The city of Barcelona
Barcelona has everything you would want from a city. It's a buzzing city with four beaches, world-renowned architecture and Gaudí's distinctive buildings, an endless variety of bars and restaurants, and good weather.
It is in Catalonia, a fiercely independent region on the east coast of Spain. The Pyrenees are only three hours away by car, Madrid is six, Valencia four and France only two!
Read more about the city of Barcelona at loneyplanet.com
"If you only visit one city in Spain, it probably should be Barcelona. It is sophisticated, elegant and romantic, but has the energy and raffishness of a port city."
Lonely Planet
Our school in Barcelona
As well as Cert. TESOL and Trinity Diploma courses, Oxford Tefl, Barcelona runs General English courses throughout the year (there are typically some 200 students enrolled on average) and provides in-company language training to a range of clients in and around Barcelona (around 500 students in total).
There is a lively social program in the school, which includes our monthly "intercambio" night and film club, providing opportunities for trainee teachers to meet up with their students and students from other classes, as well as their fellow-teachers and tutors.
The school is in the Eixample district of Barcelona, with Passeig de Gracia a 5 minute walk away. There is a metro stop right next to the school and numerous bus stops nearby. The area, like most of Barcelona, is commercial and residential. You will find no shortage of shops, bars and restaurants. The school has seven classrooms, a large study area and a social area with coffee and cold drinks machines.
The study room contains a photocopier and computers (with internet connection) for trainees' use. It's also well stocked with EFL course books, resource material and magazines for creating your own materials, and overhead projectors, videos, DVDs and cassette players are all available.
Oxford TEFL Barcelona key features
- Prestige & Experience
We have been running Trinity College Cert. TESOL courses since 1998. Our staff are all qualified to DELTA/Trinity Diploma level. Meet the Oxford TEFL team. - Accommodation
We offer value-for-money accommodation in flat-shares with single or shared room options and wireless internet access. Read more about accommodation options in Barcelona. - Our Learning Environments
We place a lot of importance on providing excellent learning environments. This means you get all the personal and technical support you need, including dedicated and motivated staff, computers and internet access and a substantial library of resource books. - Great Central Locations
All our schools are centrally located, making transport convenient and quick and enhancing the experience of being in the city. See Oxford TEFL Barcelona's location on Google Maps. - Our Language Schools
Our training centres are also language schools, which offer English language courses in the centres themselves and to local businesses. This creates a dynamic atmosphere where course participants meet working teachers and a range of language learners. We organise social events to promote this interchange. - Online support
Our on-line pre-course task (included in your fee) will provide you with 15-20 hours of preparation for the course, including work on understanding how English grammar works. Our optional on-line 3-week extension courses in Teaching Young Learners and Teaching Business English provide further practical training to enhance your confidence and job options. - Combine your TEFL course with learning Spanish
Every month we run a one-week intensive beginner Spanish course to coincide with the end of your TESOL course. These intensive Spanish classes are a great way to equip yourself with basic Spanish which can help you find a job, a flat, getting your NIE, getting a Social Security number, being seen at the doctor’s or anything else you might need to know the basics of in Spanish. The course costs just 100€ for 20 hours tuition with an experienced, certified Spanish teacher. Note that we need at least six students to run the course. For more information, see our webpage or contact Lilly.
Working in Barcelona
Spain has always been one of the most popular destinations for TEFL teachers. Most teachers head to the main cities of Madrid and Barcelona, but you will find language schools in many towns all over the country. Most recruitment is done locally, and most institutions require teachers to have either a Trinity Cert. TESOL or CELTA as a minimum qualification. The main opportunities lie in teaching General English, Business English and Young Learners. The Cambridge exams are very popular amon, especially PET, FCE and CAE.
The academic year runs from October to June. In the summer most schools offer summer courses or run camps in the countryside. Many classes run from Monday to Thursday with some work available on Friday. Also, as a first year teacher you may well end up teaching on Saturday mornings. You could have a split shift timetable meaning that you work from approximately 8.30-10am, a lunchtime shift of 2-4pm and an evening shift of 7-9.30pm. This can take some getting used to as your days are long and the travelling between classes can be tiring. However, once you have decided how to plan your free time between classes, you will have the benefit of being able to do that extra bit of preparation on the bus and get to the swimming pool when it’s less busy! Expect to do around 20 to 25 hours teaching a week and earn around € 1200 a month on average when you start out. This will increase after the first year and you can supplement your income through finding private students.
The cost of living in Spain is still relatively low compared to other EU countries. However, the big cities are now more expensive. Expect to pay around €350 – 450 a month for accommodation in major cities. Spanish lifestyle and opportunities for winter sports, travel, historic culture and the beach need no introduction. As an EFL teacher you will not be wealthy, but should find you have enough to enjoy what Spain has to offer. You will make enough to have a good holiday in the summer and live comfortably.
Graduate testimonials
I will always think of OxfordTEFL with love. I am always happy to be a reference. After two years of teaching on exclusive resort islands in the Maldives, I am currently living and teaching in Madrid. I’ve been here for nearly a year and have taught many top ranking officials in the Palacio Real and their children, in addition to the rich and powerful of Madrid. Unfortunately, those were contracted and while my boss was rich… I was not, by any means. With five years teaching experience, I finally had the courage to go freelance and Madrid is a great place to do it. Some of my classes pay 35 euros an hour and are so much fun that they don’t feel like work. Life is a beautiful thing. Have a wonderful day! saludos. – Willow Vanderbosch
I was concerned after completing the course that, as an American, I might be unable to find a job here in Barcelona. However, with the help of the careers service here at Oxford Tefl, I have secured some excellent teaching positions with good pay here in Barcelona. With their help, I am confident that I can remain in Barcelona for as long as I want. And, if I ever need help finding more work, I know that they will be here to guide me in my job search. – Mark Blohm
I have settled in Valencia, and I love it here. I work in a small, friendly language school (I think their HQs are in Barcelona). I have small classes with 3 students maximum and a very nice director of studies, who is helping me a lot settling into my new job. It is part-time, which is what I wanted, so there is still time for being a musician. On Wednesday I performed in the Palau de la Musica accompanying a children’s choir. I live in a cool flat, a bit crazy and bohemian, and they don’t mind my practising - important! Kind regards to Anna, Jane, Violeta, Luke, Mark and everybody at OxfordTEFL! – Stefanie Waegner
I am still living in Barcelona and still teaching English. I have been teaching since I completed the course and have really been enjoying it. As stressful as it can be at times, I really do love teaching English. The training and education that I received from OxfordTEFL has gone a long way and I really do value the course. I am constantly recommending the program to anyone who even mentions that they are thinking about teaching. I definitely think that I got my money’s worth and more. Cheers! – Nicole Hooks
After passing the course, the careers advisor sent my CV out to over 100 schools. The next day I was inundated with job offers. I thought I would struggle to find work, but there are always hours going if you are prepared to look. I taught at Oxford House some time, am still in Barcelona and can see myself staying here for a while. – Darren Campbell
If you have any questions or enquiries about studying in Barcelona, please don't hesitate to contact us, and a member of our team will be happy to answer you.