Job Discussion Forums

Schwaman · Joined: 12 Oct 2005 Posts: 8

Hi,

I'm trying to find TEFL jobs in Tenerife. I'm a native speaker and an EU citizen. I've a 120hr TEFL cert and am a newbie. I've been searching for any leads. If anyone has any leads or tips of where best to look at this moment in time, would you mind mailing it to me? (Excuse me if I don't share it with the forum, competition and all that!).

Thanks a million!

Moore · Joined: 25 Aug 2004 Posts: 730 Location: Madrid

quote "Excuse me if I dont share it with the forum, competition and all that!"

....that is hardly in the spirit of something which is, after all, named a "Forum" as in a place where people exchange views and information.

You can benefit from the years of advice on teaching in Spain on these pages, the whole point is to share what information you have or can glean in order to give something back, to make a contribution.

English teaching can be very competitive, but the way you get jobs and keep them and also find the best ones is to work hard and be a reliable, personable teacher, and not by hiding information from others.

I really don't want to sound pompous or self-righteous here, but if we all went around asking for secret info from each other then this would hardly be the wealth of information that it is today.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

I wil freely give what I know. It is difficult to find a TEFL job anywhere in Spain that pays a living wage.

JimRoss · Joined: 22 Oct 2004 Posts: 31

I suppose it depends on what you call a living wage.

In Madrid, most teachers average between 14 to 18 (sometimes higher) Euros an hour teaching for language schools and can earn 20+ an hour teaching private classes.

Just doing the maths on a 20 hour week you get:

At 14 an hour working 20 hours a week the monthly pay is 1,120
At 18 an hour working 20 hours a week the monthly pay is 1,440

In general, teachers work between 20 to 30 hours a week.

Whilst these aren't the rates Bill Gates would be happy with, for most people it's enough to live on and go out on as well.

I work for a TEFL training school that also helps people find work so we are pretty well in tune with the current teaching situation in Madrid.

Jim Ross
EBC TEFL

foss · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 55

Yes, we can all see the ad at the bottom of the screen.

Eloise · Joined: 29 Oct 2005 Posts: 35 Location: UK

I lived in spain for 2 years, I only worked 25 hours a week and I earned around 1000 euros a month. It doesn't sound like much but considering I paid about 100 euros a month for accommodation and you can have a 3 course meal for less than 10 euros I thought it was OK.

JimRoss · Joined: 22 Oct 2004 Posts: 31

Foss, the only reason I put who I am, who I work for and the basis for making the post are Dave's ESL forum rules. When I joined I was told in a reply from Dave that when I posted I had to state these three things.

Jim

Moore · Joined: 25 Aug 2004 Posts: 730 Location: Madrid

100 euros a day for accomodation is no longer realistic, I'm afraid: even in the provinces you're looking at getting on for 200 euros a month, and in the cities a lot closer to 300 a month for a room in a shared flat, minimum.

The good news is that even in Madrid you can still find a "Menu del dia" (lunchtime menu) for less than ten euros, including half a bottle/caraffe of cheap and cheerful vino, if you go to local cbars a bit away from the centre.

Just to get back on-topic though, I think the original poster wanted to know about Tenerife prices....

Schwaman · Joined: 12 Oct 2005 Posts: 8

Hi,

RE: Reply from username - Moore

I apologise if it sounded like I wanted to conceal everything in respect to job hunting. It wasn't my intention. I'm happy to be open about how to go about job searching, but actual leads, this is where an actual job vacancy has arisen, perhaps yet to be advertised, is something I'd rather keep discreet.

I'm applying for jobs that don't require much experience or qualifications beyond a good TEFL cert. I know that job interviews are subjective and it's not always the level of qualifications and experience that most matters. There is the question of potential, perhaps from life experience, self learning, natural talent etc. These things might not be something you can easily put on your CV, or get across in an interview, however, you may have got these through hard work, challenging experiences and so on. I believe in my own potentiol, thus I felt if I could propel myself into the career with an advantage it would be justified.

I don't want to get dragged into an argument with anyone over the use of the forum in this respect. To discuss beyond this would be pointless I think, people have different points of view on ideals, and like in politics it could be a never ending argument.

Good luck with your careers!

Eloise · Joined: 29 Oct 2005 Posts: 35 Location: UK

The Basque country, Madrid and Barcelona are more expensive but there are loads of flat shares in Valencia for between 100 and 150 euros. i only left in August! The year before I lived in a small town in Andalucia and you could rent a 2 bedroom flat fo 250 euros. I think a lot of people try to go to the places where there are already loads of TEFL teachers and tourists which is why wages are lower and flats are more expensive. Anyway, sorry not to talk about Tenerife again, but it's definitely financially viable to teach in Spain as long as you haven't got a family to support or anything.