Job Discussion Forums

Dray · Joined: 05 Feb 2006 Posts: 31 Location: England

I'm teaching English in Asia where I can't seem to avoid young learner classes. I've had enough of teaching kids. Are there plenty of jobs in Spain which are just teaching adults? If so, is my schedule likely to consist of lots of VERY early morning starts?

jonniboy · Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 6:33 am Post subject:

No two ways about it - the Spanish teaching scene *is* dominated by kiddie classes. That's the single biggest reason why I always find it difficult to go back there despite vowing all year that I will. Here I can amass 30+ hours with adults if I wish. Though I've been told that Barsa and Madrid may have sufficient classes if you don't mind seeing the cities from a metro window all day.

As for hours, if you want to clock up any reasonable amount of hours (i.e. over 20) then yes early mornings will be involved.

SirKirby · Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Posts: 261 Location: Barcelona, Spain

I'm not sure about "dominated" by young learners, but certainly most teachers on a full timetable (say 20+ hours per week), working for a language school are going to be teaching 6+ hours with young learners.

Here in Barcelona, at least, some of the larger language schools have branched out into big operations within the Universities -- if you can land some or all of your classes there, you might just avoid anyone under 18...

Private classes would be the other way to go...

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

It's perfectly easy to avoid teaching kids here in Spain: most of my mates never teach them, and I certainly haven't in over 5 years here. That said, there are some pretty lucrative private classes going, and a lot of people get tempted into teaching them just because the money's good.

The other reason people end up teaching them is because they don't have EU work permits, in which case there is a certain amount of take-what-you-can-get at first, but after that you can swap them out for adults later. This may apply slightly more in Barcelona where the market is a bit more crowded with teachers.

Obviously, in summer-camp work avoiding kids is tricky, but still possible.

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SirKirby · Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Posts: 261 Location: Barcelona, Spain

Not so sure about "easy" to avoid teaching kids -- unless you're doing private classes and can pick and choose.

You have a regular, full-time job in a "normal" language school, large or small, and chances are you're going to get some kids.

Not so sure it's a question of EU work permits or not, either. For people newly arrived and/or qualified, it's also often a case of take-what-you-can-get.

Look at the job ads out there, if you're not convinced. What percentage say things like "experience with young learners desirable"...?

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

Ok, I definitely take the point that it's not "easy" to avoid, but if, like me and it seems the poster, you are really not keen on kids then they can be avoided.

It is true that I am an experienced business English teacher with experience and papers, and am therefore able to pick and choose to a certain extent.

There is a lot of work in purely business classes going: my particular school only does business and never does kids classes, so it's certainly feasible at least.

_________________________________________________________________________
...Jobs and language exchanges in Madrid, Barcelona and Berlin... www.lingobongo.com

...send your c.v. around ALL the schools in Madrid, Barcelona or Berlin in one hit with our c.v. sending service... www.lingobongo.com

jonniboy · Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 9:28 pm Post subject:

SirKirby · Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Posts: 261 Location: Barcelona, Spain

14 out of 23 hours with kids...? Yes, I'd say that's a fairly typical timetable for teachers in fairly typical Barcelona language schools.

gracias · Joined: 08 May 2008 Posts: 27

never taught kids here in Madrid, never will. If you're good you can get EU40+ an hour from business one-on-ones. If you're not, then you teach kids. End of.

And, by the way, it's a myth that Madrid closes down in August. I had 30 hours a week last August no problem. It's who you know. I'd rather take from 15 December to 15 January off than August, it's a very lucrative month.

jonniboy · Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 11:41 pm Post subject:

I won't teach in Madrid, never will. Too far away from a beach which to me is half the point of moving to Spain. Smile

For the benefit of other posters though Gracias, care to advise them on how you can end up in such a situation where you can get up to 40 euro an hour for 30 hour weeks in August? Doesn't sound too realistic to me, but I'll bow to anyones superior knowledge of the current Madrid market.

SirKirby · Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Posts: 261 Location: Barcelona, Spain

sheikh radlinrol · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 1222 Location: Spain

gracias · Joined: 08 May 2008 Posts: 27

Find it offensive if you want but its the truth.

Why would I teach a kiddie when I can teach a company director or diplomat or VIP, with all that entails.

My rate goes up to EU50 an hour after Christmas.

I'm that good.

jonniboy · Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 2:08 am Post subject:

sheikh radlinrol · Joined: 30 Jan 2007 Posts: 1222 Location: Spain