Job Discussion Forums

[SaratheSlytherin]

Hola todos,

I hope that there is a knowledgeable person who can help me with my question regarding something I read in my research.

According to Susan Griffith's book, "Teaching English Abroad" that there is one option for non-Europeans who really want to teach in Spain, but who are ineligible for working papers. In her book, I read accounts of people who DID arrange to live with a family and teach English for a certain number of hours per week in exchange for room and board.

From what I understand, Susan Griffith is one of the premier experts in the EFL/ESL field, and her book (Teaching English Abroad) is the equivalent of the Bible for EFL teachers.

It's not a particularly recent book (it came out in 2003), but it's not terribly outdated either.

I would LOVE to hear from anyone who knows about this option. Has anyone heard of this?

My big question: How can I arrange this on my own?
I know that there are exchange organizations (CIEE, for example) that can assist people, but I would like to know if anyone has done it without the help of an exchange organization. I want to make sure that they are a nice family, and it makes me uncomfortable that I have no connections in Spain.

As far as I know, it's perfectly legal (Susan Griffith suggests doing it!!), it seems to me it would be, since you're entitled to 90 days on a tourist visa, and it does NOT involve working under the table.

After doing extensive research I decided to do my TEFL course in Spain. I picked out the Trinity College of London TESOL program (at their Barcelona school), which lasts a month. I learned that US-ians, like myself, are entitled to stay in Spain for 90 days on a tourist visa. After I finish my course, I'd like to stay in Spain for at least another month.

I should mention that I speak Spanish on an almost native level. In fact, I even teach Spanish! I decided to become an EFL teacher because I studied abroad in college and want very badly to live abroad again. I also speak a little Catal�n.

I've done a lot of research and I realize that North Americans (and other non-EU grads) have it rough in Spain, and that the economy sucks, etc., I GET that ... but, the trouble is, I've already fallen in love with Spain!! I know it's nearly impossible for us
to get real jobs over there, but the key word is "nearly." As long as I don't do anything illegal I have nothing to lose by trying.

However, I realize that there's a good chance I won't be able to get a real job, at least not right away, but I would still like to be able to spend a little more time over there.

One reason I decided to do my TEFL course in Spain was because I have wanted to see Spain all my life and this seems like the most auspicious way. I did my study abroad in Mexico, and Mexico is awesome, but I feel like something is missing because I never went to Spain. I'm done with college now, and I don't want to go on one of those tours where you sit on a bus.

The plan was for me to get my TEFL certificate and return to Mexico to teach EFL. I didn't plan on falling in love with Spain... but it just happened.

�Soccorro!!

Gracias de antemano.

[spiral78]

According to Susan Griffith's book, "Teaching English Abroad" that there is one option for non-Europeans who really want to teach in Spain, but who are ineligible for working papers. In her book, I read accounts of people who DID arrange to live with a family and teach English for a certain number of hours per week in exchange for room and board.

From what I understand, Susan Griffith is one of the premier experts in the EFL/ESL field, and her book (Teaching English Abroad) is the equivalent of the Bible for EFL teachers.

It's not a particularly recent book (it came out in 2003), but it's not terribly outdated either.

The laws changed in January 2009, so this book IS now outdated in terms of how long you can legally stay in Spain. Because a private employer can't get you legal working permits, you really are limited to 90 days in Spain, total....

You are obviously unlikely to be 'busted' while you're there, but you are likely to get caught leaving at airport passport control, if you've overstayed your 90 days. The penalty is a big red stamp in your passport banning you from the EU for ten years...

I don't agree with the laws - my personal feeling is that, if you can get a job that supports you, you should be allowed to stay and work. But this unfortunately isn't the view of the EU bureaucracy, and it's really important for newbies considering the time and investment in travelling to Europe to have realistic expectations regarding what the possibilities are.

Sorry to be a downer, honestly.

[mozzar]

I saw a job advertisement in Madrid that offered free room and board. It was with a family and they wanted you to teach/converse with their children for two hours each evening and babysit one night a week. So these things do exist, but it sounds like you wouldn�t have a very good social life.

[Pauleddy]

Your chances of doing as you plan are quite slim. Spiral is right, I believe.

The laws changed. It is now almost impossible for you. I never say never, and I guess that there are some USA teachers doing some kind of unregulated work in Spain.

One reason for all of this is that there is huge unemployment in Spain (20% in some towns). There are plenty of graduates to fill jobs, including Language graduates. They may not be natives, but a lot of the state school and university jobs are taken by Spaniards who have good English. I know, because I used to live and work there and tried without success to get state jobs, despite my postgraduate degrees and EU nationality. Then, there are plenty of Brits who are quite happy to take TEFL jobs in Spain, which remains an attractive, warm and lively option for Brits who are fed up with GB.

You also need to reverse the roles. Unless I marry a US citizen, I would find it very hard to get access into the US. I dont claim to know much about this, but I guess that I would need a green card, sponsorships and all sorts of papers to get work in the US. I can't just land at JFK and get a job.

You will certainly not get hordes of families looking for live-in teachers. You may get some kind of nanny job, but the "black" work for nannies and carers gets taken by cubans and columbians who are desperate to earn and stay in Spain.

Most (not all, because there is a large "black" economy) employers in Spain now want to be official. If you are "official", then you get healthcare and stuff. I knew of one teacher who was employed "black" but then realised that she had no social security cover, no pension (etc.) and successfully sued her school after 15 years.

Anyway, some of my remarks are merely irrelevant, I guess, because you get a tourist visa and a big red stamp if u overstay, as Spiral says.
I don't know any way to resolve this. If anyone does, then I will happily eat my words. I agree that the laws are unfair.

eddy