Making connections

[rosie1973]

I'm goint to be taking my CELTA in Seville in November.  I plan on going to Madrid after that to try and find work.  I will be pounding the pavement for work, but I also have a plan in coming back to Chicago and then returning next summer if things dont work out during the time I'm there.  To make this trip most beneficial to me, I want to make sure I not only get the proper research done with actual jobs, but that I make some valuable contacts as well.  This means making friends and getting to know other teachers who've been through it.  I've lived long enough to know that it's usually not so much WHAT you know, but who you know that gets you where you need to be.  People are so very very important.  So I was wondering. . . . is there a place in Madrid where meeting other teachers is common?  Are there any people on this board who meet up regularly?  What are some things to do there that will most certianly bump me into some interesting and progressive people?  Travelers, teachers, free spirits?  

feel free to email me as well!  pookieburntear@yahoo.com

thanks for anythin anyone can give me!
carrie

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[RebeccaG]

Hi Rosie! Welcome to the Expatriate Café!

Good move on your part, wanting to make connections before coming to Spain. You have come to a good place to do so! Just so you know, both Tony and I are based here in Madrid, so feel free to get in touch with us... best way is through the board.

With regards to where teachers hangout... hmmm that´s such a subjective question because teachers are of all sorts. For example, I socialize frequently with expats, but don´t make it a specific objective to \"hang out\" with teachers. Although I am sure that if I walk into one of the hundreds of Irish bars here in Madrid, I will definitely find more than one teacher   .

I cannot speak for Seville, perhaps one of our other board members can... but Madrid has a wealth of options for people teaching here. In fact, Tony and I are trying to organize a first Expatriate Café get together. If you are around then, feel free to let us know!

Some of the resources you might want to check are publications such as In Madrid, a free monthly newspaper in English.

Join a professional organization such as TESOL Spain.

You could try organzining a teacher get together by putting a post on this board and see who joins you.

Also, English bookstores (such as Booksellers in Madrid) have bulletin boards where you can post ads and messages for others to read and get in touch with you.

Just a few ideas to get you started!

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[rosie1973]

Thank you so much. Those are some seriously helpful tips.  I will keep you in mind and as soon as I reach Madrid I will be sure to contact you.  I also know that by the end of my course I'll have a handful of contacts and new friends and it won't seem so big and scary.  What do you think about December as a month for looking at work?  I know it's not the ideal month to do this, but it's how things worked out for me.  I heard somewhere that this is a good time to get in with corporate type places who begin hiring for January.  Do you know anything about this?  I know there's many more options out there besides knocking on school doors that countless other teachers-in-need have knocked on.  I'm looking more at back doors and trap doors and such.  (maybe even dog doors)  Again, any help will be good!  

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