Job Discussion Forums

melody131 · Joined: 29 Aug 2004 Posts: 6

Hola! I'm planning on coming to Spain this August for ESL training, and hopefully, to find work. I've heard Madrid is the best place in Spain to look for work. - Any thoughts on this? - Especially for an American, who will probably come without a work permit.

Thanks for the suggestions!

SEndrigo · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Posts: 437

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

Madrid without a doubt: for some reason the world and his dog want to go and live in Barcelona so schools can afford to pick and choose, so not that much chance for an illegal American when they�ve got a ready supply of legal UK teachers almost on their doorstep. Personally I wanted to go to Barcelona at first, but having visited it a number of times it seems a bit over rated (every available surface is covered in tourists and muggers and it always seems to smell rather strongly off p*ss from all the above) - stick to Madrid, you can always visit Barcelona and if you still want to go there in twelve months you can along with a years experience and the (Castellano) language under your belt...

SEndrigo · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Posts: 437

Brilliant advice from Moore; in fact I have seen this advice being given time and again, but some people won't listen.

Those of you who read this message board know my feelings. As a city, I prefer Barcelona.

but you have to be practical as well. You're coming to Spain to work, right? Which means you don't have huge trust fund or you aren't a retired pensioner.

Which means you have to look at it from the standpoint of, "how realistic is it to get a decent job"

In Madrid, you have the most (and best) opportunities, especially if you're not from the EU.

Don't ask why, if you want to teach English in a big Spanish city, come to Madrid. Case closed. (This applies to the original poster....if you're British or Irish, you may well consider Barcelona).

you'll understand once you arrive.

melody131 · Joined: 29 Aug 2004 Posts: 6

Thanks for the advice.

SEndrigo - I'd love to know about specific schools! Gracias!

SEndrigo · Joined: 28 Apr 2004 Posts: 437

My advice to you is to stick to the smaller schools. Avoid Wall Street and other such schools.

If you run out of options, try Canterbury English (they used to be near the Gran Via/Chueca metros, they probably still are but not 100 percent sure about this)

Another small school is called Tutor Lingua and they are very close to the Serrano metro station