Job Discussion Forums

[melanissa]

Hi all

I have been looking at various threads on the topic of teaching English in Spain, as I am doing my CELTA this August at the British Language Centre in Madrid, and I am basically hoping people may be able to advise me on the best course of action...

I was considering staying on in Madrid, as I know Sep/Oct is the ideal time to find work there. However, a spanner has been thrown into the works and I'm not sure it's going to be financially viable to do that now - I would be debt free and no ties whatsoever, but would only have �2k max saved I think, which is less than the 'safety net' I would like to have in the bank to fund starting out, and future moves/moving back at some point etc.

So...I'm thinking of returning after the CELTA and continuing my job until December (I'm currently a teacher in the UK) - to make the money pot a bit more secure, and have read a couple of things that have said Jan/Feb is a reasonable time to find work - wondered if anyone had experience of this?

I'd be happy to teach children and/or adults so the type of teaching isn't an issue for me, my main queries really are:

1) How much would be a 'safe' safety net to start a move? Am I doing the right thing putting the move on hold because 2k wouldn't be enough?
2) I'm not particularly bothered where in Spain I teach - Madrid was the obvious first choice due to my initial timing plans and apparent number of jobs up for grabs - but are there other locations I'd have no problem turning up to and finding work relatively straight away? (Basically I just really want to put the Spanish I am learning to good use, and experience English teaching, so I'm not overly fussed about it having to be near a beach or city for mad nightlife or anything, I'll go anywhere in Spain!)
3) Depending on where I went does the time of year matter when I go?

Many thanks in advance!

Mel

[suntanman]

Hi,

I'm currently living in Barcelona teaching English. I think the situation here is similar to Madrid. The majority of schools hire in September and start classes in October. As for the rest of the year you don't see many full time jobs up for grabs but there are a lot of opportunities to pick up hours at the prime teaching times - which seem to be lunch times and evenings. You can then supplement these with private lessons which can be found with relative ease.

Personally, I think you are better off staying in Spain after the course finishes as you are much more likely to find a full time job at this time of the year (especially if you have previous experience). Depending on how expensive your lifestyle is, 2k should be fine. I'm paying �350 a month rent, in a shared flat in a nice area of the city with all bills included. You can find cheaper/more expensive though depending on what you are after. Take a look on www.loquo.com to get an idea of prices. Things you need to consider though when 1st moving is the deposit on the flat (usually one months rent) and that you won't get paid until the end of your 1st month teaching. So budget enough cash to last until the end of October.

I did my tefl course in July. Spent august at the beach/applying for jobs/looking for private students and then went to quite a few interviews in September. I finally started teaching at the end of September. I had a similar amount of cash (thanks to my overdraft) and managed to survive.

Let me know if you have any specific questions (especially about Barcelona).

Dan.

[melanissa]

Thanks for the advice! Good to know that 2k isn't a completely ridiculous amount to start off with! Thanks for the website info too - will definitely check it out!

I think I'm just a little worried about if I return to the UK and the money situation then...I do keep trying to remind myself money isn't everything, experience and quality of life are important etc etc, and I really don't like the thought of putting it off a whole year and going out Aug/Sep 2012, but there's a little part of me wondering if that would be more sensible!

Luckily I have my parents to move back home with in the event I decide I miss the UK (hmmmm!) but obviously could take time to find a job back here so would need a fallback fund, and I know Spain doesn't pay enough to save any, if a lot!

Darn indecisiveness!

Mel

[melanissa]

P.S.

Forgot to ask - how are you finding teaching English? Is this your first time teaching abroad? Is it what you expected? Hope all is going well, I very nearly applied to do my CELTA in Barcelona, was torn betwee the 2 cities!

[suntanman]

Yea i'm enjoying it. Not sure I want to teach forever but its certainly a good way to travel and see the world whilst im still young. Barcelona is a great city. Got a bit of everything. Beach, mountains, nightlife, touristy things etc etc. There's also a lot of other young people teaching English here which is nice (not great for my Spanish though).

Advice as far as lookin for a job... try and find somewhere which offers block hours in one place (even if its outside the city). I spend the majority of my day travelling between classes in different schools/offices. Good way to see the city but a bit of a pain in the arse. Also try and find a school which pays you during the holidays (even if its just christmas and easter). Otherwise you have to take into account not getting much money normally at times when you need it. My school pays fairly well but its only for the hours I teach. So public holidays, cancelled classes etc isn't ideal for the bank balance....

[Perilla]

My advice would be to stay in Spain when the course finishes (ie. bite the bullet) or leave it another year until the following summer. The course gives you a lot of start-up advantages - contacts etc. It also forces you to "make the break" from home. If you return home to your current job after the course you might end up never going back to Spain. It happens!

[rafaella]

I think 2,000 would be enough to survive on (just) as long as you are careful.

Timing is very important so you'd almost certainly be better off staying on in Spain and looking for work in the autumn rather than going home. The main hiring season is September for a September/October start. There is a smaller hiring season in January which can be due to factors such as new classes starting, teachers not returning after Christmas, etc. At other times, the pickings tend to be slim.

Madrid certainly has a more plentiful supply of jobs than most other places in Spain. There is a poster called mozzar who is a Madrid expert so have a look at his past posts for more info on all things related to life/work in Madrid.

There's no substitute for being on the ground and seeing potential employers face-to-face but if you're open to any location in Spain, keep an eye on job boards too as opportunities worth pursuing could come up there. Dave's has a section with job postings and another good website is www.tefl.com

Re accommodation, suntanman's recommendation to look at loquo is a good one. You could also have a look at www.enalquiler.com I don't think they have flat shares, though. Due to your finances, you'll probably have to share at first, but if you like your privacy it might be a useful site for you later down the line. It also gives you a good idea of the costs of renting in different parts of Spain.

Good luck and let us know how you get on!

[melanissa]

Glad you are enjoying it!

Thanks so much for all the advice and sites to look at! Do you think, from your experiences, that it would make any/much difference if Iwere to return and wait until the following summer to go back? In terms of having done the CELTA but not put it into practice a lot rather than obviously using it right away if I stay...would I be looked on less favourably come the next summer compared to say, people who had just done the course and stayed on?!

I'm DEFINITELY leaving my current job - there is certainly no danger of coming back and staying with it!! Love teaching, but have now taught RE for 4 years, in 2 schools, both very poor on the behaviour scale, and am getting to that point of having had enough of battling with teenagers who despite anything you do, still see RE as "Bible bashing" and being disengaged! Sorry, almost getting on a rant there and completely ireelevant! I'd try and keep my toe in the English teaching part if I waited a yr, figured I could always do supply for a yr (I know days aren't always guaranteed but would give me time to improve Spanish etc!) and the EAL department in my current school who I've been working with (and loved, which gave me the inspiration to follow it as a full time thing!) do evening/weekend classes for adults so I could volunteer with them so I'd not be out of touch with it.

Think Im trying to just come up with back-up plans for interim purposes just in case, it's becoming quite stressful trying to decide what to do for the best, will be worth it when I am there though (whether that be 2011 or 2012!)

Mel x

[rafaella]

I don't know if potential employers would look on you less favourably if you returned to England for a year after doing your CELTA. However, as Perilla mentioned, students normally make contacts during the CELTA course and you wouldn't be able to follow those up if you went home straight after the course.

Do as much research as possible now on the cost of living, renting, etc and decide if you feel you can survive on 2,000 until your first payday comes round. If you think you can, I'd suggest you stay in Spain after the CELTA course and make the most of the fact that you will be there in person at the best hiring time. You mentioned you could stay with your parents if necessary so if you couldn't find a job, you would at least have the reassurance of knowing you had somewhere to return to.

Planning is important but you can get to a stage where you try to factor in every possible variable (I know!) and end up thinking yourself to a standstill.

[Perilla]

Hi Mel,

This is going round in circles a bit. Everyone advises (mas o menos) that you stick around in Spain after doing the course, but you don't seem to want to swallow that advice.

What advantages do you see (from your perspective) in doing the CELTA in Spain this summer, then returning to the UK?

[melanissa]

I agree too much planning/thinking can lead to a standstill! Perhaps m being overly cautious.

Perilla - I think I'm just a little concerned on the financial front, I guess (in the thinking far too far ahead mode!) that Im worried what if I decide after a year to come back to the UK, but struggle to get a job back here, and have no 'safety net.' Probably shouldn't worry about it - I guess at least being completely debt free for the first time ever should be enough!! That's my only real 'advantage' point to coming back, that I could save more, but I realise there would then also be cons to it. Think Ihave inherited my mum's "but what if..." gene, makes me stress, perhaps unnecessarily!

I honestly am taking on board all the advice given - as you guys are in the know unlike me, it's not that Idon't want to swallow it, guess I'm just trying to address all eventualities and reassure myself!

Mel

Mel

[rafaella]

Are you worried about whether 2,000 is (a) enough to get you started in Spain (b) enough to return to England with if, for some reason, things don't work out in Spain or (c) both?

(a) Probably, if you are careful. Doing some research on costs in Madrid will help you decide.
(b) Very hard for me to say as I'm out of touch with costs in England. Having the 'cushion' of knowing you could stay with your parents should help tremendously, though.
(c) No!

Moving abroad for the first time can be daunting so I understand your concerns. I think you'll find that once you get to Madrid it will all seem a lot less overwhelming.

BTW, the other day I suggested reading mozzar's posts. Have a look at Moore's posts too. He is another Madrid expert.

[melanissa]

I guess it's a worry of the longer term future, as I'm aware that earnings in Spain won't really allow me to save, so more a 'if I decide to come back will I have enough to last while I find a new job' concern - I realise it's probably ridiculous to worry too much about that! Have taken on board everything people have said re starting up costs, contacts I'll make this summer while Im on the CELTA etc and know it would be silly to put it off for a year, so just need to bite the bullet and not worry about things I have no idea will even happen I guess!

Perhaps instead of worrying about things that haven't happened I should spend the time more productively, like learning more Spanish!

[mozzar]

[melanissa]

Really? That's great - better than I'd heard it would be, the general consensus I'd got is that I'd be looking at about 1000 euros a month, so this is certainly pleasing news!
And if it was avalaible - I'd certainly be up for working more hours (being an eager beaver ti start at least!). Hell, I'm currently working as HoD full time and have a 2nd job in a bar, so working many hours is something I'm pretty well acquainted with!

I'm starting to get a little more excited now that you all have put me at ease re the money situation etc and that I'm in an ok position to stay out there from August!

If I could be a pain and draw upon your experience on a different matter within it...would you advise anything particular to prep up on/resources to have with me for impending work? I know there are books on the reading list for the CELTA etc, but being a teacher already, I'm thinking of things like - are there any resources I can make that might be good generic things for teaching?!

Figured once the dreaded GCSEs are out of the way...I have TONS of free time on my hands so could get creative and prep for the change!