Teach in Spain Immersion + 3 Weeks of Spanish Class
Teaching in Spain for a year is a wonderful way to immerse yourself in Spanish culture and build Spanish language proficiency. This program offers you the opportunity to get even more out of the experience with an intensive three-week Spanish immersion experience before you start teaching English in Madrid.
After arriving in Madrid and completing CIEE’s comprehensive orientation, you’ll spend three weeks living with a Spanish host family and taking intensive Spanish classes. The Spanish classes are taught by experienced Spanish instructors and will be geared to your level. You’ll be able to practice what you learn in class with your Spanish host family.
While living with your host family, you’ll also have the time to search for your own permanent housing in Madrid. We hear from alumni every year, that they’re grateful they had this extra time to search for an apartment before starting their teaching position.
Program Highlights
- Three-week homestay with Spanish host family in Madrid
- Three weeks of intensive Spanish classes before starting teaching position
- Job placement as language assistant in the region of Madrid
- Part-time schedule and 3-day weekends so you’ll have time to explore
- €1,000 monthly stipend to cover living expenses
- 4-day CIEE orientation in Madrid with optional add on 4 nights of hotel accommodation and cultural activities
Check out Teach in Spain FAQs to learn more!
LOCATION | START DATE | END DATE | COMPENSATION | DEADLINE |
Madrid | Early September | Late June | 1,000 Euros/month | March 1st |
About Our Program Fees
Founded in 1947, CIEE is the leading intercultural exchange organization.
As a non-profit, CIEE relies on program fees to provide Immersion participants with placement assistance, language classes, international insurance, orientation, and support before and after arrival. The $3,900 program fee is paid in two installments.
Build teaching skills and confidence by adding a CIEE TEFL certification $1,000 ($1,195 VALUE)
What's Included
- Three-week homestay with a local Spanish family - breakfast and dinner included
- Three weeks of language immersion courses
- Job placement as language assistant in region of Madrid
- Support before you depart, including expert visa guidance and online preparation course
- Support after you arrive from CIEE staff in Madrid
- Airport pickup and transportation to your orientation hotel on arrival day
- Four days of orientation with topics including housing, banking, residency, health & safety, and more
- For an extra fee, you can add on a four night hotel stay with other CIEE teachers upon your arrival in Madrid. This is a double occupancy reservation and you can reserve your spot here
- Cultural activities during orientation
- Private Spanish health insurance with no deductibles or copayments, and 24/7 emergency assistance
The Destination
Madrid is the cultural heart of Spain. Teachers in Madrid have the opportunity to visit world-renowned art museums, explore diverse neighborhoods, and meet with friends at its countless parks and tapas bars.
School placements are located in the Region of Madrid, in urban and suburban areas up to 120 minutes away from the city center. Teachers arrange their own housing, so they can choose to live near their schools, or commute from further away, giving everyone the option of living in the city center.
CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. No matter where you choose to study abroad with CIEE, our staff will be on hand throughout your program to provide advice, resources, and support.
Please note: because of the Spanish visa process, it is not possible to plan other international travel in the three months before your program begins. Plan to be in your home country during that time.
The Take-Aways
IMMERSION
Three weeks of Spanish immersion with intensive language classes and homestay with a local family.
PREPARATION
Job placement, visa application guidance, an online pre-departure course, 4-day in-country orientation, cultural activities.
ASSISTANCE
24/7 support from CIEE staff in Madrid, health insurance and emergency assistance, resources for finding housing.
Program Blogs
TWICE with CIEE: Kayleigh in Spain (PART 2)
Kayleigh is a CIEE alum who participated in CIEE's Teach in South Korea program AND CIEE’s Teach in Spain Volunteer program! CLICK HERE to read her experience in Korea. WHY... keep reading
CIEE Volunteer Spotlight: Meet Layla!
Where are you from? What was your academic background or career before teaching abroad? I am Canadian, specifically Québécoise. In Quebec, students are required to attend community college (CEGEP) before... keep reading
Job Description
While teaching in Spain, you’ll serve as a Language and Culture Assistant (Auxiliares de Conversación) in a public school in the region of Madrid. The primary responsibility of Language and Culture Assistants is to help students develop their English language skills. You’ll do this by organizing discussions and activities in English that relate to the topics students are learning in their classes.
Language and Culture Assistants are also responsible for facilitating cultural exchange and teaching students about other cultures. You’ll have the chance to share the cultural traditions and holidays that are important to you. For example, you might organize fun activities related to Halloween.
You will assist local, lead teachers and will collaborate with them to design activities in English that support their lesson plans. Exact responsibilities can vary, but you will not be responsible for grading or the independent supervision of students.
Learn More About Teaching in Spain with CIEE
Compensation
CIEE Language and Culture Assistants in Madrid work from October to June and receive a monthly stipend of 1,000 Euro. For most participants, this is adequate to afford a comfortable lifestyle. If you’re careful with spending, you’ll have some money for fun and to explore Spain and other European countries. Your income will go further outside of city centers where the cost of shared accommodations, food, transportation, entertainment, etc., are lower. We will provide you with advice on how to find an affordable apartment and how to best plan your budget each month.
Most program participants also teach private English classes, either through their school or independently. CIEE can help here, too, with advice on how to advertise and find private lessons when you get to Spain.
CIEE participants have paid holidays around Christmas and Easter. Exact dates will be confirmed when the school calendars are approved in September. There is usually a two week break around Christmas. Participants also have Holy Week off, which is the week before Easter. Official provincial calendars are available in September.
Schools
CIEE teachers are placed at public schools participating in a governmental bilingual initiative, including kindergarten, primary and secondary schools. Most schools are outside Madrid's city center, in the Community of Madrid's other cities and small towns. If you are placed in a small town, it is possible to live in the city center and commute to your school by public transit. Location and age-group preferences are considered by CIEE, but we are not able to guarantee specific placement preferences.
Workload
As a Language and Culture Assistant in Madrid you’ll teach 16 classroom hours per week and have a 4-day work week. In addition to your classroom hours, you may be required to spend a few hours attending planning or professional development sessions each week. Many Language and Culture Assistants also enjoy participating in sports clubs or other extracurricular activities at their schools. You’ll enjoy 3-day weekends with either Monday or Friday off so you’ll have plenty of time to travel, learn Spanish, or participate in local clubs and organizations. CIEE teachers in Spain start their teaching positions in early October and the school year ends in late June.
Hear from CIEE participants about how the Teach in Spain Immersion program connected with their goals for advancing their Spanish language skills and exploring Spanish culture!
Qualifications
Teaching experience and Spanish language skills are not required for the position, but having some background in teaching and Spanish language skills will be helpful. Some ways to enhance your language skills are signing up for CIEE's Spanish Immersion program and learning some of the language before you arrive. You can also enhance your teaching skills by getting TEFL certified with CIEE.
Can I participate if I don't have a US passport?
Our program's visa and residency instructions are specific to US citizens. Other English-speaking countries have different procedures. For that reason, we don't accept applicants who don't have US passports.
Requirements
- Native-level English fluency
- A bachelor’s degree in any field from an accredited English-language university in the U.S. or Canada
- Must have a U.S. passport, valid at least 12 months beyond the program start date, with 3+ empty pages
- Must be under 60 years old on January 1 of the desired academic year
- Applicants for our program may NOT have served as a Language and Culture Assistant in Spain for any part of the preceding academic year (Oct-June)
- Must be willing and able to use buses, subways, and/or commuter rail to commute to assigned school.
- A candidate with a criminal record showing a single arrest or charge for DUI, driving without a license, or underage possession of alcohol may, at CIEE's sole discretion, be judged eligible for participation, provided that the charge is dated at least two years prior to the program start date. Multiple arrests or charges, or charges of any other type, will render a candidate ineligible for our program.
PLEASE NOTE: because the Spanish visa process is lengthy and inflexible, it is NOT possible to plan other international travel in the three months before your program begins. You MUST be in your home country during that time.
PLEASE NOTE: As of May 2025, Spanish immigration law no longer allows Teaching Assistants to sponsor visas for dependent children and spouses.
TEFL Certification
Boost your teaching skills and confidence before traveling to Spain with CIEE’s 150-Hour TEFL Certificate course. This premium online TEFL course includes:
- 130 hours of online coursework you can complete from anywhere
- 20-hour teaching practicum to give you practice teaching
- Small class sizes so you’ll build relationships with other classmates planning to teach abroad
- ACCET accreditation recognized by US Department of Education
“This course opened my eyes to the world of TEFL. While I do not have a degree in education, I feel more prepared to teach English in Spain this year. The course provides you with plenty of practice, guidance, and resources to help you succeed in the classroom!” Ashlynn H., Teach in Spain Participant. Read more of Ashlynn’s reflection on the TEFL certificate course.
Add TEFL Certification to your CIEE Teach in Spain application and receive a $195 discount!
Our Team
Tess Thrower
Teach Abroad Advisor
Tess's passion for international travel began as an undergraduate studying abroad in Ireland. Now, with a decade of experience in international education, she ready to help you teach abroad!
Gabby Politte
Teach Abroad Coordinator
Gabby first caught the travel bug while teaching abroad in Thailand and Spain with CIEE. Gabby is excited to influence others to find their passion overseas just like she did!
Laura Canadillas
IN-COUNTRY SUPPORT
Laura worked in various social services positions in France, Scotland and Thailand, before she came back to her hometown, Madrid, to support CIEE teachers in Spain.
Ready to change your life?
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