Job Discussion Forums

[butterfly11]

Just wondering if anyone with a child (or anyone who knows of someone with a child) has tried living and teaching English in Spain. Is this totally crazy - can it be done? I'm a New Zealander and I also have a British passport/EU status and I have taught English overseas before. My daughter is 15 months old, and her dad would come along to look after her while I am working.
Any thoughts from anyone much appreciated.

[Moore]

I would not recommend Spain if you have a child: there is only work here for nine months per year: most people here have enough trouble keeping themselves going here, let alone a child too. This really isn�t the place, a mate of mine has a couple of kids from a Spanish ex-wife, and even with her and her families help he struggles and this Christmas had to take a job as a night-watchman to make ends meet! Have you thought about Asia? - they love kids there, everyone looks out for them and they make a real fuss over western infants...it�s probably a lot safer over there than you�d imagine, and your wages will be much higher and you�ll be able to easily afford a child-minder (think Thailand, Indonesia).
I�m sure this is not what you really want to hear, but trust me, the money here is truly rubbish - I�ve been teaching for many years now and speak the language and still have bumpy moments financially here. Get a decent job in Asia, and in your (normally paid) holidays come here for a nice holiday instead.

[jr1965]

Butterfly,

I'm going to agree with Moore and say that you should probably think twice before coming to Spain to teach EFL with a child. I'm not sure what your background is or what your plans are, but as someone living in Madrid with an eight-year-old (my husband is a citizen with a job who helps support us), I'm not sure how you could do it on the average EFL teacher's salary in Spain in many places. Things can be quite expensive. Think also, too, of the environment that you will be able to afford to raise your daughter in if you only make 900-1,000 Euros a month...

[scot47]

You will not be able to support two adults and a child on what one person earns as an EFL teacher in Spain.

Do you have savings, capital or another source of income ?