Study Abroad_Spain
Castilla y León, Spain

Teach In Spain Volunteer Program

Dates

-

9 weeks

Program Fee

$950

Compensation

Room and board with host family

Application Deadline

Apply Now

Request Information

Dates

-

11 weeks

Compensation

Room and board with host family

Application Deadline

Apply Now

Request Information

Dates

-

11 weeks

Compensation

Room and board with host family

Application Deadline

Apply Now

Request Information

Overview

This program offers an immersive experience into the Spanish culture and language by living with a local host family and working as a volunteer Language and Culture Assistant in smaller towns within the region of Castilla y León.

Program Highlights

  • Spanish homestay with meals provided
  • Teach 12 hours a week as language assistant
  • 3-day weekends
  • Pre-departure assistance
  • Airport pick-up and orientation upon arrival
  • 24/7 support from CIEE staff in Spain
  • No previous teaching experience or Spanish required
  • No need to apply for visa

After reading the program overview on this page, be sure to check out our Volunteer in Spain FAQs!

TERM

START DATE

DEADLINE

DURATION

Fall 2024

October 2024

Apply by May 1, 2024

2.5 months

Winter 2025

Mid-Jan 2025

Apply by Oct 1, 2024

2.5 months

Spring 2025

April 2025

Apply by Dec 15, 2024

2.5 months

About Our Program Fees

As a non-profit organization, CIEE relies on program fees to provide participants with placement assistance, international insurance, orientation, and support before and after arrival. The program fee of $950 is paid in two installments:

  • $500 commitment deposit after acceptance ($1,000 for programs with TEFL)
  • Remaining balance due when you receive your placement

CIEE alumni receive a 10% discount!

Add a 150-Hour CIEE TEFL Certification for $1,000 ($1,195 VALUE)

Apply Now

What's Included

What's Included

  • Placement as a Volunteer Language and Culture Assistant
  • Pre-departure assistance
  • iNext international insurance with 24-hour emergency assistance
  • Ongoing support from CIEE staff in Madrid
  • Airport pickup and transportation to your orientation hotel on arrival day
  • Two days of orientation and one night of hotel accommodation including a welcome dinner
  • Cost-free accommodations with a host family in your host community
  • Two meals a day provided by your host family

 

Language assistant teaching students in class
The Destination
  • Group of Teach orientation volunteers posing in front of building
  • Valladolid Duero River in Spain

The Destination

Teach in Spain – Volunteer participants are placed in the stunning region of Castilla y León, noted for its large plains, dramatic mountains, and evocative medieval towns. It is known as “The Land of the Castles.” In this region, you can visit cities like lively Salamanca or magical Segovia, famous for the fortress that inspired Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty castle. The gothic walls of Ávila have similar nostalgic appeal, while the lofty cathedrals of León and Burgos are among Europe’s most remarkable. This is the hidden Spain that most travelers never realize still exists.

CIEE wants all our participants to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while teaching abroad. To that end, we've gathered information from local teams and perspectives from former CIEE teachers and others about conditions and cultural attitudes that teachers with specific identities might encounter abroad. We hope those resources are informative and helpful.

The Take-Aways

COMPENSATION

Accommodation and two meals a day from your volunteer host family.

PREPARATION

Job placement, pre-departure assistance, an online, blended-learning pre-departure course, and in-country orientation.

ASSISTANCE

iNext international insurance with 24-hour worldwide assistance and support from the CIEE office in Madrid.

Program Blogs

Weekend Getaway to Mallorca: What to Do if You Miss a Flight + Best Practices for Cheap European Flights

By Cole F.

I spent an incredible 2 days in the beautiful island of Mallorca with some of the other lovely English teachers in this spring’s Teach Abroad program. I got the chance... keep reading

Settling in in a rural Spanish Village

By Cole F.

Lively conversation on the flight over, a beautiful small Spanish village, and the nicest family in all of Castilla and Leon. This has been my experience so far in my... keep reading

Balancing Work and Leisure

By Martis R.

Many of my friends wonder how I am able to afford traveling all the time. The answer is pretty simple: I work remotely, so as long as I have internet... keep reading

Job Description

Job Description

As a native English speaker, you will be assisting classes or small groups of students in order to develop their listening and conversational skills, as well as presenting on your own cultural traditions.  In many schools, you'll also teach English to members of the school staff.  If you are placed in a bilingual school you may facilitate English conversational activities in subjects such as science, art, and history. This is so the students’ exposure to English, outside of their normal English class, is maximized.

Exact responsibilities of Volunteer Language and Culture Assistants vary according to each individual school.  However, you won’t be left alone with an entire class of students, nor will you be responsible for grading, discipline, or the independent supervision of students.

Compensation

For your hard work as a highly valued volunteer, you'll receive:

  • Cost-free accommodations with a host family in your host community
  • Two meals a day provided by your host family

Schools

The schools where you’ll be teaching are public schools administered by the Ministry of Education in Castilla y León. For over a decade, our program has paired native English-speaking volunteers with local Spanish schools and homestays. Location and age-group preferences will be considered by CIEE, but we aren't able to guarantee specific placement preferences.

Workload

All Volunteer Language and Culture Assistants work with local classroom teachers in public schools. You will lead conversational activities in English and give presentations on your home culture. You may also participate in other activities, such as music, theater, sporting events, English language clubs, and more.  In addition to your 12 classroom hours, you’re expected to spend at least five hours a week helping your host family improve their English.  You’ll still have ample time to take part in activities that further enrich your experience, such as finding an internship with a local business, teaching private English lessons or traveling.

 

What People Are Saying

  • "It is a great short term opportunity to live in Spain and help at the schools. My host family is awesome, I can earn money by tutoring and can travel on weekends."

    Teach in Spain Alumni

  • "CIEE is a safe and friendly program that can organize your first experience traveling abroad and living with a host family! No stress needed."

    Teach in Spain Alumni

  • "CIEE makes teaching abroad so easy! They find your placement, they train and prepare you, and your placement school finds your place to live. All you have to do is come teach!"

    Teach in Spain Alumni

  • "I would recommend CIEE Teach Abroad because it has been a rewarding experience that will be remembered for the rest of my life."

    Teach in Spain Alumni

  • "It's been such fun, I am immersed in Spanish culture and improving my Spanish while learning how to teach English. It truly is a cultural exchange."

    Teach in Spain Alumni

Qualifications

Qualifications

There are a few simple requirements. These, plus a sense of adventure and a desire to cross cultural boundaries and engage with people eager to learn English, will make you a great candidate.

Requirements

  • Native-level English fluency
  • Citizenship in the United States, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Australia, or the United Kingdom
  • Completion of at least 2 years of college level courses
  • Age 59 or younger when program will start

To make your application stronger, highlight additional qualifications such as:

  • Knowledge of Spanish language
  • Experience teaching or volunteering, community involvement, experience with children (such as working as a summer camp counselor)
  • Experience studying, working, or volunteering abroad
  • A college degree in English or education

FAQS

TEFL Certification

TEFL Certification

Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certification gives you the skills, experience, and confidence to make teaching abroad even more rewarding – both for you and those you teach. The CIEE TEFL 150-hour certification course can easily be added on to your program to ensure that you:

  • Develop an awareness of the field and practices of TEFL
  • Understand the components of English related to teaching nonnative speakers
  • Get personalized feedback from an experienced TEFL tutor
  • Can design lessons for TEFL students at a variety of levels
  • Complete 20 hours of practice teaching experience to hone your skills

Discover the benefit of including a TEFL Course with your teach abroad program.

Learn More

Staff

Our Team

Alissa Malbrough

SENIOR COORDINATOR

Alissa’s international journey so far includes studying in Argentina, teaching in Ecuador, Spain, and Korea, ice trekking, backpacking, and skydiving. She’s excited to help others explore teaching abroad!

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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