s salary, but if the experience of a lifetime is more important to you than your bank account, you really can’t go wrong Teaching English in Spain.
Spain’s TESOL market is nowhere near as strong as it used to be. Simply put, people don’t have the money to pay for English lessons that they used to.
That being said, I’m a true believer in “if there’s a will, there’s a way”, and if a teacher wants a job badly enough, they’ll always find one. It just might take a little longer than before that’s all.
Spain is a gorgeous country though. I haven’t met any English teacher that didn’t just absolutely love it.
Fair point Reeves! The job market through most of Europe right now is fairly tough when compared to Asia or Latin America.
I wonder how many people are finding TESOL jobs in Spain right now? Especially with 23% unemployment in the country. I’d like to go but I’m worried about finding something. Any advice?
Hi Alisha, give us a call sometime, 978 562 2100. The market is tough in Spain, but it’s definitely still possible to find work.
You could still stay witihn Europe and go to Portugal, Italy, Balearics ect, but one thing to consider is the Euro rate it is still quite low, and therefore your money probably will not go as far as it did 2 years ago. So, why not consider a Country outside of the Euro such as Cyprus, Turkey, Bulgaria, Cape Verde.