Teach English in Spain

Quick Facts

Eligibility Requirements

You don’t need to have any teaching experience to teach English in Spain. You do need:

Required

• A passport from the UK, USA, Canada, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand.
• A Bachelor’s degree in any field is preferred, but we can also facilitate applications for non-degree holders.
• A Native English Speaker.
• No criminal conviction whatsoever (even misdemeanors).
• Sufficient funds to pay for the program fees and other associated costs of the program as well as to cover the cost of personal living expenses including entertainment. * For Irish citizens, the startup costs are significantly lower as they are part of the EU.

Preferred on case-by-case basis

• Between 22 – 35 years old. Applicants outside of this age bracket can be considered on a case-by-case basis.
• No major medical or mental health diagnosis or medication in the past 5 years.
• No communicable diseases.
• No visible tattoos, such as on the face, neck and hands.
• Applicants need to have sufficient funds to pay for the program fees and other associated costs of the program as well as to cover the cost of personal living expenses including entertainment.
  * For Irish citizens, the startup costs are significantly lower as they are part of the EU.

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Program Options

What’s included

Full Program Highlights

• Comprehensive pre-departure support and guidance

  • Getting the necessary documentation prepared prior to departure.
  • Assisting you with all planning, packing, visas, costs, budgets and booking flights.
  • Answering your questions to help ease any anxieties you may have regarding your trip.

• Logistics and safety when arriving

  • Airport pickup and assistance to accommodation.
  • Sim card setup assistance.

• A toolkit for navigating Spanish culture

  • Cultural Orientation.
  • Social events and meet and greets.

• Practical Teacher Training

  • To hone your craft and ensure confidence before you begin teaching professionally.

• Full Placement Facilitation for paid teaching position

  • At carefully vetted schools.

• An Internationally Accredited TEFL/TESOL certification

  • The knowledge required to teach english successfully.

• A support network of fellow teachers

  • Lifelong friendships and travel opportunities.

• 24/7 In-country support

  • Ex-foreign teachers and local, on-the-ground support staff provide you with personal assistance throughout the duration of your teaching experience.
  • You can rest assured knowing that any queries will be answered such as translation help, legalities, emergencies, travel options or school queries. Someone is on hand.
  • Teacher meet-ups.
  • We check in with you regularly and keep up to date with your teach abroad experience.

• Lifetime Teaching Placement Guarantee

  • Teach somewhere else after your contract and explore new cultures.

• Self-development and advantageous future employability

  • Add teaching abroad to your CV to stand out from the crowd.

Full Job Placement Facilitation

We find you a teaching job or jobs to ensure you have the maximum work hours allowed under your visa.

• Teaching philosophy and environment
• Teaching materials
• School code of conduct
• Local staff support and English proficiency
• After school activities and requirements
• Disciplinary processes
• And many more considerations!

So you might find a job but you’ll be unprepared from a teaching, cultural, financial and emotional perspective.

Lifetime Placement Guarantee

• Pay one fee and you’re able to teach in any partner school on your program line as long as you like. Program Line A destinations are options for your second placement.
• It’s a once-off fee for a lifetime of opportunities to make a difference in the lives of your students and travel the world in a sustainable way.
• For example, once you’re finished in Spain you can travel over to Thailand or Vietnam and experience a whole new cultural adventure.

Boost your employability

You might think you’re taking a step back by taking a year off but nothing could be further from the truth!

Although you may think it’s a halt in your education journey, you’re actually fast tracking yourself through:

• Learning independence.
• Learning how you react to different situations
• Learning how to master and grow your confidence in public speaking
• Learning how to overcome obstacles
• Learning about yourself through your own personal self discovery
• Learning how to step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself

These would normally take much longer in a normal, sheltered environment and wouldn’t be nearly as much fun!

When you do head back home, you’re not just another resume in a pile of resumes – you are someone different who’s done something interesting and rewarding.

Teaching Placements

Teaching Placement Overview

Placement locations

Teachers on the education visa will have a visa connected to a language school in Barcelona.

Due to the weekly language school attendance policy under the education visa, our teaching positions are in the Barcelona area and surrounding towns.

Teachers may also work in online positions. Online placements may be anywhere in the world. Teachers may be fully in-person, fully online, or work a combination of both.

Whilst we will try to assist teachers with finding placements at their preferred school type, teachers must be open to both online and in-person positions.

Hourly pay is between 10-18 Euros per hour and monthly pay is between 700 Euros and 1,100 Euros per month.

Placements Types

There are three main types of placements in Spain:

• Local academies: private language schools.
• Online Placements: Teaching remotely for an online school, which may involve teaching students in Spain online, in Asia or in Central America.
• Private tutoring

Demographics

In Spain, there is demand for English language learning from both adults and young learners.

Young learners: All students in Spain learn English as school, however the level of English amongst most Spanish students is low and students often struggle to advance when relying on learning English at their regular school. Many parents choose to invest in additional English language lessons for their children and send their children to local language academies.

Professionals: There are many professionals in their 20s, 30s and 40s that are looking to learn English to benefit them in their jobs. These may be people in corporate positions, or in technical fields such as engineers or medical professionals. They are often learning English to gain an extra skill to help them progress in their careers.

Young adults: Some learners have left high school, but haven’t gone on to university. They are people that are looking for a skill that will help them gain employment in key sectors such as tourism.

Local Academies

Local academies in Spain are private language schools where students sign up to take English language courses.

For young learners this will typically be late afternoons after they have finished school.

Adult classes tend to be in the evenings after they have finished work, occasionally there may be some morning classes.

Class Size

Teachers will work with small groups of students, typically between 4 to 10 students.

Working hours

Evening teaching is most common, shortly followed by morning classes.

Teachers will typically work 15 – 20 hours per week.

Most teachers working at academies will start off with part time hours before moving up to full time hours.

Pay is hourly, usually from 10 to 18 Euros per hour.

Online Positions

Online positions include working for schools teaching both adults and children.

Participants will generally be assigned the age groups they will teach after the interview. If they have experience teaching children, they’re more likely to be placed with children. The hours teachers work will be irregular.

Class times will vary depending on the area of the world that the students come from. The table below explains further:

Work is largely hourly for online teaching and the range is from 9 to 15 Euros per hour depending on the region of students.

International Schools

These positions are much less common but sometimes obtained by qualified teachers.

Placements Throughout the Year

We have scheduled courses throughout the year. Academies generally hire throughout the year based on how many new students they have signing up.

The highest demand for teachers and peak hiring time is in September and January.

How The Placement Process Works

• Prior to arrival, we will collect a teacher profile from each participant and begin marketing to potential academies.
• Once in country, a presentation is given in orientation week with a full overview of what to expect with different school types.
• After that, participants will each have weekly one-on-one meetings with their placement coordinator.
• If online teaching is an option at that time, it will also be offered as an additional or even alternative to in-person teaching.
• Placements will be largely part time teaching across more than one school.
• Interviews may be arranged before, before, during and following the TESOL course.
• We can’t guarantee specific placement types and age groups so candidates must remain flexible.
• After the placements are offered by schools, we help answer any questions and clarify any concerns.
• We then guide on travel and housing plans.

Definition of Placement Guarantee.

Full placement facilitation means that we will work with the participant on every aspect of their job placement process, including:

• Supporting and preparing application documents
• Identifying and vetting placement opportunities
• Arranging interviews with schools
• Interview preparation, including mock interviews
• Following up with schools
• Meeting and coaching regularly with the teacher throughout the placement process
• Providing lifetime placement support

We will secure the vast majority of teachers a teaching position through this process, however, teachers must be able to pass interviews to secure the positions.

In order to maximize the chances of obtaining a placement, teachers should be fully open to all positions in the job search and not be selective over age group, location, or school type (including online versus in class).

There is no guarantee on exactly how many hours an initial placement will include, as most placements start with a smaller number of weekly hours and then grow from there based on schools’ assessments of teaching quality.

A typical rule of thumb is about 8-10 hours per week to start at a single school and then grow from there within the same school.

The placement team will then regularly and continually inform teachers about further part-time placement opportunities.

Those teachers who want more teaching hours can respond to the placement team, and they will facilitate interviews.

The table below provides an example of ramping-up hours from month 1-3 (following initial placement start date). Please note teachers are typically taxed 15% of their salary.

Holidays

There are 14 public holidays each year in Spain. These are typically days off for teachers.

Schools may provide additional paid leave days but this is not 100% guaranteed, particularly for contracts less than one year.

As most placements are part-time, there will likely be no paid public holidays.

Participants normally get two weeks off at Christmas, a week at Easter.

During the month of August, most schools and many other businesses in Spain close for summer break. Spain’s biggest festive celebration is on 6th January – King’s Day.

Classes usually start back from the Christmas break after that time.

A typical working week when teaching English abroad in Spain at an academy would be from 4pm to 10pm Monday to Thursday and 4pm to 8pm on Fridays.

Leave for Local Language Academy Positions

Paid Annual leave
Paid leave is generally provided on public holidays if the teacher usually has scheduled classes on that date.

Unpaid leave
Generally schools will close over the Christmas and Easter breaks for one week. Teachers typically take unpaid leave during this time.

Sick Leave
Some schools will pay sick leave for the times they were due to work but others will not. Teachers are paid hourly without guaranteed hours so sometimes schools won’t pay for hours not worked.

Leave for Online Teaching Positions

Paid Annual leave
Each school has their own policy. Teachers can generally request time off in advance and as long as they can still work a minimum number of hours in the month (sometimes around 16hrs/month).

Unpaid leave
If teachers make an effort to get their shifts up for pickup, they are usually pretty understanding and most of the time the shifts get picked up.

Sick Leave
There is no sick leave. If they have a class, they can put it on a pickup board, however if nobody takes it, they are liable for it. Whenever they miss a class/shift, they have to submit a form explaining what happened.

Cultural Preparation

Part of the success of your experience comes from understanding the culture that you’re going to be living and working in.

Our Teach English in Spain Program covers:

Pre-departure Support

We assist you with all planning, packing, visas, costs, budgets, booking flights and any questions or information you need. 

Pre departure Support

• We’ll outline the entire process you’ll follow to realise the teaching abroad dream.
• You’ll be provided comprehensive information relating to each step in the pre-departure process and you’ll have the opportunity to ask as many questions as you like, no matter how silly you may think they are!
• We’ll explain and help you get the necessary documentation prepared prior to departure.
• We’ll assist you with all planning, packing, visas, costs, budgeting and booking flights.
• We’ll ease any anxieties you may have regarding your trip and share the positive and life-changing adventures of the teach abroad experience.

Logistics and Safety when arriving

We’ll pick you up from the airport and introduce you to your support team in-country.

Logistics and Safety when arriving

• We’ll pick you up from the airport so you won’t have to stress when you arrive off the plane.
• We’ll introduce you to your 24/7 support team on the ground.
• We’ll take you to your pre-arranged accommodation. Read more about our course accommodation.
• We’ll provide you with a SIM card and assist you with the setup so that you can contact your loved ones back home and your new friends you’re about to make on your epic cultural orientation!

A toolkit for navigating your new country

The perfect foundation for adjusting to life in your new country and meeting your fellow teachers and in-country stafff members.

A toolkit for navigating your new country

Our 1 week cultural orientation on Spanish culture and language gives you the perfect foundation for adjusting to life in Barcelona as well as an opportunity to bond with your fellow teachers-in-training and in-country staff members.

Learn foundational Spanish language

We help you with foundational language to help you navigate:

• The bustling markets
• Grabbing a taxi
• Ordering a delicious meal and
• Garnering respect from locals

(plus it’s pretty cool to impress your mates at home or add it to your resume!)

Cultural and History lessons

• Learn from local Spanish staff and ex-foreign teachers who have made their home in Barcelona.
• You’ll understand the dynamics of Spain so that you don’t feel like a fish out of water.
• You won’t be making any faux pas or disrespecting the locals.
• How to address locals and your fellow teachers.
• You will know what you can and can’t do in Spanish academies.

Relevant Cultural Excursions

Excursions include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Historical and Architectural Walking Tour of the City
• Local market tour and Spanish cooking class
• Flamenco dance class
• Spanish language classes

Historical and Architectural Walking Tour of the City

The walking tour is a fantastic way for participants to get their first views of Barcelona.

Walking allows participants to immerse themselves fully in the city’s atmosphere. They can soak in the sights, sounds, and smells of Barcelona’s vibrant streets, neighborhoods, and landmarks, providing a more authentic and intimate experience than traveling by car or public transport.

Barcelona’s historic center is filled with narrow streets, alleys, and hidden squares that are inaccessible by car. Walking allows you to explore these charming corners and discover hidden gems that you might otherwise miss.

Barcelona is renowned for its stunning architecture, including the works of Antoni Gaudí and other Modernist architects.

Walking tours provide close-up views of iconic buildings such as the Sagrada Familia, Casa Batlló, and Park Güell, allowing you to appreciate the intricate details and unique designs up close.

Walking tours are led by knowledgeable local guides who can provide insights into Barcelona’s history, culture, and traditions. They can share fascinating stories and anecdotes about the city’s past, giving you a deeper understanding of its heritage and significance.

The walking tour offers an engaging, enriching, and memorable way for participants to discover Barcelona when they first arrive.

Local market tour and Spanish cooking class

Embark on a gastronomic journey through the heart of Bareclona with the enticing opportunity to take part in a Spanish market tour and Paella cooking class.

Delve into the vibrant bustle of a local market, where colorful stalls overflow with an abundance of fresh produce, aromatic spices, and tantalizing ingredients unique to Spanish cuisine.

Guided by a knowledgeable local chef, participants will navigate the maze of stalls, immersing yourself in the sights, sounds, and flavors of authentic Spanish fare.

Discover the secrets behind selecting the freshest seafood, ripest vegetables, and highest quality meats as you engage with local vendors and learn about traditional ingredients integral to the beloved dish of paella.

Following the market tour, step into the kitchen to unlock the art of crafting the perfect paella.

Under the expert guidance of your chef instructor, participants will learn essential techniques, from preparing the savory sofrito to achieving the ideal socarrat, as you savor the tantalizing aromas and flavors that define this iconic Spanish dish.

This immersive culinary experience promises not only to tantalize your taste buds but also to deepen your appreciation for Spain’s rich culinary heritage, creating cherished memories that linger long after the last spoonful of paella is enjoyed.

Flamenco dance class

Participating in a flamenco dance class offers a captivating cultural experience that immerses individuals in the vibrant traditions Spain.

Flamenco, with its rich history and expressive movements, provides a unique window into Spanish culture, allowing participants to connect with its emotional depth and artistic beauty first- hand.

Through rhythmic footwork, graceful arm movements, and passionate expressions, participants not only learn the technical aspects of flamenco but also embrace the essence of Spanish identity and heritage.

Beyond the physical aspects, flamenco dance classes foster a sense of community and camaraderie, uniting individuals in their shared passion for this iconic art form.

Whether a novice or seasoned dancer, engaging in flamenco offers an opportunity to explore the cultural nuances, musical rhythms, and dramatic storytelling that define this timeless tradition, leaving participants with a profound appreciation for the artistry and spirit of Spanish culture.

Spanish Language Classes

Participants will dive into Spanish language classes to learn the basics in the first week.

This will help them get settled into navigating their new home.

A support network of fellow teacher travelers

In addition the personal assistance and 24/7 support we provide, you’ll also have a support network of fellow teachers.

Have some fun and embrace your new adventure!

Internationally Accredited TEFL/TESOL Certification

There are so many options when it comes to TEFL/TESOL courses that it can be quite overwhelming to understand what’s legitimate and what high quality schools require from teaching staff.

A quality TEFL/TESOL course helps teachers avoid the frustration and pitfalls of being unprepared in the classroom and provides all the necessary knowledge and tools to effectively teach English.

Educational Philosophy

Course Location

The course is provided in the city of Barcelona along the Iberian Peninsula.

It is a major, diverse city that has a lot of cultural traditions, ancient architecture, and modern vibe.

The address of our training center is:

Carrer d’Aragó 403, entresuelo 1 08013, Barcelona

Course Components

• Information and discussion about Spanish culture, history, politics, and society to provide exposure and help students navigate their new environment.
• Significant instruction in Spanish language. Spanish language classes begin following the TESOL course as part of the language school education program.
• Strong grounding in the history and theory of teaching English as a foreign/second language. This is taught in a way that emphasizes application of theory to enhance success in the classroom.
• Significant practical training in teaching listening, reading, speaking and writing in the classroom, including extensive lesson planning, presentation, and feedback from peers and instructors.
• Tons of tips, tricks and examples of how to teach English to every age group.
• Advice and guidance for effective classroom management.
• Six hours of teaching practicum/
• Significant focus of teaching adults as most placements involve teaching adults English.

Detailed Course Overview

The first part of the TESOL course is a deeper exploration of theory in the discipline of English as a second language and how to teach grammar.

Students learn about the structure and key elements of a lesson plan. Every lesson requires a detailed lesson plan that lays out the procedures of the class, and encourages teachers to consider the challenges, technology resources, and other factors that can impact a successful lesson in the classroom.

During week two, students will also learn how to teach speaking and grammar. Grammar can be challenging to teach. One of the reasons for this is that it has been a long time since native English speakers have reviewed grammar rules, so we provide students with a refresher.

The major assignments for week two are to create a lesson plan for teaching grammar and to present a full lesson just as a teacher would in a classroom.

The second part of the TESOL course focuses on how to teach reading and listening. The major assignments for this week are to create lesson plans for teaching reading and present full lessons just as a teacher would in the classroom. Additionally, our participants will learn about curriculum development for long term learning goals for their students.

The third part of the TESOL course is dedicated to classroom management and preparing for and conducting practical teaching. While classroom management may be the final topic covered, it is in fact extremely important, especially in cross-cultural contexts.

Classroom management is about setting ground rules, applying them consistently, getting to know your students, and earning and maintaining their respect and commitment. Students spend several days preparing their lessons for the English practicum.

The practicum typically takes place both online and in person, to give students a taste for teaching in both settings. It takes place over several evenings.

International Accreditation

This program holds accreditation from Trinity College London and serves as an official venue for obtaining the Trinity CertTESOL qualification. This ensures top-tier training and global recognition for your certification.

Every aspect of the course undergoes scrutiny and approval by Trinity College London’s moderating panel.

Furthermore, each course session is subject to independent moderation by a Trinity representative. Regular inspections guarantee adherence to Trinity’s rigorous standards, with staff required to hold Diploma-level qualifications (DELTA, DipTESOL) and possess extensive experience across diverse teaching contexts to qualify as course tutors.

Graduates of our internationally accredited 160-hour TESOL course have used their TESOL certificate to successfully find employment in ESL teaching and education fields in nearly every Western, native-English speaking country, as well as across Europe, Asia, South America, and beyond.

Accommodation

Accommodation during the 5-week TEFL/TESOL Course

The cost of your accommodation during the TESOL course in Barcelona is included in the Administration Fees outlined below. 

The accommodation is typically in shared apartments, each participant will have their own room and they will have a shared bathroom.

Apartments are arranged two weeks prior to the course starting and are based on availability at the time so exact photos and further details aren’t available ahead of time.

Apartment locations can be anywhere in the Barcelona area.

Accommodation includes:

• WiFi
• Shared living area & Kitchen facilities
• Single bed

Accommodation after the TEFL/TESOL course

We will assist you in getting you own accommodation after the course if you so choose with advice, information, contacts and support.

There are many different accommodation types and locations where teachers could be based.

The decisions teachers make on where to live next will be down to personal choice.

We will guide you each step of the way and assist you in navigating accommodation arrangements once you know what you are looking for.

• Step 1: We will provide a comprehensive “Accommodation Guide” that covers ways to find accommodation in Barcelona and more information on different areas. Teachers will look for accommodations based on their budget, preferred/necessary location, and any other factors. Participants must be willing to follow this guidance and be proactive in their accommodation search. We will be on hand to help.
• Step 2: Teachers can ask us for advice/support in negotiation, overcoming language barriers and in giving feedback on housing options.

The cost of accommodation varies from 300 Euros for a shared room and bathroom to 700 or 800 Euros for a small studio flat near the city center. It is often cheaper to live further outside of the city center so participants should keep this in mind when looking.

The majority of teachers go into rooms in flatshares after the course as this is the most affordable and most accessible type of accommodation in Barcelona.

We are only able to guide participants on finding rooms in a ‘house share’ due to the challenges associated with finding an apartment to rent independently. To rent a whole apartment participants would typically need to show proof of employment status and salary which would be difficult to do under the internship agreement they’d have in place with a school.

Landlords can be reluctant to rent to those with a visa of one year or less that haven’t been in Spain for very long. Even if participants do manage to secure their own apartment rather than a room in a ‘house share’, they may run into further issues setting up utilities.

Below is an example of shared and single room layout and prices. Note that these options include a shared bathroom. This is just an example and could change.

Spain accommodation

Where To Live

There are two options for those living in Barcelona.

Option 1: Pay higher rent and live in the city center

You would then commute to your teaching jobs, which, as mentioned, are typically more than one school. Those jobs may be both in the city center or in the suburbs. Participants may commute on public transport out to the suburbs to teach.

Option 2: Live in the suburbs and teach in the suburbs

The second option is typically the cheaper option. This can reduce travel time, and conserve budget. For those who are offered or elect to teach online, they often live anywhere in Barcelona. The cost of accommodation varies from €300 Euros for a shared room and bathroom to €700 or €800 Euros for a small studio flat near the city center.

Visa and Visa Programs

Participants from outside of the EU will arrive in Spain on the Education Visa.

In order to obtain this visa, participants need to be enrolled in a program provided by our in-country language school partner. This program includes 20 hours per week of language classes for the first month, and 10 hours per week thereafter.

Students are required to attend classes consistently at school in central Barcelona. Spanish classes are daily during the week and will average two hours per day for five days per week in the mornings.

Note that if taking Catalan or another language, classes may be at a different time of day.

Irish citizens who are part of the EU, or any other EU passport holders, do not need to obtain an education visa. Irish citizens have the right to move to Spain and will need to register as residents there within 90 days in order to stay longer than that period of time.

The education visa allows participants to work for a maximum of 30 hours per week in a role related to their studies. Participants will be hired by a local school under an internship agreement which states that the teacher is working for the school to gain experience in line with their studies. The internship (convenio) allows them to get a social security number and legally be paid a local wage. Teachers typically work for 15 to 25 hours per week (up to 30) so they will have time to study alongside this.

Please note that Irish citizens are not limited in terms of the number of hours they can work as they are members of the EU so no limitations on work. Moreover, they do not need to pay for the education visa, and are not required to take the DTP.

This visa will be for 11 months. Participants do not necessarily need to stay in Barcelona for 11 months, but they must be able to teach until at least the end of the school year in June.

Under the education visa, participants will take part in the following:

• 20 hours per week for the month following the TEFL course
• Thereafter 10 hours per week
• There will be intermittent breaks in language classes during Christmas, Easter and the month of
  August.

The school is located in central Barcelona and classes will take place mainly in the mornings.

Proof of Financial Means

You must provide an original and a copy of documents certifying that you (or the legal representative or relative that supports you) has sufficient financial means to cover the expenses of your stay and return, as well as that of the family members accompanying you.

Applicants must show proof of approximately 700 Euros per month for the duration of the program, ~$8400 for one year.

We will guide you throughout the entire application process including the exact documents and wording required for your Visa application.

It is not guaranteed that someone with a criminal record will have their education visa granted. It is preferred that candidates should not have any criminal record.

Dates

The course is 5 weeks long. The first week is your cultural orientation followed by a 4-week TESOL course.

Budgets

Fees

The following costs make up the program fee and are payable to TravelBud before you head over to Teach English in Spain.

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