Job Discussion Forums

DmBac · Joined: 02 Dec 2005 Posts: 2 Location: United States

Hello,

I am hoping some people reading this will be able to help me out. I am planning on moving to Spain in May of 2006. As of now my plans are to attend a language school for 3 to 4 months and then take EBC's TEFL/TESOL course. This is where I need help. After completing the EBC program and assuming I get a job, will I have to go back to the U.S. to obtain a work visa or residence? In addition, for visa purposes, am I able to piggy pack the two courses? That is, am I able to go to the Spanish consulate and have them issue me a visa for the combined time of the two course.

I would appreciate any feedback on my questions or my plans. I am dying to talk to people who have actually experienced what I am constantly reading about.

Thanks,

DB

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Read through this forum for the many, many earlier threads about working/residence visas for would-be teachers who are not from EU member countries. It's virtually impossible for a North American to obtain legal working papers in western Europe. There are many thousands of people working illegally; it's not necessarily considered a huge crime, but there's a lack of security on all fronts. That includes issues like health care insurance, working without contracts or regular salary, working split shifts that legal teachers don't want, and being the first to be laid off whenever student numbers drop.

Obviously, you have probably already looked into this issue a bit at least. Maybe your case is unusual: do you have citizenship from an EU country, even though you're writing from the U.S.? Student visas are obviously a different issue to work/residence as well - it's likely much easier to get a visa to study.

In any case, you would probably find it quite interesting to read through older threads here in the Spain forum.

j bradley · Joined: 12 Apr 2005 Posts: 13

I was an EBC graduate and one good thing about their program is the number of job interviews, calls you will get. The schools range from great payers to not so good payers, to great locations, to not so great ones, but choose well and you won't go wrong. So on the job front you�ll be fine, there are jobs, I know that because I've been there. On the work and residence visa issue, if you really want to stay in Spain, do check out your possibilities first with your consulate back home, if you have grandparents from the EU, etc. One thing is guaranteed, Madrid is great, the people are friendly, fun and quite helpful when you're trying to speak the language. Good luck.

Jennifer

Spainish · Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 61 Location: Madrid, Spain

Just to add a bit to the conversation...

It's not likely you will receive a student visa for attending a general language school and/or TEFL course. Typically those are reserved for persons attending actual universities. Furthermore you would still not be legally able to work, as naturally a study visa is for... well... studying! Very Happy

But then again, it's been a while since I last looked into that so double check with the consulate.

Regardless, if you plan on staying for any extended period of time and can't obtain EU citizenship through ancestry or what not, you will find yourself in the same "patera" (makeshift boat used by immigrants to sneak into Spain) with all the other illegal English teachers, and for now, the water is fine!

Suerte

wildchild · Joined: 14 Nov 2005 Posts: 519 Location: Puebla 2009 - 2010

DmBac · Joined: 02 Dec 2005 Posts: 2 Location: United States

Obviously there are a large number of people working thoughtout Spain without visas or permits. Today I was looking at various TEFL programs on the internet and even they are advertising how easy it is for non-EU members to get teaching jobs with or without a permit. This made me wonder, would I even need a visa if I was enrolled at a language school for over 90 days? I mean if I showed up at some TEFL program to enroll in the course on day 89 would they turn me down because I did not have a visa? Just a thought...

Anyways, thanks for all the advice.

DB

CharlesTESOL · Joined: 06 Jul 2004 Posts: 81 Location: Barcelona, Spain

I've known several people who obtained a student permit for studying Spanish at a language school rather than a university. It has to be a course of study amounting to at least 20 hours a week that lasts more than 3 months. Since TEFL courses do not last that long they do not allow one to qulaify for a student visa. I've known at least one person who obtained a student visa for taking a 4 week TEFL course at one school followed by a Spanish course at another school that lasted several months.

Buena suerte,

William Garcia · Joined: 01 Jun 2004 Posts: 4

Hi DB,

I did the EBC course in 2004, worked straight after, then went back to NYC where I did freelance translation and interpretation work for big US firms mainly those expanding to Spain, Latin america, ( despite all the ups and downs of Latin American countries! ) I found the EBC program extremely useful because I was one of those who did not have any idea of teaching. Grammar, lesson planning, all that jazz were untouched territories. I guess because I am a native English speaker I took so many things for granted! Then the whole EFL teaching bug bit and I was hooked! So on that count, I'm glad I did a TEFL course because looking back, I couldn't have taught those students if I had no training. From what I can remember some students in my course enrolled in intensive Spanish programs a month, even 2 months before the EBC course, stayed on to do the program, worked straight off just like me without any problems. I guess the question applies to me as well because I'm coming back to teaching, I've saved some of my translation and interpretation dollars so this time I'm off with some more savings! Wink

Maybe back to Madrid or even Buenos Aires?? I don't know, I've always liked Madrid, after all my Spanish took off to the level it's at now because of my stay in Madrid. I made a big effort to go to those "tertulias", even had a Spanish girlfriend who spoke very little English which worked to my advantage! Very Happy

So go for it, do a Spanish course, get the language going a month, maybe 2 months before your course, and you know what? although the Spanish people like to practice their English, life will be a lot easier if you do speak the language. In some of the schools where I worked, there were big Spanish language departments and they offered their English teaching staff good discounts on these programs which I thought was a great benefit to the job. They wouldn't offer me one because they felt my Spanish was good enough, at that time I thought it wasn't , but no deal, they wouldn't do it. Sad

Good luck and maybe I'll see you in Madrid .

Regards,

Will

F Johnson · Joined: 14 Jan 2005 Posts: 9

will

Hey it looks like your EFl career is working out great. My Spanish is not at your level but I'm working on it. I did the EBC course last year, been working in Madrid for about 8 months now and my girlfriend just finished hers the first week of Feb. We went on a 1 week tour after her course and she's only been interviewing 2/3 days since we got back and she's already got 19 hours of work. She works for 3 schools and one of them offers discounted Spanish classes. Pretty much like what you said. I must agree they're great because private Spanish classes can be costly. The classes they're offering her are group classes but that's better than no classes at all. Can you send me a pm with the names of those academies you wrote about? Thanks a lot. When are you back in Madrid? let's get together for a Mahou 5 Estrellas or a Starbucks ?? just a thought . hasta luego.

frank