Author Topic: Move to BCN - with a little spanish (Read 2781 times)

tattie · « **on:** December 16, 2002, 01:22:00 AM »

Hi everyone

Great site - very positive comments about taking the big step to move to another

country!!

What I want to do is move to BCN asap but can you get a job in IT (I have work permit) knowing a bit spanish but not Catalan ? Do companies want Catalan speakers ?

Also, does anyone think finding accommodation on the outskirts of BCN a good idea. I\'d like to commute instead of living in the City itself.

Any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks

Tad[addsig]

silo · « **Reply #1 on:** December 16, 2002, 04:19:00 AM »

HiTad,

Not to be a downer, but getting a job in IT with LITTLE Spansih and NO Catalan in Barcelona...Forget about it. I\'d say try something like Teaching English learn the language then work your way up to IT. Even if you do work up it would be a challenge, I know native IT people with distiguished CV\'s who can\'t find work.[addsig]

mlwalton · « **Reply #2 on:** December 16, 2002, 05:56:00 AM »

Hey Tad,

you could try submitting a cover letter and resume to terry-lycos? They have headquarters in BCN...I\'d recommend an intensive spanish course first though...I\'m checking into that for myself. I\'m leaving for Europe March 31st and will settle in BCN in September \'03. You can e-mail me if you want. I\'ll share any info I got [IMG SRC=\"modules/phpBB_14/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif\"] [!-- BBCode Start --][A HREF=\"mailto:mlwalton13@hotmail.com\"]mlwalton13@hotmail.com[/A][!-- BBCode End --]...hope this helps...

Salud! [IMG SRC=\"modules/phpBB_14/images/smiles/icon_beer.gif\"]

Michelle [IMG SRC=\"modules/phpBB_14/images/smiles/icon_cool.gif\"] [addsig]

tattie · « **Reply #3 on:** December 16, 2002, 10:27:00 PM »

Hi - thanks michelle and Shiloh

When I say little spanish - I mean I am doing quite an advanced Spanish course. I would hope before I get there I will be pretty good !?! [IMG SRC=\"modules/phpBB_14/images/smiles/icon_superman.gif\"]

Anyway - I am off there next month to check it out but I don\'t think I could teach English because the thought of standing and teaching a whole lotta people is a bit scary. But if I have to I will! I would have to go and do the TEFL Cert too. My degree is in computers and I would prefer to do that but I am open to ideas.

Michelle - after my jaunt I will post my findings.

Thanks for your comments

Tad [IMG SRC=\"modules/phpBB_14/images/smiles/icon_superman.gif\"] [addsig]

silo · « **Reply #4 on:** December 17, 2002, 03:06:00 PM »

[!-- BBCode auto-link start --][a href=\"http://www.iagora.com/pages/sendto?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eloquo%2Ecom%2Fenglish&lang=en\" target=\"_blank\"]http://www.iagora.com/pages/sendto?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Eloquo%2Ecom%2Fenglish&lang=en[/a][!-- BBCode auto-link end --]

I don\'t know if this will help.[addsig]

mlwalton · « **Reply #5 on:** December 17, 2002, 03:21:00 PM »

Hey Tad,

If you are interested in getting TEFL certified, check out [!-- BBCode Start --][A HREF=\"http://www.itc-training.com\" TARGET=\"_blank\"]ITC Language School[/A][!-- BBCode End --]. That\'s where I got certified last November in Prague. And just to let you know, my "classes" were rarely ever more than 2-3 students. Most of my lessons were one-on-one. I only had one lesson where I had 5 or more students...so don\'t be daunted by the idea of standing up and teaching in front of people. Teaching English is a completely different animal from what school was like in high school and college. At least that was my experience. Hope this helps [IMG SRC=\"modules/phpBB_14/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif\"]

Salud! [IMG SRC=\"modules/phpBB_14/images/smiles/icon_beer.gif\"]

Michelle [IMG SRC=\"modules/phpBB_14/images/smiles/icon_cool.gif\"] [addsig]

tattie · « **Reply #6 on:** December 17, 2002, 10:56:00 PM »

Hey again Michelle and Shilho

Both the recommended websites were useful. Thanks so much.

It would seem that teaching English is an option. Although even the thought of teaching one to one is daunting - teaching computers easy but not English. I have seen over the months on the website Monster.es there are a fair few Computer jobs on offer in BCN wanting English and Spanish. I would want to give that route a fair crack of the whip before I am forced otherwise.

Now my wife on the other hand would be so good at teaching English. She would be good at that sort of thing. She found the itc website interesting and Michelles comments encouraging. She was looking into doing the CELTA course at our local college. But when and if we move to BCN she may just do it there. She is worried about not having a degree and she may get rejected, although she read on the itc it wasn\'t necessary. So here\'s to hoping!

Have I mentioned we going next month for a holiday/visit/fact finding mission ? Can\'t wait!!! [IMG SRC=\"modules/phpBB_14/images/smiles/icon_nod.gif\"] [IMG SRC=\"modules/phpBB_14/images/smiles/icon_nod.gif\"]

Any further advice would be appreciated.

All the best for 2003 - Mucha suerte.

Cheers

Tad[addsig]

dkmarsh · « **Reply #7 on:** December 18, 2002, 04:48:00 PM »

my best suggestion to you is, if you have enough money saved up, and a source of support from family and friends back home, make the jump to bcn. the best and most effective way to accomplish your goal is to meet people here in bars, social clubs, etc, and put the word out what you´re looking for, as well as the skills that you possess. also, there are periodicals over here such as la vanguardia, which have extensive classified sections. additionally, by moving over here, you will improve your spanish. i moved over here with an extensive knowledge of castellano after learining it for 2 years in middle school, all for years of high school, and two semesters in college....and i still spead in broken sentences. the only way to improve is to submerge your self in a spanish speaking environment. what i´ve been doing is watching obscene amounts of television, as well as visiting neighborhood bars and chatting with locals. being an american, if you start speaking castellano, the locals will usually help you out and will appreciate your humility in trying to speak their language. i hope this helps.

saludos,

dahshi [IMG SRC=\"modules/phpBB_14/images/smiles/icon_beer.gif\"] [addsig]

Tracy · « **Reply #8 on:** December 18, 2002, 08:09:00 PM »

Tad, once you get to BCN try looking into visiting a tech headhunter. They can better assess your language skills and give you a much better idea of the tech market in BCN for your level of experience/knowledge.

Also, just so everyone knows: it\'s TerraLycos.com, which is an internet co. located in BCN/.

[IMG SRC=\"modules/phpBB_14/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif\"] [addsig]

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Author Topic: Move to BCN - with a little spanish (Read 2781 times)