Spain’s Secret Income

Opportunity

An International Living Australia Report

www.ilaustralia.com

Spain’s Secret Income Opportunity

An International Living Australia report

Designer: Ian Fleming

Cover photos: ©Steenie Harvey; Nazareen Heazle; Glynna Prentice

Note: All currencies in this report have been converted from U.S. dollars to Australian dollars using the rate of USD$1 to AUD$1.35

© Copyright 2016. International Living Australia Publishing Ltd., Elysium House, Ballytruckle, Waterford, Ireland. All rights reserved. No part of this report may be reproduced by any means without the express written consent of the publisher. The information contained herein is obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but its accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Registered in Ireland No. 285214.

PAGE 1

Spain’s Secret Income Opportunity

Introduction

Do you speak English? Do you want to live in Spain? You can get a job teaching English with no teaching experience required.

This great opportunity has been arranged for you by the Spanish government. The Language and Cultural Assistants Program wants people with Australian passports who are native English speakers to help Spanish students become proficient in English.

You can apply each January-April for a position in the following school year. Candidates must be Australian nationals, possess a university degree or be in their final year of a Bachelor degree at the end of the current academic year, and be native speakers of English. A basic level of Spanish is recommended, but not compulsory. No teaching experience is required.

The program provides you with an orientation to learn about your role in the classroom and some suggested activities. The program arranges your placement at a school, a contract, and a salary. Once you receive your paperwork the only thing you need to do is obtain a visa from your local embassy and book a plane ticket to sunny Spain.

There is no age limit and, although the average participant ranges from 21 to 35 years of age, many people participating are outside this age range. There are opportunities to teach anywhere in Spain.

No matter where your placement is, you will have ample free time to explore your new home. You only work 12 to 16 hours a week. Free time remains to grab tapas with friends or relax on the beach. Take a paseo, a short walk—or a siesta, a short nap—like the Spaniards do every day.

PAGE 2

Spain’s Secret Income Opportunity

The Language and Culture Assistants Program

The Language and Culture Assistants Program is an initiative of the Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sport in Spain. The program was developed to provide grants for Australian, U.S. and Canadian university students—majoring in any subject—and graduates with, preferably, some Spanish ability. It is also desirable that you have an interest in Spanish language and culture.

Under this program, students will spend a full academic year in Spain, from the beginning of October through May 31, or six months from January to June. The whole application process is done through the online system called PROFEX, accessible at: https://www.educacion.es/profex. There is no fee to submit an application.

To apply you must complete the following steps:

• Create a user profile and password in PROFEX (website: www.educacion.es/profex) in order to log into the system.

• Complete your résumé details and upload all required documentation onto PROFEX.

• Fill out the provided application.

• Choose your destination in Spain.

• Submit your online application.

• Print your application and the checklist, sign and date them, and send them to the Consejería de Educación of the Embassy of Spain in Australia. (Fax: 61-2-62734588 or email: spainedu.au@mecd.es).

• Wait for the results of the selection process and a confirmation email from PROFEX.

• You must accept your offer within five days.

• Wait for your acceptance letter from your chosen Spanish Autonomous Region.

• Apply for a visa and purchase your flight to Spain.

Required documents

You will need the following documents for your application to this program.

• A print out of your online application, signed and dated.

• The checklist, signed and dated and with your initials next to each item you are submitting.

• A copy of the main page of your valid passport.

• A university transcript on letterhead or a copy of your degree.

• A cover letter or statement of purpose for participation in the program of no less than 250 words, preferably in Spanish.

PAGE 3

Spain’s Secret Income Opportunity

• A letter of recommendation in English or Spanish written and signed by any current or former professor. If you have been out of university for more than five years, you can receive this letter from your supervisor at work.

The online application period runs from early January until early April (check the http://www.mecd.gob.es/australia/convocatorias/programas/auxiliares-de-conversacion-australianos.html website for dates and application details for the year you wish to apply).

Applicants must complete the online application and send their hard copy documents within this deadline.

For further information, please contact Spanish Education Advisors for your State: -

NSW, QLD, ACT and NT: atd.sydney@mecd.es

SA, WA, VIC and TAS: asesoriamelbourne.au@mecd.es

For a full guide on the application via PROFEX, visit here.

The Language and Culture Assistants Program is an Easy way to Work and Live in Spain

By Kimberly WeitkampI’m putting my three-day weekends in Europe to good use. I’ve visited Germany, Britain,

Belgium, Ireland, Sweden, Portugal, and the Netherlands…all from my Spanish base in the beautiful city of Salamanca in the region of Castile and Leon.

Everywhere I go, I seek out cheap places to stay, eat, and play. I love travelling and my job gives me the opportunity to do so while still making some money.

With Spain’s extensive and affordable public transit system, travelling in and out of the country is easy. Every town or city has daily departures to places like Barcelona, Granada, or Madrid. If you want to check out the rest of Europe, there are overnight trains and buses to Portugal and France every day.

If you want to fly, Madrid is a major hub for low-cost airlines operating throughout Europe. Exploring new places is both possible and affordable.

Living in Europe seemed an impossible dream for me, considering the European Union’s strict rules about hiring non-citizens.

However, as a native English speaker I found a way to make it happen.

Spain’s Language and Cultural Assistants Program allows any college graduate from Australia to work as an English teaching assistant for the duration of an academic year. And you can apply to do a second year if you wish.

This program is for any Australian national who holds a minimum of a Bachelor degree by the end of the academic year preceding the start of the program.

You must have English as your first language, be in good physical and psychological condition, and have a clean background check to qualify. It is preferable that you have basic Spanish skills, but there is no placement exam or teaching experience or TOEFL/TESL certification required. There is no age limit, but the average age of a participant is between 21 and 35.

PAGE 4

Spain’s Secret Income Opportunity

The English teaching duties are simple and not time consuming. Your role serves to help the main teacher with games and other activities, or engaging the students in conversation. The program requires you to work 12 to 16 hours a week, so there is plenty of time on your own outside the classroom. You will receive remuneration to cover accommodation expenses of about $1,080 (as high as $1,390 in Madrid) monthly, an orientation course and full medical insurance. Travel costs to and from Australia will be your responsibility.

I had already spent a semester studying in Spain. And after I graduated I was eager to travel again, so I decided to apply for the program. It would give me an income, let me travel extensively, and allow me to live in Spain.

Like any move, there were practical considerations to make. Finding an affordable apartment seemed my biggest obstacle.

Thankfully, Spain has embraced the internet and this made the search simple. There were many sites with photos of places, a list of amenities, and the contact information for the landlord…before I ever set foot in Spain.

Rent can be less than $276 a month for a shared apartment. Sharing apartments with other single people, or a couple, is common in Spain. If you do the program with a spouse, or prefer to live alone, you can find apartments for as low as $557 a month. Housing, when renting, is cheaper in Spain than in most of Australia.

Buying food is also relatively inexpensive. Spain grows most of its fruits, vegetables, and grains—and raises livestock—making food more affordable than in the rest of Europe. Shopping in local markets for fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, and meat costs less than in supermarkets. For example, three kilos of oranges cost $2.70 from a market, but you pay $1.86 for just under a kilo at the grocery store. Fresh-baked bread, from baguettes to croissants, can be found for $1.35 or less. Tasty, healthy, and cheap food is only a street away in Spain, as there are local markets everywhere.

Most schools try to compress your workweek to three or four days, leaving plenty of time to travel on the weekends. I took, on average, one or two weekend trips a month. At Christmas and Easter there was at least a week of holiday, and the school closed on local holidays and saints’ days.

If you want to earn more money or feel a need for more tasks to fill your day, giving private lessons is simple. Most of my fellow teachers knew of someone looking for private lessons for their children and approached me almost immediately. Many friends in the program had a similar experience.

Another option, especially if you live in a smaller town, is to post flyers around town.

There are always people looking for someone to expand their English knowledge, and they usually prefer native speakers. The general rate is usually about $27 an hour. In some larger cities, like Madrid, the price is slightly higher. Finding people who want lessons was simple, and soon I found myself having to turn people away.

Teaching English in Spain is feasible for anyone with a University degree and basic Spanish skills. It pays reasonably well when you consider the hours and low cost of living.

There will be plenty of holidays and long breaks for you to travel…and you will meet fascinating people.

PAGE 5

Spain’s Secret Income Opportunity

Kicking Back With a Part-Time Income

in MadridBy Susan Edmunson

Six months ago, Lester Herrera, 31, was unemployed in the San Francisco Bay area…a victim of “down-sizing”, despite having a business degree from USC.

He had been laid off from a non-profit organisation where he worked as a career counsellor. After several attempts at finding another job, he decided to retire early…to Spain.

Today Lester lives in dynamic Madrid. “I only work four days a week,” he says. “I have Mondays off. When I travel, I go for a long weekend.”

His official job employs him for approximately 25 hours a week. “I work from 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. and I have a two-hour break in the middle of the day.”

©Glynna Prentice

PAGE 6

Spain’s Secret Income Opportunity

On his long weekends he goes exploring in nearby cities like Barcelona, Avila, Salamanca, Segovia, and Zaragoza. He plans to visit relatives in Switzerland soon.

Although Lester’s not getting rich on his salary, he’s getting paid to live in Europe, with health insurance and a visa issued by the Spanish government.

How did he semi-retire at only 31-years-old? It all started when Lester visited the annual Los Angeles Times Travel Show.

“I’d visited Spain three years ago and I fell in love with it and wanted to go back,” he explains. So he wandered over to the Spanish booth to ask them how he could possibly teach English there.

That’s when the Spanish representative told him about the Auxiliares de Conversacion (Language and Culture Assistants) program. It’s where native English speakers help teachers in Spain teach English. All Lester needed was to be a native speaker with a university degree. “Sign me up,” he laughed.

Lester filled out the form on the Auxiliares de Conversacion website and supplied the requested documents.

“If you apply early you get a choice of regions to be placed in,” he explains. “My top three choices were Madrid, Catalonia, and Basque Country. I got Madrid.”

And he’s very glad he did. “You learn so many things, like trying to be bilingual or being improvisational. I’ve been able to meet a lot of cool people here in Madrid, it’s the centre of everything.”

While other countries offer similar teacher’s aide programs, only Spain offers this opportunity to everyone, regardless of age.

In between teaching, learning Spanish, and travel, Lester finds time to make new friends. “The Auxiliar program is one big network. Someone might teach a free yoga class, or a group might get together for a bike ride, or to see a museum.” In fact, he is enjoying himself so much he’s thinking about staying another year to perfect his Spanish and get his TEFL certification at a language school.

“At the school I work at, all of us teachers get together for lunch, and talk as friends,” says Lester. “The Spanish really value that. They work to live instead of living to work.”

PAGE 7

Spain’s Secret Income Opportunity

Other Ways to Earn Income

in SpainThere are many different ways to fund your life in Spain. Teaching English is just one of

the options available to you. Below we will talk about some of the other exciting choices you have to earn an income in Spain.

Use Your Credentials for a Better Life in Spain

By Koren HelbigTen years ago, American health professional Jonathan Ahladas left Springfield,

Massachusetts to make a new home in the Spanish capital, Madrid.

He’s still glad he did. “In the States your routine is going to work, taking the car, driving home, and then you’re home for the rest of the day,” says Jonathan. “The Spaniards have this zest for life. They work to live and really appreciate the time they have outside of work to spend with family and friends.

“The simple gesture of getting together with someone for a caña (small glass of beer) and chatting is wonderful. I’ve learned to appreciate that a lot more—using a meal as a little ritual, a little get-together with friends, and having that serve as the glue that knits a community or a culture together. It’s a wonderful lifestyle.”

Jonathan made the move to be with his Spanish sweetheart and later wife, Maria. He wanted to continue working as a physiotherapist. The process of authorising his American credentials internationally was rather easy, though he did need a lot of patience.

Before beginning work as a physio in Spain, Jonathan filed translated versions of his university qualifications and U.S. licensing with the Spanish government. Then he applied for local social security and tax identification numbers, all required for work in Spain.

“I pretty much had to pay, submit the paperwork, and wait,” Jonathan says. “They didn’t require me to sit for any other class or take any exam, written, oral, or practical. So in that sense, it was quite easy. It wasn’t outrageously expensive, but it was a waiting game. Within about a year-and-a-half, I was able to get my licence.”

The 40-year-old says he taught English and studied Spanish 20 hours a week while he waited for the slow wheels of the Spanish government to turn—using a student visa to live legally in Spain before swapping to a self-employed, or autónomo, visa and opening his own physiotherapy practice.

“Being able to speak English definitely opens up some doors and opportunities,

PAGE 8

Spain’s Secret Income Opportunity

especially in the expat market. It’s looked very highly upon if you’ve studied abroad”, he says.

“I was fortunate enough to have studied a niche market or specialty in the world of physiotherapy. It’s more like an osteopathic medicine. So I acquired a certain macro talent in my hands, which has allowed me to distinguish myself from a typical physiotherapist here.”

Jonathan admits that physiotherapy pays less in Spain than in countries like the U.S., Australia, France, Germany, and the U.K., especially for those working on a contract for an employer. Spain’s ongoing financial crisis, which began in 2008, has also affected business.

But Jonathan says practitioners can earn more working privately. And, though he doesn’t yet have his own physical practice space, he has agreements with two established medical clinics in Madrid allowing him to see clients at their premises while remaining independent.

The pay drop is worth it for the lifestyle, he says. He has time to hang out with his wife and two young children, can set his own hours, and flit across to nearby countries like Portugal for short holidays. Besides, the cost of living is lower so every euro goes further.

“You earn less money than in the States, but you’re compensated 100-fold in the autonomy and flexibility that you have, not only as a physiotherapist but in the vacation time that you get,” he says. “I might earn three or four times more working in the States but at what cost? I wouldn’t have the time to enjoy my family and friends. They put a lot of emphasis on enjoying life here so I’m pretty content.”

Dealing with the language barrier presented a problem initially, as Jonathan says he knew barely a word of Spanish before arriving. But the classes helped him get up to speed, as did hanging out with locals and conversing with his wife.

“It took around six months to get somewhat comfortable and about a year to feel safe going out on my own and doing things,” he says. “The first few months I started practising as a physiotherapist I had my few questions that I could ask in Spanish. But then the Spanish just unload on you, rapid-fire, and I was just going “sí, sí, sí”, literally writing down the things I didn’t understand and going home that night to look it up.”

Living abroad, and dealing with a foreign culture and government, has also taught Jonathan to relax and go with the flow a little more.

“The United States is a very structured society and things work very efficiently, whereas Spaniards aren’t the most organised people. They take their time. So I’ve learned to relax a bit more. If things don’t happen when they should at that very moment, I’ve learnt to let it go and say it’s ok. It’s not the end of the world,” he says.

PAGE 9

Spain’s Secret Income Opportunity

Travel Writing in Spain

You can turn just about any travel experience you have—anyplace on the planet, including Spain—into a cash-generating one. This is something anybody can do, anywhere in the world, no experience necessary.

Now I will say you do need to be observant. You have to want to meet new people and explore new places. And it’s important that you be willing to voice your opinions.

Travel writing expert, Steenie Harvey, often talks about the lifestyle her career has given her...and about how it’s really open to anyone with a sense of adventure.

“Not to make you jealous, but let me give you a taste of what you might expect. I’ve enjoyed indulgences like a luxury room at a cliff-side hotel in Crete...taken a wildlife safari in India...gone on a music tour of Berlin...eaten my way through an oyster festival in Galway. I’ve been invited to enjoy some pretty amazing perks over the years—worth tens of thousands of dollars. But for me, it’s all been on the house.

“And the truth of the matter is: To get those great offers of hospitality, I don’t do anything you can’t learn to do, too. I don’t have any formal training as a writer...”

You may think you have to wait a while to start cashing in on the great perks and paid-for articles that can come along with travel writing. But that’s just not the case. True, you can’t just walk up to any old person and say, “Hey, can I have a free trip?” But you’d be surprised at how quickly you’ll find your name on the invite lists once you get started.

Spain has an abundance of experiences and a fantastic lifestyle that provides travel writers with many ideas for stories. Here, Tara Lowery, outlines five great things that she loves to do in Spain, where she lived. As a travel writer, these are all things that would make great travel pieces. You see, even your home town (no matter where that is) can give you inspiration for travel stories. Even though where you are is your home, to someone else, it’s a holiday town.

The 5 Things You Should do (and Write About) in Southern Spain

By Tara LoweryWriting about your experiences at festivals…learning a new skill…or aspects of your

daily life in Spain could see you earning a very decent income. Get it right and you’ll soon see the cash flowing in. Write about what interests you and people will want to read about the Spanish lifestyle that you now enjoy. And when you live in Spain you also have the rest of Europe on your doorstep, so you could be writing about France, or Portugal, or Italy.

With so many things to do (not to mention the abundance of sunshine and wine), living in Spain is exciting and interesting…so share it with others, and fund your new life in Spain in the process.

PAGE 10

Spain’s Secret Income Opportunity

Here are five things that I love to do it Spain, all of which could be turned into travel stories.

Go for tapas

One of the many delights of living in Spain is the food. The Spanish are known worldwide for their tapas (small appetiser-style dishes) and with good reason. What started out as a way to cover patrons’ glasses of Sherry to keep the flies out has evolved into a whole dining experience full of exquisite tiny meals.

On my lunch breaks (which were three hours long) and at dinner with co-workers and friends, I would explore different tapas every day until I had a long list of personal favourites… Solomillo al Whisky, pork tenderloin in a whiskey and garlic sauce, wins as personal favourite number one.

Learn Spanish

Spaniards, and in particular Sevillianos in the south of Spain where I was based, are very social people. I learned my now-fluent Spanish in Seville and it has served me well, leading to opportunities later on in Costa Rica, Cuba, and Mexico.

Take up Flamenco dancing

Whether you want to learn it or just watch it, southern Spain is the birthplace of Flamenco and rich in chances for both. Most days you can hear Flamenco guitar music rebelliously stomping its way out of bars and dance studios all over the city. Apart from being a fantastic workout, taking a class is a great way to be interactively involved in a huge part of Andalusian culture.

Travel

Although Spain is such a wonderful country that you will be hesitant to leave, even for a few days, its proximity to other European destinations make it an ideal base for travel-minded people. It is hard to pass up the chance to visit Paris, Venice, Casablanca, and Lisbon when they are so close. I regularly took weekend trips (and sometimes day trips) to cities all over Europe without having to dig very far into my pockets. Trains and inexpensive airlines within Europe make intercontinental travel very affordable.

Attend festivals

Spain is the motherland of big scale, internationally famous festivals. Among some of the most well-known are the April fair in Seville; Las Fallas (a huge fire festival where massive effigies and sculptures are burnt in unison) in Valencia; La Tomatina (a festival dedicated to the tomato) in Buñol; and, of course, the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona.

©Nazareen Heazle

PAGE 11

Spain’s Secret Income Opportunity

Photographing Paradise for a Living

By Henk Badenhorst

The tropical Maldive Islands in the Indian Ocean aren’t just a paradise for vacationers…they’re also a photographer’s dream.

I got to experience the beauty of the Maldives for myself when I went on vacation there with a group of 10 friends who love to surf. I was “the guy with the camera.” And every day presented me with countless opportunities to take stunning photos. Shooting sunrise…snapping the guys catching the early waves…close-ups of the waves…boats on the water…and the beautiful landscape. And all of this before breakfast.

After breakfast, we would set off on a boat for the day with surfboards, wetsuits, and sunscreen. While my friends surfed, I’d take more great photos of them…and when I wasn’t doing that, I was shooting underwater photography. As the guys opened their beers and joked about wipeouts on big waves, I got lots of lifestyle shots. “Lifestyle shots” are the moments between the action, when somebody is just looking off into the sunset, having enjoyed a beautiful day on the ocean. Later we would wander off into the pink, island sunset.

And all the time I would be clicking the shutter…and creating income to fund the trip. You see, I make my money from stock photography. It’s a great way to fund your travel adventures. There is no shortage of great opportunities when you’re abroad—if you know what to look out for. Take Barcelona—the beautiful Spanish city so influenced by the architect Gaudi.

Architecture is always a favourite subject matter for me when I’m in Barcelona. There’s such a variety: the old city with its textures…the glass reflections of new environmentally friendly architecture. Glassy reflective windows are a popular image for corporate use.

While I was there, I mostly visited tourist areas and spent hours drinking coffee or beer at the small bars and cafés spread around the city. In those cafés, I got some great pictures of beverages…and I used a small bar as a background in which to create food images later. I don’t just use my final destination for photo opportunities, though. When travelling abroad, I use airports as photographic subjects, too…escalators, big open modern spaces, people moving somewhere and others going nowhere.

It’s part of a traveller’s journey and if shot right, can be categorised in many ways— transportation, travel, on the move, modern architecture, communication. All in all, the trips generate a substantial number of saleable images and ultimately pay for themselves. I had covered the cost of the Maldives trip in 12 months. It’s a great motivator for me to buy that next flight out of here…

PAGE 12

Spain’s Secret Income Opportunity

Singing Their Way to a New Life (and Income)

in SpainBy Kristin Henning

Six years ago, Byron and Alison Lee (57 and 53 years old) were listening to a performance at a local bar in Murcia, Spain. Byron listened to the DJ for a while, and then said to his buddy behind the bar, “He’s not very good, is he?” The owner shook his head. “Tonight’s his last night.”

Before you could say, “I Left my Heart in San Francisco,” Byron was next in line for the job. With their heads still spinning slightly at the speed with which they had found themselves a new career, he and Alison invested in the essentials to start up. They bought amps, a computer, a pair of microphones, and the rights to songs. They started their new entertainment business within the week.

Did either of them have experience singing or entertaining? No, although Alison is quick to point out that Byron “has always been the life of the party” and was well known for keeping things rolling at friends’ and family events.

©Steenie Harvey

PAGE 13

Spain’s Secret Income Opportunity

For his part, Byron admires Alison’s ability to manage the business operations and work the crowd. She remembers the names of even occasional and seasonal guests, and is continuously on her feet taking requests and encouraging new and old friends to participate.

From Lancashire, England, both Byron and Alison had travel experience before moving to Camposol—a largely British and northern European community of expats in the southeast of Spain, near the Costa Cálida. Byron served for 25 years in the Royal Air Force. Alison lived in Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) until she was 15. She later joined the Women’s Royal Navy before raising a family while working and volunteering on the side.

The Lees chose Camposol on their first and only viewing trip for property in Spain. It’s as sunny as Lancashire is rainy, and Alison was drawn by the mountain setting. It’s also just a 15-minute drive to the beaches of Mazarrón and Bolnuevo.

The Lees made the move by buying their home outright after selling their home in England.

The couple already had enough income to get by, but they wanted to work. It plugs them into the community, and it’s fun. The Lees work more during the busy tourist season, April to October, and fit their own holidays into the November to March months.

Running the karaoke and entertainment business isn’t just queuing up the songs. Byron carefully plans the musical preludes to set the tone, prepares lighting and props, and gets the ball rolling by singing a couple of songs himself. They both improvise as needed when the pace slows, a younger crowd appears, or the evening progresses.

“Ballads, a lot of ballads,” says Alison, when asked what songs were most popular. To quicken the pace, you might see Byron bring out the “air” guitar to get things rockin’ (using a tiny toy guitar for comic effect). Other rhythm instruments are available for backup singers, and suddenly more people shed their reservations and hit the dance floor or prepare to sing.

The fringe benefits? Besides the friends, referrals, and supplemental income, Byron can fulfil his desire to perform and entertain. And in the off-season, there’s time to visit family in New Zealand, when it is summer there. They can show up to work in shorts, have a drink on the job, and, no doubt, kill in the music category of Trivial Pursuit.

©Steenie Harvey