Alcala gate on a sunny day
Spain

Teach In Spain Program + 2 Weeks of Spanish Immersion

Accepting Applications for Academic Year 2024-2025!

Dates

-

45 weeks

Program Fee

$3,550

Compensation

1,000 Euros/month

Application Deadline

Apply Now

Request Information

Overview

Teaching in Spain is a wonderful way to immerse yourself in Spanish culture and build Spanish language proficiency.  This program offers you the opportunity to get even more out of the experience with an intensive two-week Spanish immersion experience before you start teaching English in Madrid.

After arriving in Madrid and completing CIEE’s comprehensive orientation, you’ll spend two weeks living with a Spanish host family and taking intensive Spanish classes.  The Spanish classes are taught by experienced Spanish instructors and will be geared to your level. You’ll be able to practice what you learn in class with your Spanish host family.

While living with your host family, you’ll also have the time to search for your own permanent housing in Madrid.  We hear from alumni every year, that they’re grateful they had this extra time to search for an apartment before starting their teaching position.

Program Highlights

  • Two-week homestay with Spanish host family in Madrid
  • Two weeks of intensive Spanish classes before starting teaching position
  • Guaranteed placement as language assistant in the region of Madrid
  • Part-time schedule and 3-day weekends so you’ll have time to explore
  • €1,000 monthly stipend to cover living expenses
  • 4-day CIEE orientation in Madrid with 4 nights of hotel accommodation and cultural activities

Check out Teach in Spain FAQs to learn more!

Interested in boosting your Spanish level even more? Consider 4 weeks of language immersion with a Spanish homestay and language classes before you start your teaching position.

LOCATION

START DATE

END DATE

COMPENSATION

DEADLINE

Madrid

Mid August

Late June

1,000 Euros/month

March 1


About Our Program Fees

Founded in 1947, CIEE is the leading intercultural exchange organization.

As a non-profit, CIEE relies on program fees to provide participants with placement assistance, international insurance, orientation, and support before and after arrival. The program fee of $3,550 is paid in two installments:

  • $500 commitment deposit after acceptance ($1,000 for programs with TEFL)
  • Remaining balance due when you receive your teaching placement

Build teaching skills and confidence by adding a CIEE TEFL certification $1,000 ($1,195 VALUE)

Apply Now

What's Included

What's Included

  • Two-week homestay with a local Spanish family - breakfast and dinner included
  • Two weeks of language immersion courses
  • Guaranteed placement as language assistant in region of Madrid
  • Support before you depart, including expert visa guidance and online preparation course
  • Support after you arrive from CIEE staff in Madrid
  • Airport pickup and transportation to your orientation hotel on arrival day
  • Four days of orientation with topics including housing, banking, residency, health & safety, and more
  • Four nights of hotel accommodation during orientation
  • Cultural activities during orientation
  • Private Spanish health insurance with no deductibles or copayments, and 24/7 emergency assistance
teach_blogger
The Destination
  • Teachers posing for group selfie at temple site in Madrid
  • Teach English Abroad participants group photo

The Destination

Madrid is the cultural heart of Spain. Teachers in Madrid have the opportunity to visit world-renowned art museums, explore diverse neighborhoods, and meet with friends at its countless parks and tapas bars.

School placements are located in the Region of Madrid, in urban and suburban areas up to 120 minutes away from the city center. Teachers arrange their own housing, so they can choose to live near their schools, or commute from further away, giving everyone the option of living in the city center.

CIEE wants all our participants to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while teaching abroad. To that end, we've gathered information from local teams and perspectives from former CIEE teachers and others about conditions and cultural attitudes that teachers with specific identities might encounter abroad. We hope those resources are informative and helpful.

Please note: because of the Spanish visa process, it is not possible to plan other international travel in the three months before your program begins. Plan to be in your home country during that time.

The Take-Aways

IMMERSION

Two weeks of Spanish immersion with intensive language classes and homestay with a local family

PREPARATION

Job placement, visa application guidance, an online pre-departure course, 4-day in-country orientation, cultural activities.

ASSISTANCE

24/7 support from CIEE staff in Madrid, health insurance and emergency assistance, resources for finding housing.

Program Blogs

Self Intro!

By Liam G.

A little bit about me :) I am from Sacramento CA, and I love basketball, history, writing, and hiking! I arrived on August 12th and had so fun and memorable experiences already! try to get out of your comfort zone and try new things in all aspects of life!!

Moving to Madrid, Spain from Tennessee

By Brody Carmack

This will be one of a few blog posts that I make when I primarily talk about myself, I promise. Right now, I am less than a week away from... keep reading

48 Hours in Belgium

By Ebbie B.

Because Madrid has a number of bank holidays, us language assistants benefit from days off of school which are in turn, great times to travel and explore different places for... keep reading

Job Description

Job Description

While teaching in Spain, you’ll serve as a Language and Culture Assistant (Auxiliares de Conversación) in a public school in the region of Madrid.  The primary responsibility of Language and Culture Assistants is to help students develop their English language skills.  You’ll do this by organizing discussions and activities in English that relate to the topics students are learning in their classes.

Language and Culture Assistants are also responsible for facilitating cultural exchange and teaching students about other cultures.  You’ll have the chance to share the cultural traditions and holidays that are important to you.  For example, you might organize fun activities related to Halloween.

You will assist local, lead teachers and will collaborate with them to design activities in English that support their lesson plans.  Exact responsibilities can vary, but you will not be responsible for grading or the independent supervision of students.

Learn More About Teaching in Spain with CIEE


Compensation

CIEE Language and Culture Assistants in Madrid work from October to June and receive a monthly stipend of 1,000 Euro. For most participants, this is adequate to afford a comfortable lifestyle. If you’re careful with spending, you’ll have some money for fun and to explore Spain and other European countries. Your income will go further outside of city centers where the cost of shared accommodations, food, transportation, entertainment, etc., are lower. We will provide you with advice on how to find an affordable apartment and how to best plan your budget each month.

Most program participants also teach private English classes, either through their school or independently. CIEE can help here, too, with advice on how to advertise and find private lessons when you get to Spain.

CIEE participants have paid holidays around Christmas and Easter. Exact dates will be confirmed when the school calendars are approved in September. There is usually a two week break around Christmas. Participants also have Holy Week off, which is the week before Easter. Official provincial calendars are available in September.

Schools

CIEE teachers are placed at public schools participating in a governmental bilingual initiative, including kindergarten, primary and secondary schools. Most schools are outside Madrid's city center, in the Community of Madrid's other cities and small towns. If you are placed in a small town, it is possible to live in the city center and commute to your school by public transit. Location and age-group preferences are considered by CIEE, but we are not able to guarantee specific placement preferences.

Workload

As a Language and Culture Assistant in Madrid you’ll teach 16 classroom hours per week and have a 4-day work week. In addition to your classroom hours, you may be required to spend a few hours attending planning or professional development sessions each week.  Many Language and Culture Assistants also enjoy participating in sports clubs or other extracurricular activities at their schools. You’ll enjoy 3-day weekends with either Monday or Friday off so you’ll have plenty of time to travel, learn Spanish, or participate in local clubs and organizations. CIEE teachers in Spain start their teaching positions in early October and the school year ends in late June.

Hear from CIEE participants about how the Teach in Spain Immersion program connected with their goals for advancing their Spanish language skills and exploring Spanish culture!

What People Are Saying

  • "Very helpful with the visa process (gathering the documents, locations, etc); the support staff were helpful, genuinely caring, and always quick to responf, both during predeparture and once in Spain."

    Trisha L. | Teach in Spain

  • "CIEE has been extremely helpful throughout the entire process and has responded to all of my needs timely and effectively."

    Monica B. | Teach in Spain

  • "The help CIEE provided while in Spain was invaluable. As well as the friends I have gained. The ministry wouldn't have provided the same opportunity."

    Breanna S. | Teach in Spain

  • "I thought the assistance provided in the program was well worth the money. Also the support and information received from CIEE was very helpful and appreciated."

    Eric M. | Teach in Spain

  • "I would have drowned every day these first few months in Spain if it wasn't for CIEE! They've been an excellent support system as I've navigated cultural adjustment and challenges with my school."

    Cody A. | Teach in Spain

Qualifications

Qualifications

Teaching experience and Spanish language skills are not required for the position, but having some background in teaching and Spanish language skills will be helpful. Some ways to enhance your language skills are signing up for CIEE's Spanish Immersion program and learning some of the language before you arrive. You can also enhance your teaching skills by getting TEFL certified with CIEE.

Requirements

  • Native-level English fluency
  • A bachelor’s degree in any field
  • Citizenship in the United States
  • Must be under 60 years old on January 1 of the upcoming academic year
  • Passport must have 3+ empty pages and must be valid at least 3 months beyond end of program on June 30
traffic circle madrid spain aerial view sunny day
TEFL Certification

TEFL Certification

Boost your teaching skills and confidence before traveling to Spain with CIEE’s 150-Hour TEFL Certificate course.  This premium online TEFL course includes:

  • 130 hours of online coursework you can complete from anywhere
  • 20-hour teaching practicum to give you practice teaching
  • Small class sizes so you’ll build relationships with other classmates planning to teach abroad
  • ACCET accreditation recognized by US Department of Education

“This course opened my eyes to the world of TEFL.  While I do not have a degree in education, I feel more prepared to teach English in Spain this year.  The course provides you with plenty of practice, guidance, and resources to help you succeed in the classroom!”  Ashlynn H., Teach in Spain Participant.  Read more of Ashlynn’s reflection on the TEFL certificate course.

Add TEFL Certification to your CIEE Teach in Spain application and receive a $195 discount!

Staff

Our Team

Luke Beland

Associate Director

Luke studied abroad in Morocco and taught English in Jordan, and visited many other countries along the way. He is pleased to put those experiences and lessons to good use...

Lauren Massey

Teach Abroad Manager

Lauren taught English in South Korea for two years and later lived in Thailand and Nepal for a year and half. She loves guiding others on their teaching adventures abroad.

Laura Canadillas

IN-COUNTRY SUPPORT

Laura worked in various social services positions in France, Scotland and Thailand, before she came back to her hometown, Madrid, to support CIEE teachers in Spain.

Ready to change your life?

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