I had nearly given up on the idea of living and working in Spain as even though I have lived here before, Brexit has made everything so complicated :( However, thanks to this video, I found out about Canterbury English! Thank you so much!! I arrived in Madrid in January 2024 with Canterbury English and would really recommend them (to native and non-native English speakers). I am 50 and already had a TEFL certificate so I chose the Madrid Lifestyle Program. They offer a lot of help with finding teaching positions and the Spanish lessons and social programme is excellent. All the staff are super-helpful and there is a real family atmosphere. Madrid is an amazing city and I am really happy here. A big bonus compared to all the other programs I read about is you can start any month of the year! I think if it wasn't for this video, I would still be in the UK. So again, thank you!! :)
This is awesome to hear! I am 44 (American ) and hoping to make this happen for myself! And was drawn to the Canterbury English program. 🙏 How is everything going???
@@awakeningwithannie Everything is going great although very hot in Madrid at the moment :) Yes I would definitely recommend the programme and Madrid is wonderful!
I've been going down a rabbit hole with your videos, lol. Thank you for helping me decide on Spain as my first ESL teaching destination. This video about the different programs is super helpful! Muchas Gracias!
Quite informative video, thanks for sharing. But the information on Meddeas needs to be updated. For Meddeas , you now need to have a master's degree in education or teaching not a bachelor's.
I think you misread the Meddeas info. It says you need to have a 3+ year degree OR post-graduate in Education or Linguistics completed no longer than 4 years ago. It’s in the FAQs section of the official website.
Hi Jaimee - Which teaching program in Spain is best for teaching adults? I prefer adults, and if possible small groups or 1-on-1. Thanks - I really enjoy your videos! -Larry
Unfortunately most of these programs are for K-12. Some schools do have an FP option which is similar to community college, but it’s not common. To teach adults you’ll want to get hired at a private language academy. Unfortunately there aren’t programs for this. If you are an EU citizen, you can apply to academies directly with a TEFL. If you are not an EU citizen, you’ll need to get a student visa (typically to study Spanish) and then can teach up to 30 hours per week.
You would still need a visa to be able to legally work in Spain. There’s the autonomo visa for freelancers or the digital nomad visa if you teach online.
Thank you, this helps :) Just wondering if you knew of any programs that start earlier, around Jan-Feb and finish before October the same year? Reason : I am likely to go on an exchange program in France Oct 2022 onwards but would really like to do a program in Spain before that should there be one.
@@ESLTeacher365 Thank you but could you let me know which ones for example? The ones in the video all start around October and I haven't been able to find any program starting in Jan/Feb anywhere online :(
@@jigar.shah5 Meddeas & ConversaSpain have January starts. Canterbury English says they hire year round but might have waitlists. You could also try to do a TEFL course in Spain and stay on a student visa, teaching 20 hours per week.
Hi Jaimee! The video was very helpful and informative, thanks🙏🏻 My question is, I’m not a native but fluent in English. Also, I don’t have an EU citizenship. However, I have my bachelor’s degree in primary education, my TEFL/TESOL, and TKT Module 1. Is it possible to get accepted one of these programs? Thanks in advance.
@@sholaallahverdiyeva UCETAM says on their website "native speakers" but doesn't specify from where. I have heard of NNS with a high level getting accepted there. You can apply through the official website.
There are programs that start in January but end in May or June. Schools aren’t open in July or August. The programs that start in January have fees - CIEE and Meddeas.
Hi! I have my Bachelors in Criminal Justice and am trying to switch career paths-I’m interested in everything! I love traveling and teaching allows me to share wonderful experiences I’ve had. I’m thinking about getting my TEFL to teach in Spain (I did 3 years in Spanish! but is the TEFL certifícate enough? I’m worried it won’t be. I’ve taught tennis to students as well but that was for one summer.
It depends on where you are from. If you are a native English speaker, then you don't need a TEFL to participate in language assistant programs like the ones mentioned in this video. You just need a bachelor's degree in any subject. To teach in Spain with a TEFL, you'll either need a student visa which allows you to work up to 30 hours part-time (typically people study Spanish at a language school to qualify for a student visa) or you will need EU working rights. A TEFL is fanastic to have, but isn't always required to teach in Spain.
Some programs require you to speak basic Spanish but most do not. You will need a degree in most cases and some programs don’t require a TEFL, although I suggest getting one so you are more confident in the classroom.
Im looking for 1 month at a time opportunities or even as little as 1-2 weeks at a time. Would need basic needs covered: travel cost, housing, food. Wages are very negotiable. BTW, I have teaching experience and can speak, read, and write in Spanish.
You can try volunteering or au pairing, but that time is too short for a program. Housing and travel costs usually aren’t included when teaching in Europe in general.
I got admission to the 'teach and learn ' program at Alcala University, but because my country is not on the list, I have to fit in Option C. The hard part is to pay the tuition while I am still jobless. Is there any scholarship or other help available for this option?
I recommend looking for grants and scholarships at your university, your local community and international NGOs. Can you teach online to save up some money?
H,I Jaimee I have really enjoyed your videos. @ESL Teacher 365 I have tutoring experience and I am TEFL certified. However, I don't have a BA or AA. I have a diploma from a two -year private tech school. Do you know if this would be allowed or who I would contact? thank you so much!
That’s a good question. The Aux requirements say to be in your last year of community college or at least a junior in a 4 year program. Not sure about diplomas. Most other programs require a degree.
@@ESLTeacher365 Yeah, that's what I read, unclear about private degrees/diplomas/certificates. Do you know of a resource I could go to to get clarification?
@@lornasadventures I recommend contacting the language assistant programs directly. There's usually contact info on the official website. It can be helpful to write the email in Spanish or call.
Hi.. India is not a native spraking . countty. but its in the list . I'm from Sri lanka (located next to India ) but not in the listAuxiliares de Conversacion program) . Do you know why ?
Hi, So l sent you a message however l don't think you understood me. I said l already have the TEFL Certificate. I believe you said it ok to teach without a degree although l can do it online from my own country of Australia while in Spain. My concern is l am 51. Will l be over looked because of my age. I mean are they more likely to hire someone younger. Also l prefer to teach children. In Australia we have this card you have to apply for its called Working with children Check. Basically the police run a check on you to make sure your fit to work with children. I also said l wanted to set up my own website and work for myself. You said as long as l have a work visa it should not be a problem. Please correct me if l am wrong. I don't speak a word of Spanish but would like to take classes while there. Your thoughts are welcome Cheers
You will need a visa to legally work in Spain. You can get a student visa to study Spanish classes which will give you working rights of up to 30 hours per week. If you want to teach online, you can look into the digital nomad visa for Spain. However, you need an established online business earning $3000 per month to qualify for this visa.
@@ESLTeacher365 oh thank you, that's a shame.....I've been teaching in china for almost five years, and I'd love to come to Spain. But it seems like it may be be expensive given what I've seen about the salary and lack of housing 😑
@@LiamLewisofficial Yes, after teaching in China, teaching in Spain would be a shock! When teaching in Europe in general, you are more likely to break even. It's quite difficult to save money unless you work at an international school.
@@ESLTeacher365 ok, thank you for the tip! I'm originally from England so teaching in Spain would be so nice, as it's only 2 hours home on a plane. I haven't seen my family in 5 years 😵💫 I'll research some international schools, thank you!
Spanish law allows you to work past that age but most programs place that limit because of the visa. You would need EU working rights to be able to work as a teacher in Spain past that age. There is a digital nomad visa for Spain that should be coming soon, so it will be interesting to see if there are age limits for it. You could teach online while living in Spain on this visa, for example.
Question: If one wants to live in Spain and participate in one of these programs, what does one do during the summer after the program ends? I assume one's visa would simultaneously expire as well.
At the end of your program your visa expires and you can begin a 90 day European tourist visa. Some people travel during the summer, some work back in their country and some renew their visa to work for another year. I worked at summer camps in France in the summer but visas are harder to get these days for summer camps because they usually require EU working rights.
Language assistant programs are typically looking for native and near-native speakers. For non-native speakers you can get a student visa and teach part-time if you are qualified. If you have EU citizenship it will be easier to get hired. You’ll want a CELTA or equivalent and a high level of English.
I recommend reaching out to alumni of any program to see what their experience was like. However, even within the program people have very different experiences depending on their school environment.
For Auxiliares de Conversacion you can be a junior enrolled in a bachelor’s program. Options for teaching in Spain without a degree usually require a TEFL and the right to work in the EU, working part time on a student visa or getting your work visa sponsored.
💃FREE Teach in Spain Guide www.eslteacher365.com/spain/
I had nearly given up on the idea of living and working in Spain as even though I have lived here before, Brexit has made everything so complicated :( However, thanks to this video, I found out about Canterbury English! Thank you so much!! I arrived in Madrid in January 2024 with Canterbury English and would really recommend them (to native and non-native English speakers). I am 50 and already had a TEFL certificate so I chose the Madrid Lifestyle Program. They offer a lot of help with finding teaching positions and the Spanish lessons and social programme is excellent. All the staff are super-helpful and there is a real family atmosphere. Madrid is an amazing city and I am really happy here. A big bonus compared to all the other programs I read about is you can start any month of the year! I think if it wasn't for this video, I would still be in the UK. So again, thank you!! :)
Thanks so much for sharing! Hope you are enjoying beautiful Madrid 🇪🇸
This is awesome to hear! I am 44 (American ) and hoping to make this happen for myself! And was drawn to the Canterbury English program. 🙏 How is everything going???
@@awakeningwithannie Everything is going great although very hot in Madrid at the moment :) Yes I would definitely recommend the programme and Madrid is wonderful!
I've been going down a rabbit hole with your videos, lol. Thank you for helping me decide on Spain as my first ESL teaching destination. This video about the different programs is super helpful! Muchas Gracias!
How exciting! Which region would you like to teach in?
i can not thank you enough! can you please make a video about non native speakers ,i feel like we have no chance :)
I have one on my channel already 🙂
Quite informative video, thanks for sharing. But the information on Meddeas needs to be updated. For Meddeas , you now need to have a master's degree in education or teaching not a bachelor's.
I have a bachelors in education and i'm on my second interview
I think you misread the Meddeas info. It says you need to have a 3+ year degree OR post-graduate in Education or Linguistics completed no longer than 4 years ago. It’s in the FAQs section of the official website.
Thank you!
Hi Jaimee - Which teaching program in Spain is best for teaching adults? I prefer adults, and if possible small groups or 1-on-1. Thanks - I really enjoy your videos! -Larry
Unfortunately most of these programs are for K-12. Some schools do have an FP option which is similar to community college, but it’s not common. To teach adults you’ll want to get hired at a private language academy. Unfortunately there aren’t programs for this. If you are an EU citizen, you can apply to academies directly with a TEFL. If you are not an EU citizen, you’ll need to get a student visa (typically to study Spanish) and then can teach up to 30 hours per week.
@@ESLTeacher365 Gracias por tu respuesta tan rapida Jaimee. Soy estadounidense. Creó que el auxiliar de conversación es la mejor opción….
Your video is so helpful thank you! I can’t find the application for auxiliaries de conversación. Do you know where I can find it ?
I recommend searching “Auxiliares de conversacion” plus the name of your country. There are different websites for different countries.
What if you choose to teach English privately? Imean setting up your own website?
You would still need a visa to be able to legally work in Spain. There’s the autonomo visa for freelancers or the digital nomad visa if you teach online.
Thank you very much. I really appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions@@ESLTeacher365
🎉thank you
Thank you, this helps :) Just wondering if you knew of any programs that start earlier, around Jan-Feb and finish before October the same year? Reason : I am likely to go on an exchange program in France Oct 2022 onwards but would really like to do a program in Spain before that should there be one.
Yes some programs have a January start but finish in May/June.
@@ESLTeacher365 Thank you but could you let me know which ones for example? The ones in the video all start around October and I haven't been able to find any program starting in Jan/Feb anywhere online :(
@@jigar.shah5 Meddeas & ConversaSpain have January starts. Canterbury English says they hire year round but might have waitlists. You could also try to do a TEFL course in Spain and stay on a student visa, teaching 20 hours per week.
@@ESLTeacher365 Thank you so much :) That sounds great! I'm researching these right away and hopefully will find a fit.
@@jigar.shah5 hi, what program did you take?
Amazing thank you::)
Hi Jaimee!
The video was very helpful and informative, thanks🙏🏻
My question is, I’m not a native but fluent in English. Also, I don’t have an EU citizenship. However, I have my bachelor’s degree in primary education, my TEFL/TESOL, and TKT Module 1. Is it possible to get accepted one of these programs? Thanks in advance.
You can try BEDA or UCETAM
@@ESLTeacher365 thanks. I’ve checked BEDA but you said UCETAM is for native speakers, how can I apply?✨
@@sholaallahverdiyeva UCETAM says on their website "native speakers" but doesn't specify from where. I have heard of NNS with a high level getting accepted there. You can apply through the official website.
Is there any program I can do from January to July or similar? If so, which ones? They all seem to be year long positions
There are programs that start in January but end in May or June. Schools aren’t open in July or August. The programs that start in January have fees - CIEE and Meddeas.
@@ESLTeacher365 wow, expecting such a fast reply! Thank you so much for your help! :)
Do you have to find and pay for your own apartment/flat? Thanks!
Some programs give you tips for finding housing. You will have to pay for your own housing.
@@ESLTeacher365 Okay, thanks so much!
Hi! I have my Bachelors in Criminal Justice and am trying to switch career paths-I’m interested in everything! I love traveling and teaching allows me to share wonderful experiences I’ve had. I’m thinking about getting my TEFL to teach in Spain (I did 3 years in Spanish! but is the TEFL certifícate enough? I’m worried it won’t be. I’ve taught tennis to students as well but that was for one summer.
It depends on where you are from. If you are a native English speaker, then you don't need a TEFL to participate in language assistant programs like the ones mentioned in this video. You just need a bachelor's degree in any subject. To teach in Spain with a TEFL, you'll either need a student visa which allows you to work up to 30 hours part-time (typically people study Spanish at a language school to qualify for a student visa) or you will need EU working rights. A TEFL is fanastic to have, but isn't always required to teach in Spain.
So it you only have only have TEFL certificate can you teach? I can not speak Spanish. I live in Australia
Some programs require you to speak basic Spanish but most do not. You will need a degree in most cases and some programs don’t require a TEFL, although I suggest getting one so you are more confident in the classroom.
Thank you very much one more Question if l choose to live there permanently l do not want to give up my Australian citizenship@@ESLTeacher365
Im looking for 1 month at a time opportunities or even as little as 1-2 weeks at a time. Would need basic needs covered: travel cost, housing, food. Wages are very negotiable. BTW, I have teaching experience and can speak, read, and write in Spanish.
You can try volunteering or au pairing, but that time is too short for a program. Housing and travel costs usually aren’t included when teaching in Europe in general.
I got admission to the 'teach and learn ' program at Alcala University, but because my country is not on the list, I have to fit in Option C. The hard part is to pay the tuition while I am still jobless. Is there any scholarship or other help available for this option?
I recommend looking for grants and scholarships at your university, your local community and international NGOs. Can you teach online to save up some money?
I am interested. I'm a teacher for 8 years here in the Phil's.
You can look into Auxiliares de Conversacion.
H,I Jaimee I have really enjoyed your videos. @ESL Teacher 365 I have tutoring experience and I am TEFL certified. However, I don't have a BA or AA. I have a diploma from a two -year private tech school. Do you know if this would be allowed or who I would contact? thank you so much!
That’s a good question. The Aux requirements say to be in your last year of community college or at least a junior in a 4 year program. Not sure about diplomas. Most other programs require a degree.
@@ESLTeacher365 Yeah, that's what I read, unclear about private degrees/diplomas/certificates. Do you know of a resource I could go to to get clarification?
@@lornasadventures I recommend contacting the language assistant programs directly. There's usually contact info on the official website. It can be helpful to write the email in Spanish or call.
@@ESLTeacher365 Great idea, I appreciate your response!🙂
Hi.. India is not a native spraking . countty. but its in the list . I'm from Sri lanka (located next to India ) but not in the listAuxiliares de Conversacion program) . Do you know why ?
Agreements with the Spanish government who sponsors the program.
@@ESLTeacher365 oh ok.
what does the visa cost pl
This will depend on your country and which visa you are applying for.
Hi, So l sent you a message however l don't think you understood me. I said l already have the TEFL Certificate. I believe you said it ok to teach without a degree although l can do it online from my own country of Australia while in Spain. My concern is l am 51. Will l be over looked because of my age. I mean are they more likely to hire someone younger. Also l prefer to teach children. In Australia we have this card you have to apply for its called Working with children Check. Basically the police run a check on you to make sure your fit to work with children. I also said l wanted to set up my own website and work for myself. You said as long as l have a work visa it should not be a problem. Please correct me if l am wrong. I don't speak a word of Spanish but would like to take classes while there. Your thoughts are welcome Cheers
You will need a visa to legally work in Spain. You can get a student visa to study Spanish classes which will give you working rights of up to 30 hours per week. If you want to teach online, you can look into the digital nomad visa for Spain. However, you need an established online business earning $3000 per month to qualify for this visa.
Thank you so much for answering my questions. Really appreciate it Cheers@@ESLTeacher365
Do they provide housing? And if so what kind of housing?
No, they don’t. I have a video on my channel on how to find housing abroad. Most people in Spain use idealista or language assistant Facebook groups.
@@ESLTeacher365 oh thank you, that's a shame.....I've been teaching in china for almost five years, and I'd love to come to Spain.
But it seems like it may be be expensive given what I've seen about the salary and lack of housing 😑
@@LiamLewisofficial Yes, after teaching in China, teaching in Spain would be a shock! When teaching in Europe in general, you are more likely to break even. It's quite difficult to save money unless you work at an international school.
@@ESLTeacher365 ok, thank you for the tip!
I'm originally from England so teaching in Spain would be so nice, as it's only 2 hours home on a plane.
I haven't seen my family in 5 years 😵💫
I'll research some international schools, thank you!
@@LiamLewisofficial For international schools you'll need to be a certified teacher (not just TEFL).
How can I get placed in galicia?
You can request it as your top region or get a student visa to study there.
Without ielts University of Valencia LLM Program possible.
That’s a study abroad program. This video is for teaching abroad.
Any in Spain that allows over the age of 59? Thank you in advance.
Spanish law allows you to work past that age but most programs place that limit because of the visa. You would need EU working rights to be able to work as a teacher in Spain past that age. There is a digital nomad visa for Spain that should be coming soon, so it will be interesting to see if there are age limits for it. You could teach online while living in Spain on this visa, for example.
Question: If one wants to live in Spain and participate in one of these programs, what does one do during the summer after the program ends? I assume one's visa would simultaneously expire as well.
At the end of your program your visa expires and you can begin a 90 day European tourist visa. Some people travel during the summer, some work back in their country and some renew their visa to work for another year. I worked at summer camps in France in the summer but visas are harder to get these days for summer camps because they usually require EU working rights.
@@ESLTeacher365 Thanks!
So none of these programs are free?
The fees are listed for each program - Auxiliares de Conversacion is free if you don’t go through an agency.
So nothing for non native speakers ! 😡😡
Language assistant programs are typically looking for native and near-native speakers. For non-native speakers you can get a student visa and teach part-time if you are qualified. If you have EU citizenship it will be easier to get hired. You’ll want a CELTA or equivalent and a high level of English.
Meddeas has a bad reputation. Best to do independent research.
I recommend reaching out to alumni of any program to see what their experience was like. However, even within the program people have very different experiences depending on their school environment.
SPOILER: All of these require a degree.
For Auxiliares de Conversacion you can be a junior enrolled in a bachelor’s program. Options for teaching in Spain without a degree usually require a TEFL and the right to work in the EU, working part time on a student visa or getting your work visa sponsored.
As it should. Spain is already saturated with lots of backpacker "teachers" without a degree as it is.