i-to-i TEFL COUNTRY GUIDES: SPAIN
Spain is many things to many people. An artist’s retreat in the footsteps of Picasso, a culture vulture's quest for Gaudi or, as is the case for thousands of northern Europeans each year, a holiday destination for its sun-drenched beaches and resorts.
With the influx of tourist Euros, it's no surprise that it has one of the strongest economies in the world and a well-developed transport system with connections to the rest of Europe. It exists outside of the tourist radar, however, as a multifaceted country with its own distinct regional languages and dialects, and a cultural richness that extends beyond the postcard images of bull fights and flamenco.
TEFL in Spain (Contracts, Salary, Work)
- Demand for Teachers
- Main TEFL Regions
- Busiest TEFL Periods
- Contract Lengths
- Types of Teaching
- Accommodation
- Flight Reimbursement
- Currency
- Salary
- Taxes
- Cost of Living
- Potential to Save Money
- How Much TEFL Training is Recommended?
- Common teaching conditions
Finding Work
Work Visas
Why choose Spain?
Be Aware
Before you go
A Few Fun Facts
TEFL in Spain (Contracts, Salary, Work)
Demand for teachers
HighThe economic boom of the 1990s has caused an explosion in demand for English teachers. But the country’s enduring popularity means that there’s a lot of competition for jobs.
Main TEFL regions
Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville and an abundance of other towns and cities.Busiest TEFL periods
September – June, although it is possible to get jobs at other times of the year.Contract lengths
6-9 monthsTypes of teaching
- Private Language schools/academies: General English, Business English, Cambridge PET/FCE/CAE/CPE, English for Younger Learners
- In-company (through private language academies): General English, Business English, Cambridge PET/FCE/CAE/CPE, English for Younger Learners
- Private tuition: General English, English for Specific Purposes
- Summer camps: General English, English for Younger Learners
Accommodation
Accommodation is unlikely to be provided in the big cities, but your employer can usually point you in the right direction. However, in the smaller towns, you will often be provided with a shared apartment.In Madrid, a room in a shared apartment will cost about €300 per month; outside of the big cities, you will pay about half this. Your own 1-bedroom place will be about €650 per month.
It’s also possible to live with families that need tutors for their children.
Flight reimbursement
Very unlikelyCurrency
Euros (EUR)Symbol: €
Salary
Newly-qualified teachers earn around €1,100 per month, and with a bit more experience this will increase to €1,500.Taxes
On a normal teacher’s salary, you will pay about 15% of your total earnings as tax.Cost of living
The cost of living has rocketed since the introduction of the Euro, but unfortunately wages haven’t risen accordingly. Clothes and electrical goods are particularly expensive.While food drink and going out are still quite cheap, the problem is how often you’re tempted to indulge - in the big cities like Barcelona, going out and enjoying yourself is all part of the culture!
Potential to save money
Realistically, you’re unlikely to save any money. You might be able to cover your costs during the summer lull, but not much more.How much TEFL training is recommended?
With so much competition, you’ll need a TEFL qualification at the very least, and preferably a comprehensive one such as i-to-i’s 120-hour combined course.Common teaching conditions
With so many thousands of schools across the country, conditions vary immensely. The best employers offer high quality, flexible teaching conditions and good contracts; while the worst are more like sweatshops than schools. The typical teaching schedule is 25 classroom hours a week, but many schools expect more. Thankfully, there’s always some sort of entertainment to help you wind down each night.The younger pupils have a reputation for being a bit spoilt and noisy, but you can’t blame them for preferring the Spanish sunshine to an air-conditioned classroom! Injecting some fun into your classes is the best way to go. The adult students are usually much easier to inspire.
In July, it’s possible to get work at summer schools (usually near the coast) and you’ll usually get free room and board.
Finding Work
How do I find work?
Spain is like most European countries in that it’s difficult to secure a job beforehand. The good news is that i-to-i can help you find a job in a private institute, and you could earn as much as €1,300 per month. Even better: the service is free with our 120-hour course!Otherwise, the best you can hope to do is arrange some interviews for your arrival in Spain.
Can I find work while in-country?
It’s easy enough to arrange a job in-country, and the best time to arrive is late August to early September. Make sure you have enough savings to cover you your first month without wages.Federación Española de Centros de Enseñanza de Idiomas (FECEI) rigorously inspects member schools, so it’s a good place to start your search for a quality employer. The big cities also have a few agencies that will do the legwork for you.
Or you could do it the old-fashioned way and simply ask around at your hostel when you land!
What is the usual hiring process?
Send you CV off or visit the schools in person. When you’re interviewed, present yourself professionally but with a fun, positive attitude.Work Visas
Is a work visa required to find paid work in Spain?
EU citizens don’t require a work or residency permit, but will have to get a National Insurance number from the police.Non-EU citizens require a work visa, but this is very hard to get: most employers refuse to provide the required guarantee of employment because of the hassle involved (the process takes more than six months).
Work Visa requirements:
- Job offer
- Bachelor’s Degree certificate
- Valid passport
- Medical certificate
- Police certificate
- All this must be done from your home country
Why Choose Spain?
- Fun-loving locals
- Bundles to see and do
- Relaxed lifestyle
- Lots of job opportunities
Be Aware…
If someone offers you a job that seems too good to be true, it probably is. Unfortunately, scammers have targeted the flourishing TEFL market and have set up fake websites and email addresses to lure hopeful teachers. If you have any suspicions, move on.
Before you go
Read this…
Don Quixote by Cervantes – hilarious story of a deluded man who reads to many knight’s tales and decides to embark on his own life of chivalry through the Spanish countryside.
Watch this…
The Sea Inside – real-life story of a quadriplegic who wants the right to die, that’s both heart-wrenching and life-affirming at the same time.A Few Fun Facts
- The Spanish like their free time, and spend more time off work than the citizens of any other country in the world except Iceland.
- The “Spanish language� is actually just one dialect: Castilian. The other three main dialects are Galician, Basque and Catalan.
- Madrid is in the exact center of the country.
- 81% of Spaniards are Roman Catholic, although only 42% actually attend church.
