Job Discussion Forums

lizb · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 5

Hi everyone!
I'm thinking about taking the EBC course in Madrid in October or November. From what I've noticed, rent seems pretty high, especially seeing that the month of the course I won't be earning any money! Anyone out there thinking of sharing an apartment or know if the school can help arrange for shared accommodation?
Any information would be a big help.
Thanks,
Liz

frijolita · Joined: 06 May 2004 Posts: 35 Location: Madrid

Hi,

I am going to be in the Oct. class with EBC. I have been looking at in-madrid.com and expatriate.com to find apartments. I don't plan on actually really look for housing till I get to Spain because I want to meet the people and see where I will actually be living. Right now I pay through the roof in rent so the rents in Madrid don't seem too outrageous to me.

Buena Suerte

Frijolita

Karl Borja · Joined: 26 May 2004 Posts: 12

EBC has some housing agents on their website, what most of us did was to arrange for 4 weeks housing for the course and then later on find more permanent arrangements. Once you�re in Madrid it�s not that difficult as it seemed when I was looking from the States.

What you�ll find out is that most of the people in your course will decide to share an apartment and that really makes a difference. Sharing between 3 people will get you a good place, paying around 350 - 375/month per person .

Karl

christopherjames67 · Joined: 03 Nov 2003 Posts: 15

Just wanted to say hello, Liz! & Frijolita. I'm going to be at EBC in October, too. Guess we're going to be classmates. I'm going to start looking for apartments over the next couple of weeks. I'll let you know what I find.

Christopher

Ysabel Hayward · Joined: 01 Jun 2004 Posts: 7

Towards the end of August there are lots of flats starting to be advertised. September is always a good time to do a course in Madrid as the landlords are coming back from their holidays and they usually start looking for new people to let their flats around the end of August start of September.

ysabel

ladywonder · Joined: 28 Jul 2004 Posts: 2 Location: Toronto, Canada

I'm also going to be taking the EBC course in October. If anyone has some info on where to find cheap accomodation that would be greatly appreciated!

Joan Mitchell · Joined: 01 Jun 2004 Posts: 21

There is a newspaper called Segundamano, lots of accomodtions are listed there. How�s your Spanish? It will be hard to find an English speaking landlord renting apartments via this local paper. Also I�ve seen a lot of advice about sorting out the month�s accomodations first then finding more permanent housing when you�re already in Madrid. Most of us did it this way, a lot easier than finding flats from abroad. Most TEFL schools will have agents listed on their sites.

All the best,

Joan

shevek · Joined: 29 Jul 2003 Posts: 17

I just applied for one of the last 2 spots for the October EBC so if I get in, maybe I'll room with someone on this thread. How long ago did you all apply? Did you get acceptance pretty quickly? It said 2 days to receive a result so I hope that means a yes or no. Will anyone be in Madrid much before the class? I'm going over in September to take some Spanish in Valencia.

Memily · Joined: 23 Aug 2004 Posts: 1 Location: Oregon USA (for now)

Hello everyone!
I am taking the October EBC course as well and considering my housing options. I agree with Frijolita that looking for housing once I'm in Madrid will be easier. Does anyone know anything about the area where EBC is located? I've been looking at maps and trying to get a feel for the city's layout, but I know I'll be hopelessly lost once I arrive.
Good luck with your preparations and I'll see you all in October!
Emily

Joan Mitchell · Joined: 01 Jun 2004 Posts: 21

Hello everyone,

1) They get back to applicants quite quickly, I got my acceptance in 3 days, although I heard that spaces go so fast now. I�ll tell you exactly why, its the job placement help and the quality of teaching. It�s an excellent school, but unfortunately a lot of people know about this now so the places get booked months in advance. A friend of mine wanted to go to the August course, it was fully booked way back in April, shes hoping to get the last spot in either Sept or Oct, but I don�t know. At least she�s only coming from London! Oh well, thats what you get for leaving it to the last hour, which is by the way very Spanish! Great people but they don�t believe too much in planning ahead.

2) Area of the school, located in the financial district, well placed, actually very close to the famous stadium called Santiago Bernabeu, right next to the biggest chain in Spain, El Corte Ingles. The school is on Orense 26. They are located in an area called AZCA which is the center of the financial district of Madrid, main bus lines and metro stations in the area and although it is in the business center you find affordable shops, fast food all around. Forget about finding an apartment in this area though unless you�re willing to pay business rental rates.

Regards,

joan

shevek · Joined: 29 Jul 2003 Posts: 17

Moore · Joined: 25 Aug 2004 Posts: 730 Location: Madrid

Hello Liz, all the advice above seems pretty accurate (I�ve been here for the last year so I know the feeling..)
I can recommend a really good hostel that I stayed in for the first month while I was looking for work and a flat: It�s called Los Amigos and it�s just near Opera metro: pretty basic facilities and big dorm rooms, but clean and central and best of all has a big sociable commonroom where I met a huge bunch of people who were looking for work or doing CELTA courses, many of whom are still good mates and are back here for another year (God help us!) It was 15 euros a night last year, but it may have gone up.
The other thing I should emphasize is that looking for a flat here in September can be pretty tough - all the Spanish students are back and competition for rooms is fierce. Get up early, buy Segundamano, and get calling or the room may well be gone. Make sure you say where you�re from as Spanish can be a pretty conventional (ok, I mean slightly racist!) bunch, so clarifying that your foreign accent is from the UK/US/etc. will help and may even be a bonus as you colud represent free English practice for flatmates! Watch out for the one-spare-room-in-a-mad-old-lady�s-flat thing, try to ask a bit about who it�s with to avoid being isolated/having mad woman�s cats peeing all over your stuff...
Other places to look for rooms are the 3W internet cafe noticeboard, near the main El Corte Ingles department store in Sol, and also the University notice boards outside metro Ciudad Universidad where you can also stick up you�re own ads. Hope this helps....

Karl Borja · Joined: 26 May 2004 Posts: 12

Am an ex-EBC as well and a great advice they gave me at the EBC center was to look at the University bulletin boards. Around now, Sept, many have returned from their holidays because the Universities start around the first week of Oct so students advertise for roommates and they love to have roommates who speak English!

Hasta luego,

Karl

shevek · Joined: 29 Jul 2003 Posts: 17

Yipee, the EBC class starts in 3 days. Is anyone else in Madrid yet?

Whitney Davies · Joined: 01 Jun 2004 Posts: 23

shevek,

im happy for ebc because you know what ? i was told they have been running full houses for the last 3 or 4 courses. you see i was in one of their first courses way back in 2003, feb /march and it seems like only yesterday! Oh dear that sounds so corny!

They work hard at that school and when I say full house I dont mean mass produced , they run a maximum of 24 and they have been very strict with numbers so I guess it was very personalised. I guess thats one of the reasons they are successful, its first and foremost a TEFL school. Others are just run like businesses. Im glad to have been a student of one school that is still true to the teaching ideal. No millionaire pickings from teaching so I guess you gotta love the profession!

I dont mind putting in good words for these guys at EBC because along the years they�ve just gotten better. Good luck and Madrid is a great city, fun and full of life. Hasta luego!

whitney