Life as an Auxiliar in Madrid
Photo of the street behind my apartment in Malasaña, Madrid.
Where It All Started
Where It All Started
I knew I wanted to teach English abroad after enrolling in an English Language Institute (ELI) course at Michigan titled ELI 391: Fundamentals in Teaching English as a Second Language Internationally. I took this course as an elective my last semester of college with Pamela Bogart, one of the most influential teachers I've ever had; it was such a privilege working and learning from her. Oddly enough, I first enrolled in the course my junior year of college, but it wasn't a priority for me right after switching majors. It seemed like such a farfetched goal to obtain a teaching position internationlly, so I dropped the class. Re-enrolling in the course for my final semester was the best decision I've made in college. This class helped me gain the confidence to apply to a teaching position in Spain and prepared me for my job and life as an English teacher internationally.
I knew I wanted to teach English abroad after enrolling in an English Language Institute (ELI) course at Michigan titled ELI 391: Fundamentals in Teaching English as a Second Language Internationally. I took this course as an elective my last semester of college with Pamela Bogart, one of the most influential teachers I've ever had; it was such a privilege working and learning from her. Oddly enough, I first enrolled in the course my junior year of college, but it wasn't a priority for me right after switching majors. It seemed like such a farfetched goal to obtain a teaching position internationlly, so I dropped the class. Re-enrolling in the course for my final semester was the best decision I've made in college. This class helped me gain the confidence to apply to a teaching position in Spain and prepared me for my job and life as an English teacher internationally.
I made it my mission to become an English teacher in Spain. I applied to my Auxiliar position through El ministerio de Educación y Formación Profesional del Gobierno de España, the education and vocational training sector of the Spanish government. The application process was extremely difficult - as is everything with the Spanish government I was slow to learn - but it was completely free! There are other third party programs that applicants can apply through to become an Auxiliar in Spain. These programs offer application help and assistance throughout your entire time in Spain, but have an application fee of roughly $1,000 and I didn't find that heavy price tag worth that assistance.
I made it my mission to become an English teacher in Spain. I applied to my Auxiliar position through El ministerio de Educación y Formación Profesional del Gobierno de España, the education and vocational training sector of the Spanish government. The application process was extremely difficult - as is everything with the Spanish government I was slow to learn - but it was completely free! There are other third party programs that applicants can apply through to become an Auxiliar in Spain. These programs offer application help and assistance throughout your entire time in Spain, but have an application fee of roughly $1,000 and I didn't find that heavy price tag worth that assistance.
Photo from inside the front gates of the Palacio Real in Madrid.
The Big Move
The Big Move
Moving to Madrid might have been a dream come true for me, but I'm not going to sugar coat it - the process of getting there was the most difficult and frustrating one yet. Everything from the job and visa applications to the residency process was a pain. The Spanish government, as many will say, is very laid back and never in a rush to complete anything. It wasn't until January 20th, 2020 that I finally finished all legal matters with my relocation to Spain for the year.
Moving to Madrid might have been a dream come true for me, but I'm not going to sugar coat it - the process of getting there was the most difficult and frustrating one yet. Everything from the job and visa applications to the residency process was a pain. The Spanish government, as many will say, is very laid back and never in a rush to complete anything. It wasn't until January 20th, 2020 that I finally finished all legal matters with my relocation to Spain for the year.
Despite facing many difficult roadblocks since I got my acceptance into the program, I don't regret embarking on this journey for one second. The challenges I faced as a visa holder in a foreign country allowed me to learn and grow in ways I have never been able to before. Before moving across the world, I didn't realize how priviledged my American life I grew up having truly was. It wasn't until I tried to obtain a visa in a foreign country that I realized just how difficult and absurd international immigration policies could be. This move forced me to live outside of my comfort zone and experience life in such a different culture halfway across the world.
Despite facing many difficult roadblocks since I got my acceptance into the program, I don't regret embarking on this journey for one second. The challenges I faced as a visa holder in a foreign country allowed me to learn and grow in ways I have never been able to before. Before moving across the world, I didn't realize how priviledged my American life I grew up having truly was. It wasn't until I tried to obtain a visa in a foreign country that I realized just how difficult and absurd international immigration policies could be. This move forced me to live outside of my comfort zone and experience life in such a different culture halfway across the world.
I couldn't be more thankful to the Spanish government for allowing me to pursue this passion of mine to teach English in Spain. Despite there being lots of animosity toward the Auxiliares de Conversación program due to the bureucracy and lack of urgency of the Spanish government, the program gave me the opportunity to pursue my life dream of moving to Spain.
I couldn't be more thankful to the Spanish government for allowing me to pursue this passion of mine to teach English in Spain. Despite there being lots of animosity toward the Auxiliares de Conversación program due to the bureucracy and lack of urgency of the Spanish government, the program gave me the opportunity to pursue my life dream of moving to Spain.
Photo of my luggage upon my first arrival to Madrid-Barajas Airport.
Adjusting to Daily Life
Adjusting to Daily Life
Once starting work, I was ready to start private tutoring. I knew that if I wanted to travel in my free time, I needed to obtain tutoring clients because it's extremely difficult to live on a stipend in a foreign country. I needed the extra money and wanted to work much closer with my students, so I began to look for more opportunities. Once I gained tutoring clients from advertisements online and from students in my schools, my Mondays-Thursdays filled up fast. I found myself very busy on a day-to-day basis throughout the week, but I was able to dive deeper into my passion of teaching English and establish such strong connections with my sweet tutoring students.
Once starting work, I was ready to start private tutoring. I knew that if I wanted to travel in my free time, I needed to obtain tutoring clients because it's extremely difficult to live on a stipend in a foreign country. I needed the extra money and wanted to work much closer with my students, so I began to look for more opportunities. Once I gained tutoring clients from advertisements online and from students in my schools, my Mondays-Thursdays filled up fast. I found myself very busy on a day-to-day basis throughout the week, but I was able to dive deeper into my passion of teaching English and establish such strong connections with my sweet tutoring students.
Photo from an afternoon run in Plaza de Oriente, Madrid.
Non-Teaching Perks
Non-Teaching Perks
Another fantastic aspect of my job was that all of the Auxiliares throughout Spain only work 4 days a week, so every weekend was a three day weekend! Because I didn't work on Fridays, I was blessed with the opportunity to travel a great deal throughout both Spain and Europe. When I had a weekend trip booked, I was able to leave on a Thursday afternoon after work and return on Sunday night.
Another fantastic aspect of my job was that all of the Auxiliares throughout Spain only work 4 days a week, so every weekend was a three day weekend! Because I didn't work on Fridays, I was blessed with the opportunity to travel a great deal throughout both Spain and Europe. When I had a weekend trip booked, I was able to leave on a Thursday afternoon after work and return on Sunday night.
In my six months in Madrid, I was able to travel all around mainland Spain to cities like Alicante, Sevilla, Segovia, Granada, and Valencia. I went on my first solo trip ever to Palma de Mallorca, an island located in the Balearic Islands off the east coast of Spain. I went back to the States for Christmas (to Michigan) and after New Years in Madrid, I travelled to Porto, Lisbon, and Sintra in Portugal and Marrakech, Morocco. I can now say that I've been to Africa!
In my six months in Madrid, I was able to travel all around mainland Spain to cities like Alicante, Sevilla, Segovia, Granada, and Valencia. I went on my first solo trip ever to Palma de Mallorca, an island located in the Balearic Islands off the east coast of Spain. I went back to the States for Christmas (to Michigan) and after New Years in Madrid, I travelled to Porto, Lisbon, and Sintra in Portugal and Marrakech, Morocco. I can now say that I've been to Africa!
Photo in the Noviciado metro stop in Madrid.