Getting Familiar with the English Teaching Market in Spain

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ENGLISH IN EUROPE

With a population of 450 million and growing as more countries are added to the Union, Europe is one of the most culturally, ethnically and linguistically diverse continents in the world. As the European Union continues to evolve, embracing more countries and gaining more international clout, communication within and without the EU will become all the more important.

As of 2007, there are 23 official languages recognized by the EU, yet the range of foreign languages spoken by Europeans is small and for the most part limited to working knowledge of English (30%), French (6%), German (6%), Spanish (2%) and Italian (1%). In a 2004-2006 Action Plan on Language Learning and Linguistic Diversity, the Commission of European Communities stressed the need to promote the mobility of language learners and teachers and to improve the quality of language teaching for the good of European communication. The Action plan also stressed that learning one second language is not enough and that “Every European citizen should have meaningful communicative competence in at least two other languages in addition to his or her mother tongue.”

The European Union and Europeans are starting to get very serious about language, which is positive for both native and non-native language teachers from the EU and abroad. While the Union is not keen on naming a single European lingua franca for fear that it might show preference for a particular language and somehow propagate the fear that the EU will in fact harm the very diversity it is claiming to uphold, there is really no denying that English is the de facto lingua franca in Western and Northern, and some might even say Eastern, Europe, so the fact that the EU is pushing second and third language learning, works out particularly well for English teachers.

According to the 2006 Eurobarometer, knowledge of English is quite high in the Netherlands and Scandinavia, where 86% to 89% of the population knows at least enough English to maintain a conversation. Working knowledge of English in Eastern and Southern Europe, however, is lacking, weighinging in at between 20-30% of the population.

But regardless of the European country in question, the fact of the matter is that if a person wants to work for an international company or find work in one of the other EU countries, English is 100% required.

“I think it has gone from important to essential. Most companies want a good level of competency,” says Natasha Kennedy, co-owner and Director of Studies of Teacher Training Madrid, of the importance of speaking English in Europe. “Companies such as France Telecom have English as their official language as they employ people from all nationalities and English is the common communication language.”

ENGLISH IN SPAIN

When it comes to speaking English, Spain is about par with the rest of Southern Europe (20-30%), but with 27% of the Spanish population speaking a working level of English, Spain is still a hair behind the European average (30%) and nowhere near where it should be when it comes to competing in the international market, where English is hands down the language of business. With the fifth largest economy in Europe and pressure from the European Union to begin taking language education seriously, Spain is a country where teaching English has unlimited potential.

Janice Haywood, Director of Windsor Idiomas, believes that Spaniards are aware of their deficiency when it comes to learning foreign languages and that they are taking steps to rectify the situation. “English fluency in Spain is way behind other countries particularly in the age group of 40+, and that is the reason that we are seeing a boom in English language training in Spanish companies, particularly at director level. However, amongst younger people, standards are definitely improving, youngsters are definitely more prepared as they join the labor market, and a lot of them are enrolling in university with Upper Intermediate and Advanced levels of English.”

Natasha Kennedy agrees that companies are bearing the brunt of Spain’s lagging English language skills, as companies have to “retrofit employees with expensive English programs,” evidenced by the growing number of language academies in Spain that offer corporate English classes and language retreats. Kennedy also believes that Spain is trying to catch up with the rest of Europe. She explains that the Spanish government is beginning to take language instruction very seriously “and is investing a lot of money into training teachers, bilingual schools, etc., but it will be a long, slow process.

With 484 language academies listed in the Madrid Yellow Pages and 263 listed in Barcelona, it’s hard to believe that there is any shortage of students. Jamie Poole, owner of J&J Books and Coffee in Madrid, says that English language textbooks are in hot demand and that the store’s “intercambio” nights on Wednesdays and Thursdays, sessions in which patrons can come practice their second language with native speakers, are always packed with native English speakers and Spaniards, proving that at least in Madrid young Spaniards are taking every opportunity they can get to practice and hone their English skills.

The colonies of young Spaniards living and working throughout the UK and Ireland are yet another testament to the fact that the newer generations are ready and willing to not only learn new languages, but leave Spain in search of bigger and better opportunities in other EU countries. As Spanish society evolves and begins to take advantage of all that the EU has to offer, it is only natural that interest in learning a second language will grow exponentially, creating a greater need and demand for language teachers.

SUPPLY AND DEMAND IN SPAIN

All of the experts and professionals agree, the demand for English teachers in Spain is huge, and according to the British Council, this demand will not hit its peak until 2025. “Unemployment, especially for native, qualified teachers of English is non-existent. In fact, teachers are currently in the very fortunate position of being able to choose which classes they wish to teach,” explains Janice Haywood.

Although there is a large pool of native English speaking teachers from EU countries who can work legally in Spain, the demand for teachers is so strong that many schools are willing to hire non-EU teachers. However, Haywood says that she has observed “that more and more schools are electing to recruit only teachers belonging to the EU for obvious reasons, which in my opinion is a positive move towards raising standards in the industry. The fact that many schools have to recruit non-EU teachers indicates that a problem exists, which really should be addressed at its source. There are, for example, initiatives being talked about in the sector to try and introduce temporary work visas to non-EU qualified teachers.”

Examples of the initiatives to which Haywood alludes include the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science’s Language and Culture Assistants Program, which places up to 1200 American and Canadian citizens in year-long, paid positions as assistants to English teachers in primary and secondary schools across Spain, Fulbright offers a similar program in which 40 Americans are chosen each year for English Teaching Assistantships in Spain.

Jamie Poole believes that one of the primary reasons some academies are more willing to hire non-EU English teachers is because “there are a lot less people coming from England and Ireland to teach in Spain because the prices here are so high now. Before the Euro came, it was easier for people to spend a year abroad teaching.” Due to the marked increase in the cost of living, particularly in Spain’s larger cities, it has become more difficult for foreigners to come abroad, thereby decreasing the supply of native English speakers.

Regardless of where the teacher comes from, one thing is certain, good teachers are in high demand, and in even higher demand are accredited teachers. Natasha Kennedy believes that there has never been a better time to teach English in Spain. “The agencies are desperate for qualified TEFL teachers, and we have a waiting list for those agencies that want to be the first to interview our new graduates each month. This has meant a steady increase in the conditions of work and pay that teachers receive. It also means that teachers can be picky about the agencies they work with.”

It is also agreed that Madrid is the city with the highest demand for teachers, followed by Barcelona, and Kennedy advises all non-EU teachers to at least begin their teaching careers in Madrid, as they will find it easier to move around the country once they have a few years of teaching experience under their belts. She also explains that “telephone classes have become very popular over the last few years. We have [Teacher Training Madrid] graduates living in Tenerife, Malaga, Cadiz – typical arrears with limited teaching work – where they are working full time giving telephone classes to people in Madrid. The cost of the phone call is the same and agencies want stable teachers no matter where their location.”

Agencies and academies in Madrid are always hiring, and Janice Haywood speaks from experience when she says, “the current demand for teachers in Madrid is outstripping supply. All language schools are experiencing this and even the most prestigious organizations are finding it difficult to cover all of their classes.”

Spain is a land of opportunity for those English teachers who are willing to look and work for them. Demand exists at all levels, from preschool to university, and in all settings, from homes to schools to corporate offices. Although demand is high and supply is low, an English teacher should not expect work to fall into their lap. Some networking and effort are necessary, and it stands to reason that the more highly trained the teacher the better the opportunities he or she will find.

GETTING STARTED

The decision to move your life to Spain to teach English is exciting, but the transition is a lot of work and can often be stressful, so be realistic about your timeframe for moving and the amount of money you’ll need in order to live before finding a job. Spain can be very bureaucratic, and the euro is very strong, so stock up on patience and save sufficient money to live for a few months while looking for a job. It’s also important to keep in mind that Spaniards get one paycheck per month, so be sure to factor into your budget that you’ll be working an entire month before receiving pay.

If you decide to follow the industry experts’ advice and begin your teaching career in Madrid or Barcelona, remember that they are Spain’s most expensive cities. Cost of living is very high when compared to the average Spanish salary. Expect to pay about 400 euros in rent if you are sharing an apartment in the center of the city and about 650 for a studio. And remember that you will be expected to leave a deposit of at least one month’s rent. You can find apartments for rent in the local newspapers or on sites such as www.fotocasa.es and www.idealista.com. Also check with online communities such as www.craigslist.com and www.loquo.com, which are also good sites for finding a job. When looking for a place to live beware of real estate/rental agencies, as they charge you a month’s worth of rent for finding you an apartment.

Eating out has also become quite expensive, but neighborhood Spanish markets, which are made up of several small stands that sell every kind of fresh food product, such as fruits and vegetables, meat, fish, poultry, etc., are often very affordable and offer fresh, excellent quality food.

Before beginning your English teaching career, you should consider taking a TEFL course in order to fully prepare yourself as a teacher and to increase not only the number of job offers your receive but also the quality of the offers. Natasha Kennedy, Director of Studies at Teacher Training Madrid, explains, “The companies, parents, schools, etc. know about this type of course and will always choose someone who has the course over someone who doesn’t. When I first came to Madrid and started my TEFL, I was a little dismissive about what it could teach me. The first day was a real eye-opener when I realized I knew very little about how the language I spoke every day actually worked. I didn’t know my tenses, what a phrasal verb was, what a modal verb was, or indeed what one looked like! I could also not have imagined walking into my first paid class without having real teaching practice that was observed by an experienced teacher.”

When it comes to beginning a TEFL program or finding a job in Spain, everyone agrees that it is crucial to do plenty of research before getting on the plane. The Internet offers tons of information, but try to dig a little deeper if possible.

For those who choose to begin their stay in Spain with a month-long TEFL certification course, Kennedy warns, “ A website can sell you any dream in the world, so don’t believe everything you read, ask to be put in touch with other people who have taken the course. You can then ask all of the difficult questions that the TEFL school might not want to tell you. Make sure you have a full interview either face to face or on the telephone. You are spending a lot of money and you have to get the right feel for the school… With a good quality course, you will get better quality jobs and, therefore, more money.”

Before you begin looking for a job, Janice Haywood recommends that English teachers “consult teacher sites before arrival to get a feel for what type of work is available and to check out different schools and how they operate. There’s a big difference between language schools and agencies for example, in terms of teacher support and development and teacher resources… I think it’s very important to find a school where you are comfortable with their atmosphere, where you feel you fit in with the culture.”

One such teacher site is www.maplanguages.com, which offers English teachers in Madrid information on TEFL courses and teaching jobs and keeps them up to date on pertinent news regarding local expat businesses, multilingual get-togethers, cultural events and more.

You can never be too prepared, but remember that when in Spain, do as the Spanish, which basically means don’t get too stressed out. It’s good to have your bases covered and know what you’re getting into, but it’s just as good to be able to sit down at an outdoor café, have a café con leche and just enjoy living in a new city that offers a whole world of opportunities for native English speakers.