Barcelona Program FAQs
What is an average program day like? What's the schedule?
The course is very intense, challenging and fun experience. Classes generally begin at 9:00 and run until 4:45 except on days when teaching practice is scheduled in the evenings. During the first two weeks, grammar and theory are discussed. Two next two weeks are spent doing supervised lesson planning, and teacher practice. The initial orientation is usually on Sunday evening at 6:00 p.m prior to the course start date. The first class will take place Monday morning at 9:00 a.m. The course schedule for the week will be provided on Monday morning. Sessions generally run between 9:00 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. with appropriate breaks. Teaching Practice is often in the evenings.
How many students enroll in the course each month?
On average we have about twelve trainees enrolled in each course, although some months we have almost 20; some months the numbers are lower. Most of the participants are American, British, Canadian or Australian, although we do accept non-native speakers of English who have a high proficiency in the language.
How is the job market in Spain? Will I have trouble finding employment?
Spain is a very popular market for teaching English as a Second Language. It can be difficult for US passport holders to secure a work Visa because of Spain's participation in the EU. Teaching is often to younger learners but also adult and business English teaching form a significant proportion.
What is the average teaching salary in Spain?
The average TEFL salary in Spain is about €1000 per month, though of course this varies depending on what type of school or company you work for, and whether you work full- or part-time. Many people will work for a school or employer with 15-20 teaching hours per week and may also build up their own base of private tuition clients.
Does TEFL International offer any sort of flight discounts to Spain?
While TEFL International is not involved directly with flights and travel arrangements we would like to recommend STA Travel for all of your travel needs. They offer competitive rates, flexible return flights, and travel insurance. Please visit them at www.statravel.com/teflcourse for more information.
How long can I stay in Spain with just a passport?
US passport holders are able to stay in Spain for up to 90 days without any special visa. If you are a US citizen you will need to secure contracted employment in order to be eligible to apply for a proper work visa. You are not eligible to apply for a visa before leaving the States- you must have contracted employment first. It is difficult to get a legal work contract from a language school in Spain as schools that hire non-EU citizens will do so without going through the proper legal procedures. If you are a citizen of an EU country, you are permitted to work anywhere in the EU, so this is not so much of an issue for you.
What will TEFL International do to help me secure employment?
Our knowledgeable staff is available to assist you in resume preparation, interview consultation, and application procedures. Course graduates are also given lifetime access to our extensive database of job openings with contact information and details of institutions all over the world.
What are the students like whom I will doing my teaching practice with?
Our practice students are adults and children. They usually stay on from course to course and form good relationships with TEFL trainees and staff.
What's the climate like?
Thanks to its location on the Mediterranean, Barcelona enjoys a mild, pleasant climate all year-round. With an average high of 83 in the Summer months and an average low of 42 in the winter, Barcelona is the perfect place to study at any time of year.
