What education/certificates do I need to teach english in Spain?, and can I earn it in Spain?

Question

By teaching I mean a classroom atmosphere.

Once I finish highschool in the US I would like know what I then have to do to eventually be qualified to teach in Spain, are there colleges in Spain I could attend, or a specific 'teaching school' that all English teachers must get a certificate from to teach in Spain?

I am very ignorant of the matter.

Thanks for your time.

Answer 1

I am afraid that it is extremely difficult to become a teacher in Spain. Basically once you have passed your University degree you get entered in "the bag" which can basically send you to any school they like anywhere in the Country. To get a fixed position you have to pass an exam called "aposiciones" and even if you do pass it there is no guarantee of getting a fixed position in a school.

Good Luck by the way!

Answer 2

The degree you want in the US is a TEFL, or TESL, Teacher of English as a Foreign or Second Language.  Any good teaching University should have some sort of program to help you along.  One thing you might find is that you won't find a very realistic practice program while here.  You will find yourself student teaching in a program with lots of kids from different language backgrounds, as opposed to teaching Enlish grammar in Spanish (the reverse of what you have in your Spanish classes),  or else a bilingual program.

You will have a wonderful time in Spain, though, no matter what, I'm sure.  Love the country, people, culture, food.

Here's one thing you should do:  while doing your studies here, take a year in Spain as part of your degree.  You can take classes there, (you could when I was there, anyway) and quite possibly do a student teaching-type situation while there so that you can get some idea of what it is like.

In spite of what Anonymous said, there are many Institutes in Spain where professionals and others who have passed their normal educational careers go to learn the language (Berlitz, etc.) that might be good resources for part-time work after you get your full-time position, another good thing to check out while you are studying.   You might actually, be able to make some contacts during a study abroad year that could pan out into a permanent position after graduation...

Just a couple of ideas to keep in mind.