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How about spending time living as a local with a welcoming host family in beautiful Spain? This programme is a brilliant way of enjoying the Spanish lifestyle, while improving your language and/or teaching skills.
We have families all over Spain who are looking to host Language Assistants. On your application form, you are requested to list your top three preferences. The majority of placements tend to be found in the larger cities, most notably Madrid, Seville, Barcelona and Malaga.
Language Assistant Spain is a cultural exchange programme, where you live with a host family and in exchange for your own room and three meals a day, you help the family, usually the kids, with their English studies for around 15 hours during the week. In general, the families are quite affluent; you're looked after very well in lovely family homes (pictured), many with swimming pools.
When you send us your application form and supporting documents our partners in Spain will match you with suitable host families and encourage them to invite you as their language assistant. When we find a successful match, a family invitation will be emailed for your approval. After you've accepted, we then arrange for you to speak with the family over the telephone – this allows everybody to get to know each other in advance and organise your start date and airport pickup.
Your teaching responsibilities: When a host family offers you an invitation, and you've accepted, it's then time to discuss what form they anticipate the lessons taking. It is also important to agree a schedule so everybody is clear about when you will be teaching and when its your “time off”.
As the teaching is likely to be tutoring the kids for school, the chances are that you will follow their course books. We’ll supply you with a starter pack with some great ideas of activities, but we also recommend you buy a good learner's dictionary and grammar book to refer to. DVDs, books, magazines and newspapers in English help you plan fun and interesting lessons. There are many free web resources available with useful teaching tips and printable worksheets etc.
Please note that your responsibilities are as a Language Assistant and you will not be requested to perform duties akin to a domestic help or an au pair – namely cooking / cleaning or child-minding. However, you will be expected to take a reasonable role with day to day household chores, such as helping to prepare meals, washing up, general tidying etc.
Developing your Spanish language skills: This is a great opportunity to develop your Spanish. Although you will be providing 15 hours of English lessons to the family, there is still plenty of opportunity to speak Spanish. Discuss your aspirations with your host family and agree when English / Spanish is spoken.
Depending on the situation, it may also be possible to find a part-time paid job to enhance your Spanish experience. Furthermore you could also enroll on a Spanish course along side your teaching to improve your language skills. If this is something that interests you then please visit our world languages website www.twinworldlanguages.com
- Living with your host family, you’ll have your own room, and in some cases your own bathroom however the majority of the time you will share facilities with the family.
- Meals are taken with your host family
- Full details of the accommodation will be provided with the placement offer.
- You are welcome to join the programme at any time throughout the year. The exact dates will be agreed and confirmed by your host family.
- The minimum duration is 12 weeks. Maximum duration is as long as the host family requests.
- International flights and travel to your host family are not included, however, your host family will offer guidelines on the cheapest and most effective way to travel to their home.
- There is generally an efficient and regular public transport system across Spain allowing you to explore the local area with your time off.
- All of Twin’s working guest programmes are in partnership with registered agents, giving you the confidence to work with reputable organisations.
- Our local partner provides 24-hour support.
- Minimum age 18 yrs
- Your first language must be English
- Formal teaching qualifications are not necessary, but any experience will strengthen your application
- We also welcome applications from non European Union citizens*
- European Union Citizens do not require a visa
- *Non European Union Citizens may participate on the programme for up to 3 months on a tourist visa. You may extend your stay if you have a study visa.
- Firstly, please complete our online application
- Once we receive your application you will be contacted and then various documents will be sent to you via email. You will need to send these back to us either by post or email.
- Please allow a minimum of 3 months to process the application.
- Please note that many host families do not look for a Language Assistant until the last minute, so we recommend that you are patient whist waiting for an offer
- We require a deposit of £100 to start processing your application.
There is one fixed fee, irrespective of the programme duration: £350
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Language Assistant Spain
