Job Discussion Forums

michelleta · Joined: 22 May 2006 Posts: 4 Location: Madrid, ES

Hi all,

Reading all of these comments has been really helpful, but I have a couple questions maybe you'll know the answer to. I'm an American planning to move to Madrid at the end of August. I haven't taken a TEFL course and wasn't sure if I wanted to because I had heard that you can find private work without having taken one. Is this true? If not, I'm thinking about the canterbury course and signing up when I get there.
I'm also wondering what anyone's opinion/advice is on trying to find other non-teaching work under the table, like office jobs? Do you think this is possible? I'm fairly fluent in Spanish, but the whole illegal thing doesn't help...

Thank you for any help!!
-Michelle

stoth1972 · Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2006 5:59 pm Post subject:

Well, if you're thinking of teaching English, then yes, you need to do a Cambridge CELTA or Trinity College of London TESOL. September is the big hiring time, so if you could go in August and do a course then, you would be lined up to work right away. I knew almost no illegal Americans working in non-ESL jobs. I think the odds of being hired illegally into those positions is very unlikely. The odds of being hired legally into those non-ESL positions is also unlikely, unless you, as an American, can provide some skill or knowledge that your other English speaking Europeans cannot. Teaching privately and living on it? Also quite difficult for someone who just showed up. It is more likely for the established Madrid teacher who has built up a base of students over a long period of time to live off of private or small group lessons. I strongly urge you to take one of those accredited courses-Does Cantebury provide one of them? If not...I would look elsewhere.

stoth1972 · Posted: Thu Jun 08, 2006 6:16 pm Post subject:

Check out the job board on this site-American Language Academy in Madrid is hiring (I worked for them and thought they were pretty fair). You'll def. need that cert to work for them.

MAP Magazine · Joined: 24 May 2006 Posts: 46 Location: Madrid, Spain

stoth1972 · Posted: Sun Jun 11, 2006 5:27 pm Post subject:

I think advertising in www.segundamano.com might be an option-for finding work, advertising your services, etc.

michelleta · Joined: 22 May 2006 Posts: 4 Location: Madrid, ES

Thanks for the answers! I appreciate the help.

Spainish · Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 61 Location: Madrid, Spain

I'd have to agree with Phil (Mr. MAP) on this one ... and not so much with Stoth this time (sorry mate! Very Happy

).

You certainly can find private classes without the need of a TEFL certificate if you possess two important traits. The first one being obvious (and you already mentioned it), is speaking a fairly decent level of Spanish. It just makes all aspects of arriving, getting setup, looking for work, etc., that much easier. The second one is as important or more so. You need a "get up in the morning and go" attitude as you will need to post flyers around town, in papers and on websites, etc. until you have a full schedule (and again when any clients drop, and they will). The only problem with this part is that Madrid doesnt really foster this trait... it trys to lure you into a realm of late night partying and siestas (and usually wins!). You'll quickly see the logic in having English academies do all the "work finding" for you (working for academies also provides you with a sense of "job security" as typically they will pay you even if the client doesn't or cancels class etc).

"Well, if you're thinking of teaching English, then yes, you need to do a Cambridge CELTA or Trinity College of London TESOL"

This is not necessarily true. In fact, of all the teachers I currently know or have known, only a fraction of them have/had a CELTA from Cambridge and I can't recall if any had a TESOL from Trinity. Though it may be necessary to work in some of the more "corporate" Academies in Spain, so is being legal Razz

.

Suerte!

Spainish

MAP Magazine · Joined: 24 May 2006 Posts: 46 Location: Madrid, Spain

ja · Joined: 06 Sep 2006 Posts: 1