Job Discussion Forums

[sarahlovesspanish]

I'm not sure where to start but here goes...

I have just finished my A-Levels and I have chosen to have a Gap Year before starting my language degree in London. Although I'm studying Spanish and French, I intend to spend the year (or most of the year) working in Spain.
And, although I'm sure I will have a fantastic experience wherever I go in Spain, my prefered city would be Sevilla, simply because I have always wanted to go there, and all of my Spanish friends have told me how fantastic it is!
I have considered working as an AuPair, doing a TEFL (or equivalent) qualification and then teaching English, and more recently just doing bar/restaurant work.

I have a very large list of questions and I'd really appreciate anyones' help/advise/answers:

1. Is it worth doing a TEFL qualification? - are they legit? Would I actually get work? etc etc
IF SO:
2. What should I be paying to do one? Is �900-1000 normal?
3. Should I do it in England or Spain? I have been accepted on a few TEFL courses in Spain, would this be wise?

IF TEFL COURSE NOT WORTH DOING:
4. How does one go about getting a bar or waitressing job in Spain?
5. Is it true that bar/restaurant staff are often exploited in Spain?
6. My level of Spanish (written, spoken etc) is fairly high - I am expected to get a grade A on results Day, and having quite a few Spanish friends I have been to Spain a fair bit which has improved fluency etc. But I am not fluent...would this make it more difficult for me to get a job? (NB If I am there for a period of time, I could become near fluent/fluent - this would be my aim).

ALSO:
7. How do I go about getting shared accommodation with people? Many renting a double room in a flat or something similar!?

All other suggestions about what job I could do or any advice/tips etc all v.welcome !
Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read this

Sarah

[rocketchild]

wow, great questions
here is the best and most accurate answer


yes you NEED a TEFL certificate.
once you have it, you can work anywhere in the world you are willing to travel to. Its rather an amazing lifestyle !
shop around.
where you do it isn't relevant.
it has more to do with what you can afford in terms of rent/food/course/
everyone gets accepted into courses...pretty much..

don't work as an aupair..that sucks and pays shit. you will quit very quickly for sure.

and when you are ready to work.....(you might try now w/o a qualification, they often need summer camp monitors for sports etc)

go for ENGLISH summer school work

pays wayyyy better than espana, and they need teachers right now.
besides they usually offer free accomodation and you will save.

by the end of the summer you will have a solid reference and money in your pocket.

in Spain, you could try the summer camps but w/o experience you wont make much or even get hired.

good luck

[workingnomad]

If money is an issue then you could do the TEFL course in Eastern Europe.

Somewhere like Prague would be �400 cheaper than Spain for the course and living costs are cheaper.

Then you could head over to Spain with the qualification...

...and land a nice teaching job in September or October

[sarahlovesspanish]

The problem is I'm on holiday until the 2nd half of July, so working in a summer school won't be a possibility
The one that looks pretty good is www.teflcourse.net (the one thats in Sevilla). I've been warned that some of them aren't legit, is this one?
As an 18 year old would I struggle to get teaching jobs?
Thank you so much for your advice both of you

[sarahlovesspanish]

[spiral78]

Your age will be a handicap. Language schools work hard to establish contracts with businsses and rely on teachers who look and behave like professionals who can make good impressions on their cleints, and who will be reliable and responsible as they work with them.

You may be seen as less reliable because of your age, and you will need to dress and behave in ways that will impress potential employers and their students with your professional attitude.

I am not implying that you are not responsible and reliable, of course, just noting that it is a common perception of people in your age group by others.

[sarahlovesspanish]

[Marcoregano]

Your age and no degree - not wishing to be negative, but for most language schools these will be major issues. Working as an au pair might be more realistic, and once there, you might be able to find p/t private tuition work, or better perhaps, a local language school that might take you on to do conversation classes etc.

[sarahlovesspanish]

Is working in hospitality a realistic route to go down? or perhaps tourism or administration...?

[spiral78]

Only if you've got local language skills. How's your Spanish?

Even if it's very strong, you would most likely find only the lowest-level positions open to you - the kinds of jobs that educated Spanish adults don't want to do. Or under-the-table work...

I think the suggestion about being an au pair is probably the most realistic in your case. Alternatively, consider finishing your university degree before you take off.

Remember never to go abroad without enough financial cushion to tide you over, as well. A little bad luck can go a long way when you are in a strange country. Don't do it on a financial shoestring~

[sarahlovesspanish]

I do have a strong level of spanish.
Yes I see your point. I think my age could be exploited too?

I'm going to see if I can get anything from my connections in Spain. If all else fails being an AuPair wouldn't be too bad as you don't have to pay for accommodation or food.
Any other suggestions still very welcome.
Quite a few TEFL courses say that although being young doesn't help, it's not necessarily a barrier...do you all disagree?

[mdk]

If you haven't finished your degree perhaps you might consider an exchange course through your university.

Seville and Valencia are crawling with people doing such courses. My first choice in a Spanish University would be Salamanca but any of them should provide with you with a valuable experience - as well as networking contacts in Spain for when you do leave school.

Such a course of action would put you miles and miles ahead of the 4 week TEFL course I took in Barcelona. No cabe duda.

[jonniboy]

[MO39]

[sarahlovesspanish]

What a shame, I would have really enjoyed it!