Job Discussion Forums

[wiganer]

Hello all,



It has been awhile since I was last in Spain so I would like some advice from you good people.

My lovely wife is a licensed teacher in China and I wondered what the market is in Madrid for teaching Chinese Mandarin?

There seems to be a ton of opportunity back in the UK for Chinese Mandarin teachers and we will explore those avenues once we are settled in Spain but it would be nice if she could work in Spain for a year or two before we head back home.

Anyway, thank you for your help on this, and yes - she will be legal as she will be married to little ol' me!! (British citizen)

[spiral78]

There seems to be a ton of opportunity back in the UK for Chinese Mandarin teachers and we will explore those avenues once we are settled in Spain but it would be nice if she could work in Spain for a year or two before we head back home.

Anyway, thank you for your help on this, and yes - she will be legal as she will be married to little ol' me!! (British citizen)

You might want to double check this - I think it's not enough to be married to an EU member citizen - your wife probably needs actual British citizenship herself.

I am a similar case, with a Czech spouse. I have unlimited right to work in the CR, but NOT in the rest of the EU, on just a spousal visa.

If I remember an earlier thread correctly, it's not that difficult to get British citizenship so that this won't be an issue for your wife, but you might want to check at a Spanish embassy (website) for details on work visas for spouses of EU member citizens. It's probably also useful to find out how to get British citizenship for her, so things will be as easy as possible in Spain.

[spiral78]

Oh, and congrats on your new marital status

[wiganer]

Thank you Spiral! You know how much I love you and think you are eslcafe God on here! I am glad to be coming back to Europe after five years in Asia! I love reading your posts and I am an unashamed fan!

(No... I am not taking the piss)

I think the rules have changed on the non-EU spouse not being able to take up employment if I exercise my treaty rights in a EU country other than my own. As far as I have researched on this, she can now take up employment as soon as she is granted her five year residency permit. It all changed in 2010 though. I might be wrong on this however as I am not the brightest bulb in the house and stand to be corrected.

[fieldsofbarley]

Wiganer,

The Chinese community in Spain has been growing steadily in places like Madrid (Lavapies area) and Barcelona (Fondo neighbourhood).

With regards of people wanting to learn Chinese, demand isn�t great but there is some. The Escuela Oficial de Idiomas in Madrid is probably the most professional / serious organization. Their website

http://www.eoidiomas.com/web/index.asp

It might be worth looking into interpreting or translating for Chinese companies based in Madrid (assuming she speaks Spanish or English). There are lots of these in the Cobo Calleja industrial state in Fuenlabrada, Madrid.

"La voz de China" and "Chinalia Times" are two chinese newspapers printed in Spain. There are no online editions but they might be helpful at some point when it comes to networking etc.

Hope it helps. Good luck!

[wiganer]

[spiral78]

(No... I am not taking the piss)

Don't worry - I can take it

I think the rules have changed on the non-EU spouse not being able to take up employment if I exercise my treaty rights in a EU country other than my own. As far as I have researched on this, she can now take up employment as soon as she is granted her five year residency permit. It all changed in 2010 though. I might be wrong on this however as I am not the brightest bulb in the house and stand to be corrected.

No, it's entirely possible this has changed. Last I checked for Spain was 2007 - that's why I tried to carefully word it as a suggestion, not anything definite. Good that it won't be an issue for you!