The first half of our time here flew by! We cannot believe how fast it is going.
So what are we even doing in Spain?
We are part of the Cultural Ambassadors Program (or Auxiliares de Conversacion as they say), teaching English as a second language in two local schools. We were placed in Motril, Granada, Andalucia which is a medium-small city near the southern coast. It’s in the ‘Costa Tropical’ zone meaning we’re having a pretty balmy winter with tons of local mangoes, chirimoya and other tropical things.
In this program we work about 12 hours per week, which leaves us with A LOT of time for traveling and relaxing. 😛 We have already been taking advantage of that quite a bit: many trips to gorgeous Granada (only an hour away), Sevilla to visit Dylan’s brother Mitch, and a few trips down the coast to Nerja, Salobreña, and Malaga (the best airport hub). We were also lucky enough to hit up Stockholm, Sweden for a weekend. There we caught Ben Howard and Gregory Alan Isakov in concert, it was aaaamaaaazing! Then over our ~2.5 week Christmas break we visited 3 new countries – Hungary, Slovakia, and Austria. Also, back in November we flew home to the U.S. to shoot a wedding in Chicago! Between the travel, we kind of enjoy the VERY quiet life at our little apartment. It’s all about balance. 🙂
//
We left Hancock on September 24th (Marisa’s birthday!), after hitting our local polling places to be the first people to fill out absentee ballots for the November midterms. 😛
Velodrome instant coffee saved our morning after a loooong flight over the Atlantic, going through customs in London just to switch terminals, and then waiting a few hours before security for our final flight check-in to open up.
Pro-tip: Yes, you save a good chunk of change booking the cheapest tickets available, but when that means 3 different airlines and 3 ‘opportunities’ to go through security, think again!
We arrived in Spain with one week to find an apartment, figure out where our schools were, and maybe hit the beach a time or two. Ahhhhh, the Mediterranean.
Just a glimpse of our town and the coastline, taken as we flew into Malaga!
Our landlord, and legit Spanish abuela, made us this map to our schools the day we moved in. Marisa didn’t have the heart to tell her about Google Maps…Dylan did though. 😛 oops.
Spain living means a lot of walking…
…and stray cats. Marisa is having cat withdrawals because there’s cats everrryywhere but for the most part you can’t pet them :'(
We’ve adopted some Spanish ways such as eating ‘pan y tomate’ in the mornings, and having coffee via moca pot.
Living under an hour from the beautiful and historic city of Granada means we jaunt up there for a day trip or weekend often.
The palace/fortress complex above is the Alhambra, Spain’s number 1 tourist attraction. It dates back to around 1000 AD and was largely built in the mid 13th century byNasrid emir Mohammed ben Al-Ahmar of the Emirate of Granada, a dynasty which ruled the area from 1230 to 1492. The latter year may sound familiar. In 1492, at the end of the Christian Reconquista, Ferdinand and Isabelle set up their royal court in the palace and gave Columbus his royal endorsement there. We’re not huge Columbus fans, but interesting fact nonetheless!
Granada has been under the rule of many different empires, both Christian and Islamic, so the layers of history are endlessly fascinating.
Public transport for the win. 🙂
We haven’t driven a car since September and are loving every minute of it.
View from our walk to the beach. You can see Motril and then the snow-capped Sierra Nevada Mountains. 🙂
Our one vegan option for eating out in our little town is a Thai delivery place. Besides churros, which are vegan, who knew? When we want delicious vegan options, we head to Granada.
However, like we said before, our region is known as the “Costa Tropical,” which means we have access to a plethora of local fruits and veggies. We love hitting up our neighborhood fruiteria for local avocados and our backyard for oranges. We’ve been spending a lot of our downtime learning awesome new vegan recipes!
This is a chirimoya (left) and a strange hybrid veggie (half potato, half zucchini) right. Our fruiteria lady is always giving us weird things to try 😛
This dude is our Spanish teacher, Alex, who’s a local to our little town and teaches us all the colloquial expressions we need to know 😉 We’ve been taking Spanish lessons twice per week since we arrived.
Marisa works in primary education (1st – 6th grades) and gets hugged by way too many children daily. It’s a good way to constantly have a head cold (lil germ boxes).
We’ve travelled to Seville to visit Dylan’s brother and went bananas on all the amazing vegan food there.
Back to Granada for vegan paella:
The hippy caves in the hills of Granada.
In the end of November, we zipped to Stockholm for some sight seeing and to see some of our favorite artists in the world, Ben Howard and Gregory Alan Isakov.
Feeling like we fit right in. 😛
We definitely want to return to Stockholm. 48 hours wasn’t quite enough time there!
A few weeks later we jetted off over the Alps to Eastern Europe with Mitch. We had Budapest, Bratislava, and Vienna on our itinerary.
Budapest was amazing. From the trams and the lovely baths, to the few vegetarian restaurants that were open over the holidays, we loved it.
^ A ruin pub with vegan pizza inside it?! Count us in!
The Széchenyi Baths – coolest part of our travels yet.
For the New Year we were in Vienna. A beautiful and busy city during the festivities!
Delicious coffee from a literal hole in the wall.
January was a month of quiet relaxation in our small town.
Our thoughts //
We are fortunate to have had money saved up before coming, as well as secondary income so we are able to do a bit more traveling and eating out than we would otherwise be able to do on the modest income from teaching English. A lot of other auxiliares pull in extra money by teaching private English lessons on the side – so we have that option too, but haven’t needed to take it.
Marisa is surprised because she thought she would have a much harder time being away from family this long, but besides being super sad to miss the Christmas traditions, she’s doing well. Neither of us are too homesick. It’s easy to feel relaxed and content as we bask in the sunshine on our back patio.
Also! We’ve been able to make some awesome Spanish friends and connections. Dylan has been playing ping pong a few times per week at the local municipal sport complex, and Marisa has made a few friends at her school. We also hang out with a fellow auxiliar and his Spanish girlfriend who live in Granada. Besides that, the program has a great extensive network of auxiliares who all hang out together quite a bit and are happy to include anyone in their plans. Sadly, no other auxiliares live in our little town, so if we want to see them we go to Granada.
We think the last few months here will be our best yet. We have our routines fully in place and we feel comfortable in our town and our schools. Our Spanish is improving daily and we (usually) have no trouble with basic communication when we’re out and about. The weather will just keep getting warmer, our backyard pool will open up, we have a lot of friends and family coming to visit, and we have some amazing trips planned. It’s going to fly by!
When we started the year, we thought we probably wouldn’t renew for a second year. Things were hard at first.. then they got better.. then they were hard again… and now they’re just really really good. Overall, this program is a really great way to experience living in Spain. We did re-apply to be placed in Malaga next year, so we’ll see what ends up happening!
Would we recommend this program to any others who are interested? Hell yeah.
//
FAQs
How much do you get paid to teach English in Spain? ›
On average, English teachers in Spain can expect to make anywhere between 700€ - 1,100€ ($800 - $1,250 USD) per month through a Government Program with the option to earn additional income through private tutoring (€15-€25 / $17-$29 USD per hour) and teaching English online ($10-$20 USD per hour).
How much does TEFL pay in Spain? ›The average monthly salary for a TEFL teacher in Spain is likely to be in the range of €1,200 – €1,500 (£1,053 – £1,317 / $1,300 – $1,623). Part-time teachers or those in lower-salary locations may receive offers closer to the €700 to €1,000 (£614 – £878 / $758 – $1,083) range.
How to get an English teaching job in Spain? ›- Hold a TEFL certification.
- Go to Spain.
- Pay attention to hiring seasons.
- Go to the largest cities.
- Ask your friends.
- Get a Local Phone.
- Have your resume ready.
- Use all TEFL job Spain resources.
Can I teach English in Spain without a degree? You don't need a four-year college degree to teach English in Spain. It is common for language schools or families not to prioritize a four-year degree and hire English tutors because they are native speakers with a TEFL certification.
How many hours a week do teachers work in Spain? ›Teaching in Spain: Hours & Students
Schools in Spain typically offer 20-25 hours per week of work, leaving you plenty of opportunities to travel and explore. If you teach English online or private tutor outside of this, it will be up to you how many additional hours you take on each week.
...
Cost of living in Spain vs the USA.
Professional English teachers in Spain (and throughout Europe) are in demand in a growing industry, with significant and consistent demand for qualified English as a second language (ESL) teachers.
Is it hard to get a teaching job in Spain? ›Spain has an incredibly high demand for English teachers, so jobs are easy to come by, whether in a small town in Andalucia or in a big city such as Madrid.
Can you make a living with TEFL? ›Generally speaking, online English teachers typically make anywhere between $10 - $40 USD per hour depending on their level of qualification. If you're a first-time English teacher with a TEFL certification, you will likely be making $10-$20 per hour to start.
How many hours do teachers work in Spain? ›Hours are pretty light with teachers only working about 12-16 hours per week so you won't make as much as you would in a private school. Actually, you'll make considerably less, pocketing between $790 – 1,100, which is enough to survive in a country with a low cost of living.
Which country pays most for English teachers? ›
- South Korea ($1,850-$2,650 USD a month)
- China ($1,200-$2,600 USD a month)
- Japan ($1,700-$2,600 USD a month)
- Taiwan ($2,000-$3,000 USD a month)
- Gulf Arab States ($2,000-$5,000 USD a month)
- Honorable Mention: Vietnam ($1,500-$2,000 USD a month)
China. China is by far one of the biggest employers of ESL teachers in the world. With the large job demand, plus the generous benefits packages and low cost of living, many ESL teachers are able to save up a good amount of cash while teaching in China.
How much does a TEFL English teacher earn? ›Overall, a TEFL teacher's salary can vary anywhere from $600-$4,000 USD per month.
Where is the best place to teach English in Spain? ›...
Where to teach English in Spain
- Madrid. Madrid is a clear-cut choice for teaching English in Spain. ...
- Barcelona. ...
- Seville. ...
- Murcia. ...
- Málaga. ...
- Valencia. ...
- Palma de Mallorca. ...
- Bilbao.
TEFL jobs: No degree required
Luckily, nowadays you can still start your teaching career and find teaching jobs abroad without a degree, BUT with a simple TEFL Certification, which is way cheaper and faster to get.
On average, in most large cities teachers earn between €10- €15 euros / hour. Average monthly salaries in cities like Madrid, Bilbao, and Barcelona generally range from €1,000 to €1,200 per month for 24 hours per week. However, monthly salaries in academies can range enormously from €800 – €1,600.
How long are working hours in Spain? ›In general the working day in Spain is split into two halves, the day commences at 9am until 2pm and 5pm to 8pm, with the famous “siesta” in between. Like elsewhere in Europe, the working week runs from Monday to Friday, except in hospitality and retail (see below).
Is a Spanish teacher a good career? ›Teaching Spanish is an ideal career for people with strong communication skills and a devotion to diversity. With the increasing demand for bilingual speakers in education, business and communities at large, people who can teach Spanish are highly valued.
What is the cost of living in Spain in US dollars? ›...
| Expense | € | U.S.$ |
|---|---|---|
| Housing (rent of furnished, one- or two-bedroom apartment) | €600 | $744 |
| Utilities (gas, electricity, water, phone, internet) | €130 | $161 |
| Groceries | €270 | $335 |
| Entertainment (dining out and other) | €450 | $558 |
Can a US citizen retire in Spain? Yes, Americans can retire in Spain. Technically, you can enter the country and stay there for 90 days with an American passport. However, if you wish to spend more than 90 days there, you must get a visa.
Can I live in Spain as an American? ›
It is absolutely easy for US citizens to move to Spain. All you have to do is file the necessary paperwork to the relevant Spanish authorities, whether for employment purposes or otherwise. You can also choose to invest in Spain under the Golden Visa scheme and be on your way to permanent residency for life.
How can Americans teach in Spain? ›To teach in public schools in Spain, teachers will need to have an official teaching credential in Spain known as “Máster en Profesorado de Secundaria”. This allows foreign teachers to teach in public secondary schools across Spain after passing state exams.
Where do Spanish teachers make the most money? ›- Newark, NJ. $40.05 per hour. 17 salaries reported.
- Washington, DC. $37.91 per hour. 31 salaries reported.
- $35.95 per hour. 32 salaries reported.
- Denver, CO. $28.55 per hour. 34 salaries reported.
- Phoenix, AZ. $28.18 per hour. 16 salaries reported.
- Show more nearby cities.
Spain's TEFL market is simply unrivalled in Europe. Even teachers earning at the lower end of the pay scale are able to enjoy what this vibrant country has to offer! With such a high demand for EFL teachers there are plenty of entry-level positions to be found in Spain.
Is being a Spanish teacher fun? ›Teaching Spanish has so much potential to be fun, but it also has to potential to stress out a lot of young students who feel nervous about looking silly in front of their peers.
Do you need to speak Spanish to get a job in Spain? ›Language requirements to work in Spain
If you don't speak Spanish, besides working for a multinational company, jobs in Spain for English speakers include tourism, real estate, teaching English, and services aimed at expats. For other types of employment, you will generally need to speak Spanish.
Job opportunities in Spain for foreigners are hard to come by. A foreigner is only hired in Spain if the occupation is listed on the shortage occupation list. This is published quarterly by the Public Employment Service (Servicio Público de Empleo Estatal).
Which country pays teachers the most? ›According to an OECD report, Luxembourg (a European country) has the highest-paid teachers in the world.
How long do TEFL jobs last? ›Although it's possible to find jobs teaching EFL without any experience or qualifications, most language schools require a degree (in any subject) and a TEFL certificate such as the Cambridge CELTA or Trinity College London CertTESOL. Most TEFL contracts are fixed term and last between nine months and two years.
How many hours a day do TEFL teachers work? ›However, they do expect their teachers to work for between 5 to 20 hours per week. When you teach those hours is completely up to you however and you can set your own schedule each week. Experience needed: Lingoda asks for 2 to 3 years of teaching experience plus your TEFL qualification.
How long is lunch break at school in Spain? ›
Some schools run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a two-hour lunch break from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Other schools begin at 9 a.m. and end at 2 p.m., the typical lunchtime in Spain. When school gets out, everyone is free to go home for the most important meal of the day (according to Spanish eating customs).
What is the average salary in Spain? ›...
Average annual wages in Spain from 2000 to 2021 (in euros)
| Characteristic | Average annual wages in euros |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 26,939 |
| 2019 | 27,957 |
| 2018 | 27,898 |
| 2017 | 27,992 |
The standard working week in Spain is 40 hours.
Do teachers get paid more in UK or USA? ›Although this is less than the UK average, which is currently £27,000, this is among the highest teacher salaries in Europe and only fractionally lower than teachers in the United States, who get paid an average of $41,000 per year.
How long does it take to get TEFL certified? ›How long does it take to get a TEFL certificate? Not everyone will earn their TEFL certificate in the same amount of time. Some students take intensive courses to get TEFL certified in as little as 1 month. However, most students should plan to set aside about 4 to 6 months to complete their TEFL course.
What European countries need English teachers? ›- Best for job availability: Spain.
- Best for first-time travelers: Italy.
- Best for cultural immersion: France.
- Best for teaching experience: Germany.
- Best for high salary: The Netherlands.
...
1. Maryland.
| Total High School English Teacher Jobs: | 925 |
|---|---|
| Lowest 10 Percent Earn: | $52,000 |
| Highest 10 Percent Earn: | $98,000 |
The pay to teach English abroad varies, but you can expect to earn a decent salary. In top-paying countries, teachers can get paid a salary of anywhere from $2,000 to over $5,000 USD per month. Your TEFL salary will depend on your position, qualifications and the country you teach in.
Where is the best place to live as a teacher? ›New York is the best place in America to be a teacher, according to a new report published Monday. The report from the personal finance website WalletHub compared all 50 states and Washington, D.C., along 24 metrics around opportunity, competition and academic and work environment.
Is it hard to pass TEFL? ›How Hard is it to Get a TEFL Certificate? As long as you dedicate enough time to your coursework, complete your assignments on deadline, and respond positively to instructor feedback, you are very unlikely to fail your TEFL certification course.
Is it hard to get a TEFL job? ›
Landing your first TEFL job is the hardest. Once you've got a year or more of teaching experience under your belt, things become easier. But in this sense the TEFL industry is no different to any other. And the advantage of the TEFL industry is the sheer demand for learning English.
Is TEFL hard to teach? ›You might find a TEFL easy or difficult, depending on your current level of English. If you still struggle with English, maybe because it is not your first language, you might find that the course material is more difficult for you than someone who speaks English fluently.
How much do English teachers in Spain get paid? ›On average, English teachers in Spain can expect to make anywhere between 700€ - 1,100€ ($800 - $1,250 USD) per month through a Government Program with the option to earn additional income through private tutoring (€15-€25 / $17-$29 USD per hour) and teaching English online ($10-$20 USD per hour).
Is teaching English in Spain worth it? ›Yes! Spain's TEFL market is almost unrivalled in Europe and there is a huge demand for English teachers across the country. With so many students hoping to learn English, even new TEFL teachers will find it easy to secure work in Spain.
Where is it easiest to teach English? ›Germany. One of the easiest countries to teach English also just so happens to have the best beer and pretzels around. While Germany is sometimes mocked for its rule-following and seriousness, these are great pros when speaking about classroom teaching.
Can I teach English in Spain without a degree? ›Can I teach English in Spain without a degree? You don't need a four-year college degree to teach English in Spain. It is common for language schools or families not to prioritize a four-year degree and hire English tutors because they are native speakers with a TEFL certification.
What is the cost of TEFL certification? ›TEFL Course Fees ranges from anywhere between 15,000-60,000 rupees. The cost varies on the medium of taking the course and the level of the course. You can take a TEFL course both online and in class. There are also different levels of the course that one can choose.
What is the difference between TEFL and TESOL? ›Despite sounding similar, the two acronyms describe two different teaching contexts. TESOL refers to teaching English to individuals and groups who speak another language. This can be either in the U.S. or abroad. TEFL refers to teaching English in places where English is a foreign language.
Is it hard to get an English teaching job in Spain? ›Spain has an incredibly high demand for English teachers, so jobs are easy to come by, whether in a small town in Andalucia or in a big city such as Madrid.
Which country pays highest salary to English teachers? ›The United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Generally speaking, the highest-paid ESL teaching salaries globally are found in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, the two biggest cities in the UAE. Salary packages for teachers in the United Arab Emirates can range between $3,500-$5,500 (12,300-22,000 AED) per month, depending on experience.
What is the best country to be an English teacher? ›
As a top pick for travel, study abroad, and international internships, it comes as no surprise that Spain also has heaps of English teachers flocking to its shores. So, naturally it is the best place to teach abroad in 2023.
Is there an age limit on teaching English in Spain? ›Is There an Age Limit to Teach English Abroad? Generally speaking, there are no age limits to teach English abroad as long as you are over 21.
What are the teaching hours in Spain? ›Some schools run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with a two-hour lunch break from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Other schools begin at 9 a.m. and end at 2 p.m., the typical lunchtime in Spain.
Which country needs teachers the most? ›...
What Countries Need More Teachers and How Much Can You Make?
| Rank | Country | Teacher:Pupil Ratio (1:) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tanzania | 218.78 |
| 2 | Solomon Islands | 101.03 |
| 3 | Sierra Leone | 66.65 |
| 4 | Cabo Verde | 61.27 |
Which European country offers the highest salary for English teachers? The highest-paying ESL jobs tend to be in the Western destinations with higher rates of economic development. France and Germany tend to pay the most.
Can you make a living teaching English abroad? ›The pay to teach English abroad varies, but you can expect to earn a decent salary. In top-paying countries, teachers can get paid a salary of anywhere from $2,000 to over $5,000 USD per month. Your TEFL salary will depend on your position, qualifications and the country you teach in.
Which country pays the most for TEFL? ›- UAE. Average salaries: US$3,500 – 5,000 per month. ...
- Japan. Average salaries: US$2,000 – 4,000 per month. ...
- Saudi Arabia. Average salaries: US$3,000 – 4,000 per month. ...
- Hong Kong. ...
- Kuwait. ...
- Oman. ...
- South Korea. ...
- Taiwan.
Thankfully, you can still start your teaching career and find great teaching jobs abroad without a degree as long as you have accredited Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certification, which is cheaper and faster to attain.
How hard is the TEFL exam? ›How Hard is it to Get a TEFL Certificate? As long as you dedicate enough time to your coursework, complete your assignments on deadline, and respond positively to instructor feedback, you are very unlikely to fail your TEFL certification course.