Frequently asked questions

I don't know much about English grammar. Does this matter?

Don't worry about this. Few native speakers know very much about English grammar before they do the course. We will teach you a lot of grammar on the course and will also teach you coping strategies which you will be able to use in the first few months of teaching.

What kind of clothes should I bring with me?

The climate is quite mild all year round in Barcelona but it can get a bit chilly at night in the winter months. As far as teaching practice goes, it is acceptable to dress casually as long as clothes are clean and reasonably tidy.

Will I need a visa to get into Spain?

Not to do a CELTA course. In fact if you are a European Union national, you don't need a visa to work in Spain either. Neither do you need a work permit. However, if you are a non-EU national, you may need a visa or work permit in order to work in Spain. We can tell you more about this when you arrive.

How much money should I bring?

Given that you will already have paid for your course, you will need to bring money for the following things: accommodation, food and drink, entertainment. Your accommodation costs will depend on what type of accommodation you choose. Food and drink will probably cost you about 20 euros a day on average and entertainment at weekends maybe 20 euros a week. So if you bring 600 euros plus your accommodation costs, it should be enough. Of course this is a very rough estimate and will depend very much on the individual. It is a good idea to bring a credit card with you for emergencies.

How much can I earn as an English teacher?

English teaching is not a highly paid profession. Salaries vary from school to school and will depend on the number of contact teaching hours you have. Teachers usually teach between 20 and 25 hours a week. For a 20 hour timetable, teachers might expect to earn between 900 € to 1200 € per month net . However, the salaries are not difficult to live on as the cost of living is quite low in Spain.

How likely am I to find work?

Most schools in Spain recruit during the summer for the academic year starting at the end of September or beginning of October. However, bigger schools sometimes have vacancies at other times of the year, too.