Co-op Program
for University Students
Develop key skills for your future by completing an academic internship. Not only will you earn college credits, but you’ll gain real hands-on experience for your career.
Take one step closer to the professional you want to be
It’s no longer just about studying, but about putting everything you’ve learned into practice and starting to enhance your resume.
If you’re looking for an internship that will truly help you grow, this is your opportunity. Become a Language Assistant with Meddeas and, by doing so, you will not only start gaining the confidence and experience for when you take the leap into the job market, but you will also become a more well-rounded professional, ready to face any challenge that comes your way in the future.
Experience the international opportunity that will make a difference. It’s not just about living in Spain, but about seeing how this opportunity helps you learn and surpass yourself, gaining autonomy, communication, adaptability, etc. These are skills and experience that you will complement with an online TEFL course provided by the program.
Take the step and start your journey with Meddeas.
Co-op Program
Your university career doesn’t end in the classroom. This internship is the step you need before launching into the job market: recognized and key to your professional development.
But this program goes beyond earning the credits you need. You will develop key skills for your future and enrich your resume with an international experience, living in Spain, teaching English in Spain.
An internship in a private or charter school in Spain.
Based on the candidate's profile and the school's needs, the destination and the number of students will be determined.
TEFL official training funded by the program.
No fees.
Monthly stipend.
Paid school holidays during the academic year.
Health insurance and coverage with the Spanish National Health System.
Pre-departure guidance and support with the visa process.
Support during the stay from both the school tutor and Meddeas.
Tasks
Role
Accommodation
TEFL Training
FAQs
Language Assistant Activities
Activities
Being a Language Assistant is much more than teaching English: it is an chance to grow, learn, and develop key skills for your future.
Your main goal will be to help students gain confidence and fluency in the language. To achieve this, you will lead activities and help make the classes more dynamic and participative.
Here, your attitude makes a difference: creativity, involvement, and the desire to make an impact are highly valued.
The way you live during your stay in Spain can make a significant difference in your experience. Choose the option that best suits you.
Independent Housing
If you prefer to have your own space and organize things your way, this is the best option.
You will live independently, either alone or sharing an apartment. Meddeas will provide you with some useful tips for finding accommodation in Spain, but you will be responsible for finding it yourself.
This option is ideal for those who value independence, enjoy sharing an apartment with different people, and prefer to organize themselves while being away from home.
Host family
This experience will guarantee you a complete immersion in Spanish culture. A family from the school will open the doors of their home… and their life to you!
You will share meals, weekend plans, conversations, and everyday moments. You will have an «adoptive» family with whom you can learn and share the customs, gastronomy, and culture of your country.
If you are looking to live like a local, get to know the life and culture of Spain firsthand, and feel welcomed by a family, this is your option.
As part of the program, you will be able to take an online official TEFL course that will give you the tools you need to teach English as a foreign language. It lasts 120 hours and the cost is covered by the program.
This is a great opportunity to continue your training and obtain an official certification to add to your resume!
Frequent questions
FAQs
Our Language Assistant's Experiences
Boost your students' international opportunities
If you represent a university and are looking to offer your students an international experience that complements their academic training, our program is the ideal opportunity.
How to participate in the Co-op Program?
If you need international practical experience to finish your studies, this is your chance. Check out the detailed information and apply.
Check the requirements:
- Be a native English, French, and/or German speaker.
- Native German and French speakers must have at least a B2 English level (according to the MCER).
- Be a university student and be able to obtain academic credits through a Co-op Student internship position (confirm this with your university).
- Have no criminal record.
- Stand out in our competitive selecation process.
Apply in three steps:
Read the documentation to learn more about program details.
Consult our FAQs to solve any doubts.
Fill out the online application form.
What is the selection process like?
Apply through our website www.meddeas.com
First online interview
Second online interview
Offer made to selected candidates
Induction Meeting
Pre-travel preparation
Visa application (if necessary)
Agreement and deposit payment
Find the answers to your questions about the Co-op Program
If you have already read all the information about the program, there is only one step left. Check our frequently asked questions and clear up any doubts: you will find everything you need to know about the Co-op Program.
What is a Meddeas Language Assistant?
A Meddeas Language Assistant is a recent university graduate (or a university student who can earn credits for internship opportunities) who is interested in acquiring international teaching experience. They get the chance to join one of the +300 schools we collaborate with in Spain to support the English, French, or German department, and collaborate with them through an internship scheme, receiving a monthly stipend to cover their expenses while having this experience.
Unlike Teaching Assistants, Language Assistants are expected to use their own initiative to prepare and deliver engaging and creative activities and fun games, following the guidelines given by the main teacher, in order to motivate the students, improve their speaking skills and make them fall in love with the language. This rewarding internship program requires full-time availability and a great deal of energy!
Some of the tasks assigned to the Language Assistant may include organizing group conversation lessons, leading the whole class at the front of the room alongside the teacher, conducting conversation practice with other teachers, or helping to prepare students for standardized language tests.
If the participant is earning credits through the program, group conversation lessons will include a maximum of 3 students at a time.
Am I eligible to apply?
You need to be a native-level speaker of English, German, or French. If you are a French or German native speaker, you will need at least a B2 level (CEFR) in order to complete the interview process and complete the paperwork.
You need to be a current undergraduate student from a university, eligible to earn credits through this placement.
You must have no criminal records, and you need to hold a valid passport (not needed to apply, but necessary to start the visa application process, if applicable).
Program conditions
Do I have to pay anything to be accepted?
Not at all. There are no fees to participate in Meddeas. You will have to transfer a refundable deposit of €300 after accepting your placement as proof of your commitment to the program. This deposit will be refunded to you at the end of the program, once you successfully complete your school placement.
Can I choose where I will be placed at?
No. Our program’s allocation process is profile-based. That means that our Human Resources Team will match your profile with a specific school placement (with its own requirements) so that you can benefit from this internship experience. Therefore, we cannot guarantee that you will be placed in a specific location.
Can I be placed with my friend or with my partner?
Since we run a profile-based allocation process, we only consider individual applications. If one of your friends or your partner has also applied, please bear in mind that it is unlikely that we will place both of you in the same town or even region.
What does the Co-op Placement include?
You will have access to an online 120-hour TEFL course, offered by the program, and will participate in a one-day session in Madrid or Barcelona (TBC) upon your arrival. After that, you will move on to your placement destination to collaborate with the school. You will receive a monthly stipend and your University will recognize this international teaching experience as part of your Bachelor’s degree.
How long does the program last?
Our program runs from September/October/January to May/June. If you successfully complete the program, you may apply to join a Language Assistant placement for recent graduates. You can choose to stay at the same school or move to a different one.
If you’re looking for a shorter teaching experience, please check our One-Term Volunteer Program instead.
How many hours can I expect to be at school?
You will have between 20 and 24 in-class hours per week, needing up to 2 additional hours per week to coordinate your activities with other teachers. As your timetable depends on the other teachers’, you will for sure have some gaps between classes, meaning that, for example, you could have class from 9 am to 4 or 5 pm with gaps in between, including a one or two-hour lunch break. You can take advantage of these gaps to prepare activities and dedicate time to your online TEFL course.
If you live with a host family and your placement has less than 23 in-class hours per week, you will teach them in 4 days (mornings and afternoons), or in 5 mornings every week.
How much money will I receive each month?
The monthly stipend will allow you to live in Spain as a young professional, and is enough to pay your rent (in case of independent housing) and cover expenses. Keep in mind that larger cities like Madrid, Barcelona, or Bilbao are more expensive than medium or small cities. We advise you to come to Spain with some savings to help you get settled.
Will I have holidays?
If there are unforeseen circumstances or special events, such as your graduation, that require you to take a day off, you will have to submit a request in advance to the school principal. Unauthorized absences can result in the loss of your stipend or even your placement.
Is medical insurance included?
You will need to purchase a private health insurance plan if you are a non-EU passport holder to satisfy visa requirements. Successful candidates may look for their own options or contact Meddeas, since we have partnered with a private health insurance provider to offer affordable coverage that complies with visa requirements.
What happens if I do not show commitment to the program?
You are expected to show initiative and commitment and perform professionally. Meddeas and/or the school have the right to cancel a Language Assistant’s placement if any of them consider that the participant exhibits a lack of professional behavior.
If this occurs, the Language Assistant loses the deposit and all inherent rights (placement, course, stipend, etc.). In addition, the program is legally obliged to cancel the visa (if applicable).
What happens if I leave the program before it ends?
If you decide to leave the program, you will lose the €300 deposit and all inherent rights (placement, course, stipend, etc.) In addition, the program will be legally obliged to cancel your visa (if applicable).
Lodging options
Can I look for accommodation on my own?
Yes. If you decide to live by yourself, we strongly recommend that you look for a shared apartment located close to your school. It will be easier for you to walk to school each day instead of relying on public transportation.
Meddeas does not provide accommodation, so you will be responsible for finding an apartment to rent. Our Admissions Team will offer you tips and links for finding an apartment in Spain. You will also be invited to the Meddeas Facebook group, where you can communicate with other Meddeas participants who might also be looking for an apartment in the same area. Nevertheless, negotiating an apartment contract or security deposit will be your own responsibility.
Can I live with a host family?
Yes. Living in Spain is a great way to practice the Spanish language, and staying with a Spanish host family will be the best way to make the most of this unique experience. The family will introduce you to many typical Spanish traditions that will help you discover a new culture and, most likely, make friends for life. In some schools, you might be placed with two or three host families throughout the year.
Through this very special opportunity, you will find yourself being part of an authentic Spanish family and all that comes with it: living in their home, eating together, playing games, and going on family trips. It is a dream come true for those who want to live like a Spaniard for a few months.
The school
What does the school expect from me?
One of the school’s teachers will be appointed as your tutor. They will guide you and you can ask them for advice when needed, but you will be expected to independently plan your own activities and games.
What will my school be like?
Meddeas collaborates with private and concertado (charter or grant-maintained) schools. Some of them are non-religious, whereas others are Catholic. In a Catholic school, a Language Assistant is expected to be respectful of the school’s beliefs and customs, and to avoid controversial topics. It is not necessary to share its ethos, but the above is a must. If you have any questions on this matter, you will be able to address them during the interview.
Successful candidates will receive all the relevant details, including location, students’ age group, and school characteristics before accepting a placement offer. Once accepted, details cannot be changed upon the Language Assistant’s request. The school defines them and may adapt the ages of children that participants are placed with, according to their needs.
THE SELECTION PROCESS
How is the selection process?
If you are interested in becoming a Meddeas Language Assistant, you can apply through our website by filling out the online Application Form.
We will evaluate your eligibility and, if you meet the requirements to enroll in the program, we will arrange a first online interview with you.
If you make it to the second stage of the recruitment process, you will be invited to a second online interview. If you successfully complete the second stage, you will be considered for one of the available placements for which your profile matches.
Finally, you will be asked to sign an agreement. You will receive the name of your school before transferring the refundable deposit to ensure your placement. You will then be accepted into the program and will be able to start your visa application process, if applicable, with the guidance of our Admissions Team.
FUNDING THE PROGRAM
What will it cost to participate?
The program does not include any fees. However, you will have to pay for some things with a set and known cost:
All participants
- Application for a National Certificate of Absence of Police Records
- Medical Certificate
- Travel expenses from and to your country
- Accommodation in Madrid or Barcelona for the Induction Meeting
- Travel expenses from Madrid or Barcelona to your destination
Non-European passport holders (visa requirements)
- Visa application fees
- Translation of official documents
- Apostille Legalization (if needed)
- Private health insurance
Prices vary from country to country. Please check the fees that apply to your particular case.