Job Discussion Forums

[Glenlivet]

Hi Guys. My wife and I are just coming to the end of three years teaching in Poland and are looking for a new country, preferably with better food and weather! We've travelled extensively in Italy and Spain so these two countries are our preferred destination. We specialise in Business English as we both have business backgrounds, back in the days when we had proper jobs. We've sent emails with C.V.s etc to a few schools with mixed results (I know, it's a bit early for 2009/10 recruitment but we'd like a destination when we leave Poland at the end of June). We had some interest from English Language Institute in Seville, anyone got info on this school? We prefer to live and work in smaller cities, hence Madrid, Barcelona etc. really non starters. Anyone got any good tips on where to try? Preferred destinations would be Granada, Seville, Tarragona, Salamanca etc. By the way, we don't (can't and won't!!) teach children!

[jonniboy]

Here you're in a bit of a catch 22. Madrid and Barca are where the international companies inevitably have their hqs and where the Business English classes will be. Outside there, as a newcomer to the local market, you'd find it very difficult to make a living without teaching kiddies. When I was there a few years back there was lots of demand in Valencia and the weather would be a lot better than places like Salamanca, not to mention that, unlike Sevilla, there's a beach.

Those on the ground will have better info than me but I would suspect that the market for Business English is shrinking greatly as Spanish unemployment heads towards the 20% mark and companies cut back on training costs. IMHO now is not the time to move to Spain no matter how much the sunshine appeals - living in Riga, I know exactly where you're coming from on that score.

[Glenlivet]

Thanks for this. I have been wondering about the economic climate although the replies I've had indicate that there is still work to be had, the problem is the ridiculous annual mad scramble for jobs/teachers in September. I'd rather have a destination in mind before we pack our world into a van and travel 2000 miles

I seem to remember getting EXTREMELY drunk in Riga a few years ago, balsam not good for sanity .....

[jonniboy]