Spain: Auxiliar de Conversación

Auxiliar de Conversación

Back in the fall of 2009, my senior year of college, I decided I wanted to move back to Spain after graduation to teach English for a year or two before making my way in the world. Hearing the auxiliar de conversación program was the best way to get a visa for Spain, I applied with enthusiasm as soon as the application opened.

The Auxiliar de Conversación program in Spain places Americans (among others) in public elementary and high schools for 8-9 months. You receive a monthly grant of 700 euros per month and you work 12 hours a week (1,000 euros and 16 hrs/wk – Madrid) from the Spanish Ministry of Education. You can access the online application here. There are other ways to come to Spain to teach English but as an American it’s very difficult to get sponsored for work papers, the ministry and other programs provide us with student visas. The other main programs are CIEE and BEDA.

My first year in Córdoba I didn’t read blogs, I didn’t know anyone who had done the program, and I didn’t even know about the Facebook groups. There are so many things I wish I had known that I learned the hard way. About halfway through the year, depressed as hell and ready to call it quits, I decided to give the auxiliars a second chance and share everything I had learned on my blog, hoping to help future auxiliars not make the same mistakes as me and to have the best year possible and be prepared!

And you know what happened? My second year in Logroño could not have been more perfect. I had the best year of my life and I hope to encourage you all to the same, any which way I can, because I know you will not get this kind of help from the Spanish government or from the people who run this program.

My goal is to encourage you to go live abroad for a year and travel the world and show you how to do so you have the time of your life. 

Where to start?

Practical tips for Auxiliar de Conversación in SpainAuxiliar de Conversación

Problems with the Auxiliar de Conversación Program 

Musings about the program and Spain

How-to articles and thoughts on living in Spain and cultural differencesAuxiliar de Conversación

Funny posts

Series

  • Interviews with different expats in Spain and their thoughts and tips on their regions – The Expat Files
  • Highlighting a different pincho or tapa every week in Logroño – Pincho of the Week series

For traveling around Spain and destination tips, go here

Auxiliar de Conversación

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