Job Discussion Forums

[hickles]

Hi, So I've finally decided to take my celta, but i need some help desperately

I'm stuck between three or four choices of course:
IH riviera Maya-Mexico
IH Barcelona
IH Clic- Sevilla
and Europetefl (seemingly operated out of IH clic) Sevilla...

I really want to
-get a job asap
-live in a place safe for a single female traveller where I'll make new friends as well as getting a job
-money is a real issue so somewhere where I can actually survive whilst finding a job.

Thanks for any advice, I'm really desperate to get signed up! -Katie

[SirKirby]

I know a little about 3 of those (not Europetefl), largely through people that work or have worked there and as places for the course they'd all seem good choices -- as far as the course in concerned.

Safetywise I'd say that there's very little in it. You've got to take due care, obviously, and it's wise to avoid looking like a tourist but Playa del Carmen, Barcelona and Seville are all reasonably safe places (I've lived in Barcelona for over 25 years).

Jobswise, P del C (Riviera Maya, that is) is probably the worst choice, in that you're almost certainly going to have to move on from there to find work -- whereas, being much bigger cities, Seville and BCN will have more job opportunities. P del C is a lovely place for the course, however !

The financial recession doesn't seem to have hit English teaching in Spain (yet!) and I'm still seeing the same sort of numbers of jobs posts (though September is really the best time of the year to be looking). Being larger, I'd say BCN is a slightly better bet in that sense.

I'd say BCN is probably slightly more expensive than Seville, though rent has dropped quite significantly.

You want to count on around 400-450 euros a month for a room, 750 and upwards if you want your own apartment, in BCN, that is.

I'd probably go for Barcelona myself on the slightly better jobs prospects and the experience of having lived 25 years here, as opposed to (approx!) 25 days in Seville and 25 hours in Playa...

PS Is Europetefl an agent selling courses at IH Clic Seville...? (In which case, pick either them or IH Clic itself -- whichever is cheapest, as the course would be identical)

[hickles]

thanks SirKirby, I know what you mean about playa, I've been travelling in mexico and spent about all of 20 minutes in the touristy place! In regards to Barcelona and Seville, I've never lived in a big city before and was worried Barcelona may be a bit daunting for a 5'4' 22y on her own! Is there a good expat soceity there? Also is a lot more expensive than seville? I'm really limited on funds (working 49 hrs a wk at the min trying to save up because i know jobs are only really available sept/oct) Thanks for the advice mate!

[SirKirby]

Can't actually compare prices BCN and Seville -- as I say, though my last trip to Seville was only a month ago, my experience of it (lovely city!!!) is limited. I'd imagine there's not a lot, with BCN slightly more expensive, but not that much.

You'll be OK in either city. You'll find LOTS of expats here!

What I'd say you really don't want to do is to come without funds -- unless you're an incredibly lucky person that always falls on her feet !

Come with enough to cover your time on the CELTA course (fees, acccommodation, living expenses...) AND for a couple of months after that, just in case!

I'd be much more worried about not having -- say -- 2,000 euros in the bank than I would about finding work, living abroad, being a young girl in a big city...

[hickles]

thanks again, I'm wondering now if I'm simply can't afford it! I work in a demoralising office job for between 45-49 hrs a week for about �13,000 a year. I think I'll have about 3,000 euros saved and I have a �1000 overdraft i can dip into, but the course is 2000 euro! What time is the best time to get jobs in Spain? if I can do the 3-30th sept course and still get a job rather than the 3-30th of august, then I can save another month's wages before I go, option number two would be to do the celta in poland where it's about �1000 cheaper and then just jet over to Spain and start CVing, but I don't know if spanish-celta-getters will then have the upper hand! I hate being poor grrrrrrrrrr..... Thanks again for any advice though, you're a lifesaver!

[Glenlivet]

We did our CELTA in Prague in July 2006 then came to Poland job hunting in August which landed us a job starting in September. My guess is that if you don't start job hunting until October, then most of the decent jobs will have been taken. Better to qualify early and give yourself a bigger opportunity to find work.

[SirKirby]

I can only really talk for Barcelona, but imagine Seville is similar.

Best time for jobs, September. Doing the September course leaves it a bit late but schools also leave it late as they wait for classes to fill up before contracting teachers. If your course finished end of September and you didn't sit about, you'll find work still in BCN -- always assuming the recession doesn't mena ELT takes a big hit.

You could do a course somewhere like Poland and then get to Spain fast but you'll find it advantageous to be on the spot from the beginning, making contacts, finding your way around. It might be better to take the course in Poland, intend to work there for a year, then move to Spain...

You might also find that having a "local" CELTA, from a centre other schools know, advantageous.

[hickles]

Thanks guys, I'm going to sit down and really work out my finances, if I can't realistically afford to do my tefl in spain then i'll spend a year getting teaching experience in poland (if I can get it!) I love Poland, but my polish is way worse than my spanish I can only say hello and "ashtray please" haha

[Glenlivet]

[hickles]

...out of interest tho (sorry more questions) do you usually have to pay a huge deposit when you first rent a flat in spain? I know thats a very vague and generalised question, but I think I have enough to survive in terms of rent and celta fees and food and going out etc etc. but if theres a big huge additional cost it's not worth risking getting completely in debt for.

[hickles]

popielniczka proshe!

[Glenlivet]

Jasne. Prosze bardzo.

[sheikh radlinrol]

[SirKirby]

If you're sharing a room (say 400-450 euros month, it's fairly normal for your flatmates to ask for a month's deposit).

If you're renting an apartment, expect to have to pay at least 3 months' rent in advance -- a month's deposit, a month for the agency, a month's rent, and very often something to cover the cost of the contract itself.