coastline of Spain
Marbella, Spain ©

Drew Graham, used under licence and adapted from the original.

With many postings available and no formal Spanish language qualifications required, the programme in Spain is open to a wide variety of candidates.

The Spanish Ministry of Education is interested in receiving applications from students and graduates from a range of academic disciplines. UK undergraduates required to take a year abroad as part of their studies are prioritised for posts however, there are still many posts available for those this does not apply to. 

Language Assistants in Spain are considered participants of a grant funded mobility programme and receive a monthly stipend, rather than a paid salary with contract of employment. As such, the programme may not be suited to those looking to relocate to Spain permanently, or candidates with dependants due to allocation timelines and the need for flexibility regarding locations. 

Am I eligible?

To be a Language Assistant in Spain you must:

  • fulfil the general eligibility criteria 
  • be aged 60 or under 
  • hold a UK or European Union passport (those who hold only a Spanish passport are not eligible. Dual nationals in possession of a non-Spanish European passport are eligible and should provide details of both their passports on the application form).

* Proficiency in Spanish is not required, in order to apply or receive a post. However, applicants are strongly recommended and encouraged to learn or improve their Spanish before departure as this will ease the transition of moving abroad. Successful applicants will be required to carry out administrative tasks in Spanish before and upon arrival in Spain and your allocated school may not be able to support with this. The British Council will not be able to assist in translating or aiding with tasks or paperwork in Spanish. 

When do placements start?   

Posts in Spain will run from 01 October 2023 until 31 May 2024, except for Comunidad de Madrid posts which run until 30 June 2024. 

How many hours will I work?  

Language Assistants in Spain work approximately 14-16 hours per week depending on the post.  

This will be confirmed in the nombramiento (appointment letter, similar to a contract) which successful Language Assistants will receive directly from the Spanish authorities May-August 2023. Your timetable will be provided to you directly by your school(s) upon arrival. Indicative information on the number hours worked by region is also available in the menu below. 

What type of institution will I be working in? 

There are posts available in Spanish secondary schools, primary schools and state language schools (Escuelas Oficiales de Idiomas, for adult learners). You may be working across more than one institution in the local area. 

Many schools in Spain have prominent Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL) programmes, in which they teach a variety of subjects in English, including maths, science, history, geography, art, music and physical education. You should therefore be prepared to help with English activities in a range of subject areas.

Where can I go? 

Posts are available in all Spanish regions. The British Council works with our partners at the Spanish Ministry of Education to allocate each candidate to a region of Spain. We encourage all applicants to express regional preferences in their application to inform our decisions. 

You can choose one regional preference from Group A, one from Group B, and a final preference from any of the three groups. We have provided some information about each region in the menu below. Candidates are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research before selecting regional preferences as no changes can be made once an application has been submitted. 

It is not always possible to allocate applicants to one of their preferred regions. Due to the nature of the programme, applicants should generally be prepared to be allocated to a region which does not match their preferences. Although preferences will be taken into consideration, please note that they are not guaranteed.

In your application you can also state preferences for environment (city, town, rural) as well as which age group you would prefer to teach. The Spanish Ministry of Education share this with the regional education authority in your allocated region, who then match each Language Assistant with institution(s) in their region. 

The areas listed in the group information below refer to regions and not towns or cities, although they may share the same name (e.g., Valencia, Madrid). While you can specify a preference for a particular environment, it is not possible to apply to a specific city or district within a given region e.g., specifying Barcelona if choosing Cataluña as your regional preference. Preferences are not guaranteed to be met and you may be allocated a placement that does not meet your preferences. 

If you already live in Spain, please note that due to the way applications are prioritised it is unlikely you will be offered a placement in or near the area where you live. Read more under the ‘Who is the programme aimed at?’ heading on the eligibility criteria page.

Many posts in Spain are in small towns and villages. It is important that the British Council and Spanish Ministry of Education allocate assistants to rural as well as more urban institutions as pupils in both settings deserve the opportunity to benefit from exposure to other cultures and language learning. 

In certain regions of Spain, there are cultural and religious sensitivities regarding the wearing of religious clothing and clothing that conceals the face. In some schools in the region of Melilla, wearing a burka is discouraged - although this is not true of all schools. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us, and we will try to ensure that you are allocated to a suitable school. 

If you have a specific preference for a particular region or environment relating to protected characteristics or you have support requirements, please tell us in your application. Refer to the Apply page or contact LanguageAssistants.UK@BritishCouncil.org for more information. 

 

Group A: Asturias, Ceuta, Extremadura, La Rioja, Melilla, Navarra, Pais Vasco

Asturias

A northern coastal region with a small number of predominantly rural and town postings. With its unspoilt beaches great for surfing and the Picos de Europa, Asturias is the perfect location for nature lovers and adrenaline junkies alike. You will receive €800 per month for 14 hours a week worked. 

Ceuta 

Spanish autonomous city on the north coast of Africa with a small number of city postings. Proximity to Morocco makes working here an exciting opportunity for anyone with an interest in Arabic or North Africa. You will receive €800 per month for 14 hours a week worked.

Extremadura

Western Spanish region bordering Portugal with good links to both Northern and Southern Spain. With six UNESCO sites this could be a perfect destination for history, architecture and nature lovers wishing to immerse themselves in Castellano Spanish. A large variety of postings are available. You will receive €935 per month for 16 hours a week worked. 

La Rioja

Located in the north of the Iberian Peninsula, the region is famous for its wineries, festivals and religious architecture. A variety of posting are available. La Rioja could be a perfect region for those wishing to avoid touristy areas and immerse themselves in Castellano Spanish. You will receive €800 per month for 14 hours a week worked.

Melilla

Spanish autonomous city on the north coast of Africa with a small number of city postings. Proximity to Morocco makes working here an exciting opportunity for anyone with an interest in Arabic or North Africa. You will receive €800 per month for 14 hours a week worked.

Navarra

Northern geographically diverse region with a small number of predominantly rural and town postings. With its proximity to France, the region may be of particular interest to dual linguists of French and Spanish. You will receive €800 per month for 14 hours a week worked. 

País Vasco

Beautiful region in northern Spain with its own cultural traditions and celebrated cuisines. A large number of predominantly rural and town postings are available. Despite its rural nature, the region has excellent transport links enabling easy commuting and travel to other parts of Spain. Please note that País Vasco is a bilingual region. Basque is often the first language in rural areas, however in cities Castellano Spanish is also commonly spoken. You will receive €800 per month for 14 hours a week worked.Candidates should consider that the cost of living and accommodation may be higher in this region. 

Group B: Islas Baleares and Canarias, Aragón, Cantabria, Castilla la Mancha, Cataluña, Galicia

(Islas) Baleares

Located in the Mediterranean, this region is made up of the four large islands of Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza, and Formentera, as well as several minor islands and islets. Postings are usually available on each of the four main islands, although schools in the major cities are limited. Candidates should consider that accommodation on some of the islands can be expensive due to tourism. Please note that Islas Baleares is a bilingual region, with dialects of Catalan and Castellano Spanish often spoken in schools. You will receive €800 per month for 14 hours a week worked.

(Islas) Canarias

Made up of seven main islands (Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro) the region is known for its rugged volcanic mountains, pine forests and sandy beaches. Postings are usually available on each of the main islands, although schools in the major cities are limited. Candidates should consider that travel to and accommodation on some of the islands can be expensive due to tourism. You will receive €800 per month for 14 hours a week worked.

Aragón

Known for its picturesque medieval towns and villages, Aragón hosts the highest and arguably most beautiful section of the Pyrenees mountain range - offering hiking, climbing, skiing, canyoning, rafting and paragliding opportunities. A variety of postings are available. You will receive €800 per month for 14 hours a week worked.

Cantabria

Northern coastal region with a very small number of postings available. With its unspoilt beaches and prehistoric caves, as well as the Picos de Europa mountain range, Cantabria is the perfect location for those who enjoy spectacular landscapes. You will receive €800 per month for 14 hours a week worked. 

Castilla-La Mancha

Dotted with small, peaceful cities as well as vineyards, castles and windmills, this historically important region is the setting of Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quixote. This region could be a perfect destination for candidates wishing to immerse themselves in Castellano Spanish. A variety of postings are available. You will receive €800 per month for 14 hours a week worked. 

Cataluña

A north-eastern region (bordering France and Andorra) with its own language, unique local customs and a distinct history dating back almost 1,000 years. Predominantly rural, town and small city postings are available. Those applying to Cataluña in the hope of a placement in Barcelona should be aware that every year there are very few postings in and around Barcelona city and therefore competition for these posts is extremely high. Please note that Cataluña is a bilingual region. Catalan is often the first spoken language with Castellano Spanish less commonly spoken. You will receive €800 per month for 14 hours a week worked.

Galicia

Galicia is a vibrant region famous for its distinct cuisine and beaches. Its capital Santiago de Compostela is the final destination of the ‘Camino de Santiago’ pilgrimage, and as such the region’s people are renowned for being extremely welcoming. Its proximity to Portugal may make the region interesting to dual linguists of Portuguese and Spanish. Please note that Galicia is a bilingual region. Gallego is often the first language in rural areas, however Castellano Spanish is also commonly spoken. A large variety of postings are available. You will receive either €935 per month for 16 hours per week, or €800 per month for 14 hours a week worked. 

Group C: Andalucía, Castilla León, Madrid, Murcia, Valencia

Andalucía

From small fishing villages to the famous mountainous hinterland, picturesque towns and lively cities; Andalucía is one of the largest regions with a high number of postings available. You will receive €800 per month for 14 hours a week worked. Most Language Assistants in Andalucía will be posted to bilingual centres where they are responsible for helping with English activities in a range of different subject areas e.g., History, Art, Science.

Castilla León

Consisting of nine provinces, Castilla y León is the biggest region of Spain and has a large variety of postings available. The region has several beautiful World Heritage status cities including Segovia, Salamanca and Ávila. With links to Portugal, Madrid and the North, Castilla y León could be a perfect place for those wishing to explore Spain whilst avoiding anglophone tourist hotspots. You will receive €800 per month for 14 hours a week worked.

Madrid

Located in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula, the capital of the Madrid region is also the capital of Spain. A large variety of postings are available, although candidates should be aware that postings are across the region, not just in Madrid capital city. Those applying to Madrid may experience delays receiving the details of their postings, therefore if naming the region as a preference, you must be flexible and prepared for the possibility that school allocation information may not be received until mid to late September - close to placement start dates on 01 October. You will receive €1000 per month for 16 hours a week worked. Candidates should consider that the cost of living and accommodation may be higher in the Madrid region. 

Murcia

A coastal agricultural region, famous for its beaches, orchards, olive groves, medieval castles and villages. In 2006 the World Health Organisation named Murcia’s regional climate as one of the best in the world, therefore the region might be the perfect place for those looking for good air quality, Mediterranean diet and a warm dry climate. A variety of postings are available. You will receive either €825 per month for 15 hours a week worked, or €800 per month for 14 hours a week worked.

Valencia

Located along the Mediterranean coast, the Valencian Comunidad consists of three provinces;  Castellón, Valencia and Alicante. A large variety of postings, predominantly in primary schools, are available. Please note that Valencia is a bilingual region, with both Valenciano and Castellano Spanish spoken in most schools. Candidates applying to Valencia should be aware that previous assistants have experienced delays to receiving their monthly stipends. As a precaution, candidates naming the region of Valencia as a preference should ensure that they have access to alternative funds throughout the year. You will receive either €1000 per month for 16 hours a week worked, or €800 per month for 14 hours a week worked.

Will I need a visa? 

Language Assistants going to Spain who do not have a current EU passport or valid Spanish residency paperwork will have to apply for a long stay student visa/ visado de estudios. Applicants should be prepared to apply for their visa independently and to invest a significant amount of time into the process. From the point of allocation, the process of obtaining your visa can continue until just before your arrival in Spain in October. 

Applications for the visa will be made through the Spanish Consular offices in the UK. You should not apply until you have been instructed to do so by our team.     

What are the costs involved? 

You will be paid directly by the Spanish authorities during the assistantship. Indicative information about pay and hours in each region is available in the menu above. 

Applicants should also be aware that there are significant additional costs associated with the visa process and relocating to Spain. 

The costs involved will vary depending on individual circumstances and applicants must research in advance and prepare for the costs involved. However, these costs should not occur all at once as they will arise at different steps of the programme, from visa application to arrival in Spain. 

These are likely to include:  

  • Visa application including legalisation and translation of documents (£400- 600) 

  • Travel costs 

  • Accommodation costs including initial temporary accommodation and deposit for permanent accommodation 

  • Administrative arrival costs in Spain e.g., NIE/TIE/Empadronamiento (€20-30) 

  • Accounting for potential late payments - Assistants generally receive their monthly pay in the first fortnight of the following month. However, the first payment may not arrive until late November, so you will need funds for this time. Previous assistants have recommended budgeting for at least two months without pay. 

Please note that visa requirements can change at short notice, and the British Council cannot be held responsible for any changes to the visa process or to the approximate costs listed above which have been given as a guide only. 

We encourage you to read more about the monthly allowance and how much money we recommend budgeting for Spain in section 9 of the destination guide (available to downloaded from the bottom of this page). 

I’ve worked as a Language Assistant in Spain – can I apply again? 

If you are currently or have previously been a British Council-appointed Language Assistant in Spain, you may be eligible to apply for a consecutive year in Spain. Different regions have different rules regarding consecutive year applications. Please see the returning applicants’ guidance page for more information. 

Where can I get information about my placement from?

The guide for Language Assistants in Spain 2022-23 is available to download in PDF format below. This information has been provided for reference and is subject to change each year. Updated guidance for Assistants going out on placement in 2023-24 will be available in summer 2023.

Last updated: 02/12/2022
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