Hi everyone!

As some of you may already know from my previews blog posts, I'm currently in the process of arranging a face to face interview with Vaughan Systems in Madrid.

Now, I was wondering if any of you has already worked for them (I've seen a few posts on Pueblo Inglés but nothing specifically on them)! I would appreciate any comment (you can also send me a private message if you want)!

I do have a few questions to ask, so I hope someone can help me!

Thank you and have a nice weekend!! :)

They seem to be a good company, I did their volunteer program last year and was scheduled to have an interview with them but they took so long to arrange it all I ended up coming to Indonesia instead.

Apart from that they seem to pay an above average salary for the hours you work and if kids aren't your thing then this is the perfect company as its business English all the way.

They run a masters program that runs over about 1 year with 2 trips to 'Vaughan Town' (the volunteer program). Most people who are on the program are sent by their companies, some of the largest companies in Spain. They are very well know inside Spain.

I would be happy to answer any questions you might have, if I can, although I guess I just know about the company in general, rather than the companies teaching and employment policies.

Good luck with the interview and please do post your questions as even if I am unable to answer them I'm sure there is someone who can. I do have the email address of the MC from the program I was on, so I will check if it's ok to pass it onto you or I can ask him the questions and get back to you.

Thank you for your reply, Robert!! :) I actually sent you a private message just before I saw your post here!! :P They've just sent me an email to arrange the face to face interview, so apparently I'm going at the end of the month!! :) However, if you somehow manage to have the information I mentioned in my message, I'd be happy to hear from you!!

Once again, thanks a lot!

Is it true they suggest you to resiter as Self-employed???

My only blog is written on my volunteering experience with them. I had a good time and they seemed like a very well established organisation, like Robert said they are very well known in Spain! I think if I was after a job in Spain they would definitely be my first point of contact. 

Good luck with it all!

I've applied to do three stints of the 6 day volunteer teaching :)

If I get all three I'm planning on spending the weeks I won't be teaching exploring Spain.

Hey me to, my question is when after the interview will the training start

I have recently decided to broaden my horizons because I had only wanted a job in the Granada region and I think I have restricted myself too much. I haven't finished my TEFL course yet but I visited Madrid over the weekend and I think it would be a fantastic place to live. So I looked into it and Vaughan Systems seem to be worth a shot. The site has some videos featuring employees working within different areas of the company and there are so many great prospects. Definately worth having a look at. I just need to get my passport back and my social security number and I am going to apply whether I have finished my TEFL or not! They say they do not require you to have a TEFL qualification because they have 'The Method' which they train you in for 2 weeks :) I REALLY need to earn some money in the mean time though. eeek... :(
I would like to ask anyone if they know anything about the other regions Vaughan Systems is situated because they have a list on one website and they mentioned Granada so I just wanted to know how one might find more information on the other regions. All they really seem to mention is Madrid. Thanks! :):)

This might help you out, I just found this post: http://www.onlinetefl.com/tefl-chalkboard/alixm09/posts/5131-first-week-vaughan-training

If anyone is thinking of working for Vaughan there are a few things you should know.  They do pay ok although I don'y know anyone who gets anything like the huge wages they offer when you go to the interview.

I realise that I probably sound like a bitter person who didn't get through the training but that's not actually true - I work in a way I'm perfectly happy with and just recieve a small amount less wages.  I was gutted when I first got told 'you're not adapting to the vaughan way' but now I'm glad I don't work there.

Their system is interesting and they are the most famous company in Spain.  I still use some of their exercises ocaisionally in class as they're useeful as a replacement to drilling.  It does the students good to have that bit of pressure on them sometimes and does get the pattern of a verb form into their heads.  So fair play to them it's not all bad, in fact it's a very intersesting idea.

To start with, you might aswell forget everything you know.  To get through the training just do as you're told and don't ask any questions.  In fact, stick to that when you work for them too, as you're constantly watched and assesssed.  The students will happily tell you how great the classs was then give you a bad review - not keeping the pace up or something, then you're out with no warning or chance to change, even if you've only had 2 students.

Every other interview I've had has involved a short moaning about Vaughan session with them variously described to me as 'brainwashing', 'a quick trend, they get them is because they think it's the fashion then realise they're no good really', 'a snake in the grass' etc. (none of these my words!)

I've got lots of ex-vaughan students.  They DO learn how to say certain things with great agility.  They don't learn to be creative, think on the spot, have a proper conversation, be natural or anything like that.  And as for creativity and spontenaity in the classroom... well... if it's not in the vaughan system you're not really meant to do it.

The training is another asessment, they put ypu in a hostel for 2 weeks but they don't feed you.  There's supposed to be wi-fi but it doesn't work.  The people in the hostel were lovely, really the woman who runs it is just so nice, but it's really near the centre so it's not wasy to find a cheap place to eat and there's no kitchen.  We were all going out to starbucks etc to use the wifi so that we could do the homework.

i-to-i have listed my blog from my first week for info. Notice it continue into the second week! After a week of helping most of the others with the homework cos only 3 of us really understood the grammar, they sacked two of us - me and a lad from Manchester who'd got the highest grades in English degree in the whole country that year! 

Anyway, like I said, I'm happy with my job.  There's lots of work in Spain.  I can make any lesson plan I want and get really good feedback from my students.  We have fun in lessons and I can bring any material I want, which makes it variable and interesting.  The wages aren't great and I'm looking forward to my new contract if it works out - it's a bit more stable and a few more hours. 

Some people get on fine with Vaughan and to be honest they were right - I probably never would have adjusted to the system.  They have a channel on you tube if you wabt to check it out, except in class you're meant to go much faster and keep up what they call 'positive pressure'.  The difference in  levels only seems to be speed although some activities aren't suitable for low levels.  The only way you'll know for sure is to try it and see.  They do have a 75% pass rate on the training now followed by 10 weeks guaranteed work, so it could be a good way to get into the country and make a start even if you don't like it.

They have also just lost their bid to run the 'Option 2' classes at venues across Spain (Santander, Barca, Valencia etc).  Rumour has it that they are putting in another bid to the Spanish government, at 4million euros less.  This means one of two things are likely: 1) There will be no 'Option 2' with Vaughan Systems in 2012; 2) The option will eventually run, but with greatly reduced wages.  Maybe something to bear in mind before you embark on their gruelling training course!