Author Topic: 2011-2012 North American Language and Culture Assistants in MADRID (Read 35094 times)

CarlyG · « **on:** March 27, 2011, 07:01:54 PM »

Hi everyone,
I wanted to start a new topic for any first years headed to Madrid in the fall! I see other regions have their own forums and I think it'll be helpful to find roommates and friends and ask questions here before we head out! Once we start getting the letters from our regions, I'm sure we'll want to know who is where and whether anyone will be in the same school! Join if you're moving to Madrid Fall 2011!
Carly

Rubiaco · « **Reply #1 on:** March 27, 2011, 09:51:45 PM »

sounds good. Hopefully we'll get our school assignments really soon. I just want it so I can get the visa and be done with it all. The sooner it's in my hands, the sooner I can leave for Madrid!

CarlyG · « **Reply #2 on:** March 27, 2011, 11:42:46 PM »

Yeah I definitely need to call my consulate and figure out if we need a new background check. I've seen so many people saying different things that I want to hear it for myself. I believe my consulate is in NYC. By the way, I'm from Philly if anyone is interested in meeting up ahead of time to get to know one another

ny8120 · « **Reply #3 on:** March 28, 2011, 08:02:54 AM »

hey guys,

does anyone know if the majority of people are placed in the actual city of Madrid? It seems like we could be placed anywhere in the Madrid province.

Rubiaco · « **Reply #4 on:** March 28, 2011, 02:51:34 PM »

yeah, could be anywhere, but shouldn't affect you living in the city. I know a girl who travels about an hour by train, but then again, my dad does that here in the states by car. Now, certain neighborhoods may make a lot more sense, so I wouldn't have my heart set on any particular barrio, but in theory, you could live anywhere.

AMIRicano · « **Reply #5 on:** March 28, 2011, 08:57:02 PM »

Yay! Great idea... I really hope I get a school placement in an urban setting within the city.

trebles · « **Reply #6 on:** March 28, 2011, 09:35:18 PM »

I think I would actually prefer living in a cute town just outside of Madrid, 50 mins away

Reportinglove · « **Reply #7 on:** March 28, 2011, 10:13:55 PM »

City living all the way! My commute right now is an hour anyway so as long as I live in the city centre I don't care where I'm placed!

Andrepdx · « **Reply #8 on:** March 28, 2011, 11:07:40 PM »

I really can't believe this is happening!

MADRID here I come!

Rubiaco · « **Reply #9 on:** March 29, 2011, 12:22:24 AM »

no joke. I can't wait. I wanna live in the city, near the center. But I wouldn't wanna live near Sol...too touristy. Maybe Arguelles o Salamanca.

goldn217 · « **Reply #10 on:** March 29, 2011, 05:50:51 AM »

Yay! I am so excited. I can't wait to be living in Madrid. I think having a spanish roommate would be cool, but it would definitely be comforting to live with another auxiliar so we can share our experiences. So, if anyone is interested, I would love to find a roomie before we get there! and regardless of where I am placed, I want to live somewhere in the center of the city.

bucci · « **Reply #11 on:** March 29, 2011, 05:54:45 AM »

I just got placed for Madrid today and I can't stop smiling! I was born there and lived there for a few years when I was a kid and have really fond memories, so it'll be good to go back.

dcolin · « **Reply #12 on:** March 29, 2011, 06:24:27 AM »

Quote from: goldn217 on March 29, 2011, 05:50:51 AM

Yay! I am so excited. I can't wait to be living in Madrid. I think having a spanish roommate would be cool, but it would definitely be comforting to live with another auxiliar so we can share our experiences. So, if anyone is interested, I would love to find a roomie before we get there! and regardless of where I am placed, I want to live somewhere in the center of the city.

I just got placed in Madrid today and I couldn't be any more excited! & I totally agree with you, while having a Spanish roommate would be nice, I'd also like to live with at one auxiliar

I can't wait til they start assigning schools, though that's probably quite a while away...

JenT · « **Reply #13 on:** March 29, 2011, 10:37:15 PM »

I lived in Arguelles for a month in the summer and it was pretty great, quiet at night but walking distance to all the action. I'm definitely hoping for city center because I like being able to walk home after a night out. Though I usually stay out until 7 AM and take the metro home with friends anyways, hehe.

AMIRicano · « **Reply #14 on:** March 30, 2011, 07:02:13 PM »

So I emailed the three contacts that were listed in the Annex of the Manual for Madrid to ask if I could preference receiving a school assignment in Madrid centro versus one in the suburbs, and this is the response I got back:

Dear Amir
Placements are distributed at random in order to avoid any kind of preferences.
I am sure you will find that all locations in the Comunidad de Madrid are easy to access from Madrid centre.

So I guess we can't preference that. But like she said, everything will be accessible easily from Madrid centro, so I think it will still be feasible to live in an urban setting and commute to the outskirts for work if we have to. I still hope I get a more centrally-located school, so that I don't have to commute far.

CarlyG · « **Reply #15 on:** March 31, 2011, 01:31:15 AM »

I started getting upset when I thought about getting placed in a suburb of Madrid, but then I decided that I'll definitely live in the city regardless of my school location and travel on work days. Since we only work around 16 hours a week, it would be nice to work 3 full days, in which case it wouldn't even be that bad to travel out.

Reportinglove · « **Reply #16 on:** March 31, 2011, 02:16:24 AM »

Quote from: AMIRicano on March 30, 2011, 07:02:13 PM

So I emailed the three contacts that were listed in the Annex of the Manual for Madrid to ask if I could preference receiving a school assignment in Madrid centro versus one in the suburbs, and this is the response I got back:

Dear Amir
Placements are distributed at random in order to avoid any kind of preferences.
I am sure you will find that all locations in the Comunidad de Madrid are easy to access from Madrid centre.

So I guess we can't preference that. But like she said, everything will be accessible easily from Madrid centro, so I think it will still be feasible to live in an urban setting and commute to the outskirts for work if we have to. I still hope I get a more centrally-located school, so that I don't have to commute far.

I was going to email them to ask exactly what but you did it for me! I guess we all just cross our fingers and hope we get placed in the centre? Either way I don't think it's a huge deal to commute a few days a week considering we only work a few days!

ajnabiyya · « **Reply #17 on:** March 31, 2011, 09:18:18 AM »

If you go to this website (http://www.educa.madrid.org/cms_tools/files/bb17a1e8-1eb0-40d1-8cf6-5ad96a331455/EIRE.pdf) and click on "Language Assistant Guide" you will find the guide for the Madrid auxiliares for 2010-2011. It's interesting reading for those of us who will be joining the Madrid auxiliares group this fall. For instance, I was previously under the impression that most of the positions were in secondary schools, but from what I saw here, it looks like most positions in Madrid are in primary schools. (Unless I misread, which is possible since I am tired!)

Packback · « **Reply #18 on:** March 31, 2011, 08:59:48 PM »

Hey crew. I was placed a couple weeks ago in Madrid for this coming fall.

We get an int'l airport that EasyJet likes! Weekend travel, woohoo!

Anybody started looking into pisos and prices in the barrios vs. centro? I'm thinking a Spanish roommate would be fantastic...

Andrepdx · « **Reply #19 on:** March 31, 2011, 09:26:34 PM »

Quote from: CarlyG on March 31, 2011, 01:31:15 AM

Since we only work around 16 hours a week, it would be nice to work 3 full days, in which case it wouldn't even be that bad to travel out.

Wait! We only work 16 hours a week? What am I suppose to do with all the other hours of the week? I live in America where you work 50+ hours a week. This is going to be brilliant! I hope they have gyms in Madrid

I am so excited!

Packback · « **Reply #20 on:** March 31, 2011, 10:34:24 PM »

Quote from: Andrepdx on March 31, 2011, 09:26:34 PM

Wait! We only work 16 hours a week? What am I suppose to do with all the other hours of the week? I live in America where you work 50+ hours a week. This is going to be brilliant! I hope they have gyms in Madrid

I am so excited!

I don't know about the gyms... I never saw any there and it's not as culturally significant in España to work out at a gym... It's hard to even find tennis shoes.

trebles · « **Reply #21 on:** March 31, 2011, 11:54:14 PM »

Quote from: Packback on March 31, 2011, 10:34:24 PM

I don't know about the gyms... I never saw any there and it's not as culturally significant in España to work out at a gym... It's hard to even find tennis shoes.

You wont need a gym just walk all day and sight see Europe that will be your exercise lol

trebles · « **Reply #22 on:** March 31, 2011, 11:54:47 PM »

Quote from: ajnabiyya on March 31, 2011, 09:18:18 AM

If you go to this website (http://www.educa.madrid.org/cms_tools/files/bb17a1e8-1eb0-40d1-8cf6-5ad96a331455/EIRE.pdf) and click on "Language Assistant Guide" you will find the guide for the Madrid auxiliares for 2010-2011. It's interesting reading for those of us who will be joining the Madrid auxiliares group this fall. For instance, I was previously under the impression that most of the positions were in secondary schools, but from what I saw here, it looks like most positions in Madrid are in primary schools. (Unless I misread, which is possible since I am tired!)

So apparently we will work until 30th of June too! awesome.. I thought it was until end of may..

Packback · « **Reply #23 on:** April 01, 2011, 12:36:16 AM »

Quote from: trebles on March 31, 2011, 11:54:14 PM

You wont need a gym just walk all day and sight see Europe that will be your exercise lol

True story.

Packback · « **Reply #24 on:** April 01, 2011, 01:30:22 AM »

Quote from: ajnabiyya on March 31, 2011, 09:18:18 AM

If you go to this website (http://www.educa.madrid.org/cms_tools/files/bb17a1e8-1eb0-40d1-8cf6-5ad96a331455/EIRE.pdf) and click on "Language Assistant Guide" you will find the guide for the Madrid auxiliares for 2010-2011.

And we get 1,000€ a month?! Though that is for Ireland assts., and Ireland is part of the EU? Who knows.

...WE'RE GOING TO MADRID!

trebles · « **Reply #25 on:** April 01, 2011, 01:56:35 AM »

Quote from: Packback on April 01, 2011, 01:30:22 AM

And we get 1,000€ a month?! Though that is for Ireland assts., and Ireland is part of the EU? Who knows.

...WE'RE GOING TO MADRID!

All Madrid people get E 1,000

Packback · « **Reply #26 on:** April 01, 2011, 03:24:58 AM »

Quote from: trebles on April 01, 2011, 01:56:35 AM

All Madrid people get E 1,000

Better than the "net €700" from the manual. Higher cost of living in Madrid?

Reportinglove · « **Reply #27 on:** April 01, 2011, 04:13:11 AM »

Quote from: trebles on March 31, 2011, 11:54:47 PM

So apparently we will work until 30th of June too! awesome.. I thought it was until end of may..

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My best friend is going to SHOOT ME!!! I'm supposed to be a bridesmaid in her wedding the second week of June!!!

I haven't started reading that damn program yet!!!

Reportinglove · « **Reply #28 on:** April 01, 2011, 04:16:35 AM »

Quote from: ajnabiyya on March 31, 2011, 09:18:18 AM

If you go to this website (http://www.educa.madrid.org/cms_tools/files/bb17a1e8-1eb0-40d1-8cf6-5ad96a331455/EIRE.pdf) and click on "Language Assistant Guide" you will find the guide for the Madrid auxiliares for 2010-2011. It's interesting reading for those of us who will be joining the Madrid auxiliares group this fall. For instance, I was previously under the impression that most of the positions were in secondary schools, but from what I saw here, it looks like most positions in Madrid are in primary schools. (Unless I misread, which is possible since I am tired!)

Thanks for posting this! Though now I'm seriously panicking about the end of June thing!!! I would kill to stay even longer but my bff is going to murder me!

par0910 · « **Reply #29 on:** April 01, 2011, 01:47:44 PM »

On page 8 of the program manual, it says "The program generally lasts 8 months from October 1 through May 31." Also, in the "Language Assistant Guide" on page 15, it says that participants funded through the Ministerio de Educación work until May 31.

However, those funded through a Fulbright work until June 30th.

Packback · « **Reply #30 on:** April 01, 2011, 04:20:37 PM »

Quote from: Reportinglove on April 01, 2011, 04:13:11 AM

OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My best friend is going to SHOOT ME!!! I'm supposed to be a bridesmaid in her wedding the second week of June!!!

I haven't started reading that damn program yet!!!

Don't start worrying until you have your letter! That's really the only thing to count on in terms of learning about pay, hours, location and duration. Things change each year a little bit.

marcus · « **Reply #31 on:** April 04, 2011, 08:41:21 AM »

Quote from: Andrepdx on March 31, 2011, 09:26:34 PM

Wait! We only work 16 hours a week? What am I suppose to do with all the other hours of the week? I live in America where you work 50+ hours a week. This is going to be brilliant! I hope they have gyms in Madrid

I am so excited!

I don't know if they have the meathead gyms like in the US, but I'm planning on joining one of the rock climbing gyms in madrid for sure. Maybe this one: http://www.espacioaccion.com/. Think they have weight machines as well.

Andrepdx · « **Reply #32 on:** April 04, 2011, 07:32:39 PM »

Quote from: marcus on April 04, 2011, 08:41:21 AM

I'm planning on joining one of the rock climbing gyms in madrid for sure.

Never looked into doing this before. I think I may join you! this could be a lot of fun!

Andre

Reportinglove · « **Reply #33 on:** April 05, 2011, 04:07:17 AM »

Ahh! people placed in Castilla y Leon have already gotten their city/school assignments! any idea when we'll get ours?

mandeebee · « **Reply #34 on:** April 05, 2011, 05:46:10 PM »

Extremadura has started to get their placements as well. Hopefully ours are soon!

Rubiaco · « **Reply #35 on:** April 05, 2011, 10:18:20 PM »

do ya'll know if it's be email or reg. mail? Like everything else, I've heard some people say one, and other say the other

Packback · « **Reply #36 on:** April 05, 2011, 10:28:30 PM »

Quote from: Rubiaco on April 05, 2011, 10:18:20 PM

do ya'll know if it's be email or reg. mail? Like everything else, I've heard some people say one, and other say the other

Doesn't the program manual say regular mail for specific assignments and email for Profex assignation?

kyky22 · « **Reply #37 on:** April 05, 2011, 10:48:39 PM »

Quote from: Packback on April 05, 2011, 10:28:30 PM

Doesn't the program manual say regular mail for specific assignments and email for Profex assignation?

Last year, Madrid got their letter by email and did not get one in the mail, I don't know if things have changed or not.

Packback · « **Reply #38 on:** April 05, 2011, 11:06:58 PM »

Quote from: kyky22 on April 05, 2011, 10:48:39 PM

Last year, Madrid got their letter by email and did not get one in the mail, I don't know if things have changed or not.

Wow, great to know. Thanks for the update, kyky.

...Now I can start obsessively checking my inbox instead of my mailbox...

Reportinglove · « **Reply #39 on:** April 06, 2011, 12:04:23 AM »

Quote from: kyky22 on April 05, 2011, 10:48:39 PM

Last year, Madrid got their letter by email and did not get one in the mail, I don't know if things have changed or not.

Are you sure about this?

flembroo · « **Reply #40 on:** April 06, 2011, 03:49:36 AM »

Hello, everyone

I've been reading all of your posts for a few weeks now, so I finally decided it was time to sign up and join the conversation. I am so excited for Madrid! Is anyone else a teacher in the states right now?

kyky22 · « **Reply #41 on:** April 06, 2011, 03:57:56 AM »

Quote from: Reportinglove on April 06, 2011, 12:04:23 AM

Are you sure about this?

I have NO idea what they are going to do this year but I'm pretty sure last year that Madrid's letters came as an email attachment that contained a letter with an electronic signature or barcode type of thing that they used to get their visas.

ajnabiyya · « **Reply #42 on:** April 06, 2011, 05:44:40 AM »

Quote from: flembroo on April 06, 2011, 03:49:36 AM

Hello, everyone I've been reading all of your posts for a few weeks now, so I finally decided it was time to sign up and join the conversation. I am so excited for Madrid! Is anyone else a teacher in the states right now?

Hi there! I'm an English/ESL/Spanish teacher in California, currently teaching high school Spanish. I'm very excited to be moving to Madrid!

flembroo · « **Reply #43 on:** April 06, 2011, 07:15:15 AM »

Great! A fellow teacher! Right now I just work with high school English and ESL, but my degree is in Spanish as well. What are you doing about your job next year? Are you able to come back after your year abroad, or are you just hoping for the best? I'm hesitant to put in my letter of resignation before getting a letter from the school in Madrid, but I guess I should let my school know. What do you think? I'm just worried something might fall through. Nothing to be worried about though, right???

ajnabiyya · « **Reply #44 on:** April 06, 2011, 06:04:02 PM »

Quote from: flembroo on April 06, 2011, 07:15:15 AM

Great! A fellow teacher! Right now I just work with high school English and ESL, but my degree is in Spanish as well. What are you doing about your job next year? Are you able to come back after your year abroad, or are you just hoping for the best? I'm hesitant to put in my letter of resignation before getting a letter from the school in Madrid, but I guess I should let my school know. What do you think? I'm just worried something might fall through. Nothing to be worried about though, right???

Well, I'm planning to make the move to Spain permanently (I'm married to a Spaniard), so I already gave my notice. You might want to look into the possibility of requesting a leave of absence - that's what I did while I got my masters degree. If your district allows you to do that, then you can take a year or two off without losing your tenure or seniority. If that's not an option, well, it's certainly your call whether to resign now or after you get your letter from Madrid. The odds of the language assistantship falling through seem to be very slim at this point, and certainly your district would benefit from getting into the hiring game sooner rather than later, but few would fault you for looking out for yourself and waiting until you have that final confirmation from Madrid before giving resigning. Either way, it should work out fine - you're almost certainly going to Madrid

, and if you tell your district in May they should still have time to find a high-quality replacement.

Rubiaco · « **Reply #45 on:** April 06, 2011, 09:02:15 PM »

back to the emails, do y'all think we won't get assignments until all of the placements in madrid are filled?

sunflower · « **Reply #46 on:** April 07, 2011, 04:23:40 PM »

Guys I'm soo excited to be headed to SPAIN next year!!! Yeah I don't know if I'll be living with a spanish roommate or a fellow aux. ... or what I'll be doing the year after the program...all I know is that I am going to be livin' it up in Madrid next year having the time of my life. So I hope I get a chance to meet all of ya'll over there so we can fiesta together ;-)

Reportinglove · « **Reply #47 on:** April 08, 2011, 04:52:01 AM »

Second years -- can you tell us what holidays we get? I believe (and correct me if I'm wrong!) that we get 2 weeks at Christmas and a week at Easter (when is it in Spain?) for sure plus the random Spanish national holidays (one day at at a time).

Is there anything else? I think some regions also get a week or a few days off for their local ferias, does Madrid have anything like that?

pittel · « **Reply #48 on:** April 08, 2011, 09:43:23 AM »

Quote from: Reportinglove on April 08, 2011, 04:52:01 AM

Second years -- can you tell us what holidays we get? I believe (and correct me if I'm wrong!) that we get 2 weeks at Christmas and a week at Easter (when is it in Spain?) for sure plus the random Spanish national holidays (one day at at a time).

Is there anything else? I think some regions also get a week or a few days off for their local ferias, does Madrid have anything like that?

Depends on the schools. I think everyone gets 2 weeks for Xmas. In Pais Vasco we got a week for Carnaval, but some people just get a few days. We also get 2 weeks for Semana Santa. There are a lot of random puentes...where the holiday is on a Tuesday, so they give you Monday off too. It rocks! You'll have a lot of time to travel, it's pretty sweet!

Rubiaco · « **Reply #49 on:** April 08, 2011, 04:25:01 PM »

from the moment we get our school assignments, we can start the visa process right? Any idea on how long it takes? I'm sure like everything else, it varies from consulate to consulate. I want to move to MAD as soon possible.

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Author Topic: 2011-2012 North American Language and Culture Assistants in MADRID (Read 35094 times)