Author Topic: Anyone In Sevilla? (Read 2985 times)

palito19 · « **on:** July 25, 2005, 02:55:37 AM »

Hey everyone! My name is Ryan and I am moving to Sevilla in September to take the International House CELTA course during Sept-October. I am excited, having been a Linguisitics and Spanish major in College, and having taught ESL classes before and worked as a English tutor.
I've read tons and tons of stories about moving to Spain and teaching and the successes/setbacks of doing so, but I'm determined to do it. I figure whats the worst that can happen, I have to book a flight back home and start working back in the states again? It could get worse than that.

Does anyone have any advice about the Teaching English in Sevilla scene? Where to go, schools or anything of that nature. My friend tutored a few families over there and made some decent money, but I'm looking for something a little more 'full time' I guess you could say.

Hope to get some replies.

Spain212 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 25, 2005, 04:02:24 AM »

Hey there Ryan!

Y'know, I think there's another American on this board (the name escapes me) who is going to Seville to take the CELTA in the fall. Search around and I think you might find him.

I might be the one Sevillian rep here on this board....I don't teach there now but did for about 6 months this past year. As far as the city....YOU'LL LOVE IT! As far as teaching.....I never got any more than tutoring jobs, unfortunately. I do know of one American who got steady work for a while at an academy. A teacher went on maternity leave and she slid into her spot and got paid under the table. But after the end of term my friend wasn't asked back for the next year because of her EU status.

My suggestion to you is to take tutoring work in the beginning just to keep your skills up and to stay afloat financially. While tutoring start calling and sending your CV to every known school in Seville. (paginasamarillas.es should do the trick) Chances are, if someone hires you they won't give you the same kind of steady work like you might want. They'll hire you for one or two business English classes out in some suburb. After working for them and showing them you're worth it they might throw another one your way a few months later. Maybe another school will give you a class as well....all the while keeping your tutoring work going. It might take you a while to get enough classes to fill your schedule, but it is possible and perserverance is KEY.....keep at it and keep your head up. It's all about being in the right place at the right time. Send your CV out REGULARLY to all the schools (like once a week) and remind them of who you are and what your availability is. If one day a class opens up and your CV is right there in their inbox. . . you get a call. Schools who hire Americans? A few that come to mind are LINC...OPEN....GIRALDA CENTER.....a few more might be lurking in my notebooks. I'll have to dig them up.

Unfortunately.....(sigh)......it will probably be very difficult, if not impossible, to get an academy to hire you to work full time. You know, go to school, have resources, a teachers room, a white board, photocopiers, an OHP, steady paycheck etc. All the EU's get those jobs. (rises fist to the air and curses the EU)

I hate to sound like the grim reaper of ESL in Seville.....I don't want to sound like that.....so lets look at the positives for a moment.

1) Seville is (in my opinion) the best city in Spain. You will fall in love with it.
2) because of how great the city is you will sacrifice a few things to stay there. Like having constant work in one place
3) Tutoring isn't so bad! I loved it, in fact. You can get by on money from tutoring. In fact, a lot of times you can make MORE money tutoring.
4) Seville is AMAZING!
5) Seville is AMAZING!
6) It's really cheap to live there and so you can get by on very little.
7) Stay as long as you can because the more people you know and the more resourceful you are the better chances are of something popping up. IT IS POSSIBLE............and i hope to God yours is a sucess story!

GOOD LUCK!!!

palito19 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 25, 2005, 04:26:29 AM »

Hey thanks for the reply. Yeah, I already fell in love with the city. I lived there three months and a few days last fall with my study abroad program. I travelled all over spain and no where came close to my 'home' in my opinion. I made a ton of good friends, and also some contacts who I am tapping right now to try to find me some leads and what not. Also my friend tutored a while over there, so I should be able to get some type of work in. I lived in the Nervion area, right near the FC Sevilla Stadium (Chupa Betis, by the way) and I am going to live there again god willing.
Thanks for the tips about the city and schools. I am really hoping that this turns out for the better and not for the worse. I mean whats the worst that can happen, I live back in seville for a few months and have to go back home? It could be worse, I could still be in my undergrad working at the YMCA in Buffalo (even though I will miss chicken finger subs and chicken wings like you wouldn't believe)

where did you teach in Seville? and how did you find your job there?

Spain212 · « **Reply #3 on:** July 26, 2005, 03:19:02 AM »

Well, I took my CELTA (at IH, in fact) in November and started teaching in January after the holidays. I had my students until late April when I came back to the States. I never had a \"real\" job at all, unfortunately. I was offered to teach one business english class right about the time I got a job in Madrid and was planning my trip home to the States so I turned it down. I got that job through constantly emailing the DOS with my CV and availability. The tutoring jobs I had were scattered all over the city. Some at the university, the city center, up by Nervion, etc. etc. It was a lot of traveling about and it got annoying at times. I understand your desire to be in one spot.

There is a lot of tutoring work to be had in Seville. Put up fliers all around the Universities and just anywhere you can find a spot to put one. You'll get calls, no doubt. Don't be afraid to teach kids. Put fliers up around the private schools and you'll get steady work from parents who want their kids to be the BEST! Also, use your students as resources to get more work from their friends, etc. If you're \"in\" with the Spaniards and they like and trust you they will open doors for you. I dated a spanish guy for a little while who was a lawyer for the HR department of some business and he was the one making contracts with the school who supplied his company with english teachers. Again, if I hadn't gotten a job in Madrid he was on the verge of getting me a job with them.

But that's the way of the world. Connections, connections, connections. Be a good person, work hard, help others and they will help you in return.

Any more questions? Oh....and one more thing.....Betis!

RebeccaG · « **Reply #4 on:** July 26, 2005, 09:55:38 AM »

Hi Palito19 -

Welcome to our Spain loving forum, you couldn't come to a better place to get your English teaching questions answered.

Spain212 has some great insight. I would also like to direct you to our main page at expatriatecafe.com where you will find a lot of information, articles and links. If you haven't already, I recommend that you read long time member and resident sevillana Sarita's contribution about Seville. Her article can be read HERE.

Good luck with your quest and let us know how it goes!

-R

Mikahl · « **Reply #5 on:** September 06, 2005, 09:27:41 PM »

I am the student who is going to Sevilla for his CELTA at IH. My program date is 24 October. I have paid my tuition and tickets and I'm ready to leave. It's becoming increasingly difficult to sleep at night. I have dreamt about Sevilla almost every night for the past 2 years and it looks like my dreams may actually come true. I long for Sevilla the same way I have longed for ex-girlfriends. I feel fortunate to have been accepted to a CELTA program, and for it to be in Sevilla is luck beyond my own comprehension. Maybe I will meet some of while I'm there. Wish me luck!

Michael

zorrasabia · « **Reply #6 on:** November 09, 2005, 05:09:09 PM »

Hi Michael,

I was just back here, browsing, and came across your message, again - you'll be part - way through your CELTA course, now, in Seville, if your plans became reality! I'm sure you'll be up to your eyes in sheer hard work, but well aware that the course is for a strictly limited period, only! :unsure:

I hope Seville's living up to your wildest expectations!LOL

I'm hoping to move to that area in the New Year, probably to begin private tutoring, whilst trying to find some additional regular teaching at a language school. It'd be great to hear how you're doing, so please let us know - whilst catching your breath, between teaching practice and 'grammar' tutorials! :lol:
I remember that sense of rising panic, so very well! (At its very worst just as students were arriving at the classroom door, incredibly cheerful and looking forward to great comedy entertainment). ROFL! :unsure:

Wishing you a great result, with a brand new CELTA to bring you boundless opportunities and an amazing new life!!

Zorrasabia (former I.H. CELTA student !).

kabrennan1 · « **Reply #7 on:** January 31, 2006, 05:54:41 AM »

Hello-

My name is Katie and I am also interested in teaching in Sevilla. I have done a lot of research on different TEFL programs, and I am unsure which would be the best. I am also unsure when to take the program, as I heard that August is an awful time to look for work because everyone is on holiday. Would it be better to enroll in a course in August and begin work in September? Hopefully someone can help me out with this---I have a friend who lives in Sevilla which is why I am set on staying there. If anyone could recommend a few reputable programs, it would really help me out. Thank you so much!

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Author Topic: Anyone In Sevilla? (Read 2985 times)