Job Discussion Forums

[LH68]

I've been offered teaching jobs in both these places, and its crunch time, I need to make a decision. Has anyone taught in either of these places?
I hear Toledo is beautiful, but possibly not much to do there..? The pros of teaching there would be block shifts and a potential 3 day weekend. Whereas teaching in San sebastian would involve split shifts most days and some teaching on Saturday mornings. I really want to learn Spanish, and the Toledo school offers help finding accomodation with spanish speakers, whereas san sebastian offers help, but only living with english teachers. On the other hand, pay, and training seems better in san sebastian, and there appears to be more going on there. I want to teach, but have enough time to have a life, meet people, leran spanish, and take up a few classes as well. Help will be much appreciated!

[Moore]

Toledo may be smaller, but it's only a 20 minute high speed train ride from Madrid, so it's not that isolated, and it's a really beautiful place. Also in terms of learning Spanish, everyone speaks Castellano (the "main" version of Spanish), wheras of course San Sebastian is in the Basque country: I don't know how widespread the use of the Basque language is there, but it may be something to bear in mind.

Then again, you've got the sea up in San Sebastian, so if you're outdoors-y maybe that will have a bearing on things. It is a lot colder and rainier up there than Toledo, which like Madrid, has 300 days of sunshine on average per year, though that didn't seem to be the case this year.





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[LH68]

Thanks, I am tempted to go with Toledo, although San Sebastian is beautiful, and would be a wonderful city to live in.... I'm not too keen on the split shifts though. Cheers for yur help

[Insubordination]

I've been to both places and they both get the huge thumbs up beauty-wise. I wish I'd been posted in either of those towns instead of where I was. San Sebastian is gorgeous and has beaches and you're near France and an the beautiful North Coast of Spain. You would have something amazing to do every single weekend. It's hard to express how lovely it all is. The weather can suck a bit with the rain but Toledo can get rather hot too and I would imagine the surrounds would be stale after a while (still, Madrid nearby and its airport for mini-jaunts wherever you want).

If you asked me to decide this second, I would definitely go with San Seb because it seems more liveable and lovely but if you asked me to think about it for a day, I would choose Toledo because of the block hours and no Saturdays. I was tired a lot of my time in Spain because of not being able to sleep 8 hours per night but at least I had weekends to explore. I don't know if I could bring myself to work Saturdays for the full year.

What a cool problem to have!

[LH68]

Thanks for your reply, really useful to get opinions on this! I totally agree about san seb being the spur of the moment choice, but after mulling it over I'm leaning to toledo. Saying that, the san seb school is better known, with better connections, free spanish lessons and financial support... is it silly to make a decision based on whether somewhere has split shifts or block? I am worried toledo is rather small.... it is castillian however and as the previous poster said probably better for learning spanish. Thanks again for your help guys

[jonniboy]

[adrianvalcas]

As beautiful as Toledo is, it can be pretty dreary. Dry landscape and empty at times.

I live in Madrid and I usually take the people who visit me to a nearby city every time. I try to avoid Toledo and always head to Segovia instead.

It might be torture to want to come to Madrid all the time and have to travel one hour every time you wanna get here.

Go where the water is. The best tapas in Spain, too.

San Sebastian is gonna give you all the Spanish you need, and it'll be a lot more international...

[Perilla]

My tuppence worth ... I spent a night or two in Toledo, way back in 1989. I found it very "cold" - people were generally unfriendly and compared to other places I visited I was made to feel very much an outsider. Of course it might turn out differently if you lived there a while but I agree with Adrian - I'd take San Sebastian anytime out of these two.

[Insubordination]

I'd love for the OP to post again. We want to know what you decided.