How to find an English teaching job in Spain

Here's the honest truth we tell our own trainees: the work is genuinely out there, but you find most of it on the ground, not on a job board. The teachers who do well are proactive and patient. They apply for everything, put themselves about, and don't get discouraged by silence. Get that mindset right and the rest is process.

Where you can work

There's more variety than people expect. Roughly split by who you teach:

Academies are the most common starting point. A tip worth hearing early: saying yes to teaching kids makes you far more employable, since that's where a lot of the demand is.

When to look

Timing is everything in Spain. There are two clear hiring waves: September (by far the biggest, as schools build their timetables) and January. Summer camps hire for the summer. Arrive a few weeks before a wave so you're on the spot, set up and ready for a same-week interview.

Where to find the jobs

Cast a wide net across all of these at once:

Your teaching CV (Spanish style)

CVs here look a little different from back home. Include:

• A professional photo (yes, that's normal in Spain)
• A short bio and your contact details
• Your NIE (foreigner number) once you have it
• Education and qualifications, and relevant experience
• Skills, specialisms and hobbies

Then highlight the things that make you hireable, even from other walks of life: any mentoring or instruction you've done, any experience with kids (babysitting, scouts, volunteering), a business background (great for in-company classes), specialist knowledge like law, medicine or economics (for exam and ESP classes), public speaking (theatre, debate, presentations), artistic skills like music or art (brilliant for kids), and other languages (it builds empathy with learners). Your short bio is just two or three authentic, concise sentences: who you are as a teacher and what you bring.

What to look for in a school

Interviews go both ways. A good school will offer:

• A communicative methodology (and a sensible attitude to using the students' first language)
• A sensible location and travel time
• Professional development: workshops, observations, mentoring
• Some stability (an established school, ideally part of a larger group, is less likely to fold and offers more opportunities)
• Reasonable pay (around €15 an hour for academy work in Barcelona), and clarity on whether prep, meetings and travel are paid
• Decent classroom kit (projectors, computers)

And do your homework: Google a school, ask about it in local Facebook groups, because there are scammers out there. Never pay anyone for a job.

The interview

Expect questions like: tell me about your teaching experience; how would you deal with a disobedient child; why do you want to teach abroad; what levels do you enjoy and why; how would you teach a given grammar point; what group sizes have you taught; do you want to teach kids; how would you describe your approach. A "student-centred communicative approach" (fun, relevant, engaging) is always a strong answer.

Always have questions of your own, and don't just ask about the pay. Good ones to ask:

• What methodology does the school follow? What age groups and levels would I teach?
• What professional development and training do you offer? Can I observe senior teachers?
• Are classes in-house or will I travel? What resources are there?
• Is there a set curriculum and textbooks, or do I have autonomy?
• How long is the contract, how many hours a week, what's the average class size, and what's the hourly rate?

The demo class

You may be asked to teach a grammar point or part of a lesson from a coursebook page. To impress:

• Choose a clear lesson structure (PPP, TTT or task-based) and explain your rationale.
• Use the terminology from your training to show what you know.
• Find an interesting way to personalise the language, and a creative way to present it (a reading text, a dictation, guided discovery).
• Don't just stick to the coursebook. Finish with a creative production activity (a role-play, a problem to solve, a debate).

Private lessons

Private classes are how most teachers turn a getting-by income into a comfortable one, so get onto them early. Find students on Lingobongo, tusclasesparticulares and Superprof, but the best source by far is word of mouth: one happy student becomes three through their friends and family. Be charismatic, be reliable, and ask for referrals.

Online teaching

Online work is a useful top-up, and you can sometimes be paid in your home currency. Platforms include italki, Preply, Cambly and Verbling. Check each one's rules on work authorisation and payment, and if you're serious, invest in the basics: a ring light, a decent microphone, a tidy backdrop and a solid internet connection.

Advice from our graduates

The most useful words on this page aren't ours, they're from people who've just done it:

And once you've landed the job, the work isn't over: the teachers who thrive (and earn more) are the ones who keep developing. See our guide to growing as a teacher in Spain for courses, mentoring, the best tools and the books worth reading.

Frequently asked questions