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Getting a Tefl job in Spain

10 replies

Firstimefreaked · 18/07/2017 22:09

My OH is having trouble finding a Tefl job in Spain he is newly qualified with a distinction and has sent out a hundred applications, any tips hints or help would be massively appreciated Thankyou.

OP posts:
daisychain01 · 19/07/2017 05:56

Is he teaching in this country? It would be good to get some experience under his belt, even if it's teaching Spanish to English people wanting to brush up for their summer holidays.

If you are located in or near London, the Instituto Cervantes is a wonderful cultural centre for Spanish language and events etc. They may have inroads into organisations in Spain looking for teachers

londres.cervantes.es/en/default.shtm

!Buena suerte!

5moreminutes · 19/07/2017 06:04

Whoever he trained with should be helping him - suggest he goes back to them for leads.

I did CTEFLA in Barcelona (admittedly decades ago) and there was a job board in the school and by the end of the course those who wanted to find work locally all had leads or interviews or a firm job to go to.

Nowadays in most of Europe most private language teaching is done on a self employed basis (usually through language schools, but effectively as contractors recruited to teach classes but responsible for all your own tax, health insurance, no sick pay or holiday pay etc) and the few actual "jobs" involve management - those won't go to inexperienced teachers though. Make sure he's realistic in terms of what he is applying for and what terms he will be on.

Firstimefreaked · 19/07/2017 19:15

It's from uk he's English to English English in Spain. As he currently working full time he did an online course so their not offering any help besides websites.

OP posts:
Firstimefreaked · 19/07/2017 19:16

Damn iPad sorry...he is from England and wishes to teach English in Spain.

OP posts:
5moreminutes · 20/07/2017 10:49

Firsttime I'm afraid it sounds as if he's been scammed then - you cannot do a legitimate teaching qualification online only. A proper TEFL course will involve a very large component of teaching in a classroom and being observed.

Teaching TEFL online is a specific subcategory of TEFL teaching (he wouldn't need to be in Spain for that, he'd stay where he is and could teach students anywhere in the world via webcam, often in combination with special software packages to create a virtual classroom - it's big business and there are people making their livings doing only that), but it sounds as if he wants to do traditional classroom teaching.

A TEFL course should be taught somewhere with a pool of willing "practice" students - mine as in Barcelona and free English courses were offered to the unemployed. They knew they were getting trainee teachers and got credit for attendance through the employment agency. We spent about 50% of our time studying and discussing teaching methods and writing assignments and the other 50% observing experienced teachers, teaching whilst being observed, and observing fellow trainees teach and feeding back and learning from and discussing (and being discussed by) the other trainees in our small group.

You can't learn to teach in a classroom or face to face environment on-line, and certainly your face to face teaching ability can't be assessed. That's why nobody wants to hire him.

LIZS · 20/07/2017 10:57

Could he do a short qualification in teaching adults? City and Guilds do a Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Sector (PTTLLS) which is about 50 hours including a microteach. He might then be able to get some practical teaching experience on government funded schemes here. Why Spain?

Firstimefreaked · 20/07/2017 11:06

It is accredited through Cambridge university, there is an extra payment option to do a more in depth classroom section, he's planning on doing some charity work with refugees in the mean time. I'll have a look into that LIZS thanks.

OP posts:
5moreminutes · 20/07/2017 11:08

CELTA is the qualification if you want to teach English as a Foreign language (used to be called CTEFLA).

It does look as though it can be done partly on-line now, but has to have a significant teaching practice element. No teaching practice, and the qualification is just toilet paper.

I can't post a link because apparently I can copy not paste (technical issue :o ) but just google CELTA - it's the "gold standard" entry level qualification. It can be done full time in 5 weeks or part time over up to a year. Plenty of people go on to do post grad diplomas and MAs in TEFL after that, but you need CELTA to get your foot in the door.

I assume he as a degree? Again he won't get a job anywhere reputable without a degree.

There are so many people wanting to teach EFL nowadays, it's no longer enough to be a native speaker who has done a token course. As I say even with qualifications and experience, most jobs are not actually jobs but positions for self employed contractors, with the exception of the head of the language school and some admin staff.

If he does have CTEFLA and a degree it is incredibly easy to get work through one of the big chains line inlingua in most European countries, but on a self employed basis. They usually pay enough to live on but not enough to save up, and of course you have to pay all your own tax and health insurance, pension contributions etc.

If he just wants to be in Spain (is that where you are) he'd do better to move out and then apply to all the language schools in person - they certainly won't pay moving expenses or any kind of ex pat package because they've no need to.

Babbitywabbit · 20/07/2017 21:58

Definitely do a CELTA- an online TEFL course is nowhere near as rigorous and just won't compare

user1486915549 · 20/07/2017 22:55

Out of interest what qualification does he have ?
As others have said a relevant degree +CELTA is his starting point.
Teaching experience in this country would also help his applications.

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