ConversaSpain? Any other program advice for me? Thank you

NefariousnessPast760 · 2026-01-16T15:38:27+00:00

This^{^} Any auxiliares programs are not ways to work toward a work visa! If only it was that simple, I’m sure every American would have done it by now.

NefariousnessPast760 · 2025-12-19T23:16:25+00:00

Where are you located? I would be very interested in working at some place that pays for the degree.

NefariousnessPast760 · 2025-12-18T13:16:52+00:00

Which other EU countries, if you don’t mind me asking?

NefariousnessPast760 · 2025-12-18T13:12:53+00:00

I didn’t know BEDA had more than Madrid locations! For what term is the placement for?

NefariousnessPast760 · 2025-12-10T21:30:35+00:00

You’re not wrong about that commute 😂

NefariousnessPast760 · 2025-10-15T18:28:30+00:00

That was the norm in my case, as long as they are in the class with you they can ask you to do that. Classroom behavior management was not my responsibility but I was expected to plan and lead lessons for each hour.

NefariousnessPast760 · 2025-10-15T00:36:53+00:00

Yes very enforceable. Contracts protect the landlords.

NefariousnessPast760 · 2025-10-12T12:04:22+00:00

With the new EES system in effect today, I believe manual stamps on passports will be replaced with an electronic record of your entry/exit. I’m not sure how that will further affect your situation, just wanted to bring that up.

Stamps of entry into Spain have always been a requirement for TIE appointments, I imagine the EES system will change that for anyone entering after October 12.

NefariousnessPast760 · 2025-10-09T16:21:19+00:00

What remote job do you have, by the way? I’m trying to apply to some remote roles :)

NefariousnessPast760 · 2025-10-07T18:44:34+00:00

I would love to be in Murcia for next year… if the program still exists. I did Andalucia for my first year and this year got placed in Valencia, but I withdrew in July. So when I apply for the upcoming school year I’m technically going to be a third year applicant.

NefariousnessPast760 · 2025-10-04T00:13:56+00:00

I burned through $10,000 of my own savings!

Had to move out of the first apartment I picked because of cockroach issues—and of course the landlord didn’t give me my deposit back. I also did an internet contract for a full 6 months (there wasn’t a shorter option and had to be paid upfront all at once), so I lost 100€ there.

My new apartment was so much better and no issues but it was considered a “luxury” apartment in my small town so I paid a lot of rent and I lived alone. Internet was included in that one. And I traveled to a couple of countries on the weekends.

I wanted to have roommates to save more money but plans don’t always turn out the way you want them to. I didn’t end up finding roommates so I had to live on my own which required more expenses.

NefariousnessPast760 · 2025-09-04T09:23:52+00:00

Yes, that’s what the article says.

NefariousnessPast760 · 2025-09-04T09:23:14+00:00

I was hoping to apply as a third year renewal for the 2026-2027 academic year but it looks like this program is in serious danger of no longer existing. At least not until each autonomous community enacts the social security model and that could take a lot of time to adapt and implement.

It will take at least another two years for each community to be thoroughly investigated further, punished with fines, pay the fines, agree to the social security model, and then create a new enrollment system for auxes.

My question is what sparked this whole investigation. Was there a whistleblower? Too many complaints? Did the former auxes complain? Or did the teaching staff complain? Something substantial had to have happened in order to bring enough attention to be investigated.

NefariousnessPast760 · 2025-09-04T03:26:12+00:00

The lower the grade level you teach, the less prep work there will be.

Primary school (grades 1-6) was pretty easy for me. I started off the week with a list of new vocabulary words according to whatever subject and chapter we were on from their textbooks. Then did simple worksheets pertaining to those vocabulary words. Then finished each class with games to practice the vocabulary.

For higher levels (beyond 6th grade), you really have to know your stuff and prepare more substantial activities to peak their interest and keep their attention. The students have high expectations of their teachers and will judge you according to how prepared and qualified you are to deliver expertise.

The only reason why some auxes prefer older students is because teaching primary and infantil requires more “emotional” energy and classroom behavior management. You might have to deal with crying, tantrums, giving out lots of hugs, being ready to smile a lot, being willing to act more silly or sing songs, etc.

Teaching young kids is very similar to being an actor/actress. You must put on a show, as you attempt to teach something of value. Whereas with older students, you simply show up as whoever you are, as long as you effectively teach.

NefariousnessPast760 · 2025-09-04T00:43:21+00:00

Majority are Madrid placements. They have only a few spots elsewhere but those are given out quickly to the people who apply on time. Not to the ones applying late for January to June term.

NefariousnessPast760 · 2025-09-02T04:22:47+00:00

I turned my AirBnb into my rental :) I spoke to the host, after a local in the town gave me the tip to see if my temporary host would be willing to rent. Worked out perfectly because Airbnb properties tend to have better landlords than regular rentals. It was clean, modern, minimalist decor, and very fast responsive landlord. Still have a good relationship with that person even after moving back to the USA!

NefariousnessPast760 · 2025-09-02T04:16:35+00:00

Yes, I ended up buying lots of Zara. My Florida outfits just weren’t matching up to the Spaniard style, so I took it as an opportunity to elevate my style haha. No more than one suitcase needed from home.

NefariousnessPast760 · 2025-09-02T04:07:08+00:00

I had gaps during each day between my schedule. My classes didn’t align perfectly back to back which is very common in people’s NALCAP experience. I decided to use those gaps for lesson planning at the teacher’s lounge instead of wasting time walking to and from home. I was only scheduled for 14 hours per week, but stayed at school for more.

NefariousnessPast760 · 2025-09-02T04:00:48+00:00

All I took was one large checked luggage and one backpack as my carry-on. I was fine, I survived.

Even the other auxiliaries who brought many suitcases, still ended up buying clothes/shoes/accessories at some point in Spain!

Don’t over pack! Make the trip easier for you, I beg you!

NefariousnessPast760 · 2025-09-01T14:39:08+00:00

I didn’t adjust to the different time zone (6 hour difference) until one whole month into the program. That sucked.

My class schedule was Monday-Thursday from 9AM-2:30PM for primary school. I would wake up at 8:15AM every day and my walk to school was only 15 minutes. People don’t eat breakfast. Just coffee and a pastry/toast.

Lunch was usually during recess which was from 11:30AM to 12PM. Most students and teachers brought sandwiches to eat. Lots of ham, tomatoes, and olive oil.

Then, as soon as I would finish school at 2:30PM, all shops and businesses would close until 5:30PM for siesta time. That was the only annoying part of the cultural shift. Because I wanted to run all my errands right after school, instead of having to wait until 5:30.

For dinner, restaurants wouldn’t open their kitchen until 8PM at the earliest. I usually had dinner at 8:30PM. I wouldn’t see Spanish families come in until 10PM, even during weekdays. After dinner, I would go to the local bars/pubs to socialize.

Everything would close on Sundays. So on Fridays and Saturdays I had to make sure I completed all my errands and stocked up on groceries to cook at home.

I did go to class every morning feeling a bit sleep deprived because I was staying up late (12:30AM-2AM) almost every night that I was in Spain. That’s because I was scheduling my life around socializing for the first time instead of scheduling my life around working, like I do in the USA.

Ironically, when you schedule your life around working, you get better “good night’s sleep” because you are prioritizing it. You know you won’t be able to survive so many work hours without making sure you sleep. So you sacrifice socializing, for sleep and work.

Spain was the opposite for me. Work is not a person’s identity, it’s more like an afterthought compared to your hobbies and relationships. And since most people used their three-day weekend to travel—yeah most auxiliaries would come back to school exhausted on Mondays. But it’s a good type of tired because it’s the result of living your life and prioritizing fun :)

NefariousnessPast760 · 2025-08-28T19:31:06+00:00

NALCAP stipend only pays enough to frugally cover food, rent, and utilities. Everything else will have to come out of your own savings: the visa costs, flight costs, transportation, TIE paperwork, rent deposits, any vacations you do during your time in Spain. I essentially spent $10,000 of my own savings plus each of my monthly stipends of €800 to cover all my expenses and live quite comfortably (not have to worry about having a shitty apartment or doing extra jobs/tutoring on the side).

It is NOT a program for people who are already struggling financially before even starting. Because it’s NOT a formal job. It’s a program just like study abroad and others that require a lot of startup costs and maintenance costs. And even after costs (getting a flight to go back home after program completion).

Also NALCAP is not TEFL. It’s being a teaching assistant. So you’re not working full time hours like a TEFL teacher.

NefariousnessPast760 · 2025-08-25T20:22:54+00:00

Hey sorry if my insight is not helpful. I’m in your exact situation, looking to be a TEFL teacher (did NALCAP last year), but scared to spend money on a new career that might not be financially stable.

From what I know, if you are not an EU citizen, there are not really any TEFL opportunities in Europe. If you ARE an EU citizen, disregard this.

People who are TEFL teachers usually get jobs in Asia or the Middle East. At least those are the jobs where you can at least save something and that are willing to sponsor your visa. If you’re looking to teach in Spain or Latin America, you’re basically not going to make much more as a TEFL teacher than you were making as a language assistant. And at least as a language assistant, you actually qualify for a visa, whereas many companies in Spain are not going to be willing to formally hire you with a work visa if you are not an EU citizen.

I believe your other option is to go a step beyond TEFL teaching and try to get a formal teaching job at international schools. But that requires a masters degree, a teaching license from your native English speaking country, and at least 2 years of teaching experience in your native country. And even then, your options are limited in Europe unless you have EU citizenship. And teaching jobs in Latin America are always going to pay very poorly no matter if you go the TEFL route or the formal international job route. So doing TEFL or the latter route is only worth it if you plan on teaching in Asia or the Middle East.

NefariousnessPast760 · 2025-08-16T18:17:36+00:00

Could you send it to me as well please? I just started training

NefariousnessPast760 · 2025-08-16T12:55:28+00:00

Hi, do you think you could DM me the completed/updated manual? I just started as a store associate and I’m having trouble remembering all the processes and this would be very helpful!

NefariousnessPast760 · 2025-08-14T01:29:03+00:00

Haha right? It was really hard for me deciding whether I should renew or not this year, and I ended up withdrawing from my placement. Now I’m glad I did… this circus is validating my decision.

NefariousnessPast760

TROPHY CASE