Job Discussion Forums

[PabloFromCanada]

Hello Everyone,

I need some help with information on working in Spain. A good freind of mine is thinking about going to Spain to teach and work in some pastry shops in her spare time. Any help would be greatly appreicaited.

She is 28 Female and White

#1 Is the Global ESL course helpful, and are they reputable recruiters?
#1B) What are the names of some good recruiters?
#2 What is the pay like in Spain?
#3 Can you teach privates or work partime elswhere?
#4 is it safe?
#5 what are accomidations generally like?

The more help the better, she is a great girl and would be a good teacher.

Thanks

[Moore]

Pastry shops???

[PabloFromCanada]

Pastry is baked foods

[spiral78]

It would be useful to you to read through earlier threads in the Spain forum. Most of the basic issues are covered on a regular basis.

Assuming that your friend is Canadian, the first issue to be aware of is that it's basically not possible (extremely rare) for a non-EU member citizen to be able to get a legal work permit to teach English in Spain or other EU member countries. Remember, Spanish citizens can't just decide they want to live and work in Canada, either! There are many, many North Americans working in Spain under the table - it's not considered to be high crime, exactly. But those illegal workers are competing against well-qualified British citizens, who are legally able to work.

No one is recruiting North American teachers. The way to find a job is to go there and look. In terms of certification, most people go to Spain and take an on-site course. Those courses do sometimes advertise "certification and jobs in Spain" so you may see them as recruiters, but if pressed, they will have to tell you that it's unlikely you can get work permits.

Other issues: you will not have health insurance as an illegal, and while you would be treated in any emergency, you would likely end up with the bills in the end, personally. No travel insurance agent is going to pay if you are discovered to have been working/living illegally in a country.

No contracts, uncertain pay, you'll be the first one to be laid off if business drops off.......many people still find it worth it all, just to be living in Spain for a while, though!

In terms of certification, don't do Global. Employers want certifications from on-site courses that offer supervised teaching practice. Global is a course in how to live/work overseas, primarily. If your friend is determined to do this, she should go to Spain and take an on-site course that will be recognized by Spanish employers. The combination of wrong nationality + a certification that offers no supervised teaching practice is not going to get her far.

Pay is generally enough to live fairly well on, but not to pay back debts in Canada or do extensive travel around Europe. Remember, too, tell your friend NOT to go on a financial shoestring!!!!! It's normal to have to pay for a couple/three months rent in advance, schools usually pay monthly, AFTER the month worked, and it just takes a little time and money to get established in a new country. I actually once saw a Canadian teacher begging on the sidewalk, with all her luggage at her feet, for enough money to contact her family for funds. It was pretty scary.

Yeah, I know it sounds pretty negative - so, for balance, you can read earlier posts, and I'm sure some other posters will reply to you specifically as well. There are always those North Americans who will write to tell you that they have had no trouble, found great jobs, love living in Spain, being illegal is no big deal.

[Moore]

I know what pastry shops are, it's just a wierd combination teaching english and selling pastries: it's like mixing skydiving and knitting. Apart from that, spiral has got it in a nutshell, it's unlikely you'll get legal work, especially not in a pastry shop, but you will get private lessons and probably break even financially. If by safe you meant more in crime terms then yes, it's very safe here, the worst you'll get is pickpocketted, but as spiral points out you'll be uninsured for injury and the drivers here are insane.

[Hector_Lector]

I have become extremely worried hearing about Americans �working under the table�. What exactly are they doing? The past couple of times I have visited restaurants, I have been constantly concerned that colonials may have been lurking beneath the tablecloth. Imagine the situation - you are about to tuck into your dinner when a head appears, flashes a smile (with perfect teeth), and says - �Hi! I�m Ryan/Meg/Whatever. I�m here to enhance your dining experience.� and then bobs down. Good grief! Have you no shame?

[spiral78]

Good point re: phrasing.