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smuglr
Joined: 20 Mar 2009 Posts: 3
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Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 12:58 pm Post subject: Spain - teaching business / professional English |
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Hi everyone, I'd first like to say what a helpful resource this is. I read a previous post about the poor standard of professional English being taught in Spain, and I have a few further questions.
Does the poor standard mean that, someone with a certificate is in a much better position when searching for jobs?
Does anyone yet know how the recession is affecting jobs teaching professional english?
As a teacher of professional English, how do things like pay, working hours etc compare to a standard english teacher?
Do business english jobs still follow the general sep-jun working year rule?
What are the prospects of teaching Business English outside of Barcelona & Madrid?
Thanks in advance for all your advice,
Dougie |
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spiral78

Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash
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Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 5:09 pm Post subject: |
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The vast majority of newbie teachers in Europe in general (and Spain's no exception) do have a basic newbie-level certification. If you have anything less than a CELTA or its generic equivalent, you can't compete well on the job market. No certification puts you seriously at the bottom of the hiring heap.
Most newbie-level positions are teaching for private language schools. An important percentage of their business is teaching professionals business English - most newbies do it as a part of their package, though some may also teach children/young people in addition. It's not a speciality.
Yes, businesspeople generally take English classes Sept/Oct- June. Little work around July and August. |
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jonniboy
Joined: 18 Jun 2006 Posts: 751 Location: Panama City, Panama
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Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 6:21 pm Post subject: |
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spiral78 wrote: |
Most newbie-level positions are teaching for private language schools. An important percentage of their business is teaching professionals business English - most newbies do it as a part of their package, though some may also teach children/young people in addition. It's not a speciality. |
Hmmm I certainly wouldn't say that an important percentage is teaching business English. When I worked in Valencia 2003-2005 the market was heavily geared towards kiddie and teen classes. I would say that they made up 80% of the market at that time and certainly for someone new to the market say in Valencia, making enough to live on without doing kiddie classes would have been near impossible. Barsa and Madrid apparently have more in terms of Business English. |
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spiral78

Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash
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Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 6:33 pm Post subject: |
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Interesting. My friends in Spain long-term have always worked as much or more in businesses than with children.
I'll be curious what others have to say on that. |
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smuglr
Joined: 20 Mar 2009 Posts: 3
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Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 10:51 am Post subject: |
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I suppose if business english "is not a speciality" all my personal questions are answered. Experience writing technical reports & academic papers will not offer a great advantage other than perhaps bumping me up the heap a little if teaching business english then.
Thanks for all your advice
Dougie |
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