Have you ever wanted to make a positive impact while you travel? Teaching a foreign language abroad is an incredible way to give back to the local community, hone your professional skills, connect with people of all ages and backgrounds, and have an in-depth understanding of a foreign language and culture.
This article will focus on teaching English in Spain. As a gorgeous Mediterranean country in Europe, Spain is a very popular travel destination.
Spanish is also one of the most widely used languages around the world, so Spain is a convenient place to live and work while traveling, especially if you have any Spanish language skills.
So if you’re interested in teaching English abroad, and Spain sounds like the perfect destination for you, then hopefully this article will help you plan your experience!
How to find English teaching jobs in Spain?
These days, you can find any English teaching jobs in Spain online. There are many reputable online platforms and companies that make it easy to search and apply for teaching jobs all from the comfort of your home.
First, consider which type of experience you would like to have. You can work as an English teacher in Spain either by finding a paid job or through volunteering.
If you want a paid job, you can go through any reputable company that specializes in teaching English as a foreign language. Simply visit the website and browse through it to see what their program offers.
How much can you earn teaching English in Spain?
The pay for teaching English in Spain varies depending on the program and where you would like to teach. For example, sometimes teaching English in big cities like Madrid pays more than teaching in smaller towns. But every program is different, so definitely do some research.
However, the average pay for teaching English in Spain is around 15-20 Euros per hour. English teachers in Spain generally work around 20 hours per week, and the monthly payments usually ranges between 700 and 1400 Euros per month. But the overall average pay for English teaching jobs in Spain is around 1000 Euros per month.
If you start your teaching journey by volunteering, you won’t get paid but you won’t have to pay for accommodation. You’ll get free meals and other perks as well, like laundry or tours. So your living expenses will be close to nothing.
Either way, the pay is worth it for the impact you are having on the local kids and the education systems!
What’s the average cost of living in Spain?
If you are doing a paid job, you also have to pay for your own accommodation, food, and other living expenses. The cost of living in Spain is quite cheap, so 1000 Euros a month should be enough to sustain you while you live overseas.
Rent in Spain differs based on region, and you’ll find much cheaper rent if you find a shared flat as opposed to your own private flat.
For example, Valencia is a gorgeous Spanish city but it’s on the expensive side. Rent can cost around 350 Euros a month for a shared flat, or 700 Euros a month for your own place. Monthly rent in Madrid can get up to 1200 Euros a month for your own place, or 400 Euros a month for a shared place. Murcia is a smaller and less touristy area of Spain. Rent can cost around 150-200 Euros a month for a shared place, or 400-500 Euros a month for your own place.
Public transport and food from the local market or supermarket are very cheap in Spain as well. You can easily live on 600 Euros a month if you choose to share accommodation with others. So you can live comfortably on 1000 Euros a month from teaching English if you budget well.
What type of visa do I need to teach English in Spain?
Most paid English teaching jobs in Spain require a student visa. This is the easiest and most common type of visa to obtain for teaching in Spain. Most English teaching programs will help you get a student visa for your teaching job.
You can also get a work visa or a working holiday visa, depending on your nationality. Visas can be pretty specific, so make sure you do lots of research to find the right visa for you.
When volunteering, you aren’t getting paid so you only need a tourist visa to teach English in Spain. Spain is part of the Schengen Agreement, so you just need a Schengen Visa to stay in Spain for up to 90 days.
But take your nationality into consideration for your visa research. For example, US citizens don’t need any visa to visit Spain for up to 90 days. So if you’re just volunteering for under 90 days, you don’t need a visa to teach in Spain!
What qualifications do I need?
When considering what qualifications you need for teaching English in Spain, every program is different. Most paid jobs require a TEFL certification, but not all of them do. Most teaching jobs also do not require a university degree.
Many programs offer different types of teaching experiences as well. Long-term teaching jobs usually require TEFL certifications, but shorter jobs don’t always. You have to decide which program you want to do and then check the requirements for that specific job.
Teaching English in Spain usually doesn’t require any certifications. Because you are just volunteering, most hosts are happy to take people in who don’t have certifications.
So this is a great way to test out English teaching and see if it’s the right job for you. You can try it with no experience or qualifications, and decide later if it’s something you want to pursue as a career.