Job Discussion Forums

[wildnfree]

Hi
I've heard bits and pieces about teaching assistant positions offered by the Spanish Government...I was wondering where I could find more information on that.
Also, what are the opinions of the program for those who are doing it?
Thanks
Wild

[mdk]

Muy Senorita mia,

Have a look at the thread "American Teacher in Spain" (I think). they were talking about it there I assume.

They wanted a fairly recent degree so they have blown their chance to benefit from my years of adversity and meditation, but perhaps you will qualify.

[jwatts83]

hi
I posted a thread about it...since I couldn't really find that much info on it on here. But I did apply to the program and have been accepted. MEC, which runs the program, basically wants anyone who's degree has been granted after 1993 (that's their new cut off date). The degree can be a BA or MA. They extended the deadline for applications twice this year, due to lack of applicants. But they increased the number of internship slots to 1000.

Their website with FAQ and 3 (if I remember correctly) testimonals is
http://www.mec.es/scgi/usa/en/programs/us_assistants/default.shtml

The assistantship is for Canadians and Americans. The representative who came to speak at my college said that for the past couple of years they've accepted everyone who wants to be an assistant, because the program is still pretty new, and that for the most part, the people that take the time to apply are well qualified and do a really good job. The pay isn't a lot, for Madrid, where I'm being posted, I'm going to earn 888 euros per month tax-free. But they threw in an extra 200 euros because for the Communidad de Madrid the language assistants also teach conversation lessons to the local English teachers. In other regions the pay (I believe) is around 680 or something. It doesn't provide housing, or airfare, but they are granting us NIE cards which cover the assistants for the length of their stay.