This blog is the work of Mark Booth, a recent immigrant to Spain struggling with the incredible difficulty of learning a new language but imbued with great motivation!
I can’t figure out what to call it… Learn Spanish Spanish (i.e. the Spanish they speak in Spain) is kind of tempting but a bit silly… in any case the title may indeed change at any time.
I hope my insights into the Spanish language help you somewhat – specifically with Spanish but many of the posts are general and relevant to learning any language. Go ahead and leave a comment, even if you totally disagree with me! Otherwise you can contact me via the WordPress contact form.
Good luck learning Spanish!
Mark.
Learn Spanish (from Spain) 
Hi Mark
I had a read through of your comments from ‘Creative Ways to Find Jobs Teaching English in the Current Economic Environment’.
I am living in Queensland, Australia, with Australian passport/New Zealand passport.
I have a Cert IV TESOL and Diploma in International Education Services. I am 34yrs of age.
I am looking at applying for a work visa in Spain, to teach English. What do you think the chances are of me applying with ‘ablalenguas’? I have no teaching experience (apart from the practicum I did in my course), but have been told I should go to Vietnam/China for 6 months, teach there before applying for work visa in Spain?
I really just want to go to Spain first, but just thought you might be able to shed some light on weather this is possible.
I’ve been working in the University sector for the past 6yrs, within International Education (admissions) and currently external relations.
I plan on taking some Spanish lessons prior to coming over.
Anyway – be grateful for any info.
Thanks for providing this link!
Kylie Wilson
Hi Kylie,
Sorry it took a while to get around to this. Well some of the advice I gave at https://learnspanishspain.wordpress.com/2009/02/17/some-advice-about-working-in-valencia-spain/ is relevant for you.
No language school (that I know) will offer you a job until you physically stand in their office! They don’t tend to reply to job application emails, though that doesn’t mean they didn’t read/keep them. Makes things a bit tricky.
I can tell you what happens at abla lenguas and that will probably be a good guideline for everyone else: They get plenty of email applications and a certain amount of walk-in-the-door applications. When they need more staff they look back over the applications they’ve recently received and also assess the people that came in the door. That is to say – it’s all luck of the draw from your perspective as to whether they’ll need staff at all. Although I have the feeling that if someone outstanding walks in they just hire them.
To me personally your qualifications seem reasonably good; but I’ve never hired language teachers. Since teaching is very person-to-person, a lot depends on qualities you have to meet the candidate to assess.
You might like to check out these guys, I think they might suit your needs: http://www.vausys.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9&Itemid=6
As for going to Asia before Europe I have no idea why you have been given this advice. I suppose that having experience in teaching would strengthen your application but frankly if you don’t want to do it then don’t do it!
Considering you might have to arrive before you find out whether you can got a job, you might be wisest to consider what you’re going to do if you can’t find a job teaching. You have some qualifications that might work well in Madrid or Barcelona.
Good luck. Let me know what happens.