As a native English speaker, searching for employment whilst studying or living abroad in a non-Anglophone country can be intimidating. You may find yourself confronted with a work visa debacle, discouraged by a lack of professional experience in the international domain, or simply overwhelmed by the everyday language barrier struggles. Nevertheless, one stable job option you can obtain relatively easily is teaching English.
All over the world, adults and children alike are eager to improve their English language skills. In the recent rise of globalization, speaking English, as the global business language, is essential for obtaining a favorable job title in any international city.
In Madrid, Spain, for example, acquiring English has become even more pertinent in the years following the 2008 Financial Crisis. Members of the younger Spanish generation, the age demographic most heavily affected by the unemployment levels, are searching for ways to improve their conversation skills, more than anything. The most effective way to learn English conversation is by taking classes from native English speakers. Thus, the good news is that there is currently a plethora of job opportunities in this field.
And now you´re wondering, “but how can I get a job teaching English in Madrid?” Well, you´re in luck because in this article, I will reveal three tips that will make obtaining this job super easy!
Tip #1: Invest in a TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) course
Programs at various English language schools and organizations (see options below) offer four-week intensive TEFL courses that will certify you as an English teacher in Spain.
If you´re studying abroad, there is a week-long TEFL course at Canterbury Consulting Spain that certifies you to teach English while living in Spain as a student. These are great options as the companies, post-certification process, assist you in finding and securing interviews and jobs.
TEFL course options in Madrid:
- Tt Madrid: 1.375€.
- Canterbury Consulting Spain: 1.275€ (-285€ earned = 995€ total)
- EBC (Executive Business Communications): 1.275€
- Oxbridge: 699€
For more information on TEFL certificates, see “How to get a job teaching English in Spain: Do I need a TEFL certificate?”
Tip #2: Advertise yourself
To obtain private-teaching jobs, visit university zones of the city and hang posters offering English classes or tutoring sessions with your contact information. As students (and recent graduates) are the most eager candidates to take up English classes, you will have the most luck in neighborhoods such as “Ciudad Universitaria.” It is also a good idea to post flyers around metro stations or other areas with high concentrations of people.
Everything in life revolves around networking! If you meet someone through another situation, ask them if they know of anyone looking for a private English professor. For example, a good starting point would be to ask neighbors or other people you encounter frequently.
Example flyer
Tip #3: Apply for a position at a Spanish “colegio” or bilingual/English institution
All schools prefer having foreign language professors who are native language speakers. The majority of English professors in Madrid are Spaniards, and although they know the English language very well, they cannot converse like a native speaker can. Therefore, being a native speaker is always ideal when searching for a job as an English professor. Additionally, positions in bilingual or English institutions are very good options to consider (see options below).
- The British Council has offices in Madrid and organizes English teaching offers at schools throughout Spain.
- International House Madrid has schools around the country with teaching opportunities for native speakers.
- International School of Madrid is a bilingual colegio affiliated with the National Association of British Schools in Spain.
- Colegio Internacional SEK-Santa Isabel is a bilingual school for students ages 1 to 18 years old with links to schools in Ireland and France.
- Hastings School “doesn´t teach English, it teaches in English.”