Very popular as a TESOL destination, especially with Brits looking for a less stressful lifestyle, Spain is actually a very mixed bag. Some teachers speak of great weather, lovely beaches, nice people and a reasonable salary. Others complain of exploitation by language schools, atrocious wages, hopelessly disorganized employers and nationalism. Therefore you need to be really, really careful which company you decide to work for.
Whatever you do, you are not likely to have much spare cash at the end of the month and for anyone wishing to stay for a long period it would be a much better idea to set up your own language centre. Needless to say, this takes time and contacts and is only really applicable to EU citizens or those married to Spaniards.
Accommodation costs are high in Madrid and Barcelona and you may be asked to pay up to three months of rent as a deposit. For those wishing to test the water, it’s a good idea to teach at a summer camp in Spain for 2 or 3 months. However, you should expect long hours and mediocre pay.
Average Monthly Salary |
US $1000 – $3000 |
Average Monthly Cost Of Living |
High – accommodation, food and transport. The cost of living has risen sharply in recent years but unfortunately the average TEFL wage has remained pretty much the same. Expect to have to supplement your regular hours with extra classes. |
Peak Hiring Times |
September and January |
Visa Requirements |
Employer-sponsored. Easier for EU citizens. |
Australian Government Travel Advice |
Exercise normal safety precautions |
Disclaimer
Government regulations regarding work visas as well as the websites that we list all change with the passage of time. It is your responsibility to check and verify any information quoted here. We collate information from the public domain (and we update as often as possible) and we supply this in good faith. However we accept absolutely no responsibility for the accuracy of this information.
