-See Part 1 of Gregory Qushair's article on teaching in Spain, here. Part 2 continues below.
Living in Spain Spain is geographically, culturally and linguistically diverse and is perfect for lovers of nature, history, art & architecture, food & wine, fashion and nightlife. Albeit most teaching jobs are in large cities, even small towns have English schools. Specialized language needs reflect local economies (e.g. English for winemaking).
Despite regional differences, Spaniards generally emphasize work-life balance: working hard yet socializing extensively with family and friends, celebrating local traditions, and just being out and about. Many adults still live with their parents until their late 20’s or beyond, and once married or independent, often choose to live close to their parents.
Local identities (cultural or linguistic) often outshine a single, Spanish national pride, especially in Catalonia, the Basque Country, and Galicia; the very word nation sparks controversy in Spain. In some areas you may find it harder than you expected to befriend locals. For example, in Barcelona, newly arrived foreigners chiefly socialize with each other.
Public transport in large Spanish cities is excellent, and an extensive, ever-growing national train network, plus various local bus companies, make exploring the country easy. Numerous low-cost airlines can whisk you away to countless European destinations in 2 hours or less from airports big and small.
Most Spaniards take their summer holidays in August; consequently, public offices and small businesses either close or have reduced operating hours. Freelancers and non-contracted teachers must plan accordingly: assume little or no income for August, or seek out new students just for summer.
Foreigners, especially North Americans, often bemoan a perceived general lack of ethnic, cultural and religious sensitivity among Spaniards. Moreover, they may have difficulty adjusting to the ubiquitous cigarette smoke in restaurants, bars and clubs here, and to relatively limited shopping and banking hours.
Lastly, rental agencies are very strict with contracts: they may request a bank statement showing savings equal to 1 year’s worth of rent, and will usually demand 4 months of rent to enter an apartment (first month; last month; security deposit; and commission). Rental apartments are typically furnished.
Good luck!
¡Buena suerte!
Zorion!
Molt de sort!
Boa sorte!
Table 1. Cost of living in Spain (Barcelona), shown with the income for an ESL teacher teaching a 25-hour week at a private school, not including non-teaching responsibilities.
Approximate exchange rate: €1 = $1.45 (Nov 2009)
|
|
Euros (€) |
Dollars ($) |
|
Net monthly income |
1,000 - 1,300 |
1,450 - 1,885 |
|
|
|
|
|
Espresso |
1.25 |
1.81 |
|
Single bus/metro ticket |
1.35 |
1.96 |
|
Sandwich and soft drink |
4.50 |
6.53 |
|
Movie ticket |
7.00 |
10.15 |
|
10-trip bus/metro pass |
7.75 |
11.24 |
|
Cocktail |
5 to 10 |
7.25 to 14.50 |
|
Three course lunch |
8 to 12 |
11.60 to 17.40 |
|
Monthly DSL & phone service |
40 to 60 |
58 to 87 |
|
Monthly rent & utilities: 1 BR in a shared apartment |
350 to 500 |
508 to 725 |
|
Monthly rent & utilities: a 2 BR apartment |
900 to 1,300 |
1,305 to 1,885 |
Websites of interest
ESL/EFL teaching
Jobs
Professional networking
Classified ads
Spanish cities
Acknowledgements Thanks to Gloria Pujol and Sam Whiteley of International House Barcelona, Laura Nylander and Dr. Fred Halliday for their input. |
PHOTO
From 7 People
