DD wants to spend a month living in Spain

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DD (20) has decided she wants to spend some time in Spain next year, mainly to help her improve her language skills. She's around C1 level (though rusty!) on the European framework currently, if it makes much difference.

Trouble is... what does she do when she's there? She's not keen on doing any of those programmes where you pay hundreds of pounds to be given an unpaid job/internship/whatever. Language lessons seemed like a good idea for her, but a month of intensive courses would be going on €1000, excluding any general living costs. Not sure if she would be able to work part time alongside lessons, or how/where she'd find a job to at least partly subsidise costs. Ultimately she wants something that forces her to interact in Spanish, so no club rep jobs in Ibiza or anything!

Wondering if anyone knows someone who has done a similar thing and can give ideas? DD would be thinking of going over summer, but can't stay much longer than 4-5 weeks due to other commitments.

Thanks in advance

Au pair?

DH did this at a similar age and managed to find an internship at a big motor company. He found some other students to live with for a month.

She should au pair but vet her family. I know 4 girls who went from England to Spain to au pair (and read about another on here) and the were slave drivers.

and the were slave drivers

As in gangmasters?

Have a look at the Work Away scheme. You stay with people and do 5 hours work a day , 5 days a week for n return for bed and board.
You can pick people who want the sort of work you want to do childcare, home help, decorating , gardening. It’s a really vibrant community, we’ve had AMAZING young people staying with us from all over the world from a week to a month. We often get two together, their goals are often to improve their language, as well as cheap travel.
You can look on the website and read all the reviews were f hosts, and see exactly who you will be staying with, this makes it transparent and safe.

DD wrote off au pairing initially as she claims to hate children. She's not at all fussy on what she does... 🙄

I'll try suggesting it again as it does sound like the easiest option, providing everything goes ok with the family!

Work at a summer school or summer camp. There are loads of them. They pay around 1000€ for four weeks' work. Summer schools are typically Monday to Friday with working hours approximately 8.30am to 3pm, lunch is likely to be included. She would need UK DBS. She could find a room to rent on easypiso website, expect to pay upwards of 300€ per month for a furnished room in a shared house. Also could get some cash in hand work doing one to one language lessons in her own time.

I moved to Spain with work when I was in my early 20s; to set up a new department there. It was a great way to learn the language and immerse myself, and although I chose to come back at the end, it was close run! It was fantastic.

It'd be miserable with no money though; so I expect she'd need to be working in some way.

Try the website www.indeed.es.

She could save up and do it as an extended holiday.

Or the wwwooffers thing is good apparently.

Backpacking/couch surfing might allow her to see more of the country and be cheaper but could be sketchy.

Something like pgl/summer schools where she teaches local kids English? They'd be teens rather than children usually.

This one, for example.

Language schools also sometimes offer exchange type trips for adults. She could Google that.

Tour guide?
I know she wants to interact in Spanish. But she could earn enough money that way to afford enough fun evening things/lessons that it would probably be worth it.

4-5 weeks isn't very long. I can't see a family or camp employing her for such a short time sadly.

TEFL? Teaching English as a Foreign Language?

A hotel would be good - choose the northern coast to avoid British tourists, in Gijon nobody spoke English!

Thanks everyone, all the suggestions are much appreciated!

DD likes the idea of the Work Away programmes, or taking a part-time job (teaching English, summer schools etc.) where she could take a few lessons in her spare time.

Does anyone have any advice on whether formal Spanish lessons or living with a Spanish family and trying to learn by immersion would be better for picking up the language? I'm clueless on these things.

Thanks again!

Live with a family that doesn't speak English in an area with few British tourists and if money allows book in for some classes too.

Did Wooffing and HelpEx many moons ago.
Highly recommended.
Choose placements carefully to benefit from language learning element and arrange them all before you leave if it’s just for such a short period of time.

Immersion better, especially at C1 level.