Job Discussion Forums

[debora_78]

Hi!
I've been browsing through forums all over the web and it's not very clear to me whether there are any actual opportunities to teach English in Spain for non-native speakers.
I was raised and born in Argentina and I hold a EU passport. I have a degree in English teaching and in English to Spanish translation. I also hold a First Certificate in English. Been working as a teacher/translator for almost 10 years so far.
Do I have a chance?

[SirKirby]

A chance, yes, but it's going to be more difficult than it would be for a native speaker. You'll probably have to apply to the smaller schools, further out of the city center, in somewhere like Barcelona even right out in the hinterland, 20-45 km away (where noone else wants to go ,-).

Make sure your CV is good, that you interview well, and are prepared to (a) keep looking and (b) can cover yourself financially until you do find work.

Provided that your spoken English is fairly native-like (you sound just about English or American, etc, that is) you do have some chance. A terrible accent would make it very hard...

I know LOTS of non-native speakers teaching English, many of them superb teachers. Regretably, there are lots of language school directors who still believe that your passport has to say "British" (etc) in order for you to be able to teach...

[Marcoregano]

Deb 78, your best bet might be to try and get work in the Spanish public school sector. From what I know this is NOT an easy path to take - it involves taking Spanish civil service examinations or somesuch, but if you pass (and your native Spanish would presumably give you an advantage) you can find far better jobs than are available in the private TESOL sector.

[debora_78]

...for the tips! So far, I'll be arriving by the first week of September, so I hope it's also a good time to find a job.
Thanks again,
D�bora