Job Discussion Forums

[johntpartee]

What is required to teach in Spain? Degrees, certification, etc.?

[Moore]

Not such a basic question really. Here's a list which is (arguably) in some sort of order of priority. You don't need to have all of them, but the more you can tick off the better...

1) nice bright personality and well presented
2) native speaker
3) degree level eductaion
4) TEFL/CELTA qualification
5) experience
6) working papers
7) 3000 euros of "getting established in a new city" money


...what do other posters think?

_________________________________________________________________________
...Jobs and language exchanges in Madrid, Barcelona, Berlin, Paris, Milan, Rome, Lisbon, Porto and Buenos Aires... www.lingobongo.com

...send your c.v. around ALL the schools in Madrid, Barcelona, Berlin, Paris, Milan, Rome, Lisbon, Porto and Buenos Aires... www.lingobongo.com/cvsender/

[spiral78]

I'd put 'legal right to work in Spain' at number one. Without this, the entire picture changes - the rest still applies, but a good dose of luck to keep from getting caught at an airport having overstayed, or running into a cop in the wrong place at the wrong time in daily life casts a serious shadow.

[johntpartee]

It is my understanding that US citizens can enter Spain without a visa and stay for 90 days. If that is correct, would it be a good idea to actually be there and then begin looking for teaching positions?

[SirKirby]

I'd add an EU passport and English as your first language, both of which will make it immesurably easier to find work.

You can still find work here without proper papers, but it's got harder.

Without an EU passport, a lot of schools just won't look at you so you're probably looking to places further out of the city centre (if we're talking Barcelona or Madrid) or in much smaller towns and smaller, worse equipped schools at that.

No matter what your passport says, far easier to find work if you are here on the spot. Best time to be here (with money in your pocket, as already noted), I'd say would be third week in September onwards.

[zrazzle2]

Morning everyone! (or - hola a todos!)

Can I intrude with a couple more BASIC questions...

I arrive on the 14th Sep, have one interview on the 15th but obviously want to try and get more arranged.

Is it worth emailing CVs the week before I arrive?

Or just contact people once there. AND if so, can I ask the most effective way? Is it again email, or is it better to print up a load of CVs and hit the streets?!


Thanks!

Martyn

[SirKirby]

You're not going to LOSE anything by emailing people in advance -- but don't expect too many replies, unless you have an outstanding CV, that is !

Not that many language schools will be shut for all or most of August.

Best way to land work is to be here and then BOTH email AND go to places.

[johntpartee]

What's the scene like as far as getting a place to stay? A fairly decent hotel and all basic living expenses for a month?

[zrazzle2]

thanks...firing on all cylinders it is then!

[spiral78]

It is my understanding that US citizens can enter Spain without a visa and stay for 90 days. If that is correct, would it be a good idea to actually be there and then begin looking for teaching positions?

This is correct. After the 90 days, you have to leave the entire Schengen zone (google for a list of countries) also for 90 days. This means that you only have 90 days in any given 180 day period inside the zone.

The difficulties getting work visas for the Schengen zone are extreme, as a non-EU member citizen. If you're willing to work illegally, well, go for it - apparently lots of people are still doing it. But there are definite risks, and you should be aware of that before making a decision.

[johntpartee]

[Moore]

"No, I'm not interested in being an international criminal. So should I forget about Spain?"

...to be fair there are lot lot worse people coming here and committing actual real crime with real victims: the number of idiots who come here from other countries, legally or illegally, then proceed to utterly scr*w the place, people and system is hard to credit.

If someone comes here for a 9 months teaching, which is frankly something Spanish people desperately need, then I can think of a lot of people I would want booted out of this place before the police turn their attention to them.





_________________________________________________________________________
...Jobs and language exchanges in Madrid, Barcelona, Berlin, Paris, Milan, Rome, Lisbon, Porto and Buenos Aires... www.lingobongo.com

...send your c.v. around ALL the schools in Madrid, Barcelona, Berlin, Paris, Milan, Rome, Lisbon, Porto and Buenos Aires... www.lingobongo.com/cvsender/

[johntpartee]

[spiral78]

Yes, I have one.

To get it, it took:

MA TESL/TEFL + 12 years of experience
Specialist qualifications
Local contacts and reputation

The easiest way is to marry a citizen of the country in which you want to work.

With newbie level qualifications, your chances are basically zero

Unfortunately - I don't agree with the law, but it is the reality.

[johntpartee]