North American Language and Culture Assistants in Spain

Auxiliares de Conversación norteamericanos en España

If you are a US or Canadian citizen who would like to teach English at public schools in Spain, the North American Language and Culture Assistants program accepts applications from January to April. Canadian applicants whose first language is French can also apply to teach French instead of English. This program is similar to the Teaching Assistant Program in France, though there are a few differences.

North American Language and Culture Assistants in Spain

The requirements to apply are:

  • Be a US or Canadian national
  • Hold a minimum of a BA or BS by the end of the academic year preceding the start of the program, be a junior or a senior, or have become a university graduate. (Your major can be in any subject as long as you have basic communicative skills in Spanish and you do not need to submit tests scores to prove your level in Spanish.)
  • Have American English or Canadian French as your native language
  • Be in good physical and psychological condition. It will be necessary to submit a complete medical evaluation signed by your doctor when it is time to apply for your visa.
  • Have a clean background check. You will need to submit a background check when it is time to apply for your visa.

The upper age limit is 60 years old. (The previous upper age limit of 35 for Madrid is no longer in effect.) Language assistants work 12 to 16 hours a week at elementary, secondary or language schools between October 1 and May 31. The monthly stipend is 700€ if placed outside of Madrid (with 12 teaching hours) and 1,000€ if placed in Madrid (with 16 teaching hours). Renewing for another year is possible.

All 17 regions of Spain and the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla in North Africa now participate in this program, although Cantabria suddenly cancelled their program for 2016-17. Keep in mind that some regions, such as Catalonia, Valencia, the Balearic Islands, Galicia, Navarra, and País Vasco have two official languages so you may not actually use Spanish as much in these areas. If you are placed in these regions, it would be worthwhile to start learning Catalan, Galician, or Basque.

There is no application fee and the deadline is in April.

North American Language and Culture Assistants in Spain