Job Discussion Forums

[reality]

Why is it so incredibly difficult to find Teaching work in Southern Spain?. I have met so many experienced Teachers, who have worked all over the World. Yet, these same Teachers have problems, finding part-time hours
in this area.

It can�t be the pay, its less than a Teacher earns in most of East Asia. It can�t be the living costs here, because it is expensive compared to Countries outside the EU.

It can�t be the fact there are no students. Considering Tourism, particulary
UK based Tourism is the main income source here. Spaniards here don�t have even a reasonable knowledge of English. They need to study English.

Why, is this area so difficult to find work in.

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

Dear Reality:

The answer is rather simple. Spain belongs to the EU, and as such, the EFL jobs will generally go to the Brits, who can work legally in any EU member country without requiring the school to go through visa hoops.

I had dreams of spending a year or 2 in southern Italy, but more or less gave up on the idea after the EU came into full force.

Sorry I can't offer anything more positive than that. EFL jobs for non-EU citizens are just plain hard to come by, and that goes for all of the EU member countries, not just Spain.

In fact, if you do run across a job offer from an EU country, it's very likely that they will say in the advert: "EU nationals only". It breaks my heart, but that's the deal.

There are a few exceptions to this rule, but they are just that: exceptions.

Regards,
KEnt

[Stephen Jones]

The answer is given in the question; there is an oversupply of teachers.

The reason is that Spain is one of the best places in the world to live in (Italy is another but more expensive). The result is that there is a glut of teachers, and the salary goes way down.

The South of Spain is particularly affected as it is the area everybody visits, but has little industry and as such little money to pay for the EFL teacher.

Incidentally, the quality of English in Spain is much higher now than it was twenty years ago. The majority of adolescent and adult teaching is at intermediate and post-intermediate level.

Some years back I worked in a telemarketing firm in Barcelona, which cold called companies throughout the world. One of my Catalan colleagues slammed the phone down in the middle of a conversation with somebody in Hong Kong and announced, "Ex-British colony my foot; people speak better English in Barcelona" and he was right (he would have been wrong about Malayasia though).

[Kent F. Kruhoeffer]

PS: The quote below comes from today's job offered board, and this is for a school in Slovakia!

" ... The Caledonian School, Bratislava is looking for qualified teachers to start in September 2003. We are currently very interested in hearing from holders of E.U. passports."

[scot47]

Now the EU is beginning to function at certain levels as a State. One of the functions of the State is to keep out foreigners. Nothing new in that.

[reality]

I strongly disagree with you. Firstly, most people have to work in the place they live. Spaniards discriminate with their employment policies, towards hiring locals first, even if they are less qualified.

Spaniards, also pay higher salaries and give better opportunities to local people, even if you speak Spanish and am an EU Citizen.

If you work on a casual basis, or in a low paid job. Then your chance of the European dream, (Car, House, Vacations) which foreigners achieve in other EU Countries, cannot exist.

Spain, is mainly popular with retired people or people on vacation, who bring money to the Country. Those that reside here, buy property, usually find that money diminishes with no real employment opportunities. One reason 90% of foreign residents, have their own business or a second income from Overseas.

Most people like Spain, because of the Weather, Cheap Drink and the fact that it is "Safe". Spain does not attract adventureous well travelled people. It may be one of the best Countries inside the EU, if you have money, but only if you bring it with you.