Job Discussion Forums

hidefs · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 7

hi everyone,

I wonder if someone of you can give me some information about teaching english in Spain being...........italian!!!
I have got a TEFL certificate and at moment I am doing some teaching experience in China.
I don't pretend too much but I wondered if it's really "unrealistic"!!
I believe that everything is possible but please tell me if there is a way or if you know people that are doing it...

thanks

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

I have an Italian mate who's teaching English here, as well as a few Italian classes he does too. He has no real problems: he has a real advantage over the illegal non-EU workers because he's legal, but obviously people prefer a native speaker so he does lose classes more often than natives, but there's plenty of work in Madrid (Barcelona or other cities would probably be a bad idea).
Be careful about when you come though: don't forget it's already mid-April and so only May, June and July are left before teaching work gets very very hard to find (especially if you're not native) until late September: not that many people are starting up new English courses right now, although you may get lucky and be able to do a summer camp with kids.

hidefs · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 7

thank you very much "Moore",

you have given me hope.I believe I can but maybe I forgot to say that I am only 22 and I haven't got a degree.

anyway I would be interested in moving to Spain in september and not now and get my class,my school and why not sign a year contract,but I heard that Madrid is like a "zoo" and you might find yourself traveling around the city all the day long for few teaching hours.

carlos-england · Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 2:37 am Post subject:

I don't want to be the person to burst your bubble
hidefs, but is your spoken English native speaker level?
Because I'm not being funny here but who do you think
is going to hire a non native speaker without a degree
to teach English at their school?

No-one thats who.

Not beyond the realms of possibility my friend, but you have
your work well and truly cut out. Good luck anyway.

hidefs · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 7

thank you Carlos you are not bursting any bubble,you are just being honest..
at the end this is the truth,but it is as well the end of it?
I mean,do I just have to give up?

carlos-england · Posted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 1:18 pm Post subject:

This depends how good your spoken English is.
What you have to remember that you are in
competition against British nationals with degrees
though there are a lot of schools in Spain that need
teachers there is also a lot of British nationals wanting
to live and work in Spain, so they are not desperate for
English teachers.

What I suggest is this. At 22 you are young enough to
go to university and study for a degree in linguistics-English
joint honours. This will give you such a head start when you
graduate that you will be able to find a job anywhere you want.

I'm a native speaker with good communication skills BUT
without a degree, the chances of me finding a decent gig
were remote. But at the age of 31, I hauled myself to university
to study a linguistics-TEFL degree.

Whatever you decide to do, good luck. But you are best
off getting a degree first.

hidefs · Joined: 18 Apr 2006 Posts: 7

thanks again Carlos...

for sharing your personal experience too....

THE SECRET OF LIFE IS NOT TO HAVE WHAT YOU WANT BUT TO WANT WHAT YOU HAVE!!