Job Discussion Forums

[JonnyBBad]

After several weeks of umming and arring, I have decided to get involved in TEFL. I�d like to ask if my plan is reasonable and likely to get me my first job in this industry. I have a CELTA, degree and am a native speaker, but no teaching experience.

Plan: Head to Spain in mid September. Buy a phone and Spanish sim card. Email my CV to all language schools in the Irun-San Sebastien-Bilbao-Santander-Gijon region.

Is this reasonable and am I likely to get a job teaching ESL?
Many thanks.
Jonny

[rafaella]

It all sounded pretty good until you said "...get a job teaching English to adults". Most jobs in Spain will require you to teach children as well as adults. It's not impossible to get a job which doesn't involve teaching children but it will certainly narrow down your options.

Emailing your CV to schools is OK but stress that you are in Spain and available for interview in person. Visit as many places as you can to drop off your CV, as opposed to emailing it.

If you are unemployed, you might try getting some work (and experience) at a summer camp. The trouble is, that will almost certainly mean working with children and experience is often required. You could also see if you could volunteer at a local adult college as many offer English classes to speakers of other languages and you might be able to assist.

[mozzar]

You could teach only adults if you do business classes which a lot of people do.

Which part of Spain are you thinking of heading to?

[JonnyBBad]

Hi, thanks for your replies.

Rafaella, I will follow your advice about dropping CV's in by hand.

I think I can be flexible on the ages of students - I would just rather not teach in a primary or secondary school, atleast not for my first job. I have been looking into summer camp work too. I see there are plenty of vacancies around, and although reading how they can be stressful, I agree it would be a valuable experience.

Mozzar, yes teaching business English is a possibility. I would like to work in the north west of Spain. San Sebastian, Bilbao, Santander or a town along that coast. I've been to the the Basque country before and it appeals to me more than Barcalona or Madrid.

[rafaella]

If you work for a private language school, I'm pretty sure you won't be asked to give classes in primary or secondary schools. I've not heard of that arrangement in Spain.

A typical entry-level job involves a mix of classes - children, teenagers and adults. Teaching young learners has its challenges but it's not all bad so if you find a decent school in a location you like, I wouldn't let that in itself put you off. Get a year's experience under your belt and more options will open up.

[Spanish Tickle2]

Hi JohnnyBBad,

How did your move to spain go? Where did you end up? I ask as I'm planning to move to the North coast in january, probably Santander or Bilbao. Any information you have on the region will be eagerly read.

Cheers