Hey Marsha, yes, they did get me my papers. That can happen if you interview in the spring, and plan to work there at least a year, and have experience, a large number of factors. It has to be in the spring though, they can't start the process after, in the fall, because you need to go home for the summer, etc, etc, etc. But yes, they did, and successfully, for which I will be forever grateful! Besos, Joy

Just in case anyone wants a list of academies and schools they can apply to here are a few links:


http://www.madridinsider.com/guppy/articles.php?lng=en&pg=17
http://www.madridinsider.com/guppy/articles.php?lng=en&pg=57
www.madridteachers.com
www.teachinspain.org

hey Marsha.

not to discourage you but to be realistic, note that Queensita was VERY lucky. the vast majority of the schools here will not get you papers as many here on the forums will agree with.

here's hoping you are one of the lucky ones!

saludos,
jer...

Hi jer and Queensita,

I wrote to the ALA a few months ago and was told that I'd have to interview with them in Madrid in the spring (no later than June) to be considered for fall employment and a work permit. At that time, I wasn't ready to make the move to Madrid, but I will be now in a few months. I'm planning to stay for at least a year and have lots of teaching experience, so I think I have a chance of working for them and getting papers. Of course, I will look for work in many other places long before it becomes time to ask for an interview with them.

Thanks to both of you for your information and advice.

Marsha

hey marsha...
i have to say, that yes, joy was lucky. i on the other hand had a horrible experience with ALA. they hired me for their summer session. i normally refuse to work for academies such as this as the pay is so low, but during the various interviews i was told repeatedly that after the summer, they would start my papers process as they did for joy.
i busted my butt all summer for them and they started really taking advantage, calling me in at all hours for private classes, etc. mid-summer, i spoke to one of the managers to find out exactly what would happen regarding the papers situation in fall and she told me that all of their teachers for fall were set and they were processing the papers for them. i was not to be part of that. it was quite a shock after they had promised repeatedly to file the papers throughout the interviews. basically, they lied to me so that i would teach their summer courses while their "real" teachers were off for the holidays. lying is something i refuse to accept from an academy. this job is thankless enough, but to be used by an academy is just shameful.
needless to say, i left.

there were several other things that they did that i found really unacceptable, but i won't go into them here. joy has had a totally opposite experience, so maybe i was just in the wrong place or it was a wrong fit...just make sure you clarify completely with them that they will indeed offer the contract before you get in there. their pay is paltry and the only reason it is worth accepting is if you can get your papers.

anyway, good luck....

Wow, Candela, thanks for the warning! I will certainly be careful about accepting any work with ALA, even if they offer to get working papers for me. Out and out lying to a prospective teacher is completely unacceptable behavior. All of the advice I've gotten from posters on multimadrid has certainly helped to prepare me for what I'll have to deal with when I start my job search in Madrid.

Marsha

Just a note on getting "papers"--I'm not sure when Joy got hers, but since the amnesty things are moving much slower because of increased demand. Paperwork that was completed last April still hasn't cleared (though, knock on wood, should soon), so you are looking at a wait of at least six to eight months AFTER the paperwork is filed. I believe this used to take around four months. Just to help you plan.

On a more positive note, being really experienced as a teacher and a bonafide adult will make your prospects brighter.

Have you thought about getting a student visa instead? If you are only staying a year, this would be much easier...

A student visa? Mmmm, that's something I hadn't thought of before. But I would still need to work while I was studying. My nest egg will be adequate for getting started and being able to wait for decently-paid work but not big enough for living in Spain for an entire year. Can you get a student visa if you just want to take a course or two, or do you have to be in a degree-granting program?

Marsha

Marsha, as far as I know, I think for a student visa all you need is a letter from the organization that you are studying with here in Spain saying that you are a student enrolled in whatever program for whatever period of time (more than three months, or you wouldn't need one), I dont think it matters how many hours or how intensive the program is. Besos, joy

quote:

Marsha, as far as I know, I think for a student visa all you need is a letter from the organization that you are studying with here in Spain saying that you are a student enrolled in whatever program for whatever period of time (more than three months, or you wouldn't need one), I dont think it matters how many hours or how intensive the program is. Besos, joy

Unfortunately, I don't think that is the case when you apply for the student visa in the US. I think all of the consulates require that you have the intention of enrolling in a full-time program (though each branch seems to enforce slightly different rules). So, to be safe, the letter should state "full-time" or for X number of hours. In DC, they told me that it had to be at least 16 hours per week (on paper). If you are going to a public school, then you may only be able to get a "carta de invitación" or "reserva de plaza" to take to the consulate since there are very short periods of time, right before classes start, when you can actually matricular and pay for your classes.

That said, the comisaría (who issues the student "residency"--really estancia para estudios here in Spain) doesn't seem to be quite as strict when it comes to issuing or renewing the student visa--especially if you are studying in a degree program or at an official-sounding Spanish university program. The visa is only for entry--after you arrive, you have 30 days to apply for the estancia and if you keep renewing, you never go back to the consulate in the US, instead you do so here in Spain at the comisaría.

Hola Queensita and Mariposita,

I finally checked out the website of the Consulado General of Spain in New York City and found a list of documents required to get a student visa. It clearly states that you must study a minimum of 20 hours a week to be eligible a student visa.

Marshita

Being a good boy I won't start a new thread. Currently I'm on my last day of my TEFL (pray that I pass that stupid exam). I did my TEFL with TTmadrid and I have an interview with Training Express on Friday at the office. If I pass I'm buying Natasha and Senida lunch! Anyways in discussions with everyone I've decided that I take what ever hours they offer me in Tres Cantos and fill the rest up with private students. As soon as I mention I'm an English teacher they ask me to teach thier kids. While I don't want to teach kids in particular I'm willing to teach Teenages working on thier first certificate (I believe that is the name). I have several large complex next to me and a school, so I fiugre I can fill the extra hours without too much traveling. I'm thinking of charging 20 an hour for 25 an hour for 2 and 30 an hour for 3. Less work and more money and it saves the parents some cash as well. The only thing is that my spanish is nill so I might have to wait until I've had a few lessons.

rob