Job Discussion Forums

[wafi]

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone could offer me some advice or simply just ease my stresses.
I have a CELTA and years teaching experience in Vietnam and I am now wanting to go out to Spain in about January 2011. I want to go to Barcelona but would also consider Madrid or Valencia.
Unfortunatley I don't have a degree and it will have been over a year since I left Vietnam and I haven't been teaching in that time. Also, when I finished my CELTA course the job I got didn't really build on any of the things I learnt in the course, in fact it probably made me forget and pick up bad habits.
So basically, I was wondering if anybody knows what my chances are of just arriving in Barcelona for instance and finding a teaching job which doesn't require me to have a degree, which hopefully offers training (because I am not confident at all) and pays enough to sustain me. What are the names of these schools?
I'm budgeting enough money to do a Spanish course for the first month on arrival to build on my OK-ish Spanish (anyone know of any good value for money schools?) in which time I will be job hunting.

Thanks for your help and if anyone wants any info on teaching in Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City in particular) drop me a message.

[Insubordination]

What is your nationality? I have met one or two teachers in Spain without a degree but with a CELTA, so it's possible but not the norm. Forget about the training unless it's a specific system (Berlitz etc.). I don't know Barcelona-specific info but I do think your chances would be better in a much less desirable locale. That way, you wouldn't have so much competition with teachers who have degrees.

[SirKirby]

I agree with that... In Barcelona, there are often jobs well out of the centre, including in nearby towns (say, up to 35km away). They find it much more difficult to get applicants - and you might consider applying to them.

[wafi]

Yeah I thought it might be competitive in the big cities, I suppose working just outside a city would be OK, I will definitely look into it when I get there.
I'm British by the way, so that would help a little I suppose because I don't need a work permit.
Cheers, for the responses, any other info would be good which might help in my quest. I'm half way through an on-line degree with Open University so in a couple of years the no degree issue should be eradicated!

[microbabe]

[Moore]

I know a good few people with TEFL qualifications including CELTA but without degrees who are teaching here: many of them are in the process of studying, and that's usually enough for most schools here.

A bouncy character, good presentation, enthusiasm, working papers and a bit of Spanish will get you a long way here.

I'd probably say that Madrid would be an easier market if you have doubts: the world and his dog want to go and live in Barcelona and so competition for jobs is higher.



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[boysfromtheblackstuff]

Hiya

As a brit, you say you don't need a work permit, but you will need a social security number and for that you'll need a proper job contract.

I lived in BCN for nearly 5 years and it's not easy. there are a lot of non-EU folk teaching for cash at very low rates and generally depressing the market. However, there are nearly always schools looking for teachers as a transient populations means that there is a high turnover and schools often get let down by teachers, so there is nothing to stop you going out there and banging on a few doors. Accommodation is not cheap, although with a lot of students, it is possible to find rooms for a reasonable amount.

You're not going to get rich being a TEFL teacher in BCN, and you may not even earn enough money to really enjoy 'la vida loca' that exists there, so it could be depressing. There is always private work, but that of course is unreliable. Going out of BCN is a good idea, if you fancy living in some of the grim industrial towns inland.

PM me if you'd like more info.

Cheers