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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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 Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 1:02 am Post subject: |
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| AGoodStory wrote: |
| currencies have changed; expectations have changed. As I recall, you volunteered for a summer in Scotland while in college, and did a study abroad program in Spain about a decade ago? |
Currecies were the same then as now. Never volunteered in Scotland, sorry, I was working. I've tried to volunteer in places in the past, even volutneered at an orphange last year, but stopped after a few months. I think the only "volunteering" I've consistenly kept up is writing on Dave's.
In Spain I didn't work formally (ie. institutes or schools) worked informally teaching privates, both foreign and Spanish, some of whom I still keep in touch with today.-
And not a decade ago, not that old  |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 1:17 am Post subject: |
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And for how many months? It makes a big difference, when one is in a country for two or three months, in comparison with considering a full year's contract or more.
INformal work in Spain: do you mean paid in Euro? And were you living off that work, or were your expenses subsidised otherwise?
I'm not really concerned about people's personal stuff, but it does become relevant when that person is giving strong advice to people who want to move to a region. I think it's fair to establish exactly what one really knows first-hand about living and working in a region, if you're going to give advice about living and working in that region.
That is why I clarify that I don't work in Spain: but I have worked in the EU for some years. I have friends and colleagues from Spain and in Spain, and that I've done partnerships with Spanish universities, and that teacher training centres that I have worked with in the past place new teachers there.
There are limits to the kinds of information I can claim to have, and I'm happy to clarify what those are. Otherwise, what I say isn't valid. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 2:14 am Post subject: |
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The Spain Min of Ed programme is kind of similar to the Japan JET programme. They're both govt run and are sucessful. Something you have to understand is that were the money not enough, people wouldn�t apply. They'd get a bad rap and the programme would fold. The same happens to bad language schools. People know that they shouldn't apply.
It's like the shoestring guide books. not everyone is going to buy them, becuase they don't appeal to everyone. Ditto for the 700-1000 euros, with or without housing. Not everyone wants to do that. Just like not everyone wants to teach English, they'd rather be a doctor or a lawyer and pull in lots of cash. It's 10 months. Budget. Take extra cash. Look for legal ways to make money, such as teaching online.
It's well received and advertised by many universities and organisations, such as CUNY, Transitions Abroad, Go Abroad, British Council, Ministry of Education New Zealand. Call the embassy and ask for info. GO to the Min of Ed website, Look on facebook as well, there's good info there. It's not that difficult to find someone who has done the programme. Ask them what they think. |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 3:20 am Post subject: |
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| It's not that difficult to find someone who has done the programme. Ask them what they think. |
Once again, I'm not questioning the programme. I am questioning the strong advice you give that, based on your personal experience, 700/month is enough to get by on in Spain.
So, are we to assume that you have not done the programme you are recommending, based on the above post?
The point is that when one gives advice, it should be based on one's actual experience and real knowledge. Otherwise, you can state that you've heard that it's legit (and give the sources), but implying that you know it definitely is is another thing.[/quote] |
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AGoodStory
Joined: 26 Feb 2010
Posts: 738
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| Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 4:29 am Post subject: |
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Double post--sorry!
AGS
Last edited by AGoodStory on Tue Jul 05, 2011 4:51 am; edited 1 time in total |
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AGoodStory
Joined: 26 Feb 2010
Posts: 738
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| Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 4:49 am Post subject: |
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| naturegirl321 wrote: |
| AGoodStory wrote: |
| currencies have changed; expectations have changed. As I recall, you volunteered for a summer in Scotland while in college, and did a study abroad program in Spain about a decade ago? |
Currecies were the same then as now. Never volunteered in Scotland, sorry, I was working. I've tried to volunteer in places in the past, even volutneered at an orphange last year, but stopped after a few months. I think the only "volunteering" I've consistenly kept up is writing on Dave's.
In Spain I didn't work formally (ie. institutes or schools) worked informally teaching privates, both foreign and Spanish, some of whom I still keep in touch with today.-
And not a decade ago, not that old |
Well. . . that pretty much misses the point entirely. Paid or unpaid has nothing to do with anything. When you said you had a summer job in college through BUNAC in Scotland, I did assume volunteer--simply because that's the part of their program I'm familiar with. (Ah! See how easy it is to pass on misinformation if your knowledge is not first-hand?) And if you were paid, so much the better, good for you, NG. But again, that wasn't at all the point.
To get back on track here, the point was really nothing more than this: a number of people on this very forum live and work in Spain right now, some of them for many years. They are the most reliable source of information about what it currently costs to live in Spain. There are, in fact, several recent threads where this has been discussed by current and recent residents. Some seem to think that, yes, one could get by on 700 euros a month. Some think otherwise. The point is simply that newcomers to the region should benefit from the various opinions of those with first-hand knowledge of (for example) what it costs to live in Spain now.
Even so, it is possible to usefully contribute second-hand knowledge; but this is best done--as many here do--with a disclaimer that will help newcomers sort out fact from opinion. I could say, for example, that I have never lived in Spain; have not been in the EU in almost 2 months; and have never lived there for more than 3 months at a time. You might state that while you have very strong opinions based on personal research, you have not lived in Spain since a study abroad semester in 2002. (And, yes, some people do consider that almost a decade ago--sorry!)
Last edited by AGoodStory on Wed Jul 06, 2011 4:07 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 5:41 am Post subject: |
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elameire, DLat, and Lunkey,
This post has lots of information from different perspectives. GOod luck with whatever you choose.
Sharon |
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pr455
Joined: 08 May 2011
Posts: 135
Location: MADRID, SPAIN
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| Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2011 3:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Lunkey wrote: |
| has anyone looked into the North American Language and Culture Assistant Program? |
This program is doable in Madrid, You earn 1000� for 16 hours of work and that gives you plenty of time to take extra classes in an academy or do private classes. I did the program in 2007-2009, when they were taking out taxes on us and our salary was 888,25�, but I had privates and worked at a private university as well.
I know that in other regions in Spain that the pay is 700� and I cannot speak about those regions. If you thinking about coming to Madrid, 1000� a month is quite good. Remember that you won't be paid in July, August or September or October and that your first paycheck will be in November. Something to take into account when budgeting.
At the end of the day, you have to make a decision that's best for you.
Suerte,
Shawn |
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elameire
Joined: 12 May 2011
Posts: 9
Location: San Jose, CA, USA
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| Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 8:21 pm Post subject: Following Up |
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Hi all,
I'm midway through the process of obtaining my visa for Spain, and I wanted to provide some updates:
1. The organizations through which I'm working are very good. Essentially, the process reduces to the following steps:
a. Being accepted by a language school/cultural immersion-type program. For me, this entailed an interview with the organization and a deposit for the classes.
b. Undergoing fingerprinting; having the fingerprints evaluated by the FBI; then receiving an "Apostille" (certification that I'm not an international threat) authentication.
c. Getting a physical indicating that I'm in good health, and not "internationally contagious."
d. An affidavit of financial support, indicating that I have funds sufficient to cover my stay in Spain.
e. Proof of international insurance.
The last of these issues is what's been jamming me up. Do any of you have experience with health/travel insurance? Some of the documents I've seen imply that these are the same thing, but this sounds suspicious. Any input (or questions for me) are always appreciated!
-Eddie |
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DLat
Joined: 01 Mar 2011
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 7:59 pm Post subject: |
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Hey Eddie - thanks for the update. Are you working ith one of those TEFL/Spanish/student VISA combo programs (like TtMadrid or Cantebury), or are you assembling the program yourself?
Good luck with your job search. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 12:48 pm Post subject: Re: Following Up |
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| elameire wrote: |
b. Undergoing fingerprinting; having the fingerprints evaluated by the FBI; then receiving an "Apostille" (certification that I'm not an international threat) authentication.
d. An affidavit of financial support, indicating that I have funds sufficient to cover my stay in Spain.
e. Proof of international insurance. |
Sorry, I know this is a bit old, but quick questions:
How much money do you need for financial support?
Which insurer did you you use and how much was it?
Does the FBI check have to be completely clean? |
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Grimace420
Joined: 24 Sep 2011
Posts: 88
Location: Madriz
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| Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2011 1:34 pm Post subject: |
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| pr455 wrote: |
| Lunkey wrote: |
| has anyone looked into the North American Language and Culture Assistant Program? |
This program is doable in Madrid, You earn 1000� for 16 hours of work and that gives you plenty of time to take extra classes in an academy or do private classes. I did the program in 2007-2009, when they were taking out taxes on us and our salary was 888,25�, but I had privates and worked at a private university as well.
Shawn |
Did you claim your taxes back for the years you worked? We actually received 888.25 after taxes from the 1045 per month they paid us in total, but since we weren't "legal" workers (or whatever the reason was) they had to refund us the difference for every month we worked. |
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devochka
Joined: 02 Jun 2012
Posts: 5
Location: Santa Monica, CA
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| Posted: Wed Jun 06, 2012 6:06 pm Post subject: Re: Following Up |
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| elameire wrote: |
Hey DLat,
It's interesting that you asked. To be honest, the only one that I've been able to find has been TTMadrid.
When I posted a few days back, I was convinced that TTMadrid wouldn't have the market cornered on student visas for non-EUs, but it seems that they do. The visa issuance process is totally byzantine in Spain, and it appears that you really have to jump through a bunch of hoops in order to get the "stamp of approval" from the government to become a "sanctioned" organization. Hence, why so few schools out there offer such a program.
I've been waiting until I had an informational phone call with TTMadrid to post an update, and I just got off the phone with the company's head. Having been in education for a while - and having done a lot of business with education in China - I've become pretty good at spotting a scam. I really couldn't have gotten a more honest and legit vibe than I got from TTMadrid.
I'm sure that the program isn't perfect, and I imagine that some people haven't had A+ experiences with them. Be that as it may, I can't find much negative posted about them. In and of itself, I find this pretty impressive in the Internet age.
So, that's that. I'll keep everyone in the loop about this for updates. Let me know if you have any questions!
-Eddie |
Eddie, I'd love to hear about your experience with TtMadrid now that it's been over half a year because I'm probably going to go with them as well. I have a phone conversation scheduled with them to go over my questions, but it would be great to hear from first-hand experience. I'm planning on arriving in September for their TEFL training and then proceed to working on the student visa. So, anything I should know about before I give them a bunch of money?
Thanks,
Natasha |
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pr455
Joined: 08 May 2011
Posts: 135
Location: MADRID, SPAIN
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| Posted: Thu Jun 07, 2012 9:52 pm Post subject: |
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| Grimace420 wrote: |
| pr455 wrote: |
| Lunkey wrote: |
| has anyone looked into the North American Language and Culture Assistant Program? |
This program is doable in Madrid, You earn 1000� for 16 hours of work and that gives you plenty of time to take extra classes in an academy or do private classes. I did the program in 2007-2009, when they were taking out taxes on us and our salary was 888,25�, but I had privates and worked at a private university as well.
Shawn |
Did you claim your taxes back for the years you worked? We actually received 888.25 after taxes from the 1045 per month they paid us in total, but since we weren't "legal" workers (or whatever the reason was) they had to refund us the difference for every month we worked. |
I don't know how I missed this post. Please forgive me for responding so late. Yes, I did file taxes to get some of that money back. It was a fairly easy process. In the end, the Comunidad de Madrid stopped taking out taxes in general and gave the full amount to language assistants.
Shawn |
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