A Teach Abroad Program offers you the unique chance to live, learn, and teach in a new country as a Language Assistant. From October to May/June, you will share your knowledge of the English language with local students while fully experiencing a different culture and community. You’ll be at school for 14 to 16 hours per week, depending on the region, providing the perfect work-life balance.
As a Language Assistant, you are a native English speaker who works alongside teachers in preschools, primary schools, and high schools across Spain. Your role is to support the lead teacher in different subjects, consistently using English to enhance language exposure for students and share your culture with them.
Your primary role in the classroom is to inspire students’ interest in the English language and in your culture through engaging activities. You’ll lead conversational English exercises and may also assist the main teacher across various subjects and classes.
Your proactive and supportive approach will be essential in helping students enhance their language skills!
As a Language Assistant in Spain, this is what a typical day might look like:
Morning Arrival and Preparation
Your day typically starts around 9 a.m. and finishes by 2 or 3 p.m., though some schools may extend the schedule until 5 p.m. Upon arriving, you’ll likely meet with the lead teacher to review the day’s plan, finalize conversation topics, or organize any materials needed for your lessons.
Teaching and Supporting Lessons
You’ll assist with English lessons across various grade levels, ranging from preschool to high school, depending on your placement. Your primary focus will be to encourage students to practice conversational English in an engaging and supportive setting. Additionally, you may help facilitate other subjects—such as Math, PE, or Social Science—using English as the language of instruction to enhance their fluency.
Interactive Activities and Cultural Exchange
To make learning dynamic, you’ll introduce creative activities like games, discussions, or short presentations. Sharing aspects of your own culture helps students broaden their horizons while naturally practicing their language skills.
Collaborating and Lesson Planning
You’ll work closely with teachers to align your activities with the school’s language-learning objectives. This might involve brainstorming new lesson ideas or planning for future sessions together.
Motivating and Inspiring Students
A big part of your role is fostering a positive and enjoyable environment for students to practice English. By using interactive methods and multimedia tools, you’ll build their confidence and ensure they stay engaged in the learning process.
End of the day
Since grading isn’t part of your responsibilities, your time is fully focused on interacting with students and preparing for upcoming sessions. At the end of the day, you may touch base with colleagues, tidy up materials, or plan for the next day’s activities.
With a typical four-day workweek and only 14–16 teaching hours, you’ll also have plenty of time to explore Spain and enjoy the cultural experience to the fullest. Plus, throughout the day, there will be gaps between your scheduled lessons. These gaps offer you the flexibility to prepare for upcoming activities, relax, or attend to personal tasks.
Becoming a Language Assistant in Spain is a wholesome experience that combines learning, cultural exchange, and travel. Here’s why it’s so special:
– Immersive Cultural Experience: You’ll get to live in Spain, experiencing the culture, food, and traditions firsthand. From local festivals to regional holidays, you’ll become a part of the community and learn about Spain.
– Long Weekends to Explore: With a four-day workweek (in general), you will have time to explore Spain and even the surrounding countries. This schedule gives you the freedom to travel and enjoy your experience to the fullest.
– Personal and Professional Growth: This experience will push you to grow—improving your Spanish skills, becoming more adaptable, and learning to thrive in a different educational environment. It’s a chance to step out of your comfort zone, build confidence, and develop skills that you’ll carry with you long after the program ends.
– Experience in the classroom: Working alongside experienced teachers, you’ll be part of a team and gain insights into classroom management, lesson planning, and educational practices that can serve you well in any future career.
Being a Language Assistant in Spain is an adventure filled with learning, growth, and unforgettable experiences in one of the world’s most beautiful countries.
You can teach English in nursery, primary and secondary schools, depending on the region. The Regional Authorities will take note of your preferences, but we cannot guarantee that they will match them.
As a Gloading Participant, you’ll have access to a range of teaching resources to support your role. Before starting your school placement, you’ll attend an Induction Meeting with workshops designed to prepare and guide you. At your school, the lead teacher or tutor will provide additional teaching materials to help you in the classroom.
If you’re interested in further professional development and you’d like to take a TEFL course, we offer exclusive discounts through our official partnerships, making it easier for you to enhance your teaching qualifications.
Choosing the right support system for your move abroad can make all the difference, and that’s where we come in. From the moment you begin your journey, our team is dedicated to making the process smooth, efficient, and stress-free by handling the essential steps and finer details, all tailored to your specific needs. Plus, we are not new to the game – backed by 10 years of experience helping individuals to come and Teach in Spain and countless success stories.
We offer personalized visa support, housing assistance, guidance through your bank account and phone set up, supportive community access, exclusive discounts, official translations, and much more.
Discover how our program can transform your experience. Let us take the stress out of moving so you can focus on the adventure ahead!
The Gloading Fee covers the step-by-step guidance and continuous assistance you’ll receive before your arrival in Spain and throughout the duration of the program by our dedicated bilingual team of experts. Our main objective is to offer you a smooth experience. Plus, we will give you access to the Gloading Community, where you will have the opportunity to connect with other assistants and meet them in an Induction Meeting before your placement starts.
When you choose Gloading, you choose a worry-free experience. And this is how we do that:
– Personalised visa and paperwork management, guidance, and support
– Pre-departure webinars
– Gloading Community access
– Induction Meeting
– Spanish residency support
– Bank and phone set-up support
– Email support during your stay
– Official translations
– Discounts for channelers
…and more. To make everything run smoothly, we will need your contribution too. If you want more information about our services, check them here.
Our program fee is 1,650€, split into two payments: the first payment of 725€ is due when you join the program as proof of commitment, and the second payment of 925€ is due once we confirm your teaching placement, usually between April and June each year.
We operate on a priority system, meaning that we manage participants’ requests based on their order of application. To secure your Gloading Experience, we strongly encourage you to commit and join the program as early as possible. Please be aware that Teach Abroad Programs are in high demand, and placements tend to fill up quickly each year.
After you’ve paid the Gloading Fee, our team will reach out with a list of required documents for your placement application in Spain.
Unfortunately, at the moment we don’t offer any payment plans.
To apply, start by completing the Gloading Application Form. If you meet the requirements and match what the Regional Authorities are looking for, you’ll be invited to a quick call with us so we get to know you better.
Once we confirm everything is correct, one of our experts will contact you through email. In this email, you will receive the essential details about the program and the Service Agreement.
After you carefully read this information, we will need you to respond to the email with a photo of your passport, the signed agreement, and proof of the fee payment. We will also assign you a Gloading Coordinator for further questions and guidance from that moment on.
As part of the process, we will request various documents to complete your participation in the program. All of your information will be securely stored on our encrypted servers, and your documents will remain confidential. Once the program is completed, your data will be kept for five years and then permanently deleted.
In order to be eligible to apply for our Teach Abroad Program, you need to match these requirements:
– Be a native English speaker.
– Hold a passport from the US, Canada, Australia or New Zealand.
– Hold a bachelor’s or associate’s degree (if you come from New Zealand or Australia, it will have to be a bachelor’s).
– Have a clean background check.
– Be aged up to 59 by the 1st of January 2026.
Other valuable skills, even though none of them are required, would be to have some teaching experience, to have lived abroad, to hold studies in English, Education, Linguistics, etc., or to know some Spanish. But don’t worry, these are not essential!
If your profile doesn’t meet these requirements, you might want to explore the ConversaSpain program, a Meddeas spin-off, to see if it’s a better fit!
After reviewing the requirements, it’s time to hit that Apply now button! Fill out the contact form and one of our Gloading experts will reach out to you to schedule a video call.
We accept applications throughout the year, so you’re welcome to apply at any time. Depending on when you submitted yours, it will be considered for one academic year or another.
Absolutely! As long as you’ve graduated and have your associate’s or bachelor’s degree in hand by October 1st, or you are enrolled at least in your 2nd year, you’re good to go and ready to apply!
Absolutely. You can apply for the program for two consecutive years. While renewals are highly likely, they are never guaranteed and largely depend on having a good experience during your placement.
The TEFL certification or prior teaching experience is not required to participate in the program. That said, having a TEFL certification can be a pretty cool bonus!
If you want to take the course, we are partnered with TEFL course providers and can offer discounts to our Gloading Participants!
School placements are fully managed by Regional Authorities, and are available in various regions, including Comunidad de Madrid, País Vasco, Comunidad Valenciana, Islas Canarias, Extremadura, Cantabria, Murcia, La Rioja, Castilla-La Mancha, Galicia, Castilla y León, Andalucía, Islas Baleares, Aragón, Asturias, Navarra and Cataluña. You can check the regions here.
Although, in general, participants will be placed in their preferred location, we cannot guarantee placement in a specific region, city, or school type (e.g., preschool, elementary, middle, or high school). Additionally, preferences for city size, specific locations, or placement with friends or other participants may not always be assured.
From our experience, October participants can look forward to their placements during the months of May-August.
The Regional Authorities are responsible for assigning placements based on the needs and availability of schools. While they make every effort to consider your preferences, these cannot be guaranteed.
With a large number of auxiliares to place, it is not always possible to fulfill all requests. As a result, placements are final and reassignment is not possible.
Yes, you will receive training and orientation from Gloading before starting in the classroom, as well as an Induction Meeting where you will get to know other participants and attend workshops that will prepare you for your experience.
In addition, you’ll have the opportunity to take part in an Immersion Week with fellow participants, where you can explore Spanish culture through engaging and fun activities.
Absolutely! We are partnered with TEFL course providers, so if you wish, you can enroll in a TEFL course that will equip you with the tools to teach English as a foreign language and help you feel even more prepared for your Spanish adventure!
The academic year for the Teach Abroad Programs begins in October and ends around the following May.
Once you apply and we confirm that you meet the requirements, you’ll be eligible to join the program by completing the necessary registration process. After you join, you officially become a participant. However, this is just the beginning. You will receive your placement details around may-august, but it’s your choice when to inform your employer. We recommend waiting until your placement is fully secured before communicating it to your boss.
You will have a Gloading Coordinator who will offer guidance and help you throughout your stay. You can contact them for any questions or concerns during your experience in Spain.
Please note that Gloading provides support to the participant and not their companions, such as children, partners, friends, relatives, etc., and offers assistance with bureaucratic processes related to the accepted passports and the legal documentation required to participate in the program.
If you hold a dual citizenship with an European passport, you do not need to apply for a visa. However, if you don’t, you will need to apply for a visa to participate. Depending on your location, you will be required to go to your corresponding Spanish consulate in person to complete your application. Don’t worry, though—we will guide you through the entire process!
In order to apply for a visa to come to Spain, you’ll need a clean background check from any country where you’ve lived for over six months in the last five years. Plus, once you land in Spain, you’ll need to get another background check from the Spanish Ministry of Justice before you can work with minors. But no worries—we will be by your side every step of the way.
Once you become a participant, a Gloading Coordinator will be assigned to you. They will evaluate your case and assist you throughout the visa process, offering you official translations and full guidance. You will just have to follow our step-by-step instructions to gather all necessary documents and begin the paperwork.
If you do not hold a European passport and you need to go to a Spanish consulate to get a visa, we won’t book the appointment for you, but we will give you guidelines on how to do it and we will provide support all along the way.
If the country is a Member State of the Hague Convention, we will assist you with your criminal background check, the necessary apostille, and any required translations. On the other hand, if the country is not a Member, we are unable to assist with the international criminal background check process.
Gloading provides expert guidance based on our extensive experience, but it’s important to recognize that each case is unique, as immigration policies are regularly updated. Ultimately, the visa process is determined by the consular representatives in your jurisdiction, who hold the final authority.
Consulates have the right to modify their rules, fees, and regulations at any time, and these requirements can differ significantly depending on the specific consulate. Gloading does not control consular procedures, so it’s essential that you consult your local consulate as your primary source of information on visa requirements.
We’ll provide you with all the information you need to successfully navigate your visa application with clear step-by-step instructions. Once you have it, you will need to start gathering the necessary documentation, scheduling appointments, and ensuring everything is submitted correctly and on time. Rest assured, we’ll guide you every step of the way!
You can only apply for a visa through a Spanish general consulate. The Spanish general consulate responsible for the state or province of your permanent residence must be where your visa appointment takes place.
Spanish consulates require in-person appointments to process visas. As a Gloading Participant, it is your responsibility to schedule and attend your visa appointment, but we will guide you through it.
If you have any questions about the process, this is where Gloading steps in. We will provide you with the information and essential instructions to make this process as smooth as possible.
That is up to you, but for flight bookings, we recommend waiting until your visa is confirmed before purchasing your tickets to Spain. This helps minimize any potential risks!
Many participants join the program with little or no Spanish language skills, as it’s not a requirement to become a Language Assistant. However, we strongly advise you to learn some basics before arriving in Spain. To support this, Gloading has partners that offer Spanish courses both before arrival and throughout your stay!
At Gloading, we want to get to know you, so we will take off with an Induction Meeting in Madrid (date TBC), where you’ll get the full scoop on everything you need to dive into this experience. Plus, we’ll be by your side with ongoing support throughout your stay—and you’ll have access to the Gloading Community to connect with your fellow colleagues along the way.
Additionally, you’ll have the chance to attend an Immersion Week, one week before the program starts, where you’ll participate in workshops and a variety of fun activities alongside fellow Language Assistants.
Immersion Week is perfect if you want to kick off your Spanish adventure ASAP! It’s one week before the program starts and a great chance to meet others, dive into the culture, do some sightseeing, and empezar con buen pie (start off on the right foot). What’s included? 6 nights of accommodation, Spanish classes, cultural activities, and guaranteed fun. It’s an add-on and costs €790 for the whole week.
Sure! As we mentioned before, you will take off with an Induction Meeting where we will provide you with materials, useful tools, and tips before you arrive at the school. We will also offer you a TEFL discount if you want to take the course. Plus, you will have a tutor assigned at your school who will guide you.
With three-day weekends almost every week, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to explore Spain or even venture to a new country from time to time!
Even though we only provide help with your student visa, we completely understand that you may want to bring someone with you. From what we know, you can apply for a dependent visa for your spouse and children, allowing them to join you in Spain. We recommend you research deeply into this.
If you bring your pet, be sure they will need extra documentation to travel and you may encounter problems finding housing, as many landlords do not accept pets.
We can’t assist with these matters, but we encourage you to explore available resources.
Yes. You will receive a certificate of completion to add to your resume!
At Gloading, we will assist you in finding housing by providing all the essential information you need to find either an apartment or a room shortly after your arrival in Spain. Additionally, we have official providers we can recommend to you in order to guarantee a smooth and safe search.
Your authorization to stay in Spain is directly tied to the program. If you withdraw from the program, it could be automatically canceled—along with the health insurance—requiring you to leave the country.
Whether you can stay in Spain or not and for how long depends on your passport and specific documentation. If you become a Gloading Participant, your Program Coordinator will study your case and share the details with you.
Sure. Language Assistants receive the same paid holidays as other teaching staff. This includes Christmas and Easter breaks, along with regional and local holidays, as well as puentes (long weekends) listed on the district’s academic calendar. However, since the program concludes before summer break, it is not covered.
With the current legislation (as of Jan ’25), you can apply for authorization to work up to 20 hours per week. However, this is outside our scope, and we do not provide information on the steps or documentation required to do so. We recommend conducting your own research on this topic if you’re interested.
Please keep in mind that if you decide to sign a contract with an employer, your job cannot interfere with your school schedule. Any conflict with your school hours will likely result in the cancellation of your placement and, consequently, your visa.
Yes, all of our participants will be covered by health insurance. This insurance is managed by the Regional Spanish Authorities and not Gloading. Please note that this coverage may not include pre-existing conditions or certain medications, so if you have any health conditions or rely on regular medications, it’s important to share this information during your interview. This way, before you commit to Gloading, we will be able to address any concerns and provide you with all the details.
As a general rule, since you will be in Spain on a student visa and receiving a stipend, you will not be required to pay taxes in Spain.
In larger cities and urban areas in Spain, public transportation is easy to access and affordable, with many participants using the subway, buses, or trains to get to work. However, in smaller, rural regions, transportation options can be more limited, as subways are typically unavailable and bus services may run less frequently. In these areas, many participants opt to carpool with colleagues or live close to their schools, often walking or biking to work instead.
Absolutely! You will have numerous opportunities to immerse yourself in Spanish culture and language through interactions with the local community, students, and fellow Language Assistants. Additionally, we offer a special Immersion Week, one week before the program starts, where you can connect with other participants, deepen your understanding of Spanish culture, and enjoy a variety of fun activities.
The monthly stipend, set by the Regional Authorities, typically ranges from €800 to €1000. The cost of living varies depending on the region and specific location. The stipend is usually enough to cover room and board and meet basic living expenses, though this depends on your personal lifestyle and spending habits.
For reference, the interprofessional minimum wage in Spain is €1,134 per month for 40 hours of work, and your stipend will be fully tax-free in Spain.
At the end of each month, you will receive your stipend, which is managed by the Regional Authorities. However, some regional governments may experience delays in processing payments. To receive the stipend, you must have a bank account with a Spanish IBAN. Don’t worry—we’ll guide you through that before your arrival in Spain!
We recommend bringing enough savings for at least the first three months of your stay—around €2,000 to €3,000—to cover initial expenses, food, transportation, and bills until your first stipend arrives.
Deadline for the 25/26 school year is March 4th—hit that button and apply now!