Job Discussion Forums

Crig · Joined: 08 Dec 2010 Posts: 11

Hi, I am thinking of applying to do the CELTA course in the Cambridge College in Valencia and was just wondering if anyone has done it before? Any advice?

Also if anyone has any experience of working in Valencia teaching english? How hard it is to get jobs and the amount of pay etc?

I have lived there for a year before during university and would like to go back but any advice anyone has would be really helpful. Thanks.

IanN · Joined: 31 Jul 2004 Posts: 78 Location: Valencia

I've never heard of a Cambridge College so I'm going to assume you mean Campbell College. I did my CELTA there 7 years ago and it was excellent. A friend did his there a few years before and it was also good.

Whilst I haven't heard anything good or bad from them in recent years I have no reason to believe the situation has changed. The two main instructors when I was there were Seamus & Joanne who are the two owners of the company so they should still be doing it.

Working in Valencia is not as easy as it used to be and you have to put in a lot more effort to get work. Remember that you will be new here are there are teachers who are already well established competing for work.

I've just looked at the Campbell College website and there is a course in July & September. I would recommend either of these. Bear in mind though that if you took the course in July you will not find any work in August but if you can support yourself for that month you can spend some time planning a strategy for visiting the acadamies.

With the September course, it doesn't finish until the 30th by which time companies are finalising their needs and it may be difficult to get work straight away as you would need to apply and try to find a job whilst also concentrating on the CELTA. Simply put, the longer you leave it after September the harder it becomes.

If you have further questions, please feel free to ask.

Crig · Joined: 08 Dec 2010 Posts: 11

Oh yeah I did mean Campbell haha. Thanks for your reply. I would really like to go to Valencia but with it being a smaller city unsure if madrid or barcelona would be better options?

I was thinking of doing the course either in May or July to be ready for trying to find a job in September. I'll just have to see how much money I can save before I go. Maybe it would be easy enough to find bar work as well as teaching for extra money? How long did you spend in Valencia? Did the college give you any help when the course was over to find jobs? And also was the course a lot of hardwork?

So many questions but thank you for your help.

IanN · Joined: 31 Jul 2004 Posts: 78 Location: Valencia

Firstly I wouldn't suggest doing the course in May as this would mean you finish the course with only one month until the end of the 'season' with very little probability of finding work. If you can support yourself for June, July, August and most of September then do it and enjoy the holiday but I wouldn't recommend it.

I wouldn't have any idea about bar work and, if you read the current news, all the bar owners are complaining about loss of business due to the recent smoking ban. Valencia still has its tourists and you may be able to pick up something for a few months but don't make your plans assuming this is possible.

I have spent 7 years in Valencia. I did my CELTA course and have stayed here. Campbell college didn't really give much assistance when finding work but at that time it wasn't really needed. Apart from the fallout of a large academy closing (due to it being a scam) jobs were plentiful and if you could stand up and speak without sounding drunk you were in. As I said before I have no idea of the standards or practices of the course now.

The course is a lot of hard work but don't let this put you off. As long as you put in the effort I think the course would be more difficult to fail than to pass.

I forgort to answer one important question from your first post; the salaries. Expect to get 12-14 Euros per hour. Privates may pay a little more (and will always try to beat you down on price) but they are thin on the ground at the moment with the economy being so uncertain. I have heard of some academies recently who pay their teachers 8 Euros per hour but ignore them.

I've just read this again and it all seems negative but Valencia is a great city. As long as you don't come here thinking that work will fall into your lap and are prepared to put the effort in you should have no problems.

Feel free to ask as many questions as you like, I don't mind.

Crig · Joined: 08 Dec 2010 Posts: 11

Ok yeah I dont think that would be possible unless I win the lottery so July seems the best option. So are there no jobs at all in the summer months?

Yeah I did actually see about the smoking ban. I'll just think of it as a bonus if there is any extra work.

Did you speak Spanish when you first went to Spain? I have some Spanish but it's a bit rusty at the moment but would you say its an advantage to speak it or doesn't really matter?

I did check on the website for Campbell College and it says it is still run by the people you mentioned so hopefully it is still as good as when you went. that's good to know about the course. I haven't even applied yet. It is difficult to get onto it do you think?

Thanks for the answer about salaries. I'm not actually too bothered just as long as I'd be able to afford to live. I've seen posts on here before of people saying to take about �3000 to start with in case jobs are hard to find and for the first few months rent. Would you say this is right?

Well its better to be warned of the negative sides rather than getting there thinking it will be easy so thank you. I do know the city and have friends who live there so wouldn't be too scary to start with as long as the effort is made.

Thanks again.

jonniboy · Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2011 8:43 pm Post subject:

IanN · Joined: 31 Jul 2004 Posts: 78 Location: Valencia

Wow. So many questions. I'll try and fit them all in. If I miss any, I'm not being rude or hifing information. I just forgot. Very Happy

Crig · Joined: 08 Dec 2010 Posts: 11

Thanks for all you answers. They are really helpful. The rent you say sounds really cheap. I just have a couple more questions...

I dont mind teaching adults or kids so with the CELTA does that enable you to be able to teach kids as well or would another course be better? and with England being so bad for jobs at the moment I really just want to get moving so wondered if I should just do a course here and then go to Spain or would it be better to get the certificate where you want to work?

Thanks.

IanN · Joined: 31 Jul 2004 Posts: 78 Location: Valencia

Sorry for the delay in replying. It's exam period and I had 8 hours of invigliation and 50 exams to mark in the last couple of days.

In theory the CELTA doesn't qualify you to teach kids (Guess what the 'A' stands for). There is a YL extension for CELTA but I've never heard of anyone having it. Although the CELTA is for adults it is the regognised certificate for teaching English, be it adults or kids.

Just remember that unemployment in Spain is more than double the UK rate at the moment.

I would recommend doing your CELTA in the place you plan to live. Here you can get used to the city (even though you have been here before) and start with the paperwork to get your NIE (Foreigners Identity Number) as it can be a long process and the sooner you get the ball rolling the better (especially as those departments only have a skeleton staff over August).

Crig · Joined: 08 Dec 2010 Posts: 11

Thank you for your reply! That does sound like a lot of work.

I've decided to apply for the course in May as I think it is going to be really hot in July and I wont want to be going to learn everyday. Sounds like a silly reason but I know I'll be too tempted to skip it and go to the beach.

Just filling in the application now. Some of the pre interview tasks are a little difficult. Shows how much work the course must be.

Thanks again for all your help.

IanN · Joined: 31 Jul 2004 Posts: 78 Location: Valencia

Thankfully that's all over now. Time for the 2nd semester now though.

Good to hear that you've decided to do the couse.

I don't know what you plans for the summer would be but you may wish to think about applying to summer schools in the UK as the chance of finding work in Valencia between you finishing the course and the end of September are virtually nil.

Feel free to contact me when you are here if you need any help. Say hello to Seamus & Joanne (not sure if they'll remember me as I haven't seen them since I finished the course).

IanN · Joined: 31 Jul 2004 Posts: 78 Location: Valencia

Thankfully that's all over now. Time for the 2nd semester now though.

Good to hear that you've decided to do the couse.

I don't know what you plans for the summer would be but you may wish to think about applying to summer schools in the UK as the chance of finding work in Valencia between you finishing the course and the end of September are virtually nil.

Feel free to contact me when you are here if you need any help. Say hello to Seamus & Joanne (not sure if they'll remember me as I haven't seen them since I finished the course).