TEFL courses in Madrid, Spain

I did my TEFL Accreditation course with Tt Madrid. It is a small school located on c/ General Yague. It is a very welcoming environment and the staff there are very knowledgeable about all aspects of teaching, certification, testing, and working in the Madrid/Spanish market. Not only do they certify you to teach English, they also assist you in finding housing. Once you have completed the 4 week course, they also work to find employment for you by setting up interviews and circulating your resume. As a graduate you also become a part of a network of other Tt Madrid graduates and the school and all of its teaching materials are available to you...more or less forever.

Hello Jess,
Regarding your question about accredited TEFL courses in Madrid, I have just completed an excellent one month intensive TEFL course that is fully accredited through IAQuO and recognized throughout the world. I am now happily working in Madrid and highly recommend TtMadrid as the best option for becoming TEFL certified in Madrid. The teachers and staff are extremely supportive and informative. The program centers around teaching real students in a classroom environment with teacher observation and feedback throughout the course as well as classes in how to teach English. They also have a great support system in place for after you graduate, including helping you find work, networking, and the use of their resources. Their website is www.ttmadrid.com. You can also call the very helpful and capable Rae at +34 915721999 with questions or for more information. I do believe they have space available in September. Alyssa Brackin

Thank you both for your input. I really appreciate the advice from people that have actually taken the course.

However, I can't help but notice that you both posted within the same hour and both happened to ironically recommend the course offered by TTmadrid. It makes it hard to believe you don't both work for the company. I apologize for my accusation if it is untrue.

And you'd be correct in guessing that. They both have the same IP addresses...

Hee Hee that?s funny...Well despite what it seems like I don?t work for TtMadrid although I do happen to be there almost everyday as I don?t have access to internet in my home and this is one of the niceties they provide. I?m also a new teacher and am busy putting together lesson plans for my students and so have been spending a lot of time perusing their resources and using their photocopy machine.
As you may know or not know, August is a very tight time for jobs in Madrid as everyone and their dog goes on vacation so I am online looking for jobs and networking with other graduates constantly. My graduating class had 7 students in it so as you can imagine we all became quite close and often meet here as well to discuss jobs, lesson plans or just to go out and explore Madrid. Anyway, just thought I?d put my two cents in and let ya know where I?m coming from and that I still stand by my former post. Thanks and good luck. Besos Alyssa

Hey Jess,
If you're still around I'd love to know which course you chose and how you found it. I'm taking the EBC Cert this year.

I can't help but crack up about the analysis of the IP addresses of the TtMadrid people... It is true that once you graduate in all your free times you usually head back to the school to prep for classes and such and use their internet.

I too took the TEFL course at TtMadrid. The course was fantastic!!!! The staff is very professional yet they're also just like your best friends -- guide you in doing what's in your best interest.

I couldn't recommend TtMadrid enough!!!

mad4madrid

I have been here for 5 years and cant point you in the right direction. Everyone?s circumstance is different. contact me directly.

I contacted Work In Spain -- and, surprise -- he's with TTMadrid. Anyone know anything about that school? Work in Spain says they offer a deal where they'll get you a student visa that allows you to work 20 hours a week at $15 an hour for a year. The only requirement is you take their four week class which is around $1600. Is this for real? Is TTMadrid the only company that offers this? I would rather take a CELTA or Trinity certified course, since its about the same price and better recognized. But the opportunity to work legally (since I'm a North American) would be a huge advantage.

I'm a little skeptical of TTMadrid considering their aggressive marketing on this forum, though. If anyone has more information that would be awesome!

Just check them out on facebook. There are over 200 graduates. Ask one.

dear sally2,

before i chose ttmadrid, i travelled to madrid on my spring break of my senior year in college to scope out the situation with TEFL vs CELTA vs TESOL etc.... i met with 6 or 7 different one-month certification companies/schools... and ttmadrid was my number one choice. in regards to recognition... there really is no difference between TEFL, CELTA and TESOL... if you have one, you'll get the job.

one question, have you contacted ttmadrid? the directors are wonderful people and would love to help you with every question or doubt you may have. i encourage you to do the research, make contacts with every program you find, and make your own decision about this. we may seem "aggressive" (as you put it) with how we respond so enthusiastically about the ttmadrid program... and it's just that it has become like a little home away from home for all the students. it's a difficult and very rewarding thing to do. as for the new program they have about the student visa, it is true. i'd take advantage of that. when i did the course, they hadn't put that program together yet.

good luck with the selection process. and if you choose ttmadrid, let me know... and i'll see you at the graduation party - they always have on at the end of each month!!

Basically, what TTMadrid is offering is a way of legally being/working in Spain where THEY are unloading the hassle of executing this legal loophole from your shoulders. I'd do it in a heartbeat if I were in your shoes (which I was, 5 years ago, and let me tell you it's a real pain in the arse to deal with that stuff yourself).

Expatraitor, I know that's what they say they do.... I just can't find any information about them online beyond their own marketing. It's hard to get a sense of what their reputation is. Also.. the Web site for this program is in classic too-good-to-be-true format: http://teflmadrid.com/
Kind of like those e-books that promise they'll provide the secrets to financial succes...

The other thread about ttMadrid (http://www.spainexpat.com/spain/forum/viewthread/6423/) has a good response from an ex student...

but yeah, their site looks dodgey as hell!

On another note... I was wondering, if a student visa allows you to potentially work up to 20 hours.... does that mean that North American auxillaries can work if they ask for approval?

I'm talking about this program: http://www.mec.es/sgci/usa/en/programs/us_assistants/default.shtml. It's the one run by the Spanish government that allows American and Canadian college graduates to work in public schools as "Spanish language and culture assistants" or "Auxiliares de conversaci?n extranjeros en Espa?a".

The thing is, in the FAQs, it specifically says you cannot work if you're an auxillary. So.. maybe if you're part of this program it is impossible to obtain approval for part time work, even though you're under a student visa.

Auxillaries only work 12 hours a week, so you would think, even if that counted as work, you should be allowed to work up to 8 hours somewhere else... I guess not, though.

Those are cultural ambassadors. Basically they teach some French/English to Spanish kids. It's a grant program providing 700? per month (nothing!) for students graduating THIS year only. Only once you have been accepted can you apply for the visa, which I'm sure will be expedited.

Not sure what "auxilliaries" are even.

Right, I know all about the program. Those who take part in the program come to Spain under a student visa. What I'm wondering is, if what ttMadrid says about student visas is true, whether someone doing the cultural ambassador/auxillary program can work outside of the program since those under a student visa are supposed to be eligible for permission to work up to 20 hours per week.

Also, it's not true that you have to be graduating this year to be an auxillary. Anyone with a college degree can apply, no matter how long ago they obtained it. Look at the people in the picture.. the guy on the right looks at least 30 :P

"Auxillary" means "assistant or aide"... it even has this meaning in English. It's someone who acts in a supporting capacity. These positions are "auxillary" positions because you are not teaching your own class, you are assisting a Spanish teacher with his or her class.

Look more closely :)

I. Participation Requirements

Candidates will

o Be a national of the U.S. or Canada and hold a valid passport.
o Be a native English/French speaker.
o Be a Junior or Senior college student or have successfully completed a BA, BS, MA or MS by the end of the current academic year.
o Be in good mental and physical health.
o Have a minimum intermediate level of the Spanish language.

II. Duties

o Grantees will work as English/French language assistant teachers, under the supervision and guidance of a classroom teacher in K-12 schools and Escuelas Oficiales de Idiomas (state-run language schools) throughout Spain.
o Grantees will teach 12-16 periods per week.
o The assistant and the classroom teacher (or the school representatives) may agree upon other activities and responsibilities they should be involved in, such as conducting conversation lessons, attending faculty meetings, making class presentations and participating in extra-curricular activities such as workshops, field trips, student exchanges, music and theater performances, or sports events.

III. Specific conditions of the grant

* A minimum monthly allowance of ? 700 after taxes, (USD $ 1,025; CAD $ 1,060, as of November 2009). The program begins in mid-September and ends in mid-June. The accademic calendar, however, is subject to the regional education norms.
* Full medical insurance.
* Teacher orientation course at the beginning of the school year and ongoing development.
* Official Certificate, issued by the Regional Government.
* Paid school holidays: winter and spring breaks.
* All additional expenses (such as lodging, transportation to and from the country of origin, and meals) are the assistant?s responsibility.
* In order to participate in the program, U.S. L&C assistants will need to apply for a visa at their nearest Spanish Consulate, once they have been accepted in the program.
* Canadian candidates apply at the Consular Section of the Spanish Embassy in Ottawa.
* Please refer to the Program Manual for a for a full list of the Spanish Consulates in the U.S. and Canada.

Or, wait, does that mean that one just has to be either a junior/senior OR have a degree?

yeah, it's worded strangely. But I have friends who have done the program a few years after they graduated from college.

If you look at the "Program Manual" under "Who May Participate?" it says:

"Candidates must hold a U.S. or Canadian passport. The candidate must be a native or bilingual English or French speaker. The candidate shall hold a minimum of a BA or BS by the end of the academic year preceding the start of the program or be an upcoming Junior or Senior student at their university. Candidates must be in good physical and mental health. Candidates MUST have an intermediate level knowledge of the Spanish language at minimum.
The average age of a participant is 21-35, as long as they meet the profile listed above and submit the documentation listed in the ?Requirements? section below. We ask for an open-minded, flexible attitude."

Also, I was going to comment on the pay... it's only 12 hours per week. So if you're paid 700 euroes per month, that's about 13.40 euros per hour. It's not great, but it's stable. Plus, you also get health insurance.

They have this to say about the additional work issue under the FAQs:

Q: Can I get a support job while in Spain?
A: It would be illegal to get a paid job because you will have a student visa.

That seems to contradict other information that says if you have a student visa you can get permission to work up to 20 hours per week! That's why I mentioned this.

My friends who have done the Cultural Ambassador program say they were able to do under-the-table teaching, though.. and that's how they get by on the low wage.

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