Job Discussion Forums

[lmarkotan]

I am an English teacher, currently teaching in Slovakia, wanting to teach English in Spain. Although I am not a native speaker, I lived and studied for 8 years in Sydney, Australia, where I also finished my Masters in IT. This is my second year as a teacher, teaching full time 33h/week at two institution. I would like to get some more details about teaching in Spain as I would like to teach there from Sep/2010, experience some new culture and improve my Spanish.
I've just finished 100h online TEFL, and my current contract lasts until end of june 2010. I speak Slovak and English and basic Spanish,German and Russian. I am a holder of an Australian and an EU passport.

Do I have any chance as a non-native speaker to get a teaching job in Spain? Has anyone met a non-native teacher in Spain before?

[ludhilltoysoldier]

Yes, there are many non-native teachers in Spain, not all Spanish. And many of them, NOT ALL, with a terrible level of English, in my opinion! So, you being a non-native speaker shouldn't be an issue.

[spiral78]

The on-line TEFL cert will be a bit below what most newbies on the job market have. An on-site course (CELTA or equivalent) that includes supervised teaching practice with feedback from experienced teacher trainers is the norm. You might want to consider another certification..perhaps one taken in Spain.

[jonniboy]

[Insubordination]

Yeah, a teacher who worked for my college in Spain two years before I did was Slovakian. I met her when she came back for a visit and she had good English. However, I remember suggesting that she take over when I left and one of the teacher replied, "Yeah, but she's not a native speaker."

[lmarkotan]

[spiral78]

The job market is tight, as other posters have also pointed out - you would have lots of competition, most of it from native speaker teachers.

This is why both experience AND qualifications will be important.

You have a valid point about non-native speakers understanding the processes of language learning, but you've ALSO got to have a level of English that will compete well against what a native speaker can offer.

[lmarkotan]

[jonniboy]

In my experience in Spain, all teaching experience was valued but most highly valued was willingness and ability to work with children and teenagers who make up at least half the market there. A certificate would certainly be a necessity if you aren't a native speaker. Unfortunately the feedback from those on the ground in Spain hasn't been positive of late so that's also something to consider before you move there. Maybe you'd be best off waiting until September 2010, the biggest hiring period? Best of luck and let us know how it goes.

[lmarkotan]

Thanks to all of you for your suggestions. I am going to stay in Slovakia until my contract expires, which is end of June 2010. In the meantime I will closely watch the job market, this forum and work on my Spanish, which is probably even more important than my English. I have a colleague who is from England and he does not speak Slovak. Sometimes he strugles to explain the language to lower level learners, which I can do in their native languge in a moment and then go on to something else. Of couse the ideal would be to use English only, but I think cheating like this saves you plenty of time.

[denisewoodallksu1]

Hi, just wanted to check in and say I've read your replies. I also have only a beginner level spanish and hoped to teach in spain. I'm seeing my dreams kind of going down the toilet at this point. I thought, naively, that I didn't have to have a full grasp of the host country language to teach. I'm applying through a cultural ambassadors program, but I just found out today they have an 'intermediate' spanish requirement any advice anyone has to help me get into work in spain or anywhere in europe is appreciated.

thanks
Denise

[spiral78]

You don't necessarily need a functional level of the local language to teach English. But for Europe, you DO need either a passport from an EU member country OR some special 'in' to get a legal work permit. This 'or' is what the 'cultural ambassador' position would offer.
The 'or's are rare. You could read further down on this board regarding student visas and how they can work in Spain...

North Americans are eligible for work permits in most of the 'new' EU member countries (Czech Rep, Poland, etc). But you should be aware that there are considerable start up costs.

Jobs are rarely found from abroad - you usually have to pay for airfare and expect to pay for accomodation and your daily expenses until you can get a contract lined up and your salary starts to come in.

The job market in Europe is tight all over right now. Read on the country-specific forums for more details.

Your best bet if the Spain 'cultural ambassador' gig doesn't work out would be to choose a Central/Eastern Euro country where you will be eligible for a work permit, come over, get a CELTA or equivalent certification, and land a work contract, all within 45 days. That leaves you 45 days on your 90 day Schengen zone tourist visa for legal paperwork to be processed.

(google Schengen zone for a list of member countries - you can be a total of 90 days in the zone, and then you must leave for 90 days. Country-hopping doesn't work anymore....)

It can work, but it's not cushy. The job market is tight, especially for non-Europeans (UK teachers have it a lot easier in general, but the market and wages are tough for them too). Wages are subsistence level, and many teachers find that they are actualy in the red after a year, if you factor in the expense of coming over and supporting yourself until you can land a job.

harsh, I know, but it's important to have realistic ideas when considering a move abroad. Really, it's tough right now.

[Harvey]

[quote="lmarkotan"]

[mozzar]

I've met non-native, but with near native status, and they do ok. Having said that, they do speak Spanish fluently so it means they can teach the lower level students and the advanced can be left for the native speakers.

A non-native, non-Spanish speaking person would find it much more difficult.

[naturegirl321]