Heyyyy,

I have booked to do a 20 hour weekend course in September and am curious if anybody has successfully found a teaching job in Spain after only doing the 20 hour weekend course and with decent pay?

I have no previous teaching experience and am wondering if I would need to possibly do more TEFL training before I went ahead teaching in Spain.  Although, I do believe you can get a job teaching in Europe after completing the 20 hour weekend course.

Look forward to hearing from you!

Gem

Hi Gem,

It is possible to find work in Spain with just the 20 hour qualification, however you'll find you'll have a much better chance of landing a decent TEFL job if you complete the industry standard of 120 hours of TEFL training. You might want to chat to these guys who are currently teaching in Spain for more info:

http://www.onlinetefl.com/tefl-chalkboard/emsr2d2

http://www.onlinetefl.com/tefl-chalkboard/josiehiggy

Good luck!

Thanks Honor,  I'll look further into the 120 hours training.

Thanks also for the contacts.  It's all very exciting!! ooo can youalso give me an idea how much I would earn monthly working teaching in Spain?

Honor, I would like to do the complete 120 hours training.  As I have already booked the 20 hour Weekend Course can I simply upgrade to the 120 hours and pay the £159 difference on the TEFL England website?

Thanks for your help.

Hey, Im am looking to do the same...I have booked for my tefl course nov 2011  which is 2 days but wondered will i need to do the 120hour to be able to work abroad? I cannot wait to start! x

Hi Sandy, I have upgraded to the 120 hour course and would reccommend it.  I only started this week and am on Unit 1.  I have done the first assignment today and enjoyed it.  I think it will give me a good knowledge before doing the weekend course in Sept and we will gain more from the weekend course with doing the online course too.

Exciting!! x

Hi Gem, i booked the 120 hour course, Im currently on unit 3....how are you finding it? i have passed the previous modules but some parts are a little tricky! the pass rate is 55% so hopefully i will be way over that! fingers crossed!xx

Hi, after spending some time looking for work in Madrid, I would definitely recommend getting as much study time as you can.  If you have a degree you can get a better job also, but I haven't got one and I did get a job.  A little experience is often required, but you can fairly easily find private students who will pay €15-20 an hour.  The only trouble is that they an be a bit unreliable.  But it will give you valuable experience, and as the cost of living is fairly low here, the money is good.

You have to get a bit of paperwork done when you arrive, I'll write a post about that when I've got all mine sorted.  Spain is great though, come and check it out!  I just wrote apost about Pueblo Inglés, you could try that too for the experience, and it gives you a little confidence aswell.

@ Sandy, I think you'll struggle to find a decent job without the 120 hr course.  You need it anyway if you want to learn enough to be a good teacher!  I haven't tried in other cities, but in Madrid there are plenty of jobs but also plenty of competition, and plenty of teachers with lots of qualifications, experience and good Spanish.  Check out Lingo Bongo website for examples of jobs on offer.  You can advertise as a tutor there aswell.  Other useful sites are Madridloquo.com and Madrid Teacher.  There's also a site for foreigners in Spain called Spain Expat, which gives handy info about all aspects of living here, plus has a forum

Hi Alex, Thanks for the info. I am glad I have now booked the 120 hours online as well as the classroom course. I am finding some parts quite difficult though! :( Did anyone else have this problem? does it matter what percentage is your pass mark? Hopefully i will become more confident and get through it very soon. I was hoping to go Jan 2012 to Barcelona (once qualified) I cannot wait, im a lil scared now after a taster of actually teacing English, I didnt expect it to be so hard! Any news or info would be much appriciated! Muchos Gracias xx Sanz

De nada Sandy! The course is daunting when you first start cos you feel a bit alone there in front of your computer wondering"what does this question really mean?", but you get used to it! Teaching is the same, after a while you're making up lesson plans off the top of your head.  It's different when the students are people you know, not just rows of unfamiliar faces.

If you can show that you really care about how well they do, they usually respond well to you.  You'll also get a bag of games and activities under your belt, and know what each class responds best to. 

As for the pass mark, it's all changed since I did it, from what I read on here.  At first I was getting a pass mark on each module and was chuffed cos they were all really good.  Then that stopped, and in the end I just got a certificate saying that I'd completed the course.  I was a bit disappointed to be honest, having put my all into it.

Anyway, persevere, you've paid now, so no going back! good luck, Alix

Thanks Babes, you're right....I just need to get my confidence back! I really want to do this....its just like you said a little daunting at first, Im sure i will get use to it and will complete it in no time. Thanks again xx sandy xx

Hi :) I have booked onto the 120hr course with the 2days in Jaunary 2012. I'll then be looking for work in Spain, hopefully from Setember 2012. Is this the best time to start work? Do the jobs come out at the same times as the UK? ie: Easter time or early summer? 

I think I've butted in on someone else's conversation here instead of opening my own! Sorry! Newbie! x

Hi Jilly, yes Speetember is when most jobs start here.  August is very quiet even for privates, but a good time to be looking for a job.  There's lots of competition so don't leave it too late!

Thank you! I will have completed the course by January so hopefully that will give me plenty of time to look! thank you! :)

does anyone know if January is a good month to find TEFL Jobs in Spain? I really wanted to go in the new year!

@ Sandy: It's not the best time to go, but there will be some vacancies thanks to teachers going home at Xmas and not returning. Landing a job then would mean having to hit the ground running, which would definitely be an experience!

If you don't manage to find work in January, you will either have to try your hand at private lessons, or wait till March/April when the summer vacancies are advertised. The work wouldn't start till June/July though.

Thanks for the Info Briona!x

Hello everyone, I live and work just outside Barcelona and I have almost finished my 129 hour course....I hope!!

With regard to what you were saying, it is worth coming out just after Christmas because quite a few people do go home for the celebrations and not return.

In the centre of Barcelona it is more difficult because there are 2 big language schools which specialise in Trinity certified courses, but on the outskirts there are many schools that offer good jobs and to be honest, in my expereince, look after you better.

When are you thinking of coming out here.

If you are looking to come to Barcalona, its a great place to live and work.

Good luck

Su

Hey Su... Im tooooo keen to come and teach in Barcelona... Can you give me any advise on where to apply for a job or give me some agencies. I finish my 140 hr TEFL course September 26th. I dont have any experience but I dont lack confidense and just want to get this ball rolling.

Hi Sandy,

I've just finished Unit 4 and am loving the course! Loving learning completely new things - I have absolutely no teaching experience!  I'm finding the actual lessons quite easy but parts of the Grammar course is frustrating me - a lot!! My uncle has been teaching English in Spain for 25 years and says it is most important you learn the Grammar!! Oh dear! Practice makes perfect!

I'm excited as I have my weekend course this Sat/Sun so hoping to learn lots in the classroom!

Good luck - I too would love to work in Barcelona.  It's a beautiful city and apparantly lots of salsa clubs there!

Gem x

Marc, sorry its taken me so long to answer..begining of the school year for me and my family so no time to myself.

I do not think you will have any problems, I have spoken to a few people and they agree with me. There are many schools here that you can try. Do you drive? Thats quite a big thing because with the smaller schools the lessons are in peoples homes. Once you are definate about where you want to go and when you are coming, send me a message and I will try and get you some places to apply to. Some of the people I have spoken to aren't even qualified but are native speakers and they are doing ok.

Keep in touch and let me know when you are hoping to start over here.

Good luck with the end of your course

Su

Hey Guys, hope you're all well and looking forward to 2012!!!

Just really here to say H.E.L.P, i'm new to this and very very lost.

I'm enrolled on the 140 hour tefl certificate which i hope to complete in late 2012 as i am currently at University studying Educational studies. Next summer i am very keen on moving to Catalonia, preferably Tarragona or Barcelona and i have seen there are some camps out there. Please can anybody give me any information on how i can go about this as i really would like to get myself out there and have something to look forward to at the end of my University course!!

Thanks for any information you can give,

Luke

@ LeedsL - to answer your question in kind - G.O.O.G.L.E! 'English summer camps in Spain' should do it - many don't advertise jobs until much nearer the time though.  There are loads.  Berlitz do some, aswell as countles others.