TEFL in Valencia: Accredited Courses by The TEFL Institute for ESL Career Advancement

While it is true that all of the courses we offer are known for being recognised around the world, there is one course which is held in particularly high esteem by employers, and that is the 120-hour course.

It is one of those qualifications which has been designed to offer you a fast route into teaching, because we understand that you may not have years to spend getting qualified and want to make your exciting new life happen sooner rather than later. The general consensus is often that 120 hours is the minimum period of time you’ll need to study to be able to teach English as a foreign language.

The qualification which we offer is meant to give you all of the tools and skills you need to be able to teach English abroad anywhere in the world. We’re not just preparing you for a career in Spain, but instead one that you can take anywhere, from the classroom to a private tutoring business. It’s all about having the confidence to succeed.

As we said, this has been designed to be the fastest way of getting a qualification that we can offer. With that in mind, you can complete the course in as little as four weeks of studying. However, this is for weeks of dedicated study, so it’s worth keeping in mind that your average student will need longer because they have other commitments.

We’ve tried to make the entry requirements for the course pretty minimal, because we want anybody who is trying to become a TEFL teacher to have an easy time getting to grips with the course material. As long as you’ve got a device which is capable of using our online platform, and you also have a C1 level of proficiency in English, then you are capable of signing up for the course and beginning your new qualification.

We aspire to be a trusted service provider, which is why we are always searching for new ways that people can learn and grow. For example, prospective employers can verify the authenticity of your qualification using the website, and if you are one of our students, you get access to a dedicated app for your studies.

We believe that studying for your new certification should be done at your speed and in a way that you are comfortable with. You will have 10 different modules to complete as part of your qualification. Each module can be accessed in whatever way you choose. You can view the course material as written text, video or audio clips so you can learn in a way that works for you.

This course has been designed to be accessible for anybody and give skills that can be used all around the world. We don’t just want to give you a certification that you can take to Spain, but to anywhere you want to be able to teach English as a foreign language.

On average, we find that it takes four weeks of studying to complete the course. However, you probably don’t have four weeks to devote entirely to completing an online certification as we’ve said. That’s why we give everybody six months to complete the course instead. This gives you plenty of time to fit your studies around things like work or family commitments. We know how important it is to have a healthy balance.

The great thing about your new TEFL qualification is that you can use it pretty much however you’d like. If you want to go and teach in Valencia, then you’ve got four main options at your disposal. Some of them are more accessible than others for a new teacher, so it’s up to you to identify what is best.

Public Schools

Technically speaking, it is possible to get a job working in the public sector. Spain has a public education system just like most of Europe, and there are jobs available if you have the relevant qualifications. However, you probably need a degree to teach in a public school, and also a teaching qualification that is usually obtained in Spain. For this reason, it’s not normally a hospitable climate for a new teacher, and is instead something that you aim for after you have built up a reputation and settled in.

International Schools

The private school sector is the next step up from public education, offering a very comprehensive curriculum which is designed to allow students to function in other countries if necessary. Because there is a cost to attend private school, the salary available for teachers is much higher than you would find in other places, and you can also expect other benefits like subsidised travel costs or even paying for accommodation. Understandably, this is one of the most lucrative positions that a teacher can get, and is therefore desired by most.

Understandably the qualifications which are required to teach at a public or private school are very strict, and you will normally be competing with teachers who are already established in Spain and want to advance their careers. It’s entirely possible that you could get a position in a private school if you have enough experience and the right qualifications, so it’s fine to aim high.

Language Schools

If you want to teach English as a foreign language, then the easiest thing to do is often to get a job working at a language school. These schools exist all over the world, and there are plenty of them in Valencia and the wider Spain area. Language schools are very useful for newly qualified teachers because they’re very relaxed about who they give jobs to and who they allow to teach, having pretty minimal requirements.

Generally speaking, you will be teaching English to adults who want to learn the language for work purposes and cannot find other ways to do so or didn’t get a chance whilst they were in school. You will either be teaching normal English or business English, depending on the needs of the students, as both are pretty vital for getting a job in most of Europe. You will mostly be working in the evenings and on the weekends, as people are trying to juggle their studies with family or work commitments. The only drawback to something like this is the fact that you may only get a contract which totals 25 hours or so. Most language schools are not in the business of giving out big contracts, so you may need to look for other work elsewhere as a way to boost your average salary.

Tutoring

The great thing about tutoring is that you can do it whenever you want, and pretty much however you want. You can start your own private teaching business and pick your clients, what hours you work, and how much you charge for the privilege. However, with that being said, it is not a perfect way to earn a living. You will obviously have to declare income to the government and pay any tax, and there isn’t always support for small businesses, but it’s entirely possible to tutor a little on the side to boost your income every month.

If you want to teach English as a foreign language in Valencia, you will need to apply for a work permit and eventually a permanent residency. The exact rules for doing this will depend upon the country of origin you are coming from, so be sure to do all of the correct research before you start applying.

Valencia

Valencia, as the city of contrast, is one of the most appealing places where you could teach English as a foreign language. It’s got a lot going on for it, and you will undoubtedly find a particular lifestyle which works for you.

Barcelona

Barcelona is a popular holiday destination in Spain, but at the same time does have a growing TEFL community. It’s possible to get a job here, and enjoy a good quality of life teaching English. Furthermore, you will have plenty of opportunities to indulge in the nightlife.

As a new TEFL teacher working in Valencia, the amount of money that you will earn each month depends on your qualifications and job. If you have a good position, then you could easily earn more than the average salary, but if you are just starting out, you may have to work a little bit harder to keep up.

You can expect to make roughly €1700 for a full-time wage. This might not seem as high as other places in Europe or even the UK, but Spain is known for having a pretty affordable lifestyle that doesn’t cost a lot.

At the time of writing, the cost of living in Spain is 24% less than the cost of living in the UK. It’s easy to enjoy a good standard of living working as a teacher in Spain. If you live like a local and try to avoid things like owning a car as an unnecessary expense, then you could get by pretty well.

• Salary: €1700
• Average Rent: €940
• Utilities: €120
• Public Transport Pass: €30
• Milk: €1
• Bread: €1.20

To find the cost of living figures, we use Numbeo.com, the world’s largest cost of living comparison website.