Job Discussion Forums

[adamjames]

Hi everyone, I've read a lot on this site but this is my first post so be gentle!

I'm a 22 year recent graduate from Leeds Uni, 2.1. in Linguistics and Phonetics. This summer I completed a CELTA course, also in Leeds. Last summer I volunteered as a classroom assistant in ELT class. Since graduating I've continued this voluntary role while working a part time job to save up.

I'm saving up to move to Spain and teach English in a private language school, although as yet I have no concrete plans. I would prefer to teach in a city within Andalusia, but I am flexible. By January/February I feel I will have enough money for start up costs.

I have 2 questions:

1) where should i look for jobs for Spain? There are so many jobs posted for all over the world on a variety of websites and it's a bit overwhelming for a newcomer. I literally don't know where to start!

2) will I struggle to get a job in Spain without a fluent grasp of the language? My Spanish is GCSE level, but I'm currently trying to teach myself a bit.

3) overall is my plan realistic? I feel I may struggle because I lack experience teaching English.

Thanks for your time, adam

[SirKirby]

I'd suggest tefl.com as a good place to look, and you might apply to any reputable schools you can find. Believe International House has several schools in the south of spain (seville, Cordoba...), might be worth a try, for example.

I'd say, however, that you should be flexible. Find a job ANYWHERE in Spain until you have at least a year's experience, and then go south.

Having only some Spanish shouldn't be a barrier to finding work as an English teacher (occasionally, some schools do prefer it if you are going to be teaching kids, and might not employ you if you had NO Spanish.

I'd say it's realistic -- your circumstances must be those of 80-90% of people starting out in ELT.

[mozzar]

Wouldn't worry about the lack of Spanish unless you go to some town far away from any cities.

There does seem to be a shortage of English teachers in these towns. A student was telling me today that a friend near Zaragoza who runs a school is looking for an English teacher for 4 hours per day but have had no responses to their advertisements. Struck me as quite odd as it seemed like a good deal.

[SirKirby]

Actually, that doesn't surprise me as "everyone" wants to go somewhere cool like madrid or Barcelona, or places like Granada, and "no one" wants to go to the smaller towns.

For that very reason, they can be good places to apply to if you don't have much (or any) experience: there are far fewer candidates and you have more chance of landing the (fewer) jobs.

[jonniboy]

Spanish GCSE is absolutely fine. It puts your level at intermediate/B1 and that's more than a lot of people will have going there. It'll give you enough of a grounding to build on. I'd say it's realistic though access to funds, say 3 grand or more, would also be useful as you'll need cash to cover upfront costs and to support you until you get your first wage.

[adamjames]

thanks for the advice peeps i feel a bit more confident knowing my plan is realistic

one more thing, when should i start applying? looking on sites such as TEFL.com the jobs advertised want ppl in pretty much immediately, so should i wait until december? or should i just apply now and let them know i can't start until january?

thanks for your time!

[SirKirby]

If you can't start until January, I'd be tempted to wait until December before applying (though there's no harm in applying now, just that it's likely to be fairly fruitless).

Note that ideally you'd want to be here in Spain, possibly in the weeks of 13 and 20 December. If you're here an available for interview you're much more likely to get a job.

But come with cash to tide you over until the first pay check at the end of January, as already noted...

[adamjames]

as it's my first time teaching abroad (and living abroad) i'm a bit nervous about moving over without a job lined up. obviously being there would increase my chances, and with not having experience they may be reluctant to hire without meeting me first, but is being 'on the ground' the only way to get a job for a first timer?

[jonniboy]

[Florestan]

September is the best time to go so you should probably wait. Go after Easter and you will havea tough time finding work most likely. Send off CVs in April or May. Then contact these schools again the first week of September when you are there and available for interview.

Your level of Spanish is fine, better than lots of new teachers.