Job Discussion Forums

[spiralkara]

Hi all. I am an American, trying desperately to figure out a way to teach English in Spain. I am about to get my TESOL certificate, and I graduate from university in June. I realize it's darn near impossible to get any kind of employment legally in Spain for non-EU citizens, but does anyone have any advice for me as to where to start to find myself a job?

Do I have to just show up and search once I get there?

Are there any organizations that are more likely than others to go through the work permit paperwork for me?

Am I just screwed and would be better off going someplace more lucrative but much less cool?

Let me know if you have any tips or contacts that I might be able to use in order to jumpstart this search process. I have about a year to make something happen, so anything you have for me goes at this point. Thanks!

[MO39]

First off, I'd do a search on this site since this topic is always coming up. I should know - I'm an American who's planning on moving to Spain next year, and I've gotten lots of good advice here. I'd also check out these two websites:

www.multimadrid.com

www.expatriatecafe.com

Buena suerte,

MO

[tullie]

I'd also look at www.madridteacher.com which has a lot of useful and helpful information for a person in your position or anyone looking for jobs in Madrid.

[HollyC]

I went to Spain not having a job. I used all the resources that were listed above and it helped a lot. That's how I found my job. You'll find that once you get there....its easier to find a job. I emailed a ton of language schools before I got there, but got a few replies. Most of them wanted to meet once I got there. Good Luck.

[DainaJ]

Just found this:

http://www.sgci.mec.es/usa/AC/indexing.shtml

Sounds like the Fulbright teaching assistantship I did in Austria. It was a great experience. Good luck to you.

[Nmarie]

That assistantship looks like a decent, legal initiation into Spain -- I did a similar program as a start in France. Which autonomous region would the Barcelona area fall under? I'd assumed it to be Catalonia, but since I don't see it listed, is that incorrect?

[melody131]

This is the best advice I can give you, which someone gave to me one year ago, before I came to Spain, when I was worried about the legal situation, finding work, etc.:

Go. Go. GO.

At present, working here illegally is not a problem (for Americans, anyway), and there is plenty of work teaching English, at least in Madrid. Madridteacher.com is a great site. I�d also check out www.profesores.com. You can have a list of schools in mind before you go, but it�s better to contact them once you�re here.

You�ll be fine. GO.

[stoth1972]

Is www.segundamano.com still a good source of ESL jobs?

[Nmarie]

Why not work legally through the assistantship and part-time -- legal or not -- in a private school? Health insurance is an important aspect, and I suspect that if you start out working legally, it isn't too difficult to remain so. That's been my experience in France, at least.

I would still like to know where Barcelona falls in the assistantship's region divisions??

[tim hortons man]

There are loads of American over here working, most come for a year or two and teach english as a way to supplement your savings. If you work as a free lancer you don-t need to registar (but they deduct 15 percent off the top) and you can purchase private health care if thats a concern. Generally expect to work 20 to 22 hours a week and to earn around 15 euros an hour take home. There is curently a real shortage of teachers so its a sellers market right at the moment.

The only negative is you may only work 20 hours a week but you spend at least that much getting around. Also on a teachers salary you won-t be ble to afford a flat. Room share only.

If you decide to come over sign up for a TEFL course (I did mine at TTmadrid) it will make finding work much easier.

And lastly I suggust having some money to fall back on, even though there is loads of work it takes a bit to get schedule sorted out.

good luck