Job Discussion Forums

[Marcoregano]

Hi - it's been a while since I used this forum. Looking for some general advice...

My wife and I have bought a small house in the mountains about an hour and a half drive from Granada. At the moment we live in Hong Kong (we've been in Asia 11 years) but in the next year or two we intend moving to our house in Spain, and are chewing over work possibilities (we aren't rich enough to think of retirement!). We're both in our mid 40s, no kids.

Both of us are experienced EFL teachers. However, neither of us wants to work for a private language school (there aren't many private schools in the area in any case). My wife speaks fluent Spanish, though she has never studied the language academically. I can get by. We are wondering - especially in my wife's case - how tricky it is to get work in the regular state schools - and how well (or badly!) paid these schools are. I recall from looking at this a few years ago that some kind of Spanish teaching certificate is required - still the case? My wife has full teaching credentials from the US - will that help? Grateful for any advice or info.

[andeez]

As you probably know there are hundreds of thousands of us Brits in the south of Spain,and since the publication of the book Driving Over Lemons many have moved to the Granada mountains.I can't see there being much chance of getting into a spanish school.A friend of mine has just returned from Granada and she saw and ad for EFL teachers paying 6 euros per hour!Before moving I would do some serious research about earning potential in the region.

[elamericano]

Full-time, permanent public school jobs in this country are reserved for Spanish citizens.

[Marcoregano]

Obviously it ain't easy getting into the state schools with a f/t contract, but we're wondering if the government's promise to expand English teaching might produce some dividends over the next year or two - a big native-speaker programme similar to the ones in Asia (NET, JET, EPIK etc.) would be great - though perhaps that's wishful thinking.

I already know a fair bit about job ops in our area, which is one reason I thought of posting here - just on the off-chance that someone springs a new idea. In our 'immediate' area, so far as I'm aware, nobody is teaching English (not much of a market I guess), but expats of various countries do live there, and do allsorts to get by - off the top of my head, sources of expat work currently include: the local ski resort, estate agency (real estate), painting, decorating and odd-jobbing, mountain bike and horse-riding holidays, washing dishes, bar work, petrol pump attendant, online graphic design, selling fruit and vegetables in local markets, running a weekly English language news magazine and selling pot.

Yes...Driving Over Lemons...vastly overrated in my humble opinion, and had the effect of attracting expats and driving up house prices...

[elamericano]

There already is something like that for US and Canadian citizens: the North American Language and Culture Assistants in Spain program. Here is the link: http://www.mec.es/sgci/usa/en/programs/us_assistants/default.shtml

I don't know if there is something similar for other non-EU anglophone countries.

Here are just a few of the problems.

1. You have until April 15 of this year to get all of the documents submitted, which include police clearance letters, statement of purpose (in Spanish), recommendation letter, doctor's letter of good health, and the lengthy, detailed application form. On the plus side, they may extend the application deadline, but the office may take 3-4 months + to get back to you if you're not on the initial list of selected candidates.

2. In either of the above cases, after being notified of your acceptance, you will still wait 1-2 months + to get the student visa processed, which is what allows you to be working in the country. The application for the student visa is made in person, in your home country of citizenship, and at the designated Spanish consulate serving your state/province of residence. The completed student visa is then mailed to your permanent address of residence in your home country.

3. The stipend is about 700 euros per month no matter where they place you. Health insurance is also provided. All of your other costs, including housing, are paid for by you out of that stipend and other sources of income you have. Your stipend must be reported as income for your home country's taxes.

4. The contracts are for one year and renewable for up to three.

5. You co-teach with a Spanish teacher of English.

6. You have nearly no control over where you're sent, so who knows what kind of place you'll end up in? Spaniards routinely complain about their poor educations. Local school authorities are sometimes so incompetent that facilities have not been able to open because of staffing and funding shortages.

7. Completing this program is not going to help you get hired in the Spanish schools, not just because you aren't a citizen of an EU country, but also because you aren't a Spanish citizen. There is a special exemption in EU regulations which allows the individual countries to block non-citizens from public employment. But again on the plus side, it does look good on applications for other jobs/programs/etc. Being provided with legal status while working in the country is an especially crucial advantage.

[Marcoregano]

Tks elamericano, I'll mention it to the wife but I don't think it'll work for her/us, in large part as we have little or no flexibility with regard to location. Even if she could get a placement in Granada the daily commute would be too much.

To be honest unless the Spanish govt sticks to it's promise and kick-starts something pretty big throughout the country, both of us are looking at diversifying our ways of earning money. We may even end up doing what some other Hong Kong based expats do - work here half of the year (or whatever it takes), escape to our house in Spain (or wherever) for as long as possible, and return to Honks for the next earning stint when the money dries up. Not ideal but...

[Phil_b]

[elamericano]

No, Phil, it is legal. The Treaty of Rome has an exemption clause that allows governments to bar non-citizens from public employment, even if they are from another EU country.

http://europa.eu.int/eur-lex/lex/en/treaties/dat/12002E/htm/C_2002325EN.003301.html
Title III: FREE MOVEMENT OF PERSONS, SERVICES AND CAPITAL, Chapter 1: Workers, Article 39

[Phil_b]

[Phil_b]

I found these links http://www.emagister.com/oposiciones-convocatorias/oposicion-profesor-ensenanza-secundaria-ingles-oposconv-20692.htm#programa
and http://www.educaweb.com/cursos-47228-oposiciones_a_magisterio_de_ingles__a_distancia__malaga_distancia.html

It seems that the oposiciones are restricted to EU, Norwegian or Icelandic citizens (and their partners)... whether a non-Spaniard has any chance of getting through them is another question......

[darkside1]

Check out this link to the British Council's Bilingual Schools Programme, it may well be an improvement on private language schools (can't comment as I don't know anyone currently working on it):

http://www.britishcouncil.org/spain-education-bilingual-project-recruitment-info


My experience with Oposiciones was that (at least in Catalunya) the educational authorities tried to 'guide' EU nationals towards the version for the Escuela Oficial de Idiomas. At least until 4 years ago when I last checked it out they did. I know of some people who did get into the E.O. that way.

Most EU nationals I know in Spain who have stayed long term have either got fixed up with a big company in a non- teaching post (maybe after retraining) or started their own businesses, often after working in language schools for years.

[Marcoregano]

A pity the BC scheme only involves primary teaching. Curious about the business start-ups you mention - what areas of work are they in? I recently read a report about a couple of Brits (ex EFL teachers) who have made a bundle selling pet products in southern Spain - they saw a niche and got stuck in. Not something I can imagine doing myself somehow but I take the point.

[Phil_b]

[darkside1]

Here is a link to a previous discussion thread on the pros and cons of becoming an 'autonomo' (i.e. self- employed in Spain) which is route 1 in terms of maximising income while teaching outside of international/ private schools:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=58265&highlight=self+employed++self+employment

A mate of mine who lives just outside Barcelona does a block of hours in a school and tops it up with company work and he is paying a mortgage on a 2 bed flat about 25min drive from the city. He does approx. 25 contact hours per week.

Mates and / or aquaintences of mine work in:

teacher training
translation (sometimes mixed with teaching in- companies)
the media
sports tours
stag parties
retail (ie. have opened a retail outlet)
work for big companies (various roles related to business exp. + quals)

There are other people who will have more up to date info than me. I am now officially a 'guirri' although I have 1- 2 holidays a year in Spain (just back) and I am still a fan. Most people I knew took a few years to get set up really well. Contacts are important too, I believe.

As far as the Escuela Oficial de Idiomas goes it was possible to get in a few years back and yes, it was worth it in terms of pay and conditions/ holidays relative to the private sector. I can't provide contacts though, sorry. Maybe somebody else will come on and provide info on this.

[Phil_b]

Thanks for the info.... that's really useful.... really appreciate it.