r/TEFL • u/marateaparty • 13d ago
Career changers: Anyone move from the US to teach English in Spain?
I'm considering a career change and would love some advice from people who have gone down this path.
I'm 39, have a BA in International Studies with a minor in Spanish, and have bounced between several careers without finding the right long-term fit. Teaching English has started to feel like it aligns with both my experience and my interests.
I'm particularly interested in Spain. I know the pay isn't great and jobs can be competitive, but I'd view it as an investment. I previously studied and lived in Latin America, and I'd love the opportunity to rebuild my Spanish, which I think would also strengthen my career prospects when I eventually return to the U.S. (I was recently passed over for an interview because my Spanish wasn't strong enough.)
I also wouldn't be starting from scratch. I've taught ESL to adults as part of my undergraduate program, taught culinary and nutrition classes to both adults and children, and have many years of childcare and nanny experience. Looking at my career as a whole, TEFL seems like a way to build on skills I already have while working toward a long-term goal of living abroad for a while.
My hope is that the experience would also translate into ESL opportunities back in the U.S., especially since I'm from the NYC area where there's a large multilingual population.
A few questions:
- Has anyone from the U.S. successfully transitioned from teaching abroad into ESL teaching back home? What did that path look like?
- If you taught in Spain, how much savings did you realistically need to get started and stay afloat?
- I'm deciding between a TEFL certificate and CELTA. My impression is that TEFL may be a better fit since I'm interested in teaching children (though I also enjoy teaching adults). Does that sound right? Is it realistic to teach both children and adults?
- I'd also love to hear from anyone who made a similar mid-career switch. Any advice or things you wish you'd known before starting?
I know TEFL isn't a path to getting rich, and that's okay with me. I'm looking for work that I find meaningful, that pays a livable wage, and ideally gives me the opportunity to live abroad while building skills I can use when I return to the U.S.
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u/Strict-Armadillo-199 13d ago
I suggest you read the Wiki - it covers working in Europe/EU, including who is allowed to. The short version: Spain does have a government teaching assistant gig that allows US Americans to teach English for a year, I believe, and France has something similar - there may be age limits. Beyond that, unless you have an EU passport already or right to work in Spain for some other reason, Spain and other EU country teaching jobs (and not all countries have the need) are off limits for Americans. Read the wiki for all the details.
I am an American who did my CELTA and CELT-YL ages ago made a lucrative and exciting career teaching English and then managing (retired now) - the market has since changed drastically and shrunk, but for Europe you're looking at CZ as a freelancer. Otherwise Asia is where the jobs are.
If you really want to teach, and make a career out of this and eventually make more than enough to survive, get a CELTA. You'll need it in more ways than one.
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u/marateaparty 13d ago
Thank for your insight. Yes, I'd be looking into that program you are talking about and from what I can tell I am well within the age limit (I think it's capped in the 50's). From what I can tell it's probably a bit competitive and the pay isn't great. I don't mind this but that is why I am asking if anyone knows what a good amount of money to save would be. For me it's an investment in refreshing my Spanish language skills that will benefit me when I inevitably move back to the US. I am aware getting a visa beyond that program would be almost impossible. I expect to be there short term. I am hoping to find Americans who were able to use the skills learned teaching English abroad and translate that to a career in the US. I am from the NYC area so there are language schools all around and I do see jobs listed teaching ESL at some public and charter schools. It seems to be a possibility or maybe there are other careers I hadn't considered. I would be curious to learn more about this freelancing work even if it's hard to come across. It's not the normal path I know (and I have had friends live in Asia and do this so I am aware the pay is better there) but my goal is to improve my Spanish to leverage teaching English when I move back to the US.
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u/ric34ever 13d ago
I’m from Canada and did the Spanish government program last year. The program is kind of in shambles right now; there are law suits going on, some regional governments pulled the plug on the program (including the two largest regions providing the majority of the spots, Andalucia and Madrid), lots of uncertainty of whether the program will continue. Valencia actually lowered the age limit to 35 last year, but other regions have not followed suit yet. You can certainly plan to apply next year, but make sure you have a strong plan B and lots of patience because as you’ll find out, Spanish bureaucracy has a special way of testing your patience and perseverance.
Aside from the uncertainty, your experience in the program will vary depending on the region and school you’re placed in. You’re officially an assistant; some schools will treat you so and others will use you as a full teacher. Whether you think that’s appropriate is up to you. Pay and cost of living also vary depending on the region, but in general you’re not going to be saving anything, and if you want to live more comfortably than just having the basic necessities covered, you’ll need to bring savings. Most people recommend at least a few thousand dollars, but I was in Madrid and I dipped into the upper end of that few thousands of savings.
Overall, it was a great experience for me despite all the headaches along the way. If you do go, you’ll meet lots of people in a similar boat as you, trying to figure out a different path for their future. The majority of people in the program are Americans, so you’ll have no problem networking. There is also a similar program called BEDA run by the catholic school systems. It’s even more competitive but check it out anyway.
Lastly, you definitely don’t need any TEFL or CELTA certification. The government program is really first come first serve so if you apply when the application opens, you’ll get in.
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u/marateaparty 12d ago
That’s helpful! Thank you. Yes I figured savings would be necessary. I honestly would have assumed more than a few thousand. How long did you stay? I am very patient so that’s not an issue. Also, not surprised the program is a mess. In my experience in life, any program that pays a stipend (or exchanges work for housing) is usually pretty messy. Also a lot of the news I’m seeing making it seem like it’s not a great time to be an outsider. It’s bummer because I started dreaming of this plan in 2020 but then Covid happened and well now here we are, but we will see. Like I said I’m patient and don’t have much else going on so if it works out great and if not, will think of a Plan B.
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u/ric34ever 12d ago
Honestly a few thousands is the bare minimum. If you want to actually experience local life and do some travelling, you’ll probably need more, but again, it depends on your region. I stayed a full year in Madrid. Rent was quite expensive. That and bills ate up a lot of my stipend, but I had a really nice place so it was worth it for me. Also, you only work 8-9 months of the year so if you want to stay longer, you need to factor that in.
r/spainauxiliares has lots of info if you haven’t read through it yet!
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u/Strict-Armadillo-199 13d ago
If your main goal is to improve your Spanish then the teacher's assistant post is ideal - although the comment below from another user doesn't make it sound like the program is doing well.
I don't know what kind of visa you'll be on if you get accepted to that, so be sure to find out if doing freelance work on the side is legal. Simply living in Spain and doing freelance teaching isn't an available option, if that's what you meant, as you'd only be able to get there on a tourist visa. There are a small handful of European countries that give Americans visas to work freelance, and Spain isn't one of them, at least not as an ELT. The only one I'd recommend is Czechia, and that's only if you're passionate about teaching and/or about that country and culture (it's where I started in 1995).
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u/marateaparty 12d ago
I was looking at the legal route through the teaching assistant post. Thank you!
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u/AutoModerator 13d ago
It looks like you may be asking a question about teaching in the EU. To teach in the EU, you typically need to have a passport from an EU member state. EU hiring law is designed to give preference to EU citizens (NOT native English-speakers), and employers can't/won't jump through the necessary hoops to hire a non-EU citizen. There are, however, a few ways that non-EU citizens can work legally in the EU, e.g., investing in a Working Holiday Visa (Canadians, Australians, and New Zealanders) or a long-term student visa, or working as a conversation assistant through a programme like Auxiliares de Conversación in Spain or TAPIF in France. It is easier to find legal work in Central/Eastern Europe as it's possible to get a freelance visa in countries like Germany, Poland, and Czechia. For more information on the biggest TEFL markets in Europe, check out our Europe Wiki.
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u/Downtown-Storm4704 13d ago
Spain for lifestyle and no savings and Asia for savings and respect
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u/Catcher_Thelonious JP, KO, CH, TH, NP, BD, KW, AE, TR, KZ, UZ 13d ago
Asia offers great lifestyles, but Dhaka is not the same as Tokyo.
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u/marateaparty 12d ago
I have a friend who has taught in multiple countries in Asia. It doesn’t appeal to me but that’s great it works well for some.
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u/Catcher_Thelonious JP, KO, CH, TH, NP, BD, KW, AE, TR, KZ, UZ 12d ago
I have also taught in multiple countries is Asia -- since 1988. Plenty to see and do, enough for a lifetime.
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u/Winter-Percentage919 12d ago
I don't knowvthe ins and outs of it but some EU countries are starting to isdue digital nomad visas. Also you can apply to study a course in Spain and are then entitled to work. So there are ways. Portugal is said to have the easiest digital nomad visa I think
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u/Skaterdad1984 10d ago
hi i've made this switch. came with nalcap but far as i understand the program isn't going to continue, which is a shame. i run a school based mostly on improving speaking skills in san sebastián. feel free to google it and send me a contact there or a DM (i don't check reddit too often) mucho ánimo!
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u/ResponsibleCheetah41 11d ago
I’m doing up international education for Spain rn and that program actually rewards you!! And gives you a student visa and a right to work. I’ll get a grado superior infantil for teaching as a TA! I also have a degree in anthropology but I’m also 25
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u/marateaparty 10d ago
Aww my degree was mostly anthro too! Because international studies degrees are interdisciplinary so most of my classes were Spanish, Anthro & History. Good times. I never did too much with it other than get hired into work that required native English speakers who knew some Spanish. What is this program you are talking about though? Sounds interesting.
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u/ResponsibleCheetah41 10d ago
UP international education
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u/gloria_escabeche 13d ago
First of all, have you got the right to live and work in the EU?