Job Discussion Forums

[blewismaltz]

I'm not worried about daily life. I've survived in China for over two years now without speaking more than a few basic words and phrases. What I am worried about is how much Spanish I'll be expected to know to contact employers, go on interviews, etc.

My level right now? Zero. But I've started studying intensely (well...I would LIKE to start studying intensely any day now...it's just there so many DVDs that call to me...and the other day I saw this cloud which looked just like a fluffy bunny which I watched for hours...), and have until about mid-August which is when I plan to crash land in either Barcelona or Madrid.

Do those of you with jobs (especially those of you working without legal papers) end up needing Spanish for the hiring or day-to-day teaching process? Or can you survive (at first, anyway) on English alone?

Many thanks, as always, in advance.

[Helen Frubeck]

One thing they told us at the TEFL school I trained with was : The academies are hiring you to teach English and therefore your level of Spanish shouldn't really come into play at hiring time. Interviews must be done in English, after all you are interviewing for an English teacher�s job! We were also taught that you must not speak Spanish in class even if you happened to be bilingual! After teaching for almost two years in Madrid, I know of lots of academies that want teachers not to speak Spanish in class regardless! I know it can be frustrating especially when its so hard to get through to your students. I've taught real Beginners and they would ask me to speak in Spanish, and I rarely gave in. Funnily, I got praises for this, the academies said my students appreciated my efforts to really make them learn! So don't worry about not knowing Spanish at least work wise. Socially, well, you'll enjoy Madrid or Spain in general if you can speak some Spanish. the Spanish are friendly and quite patient with foreigners mistakes and they will appreciate your efforts to speak their language. hasta luego!