How I Landed an International Teaching Job After My Year as a Language Assistant

Take the Leap

Suffice it to say that when I decided to leave my full-time teaching job in Nashville, Tennessee, for a year as a Language Assistant in Spain, my friends and family were surprised. I had already left New York for the South, but now to leave the US for a whole new country, what was I thinking?

Previously, I had been working as a 7th grade social studies teacher. I have a Master’s in Teaching and Learning and a Bachelor’s in History and Secondary Education. In full transparency, I didn’t know much about Meddeas when I applied to the program. All I knew was that they would help me get to Spain and earn a TEFL certificate in the process. I was concerned about learning to share the classroom and shift from a teaching job to a “Language Assistant internship” but, I also couldn’t deny my desire to leave my comfort zone and explore outside the US. So, I said yes to Meddeas and jumped on a plane from New York to La Rioja!

Remember to Give Yourself Time to Adjust

Admittedly, it wasn’t the easiest transition for me. I was placed in Logroño, a small but amazing city. I was working with about 600 students, with ages ranging between 7 and 16. My Spanish was hopeless and I was sharing one shower with four other girls. I struggled to prep lessons that only lasted 20 minutes and with forming relationships with such a large number of students; even remembering their names was proving extremely difficult. The only thing saving me from an utter existential crisis was the girls I was living with, even if they were always in the shower when I needed to brush my teeth.

After some time though, things got better. The English teachers that I worked with were kind and helpful. They gave me books to work from, ideas for lessons, and a confidence boost when needed. My roommates, two from Spain, one from the US, and one from Australia, all helped me with my Spanish and showed me around Logroño. The number of pinchos (de champiñones) we ate is probably unheard of. By the end of my time here, I felt like the luckiest person in the world and I was more confident in my communication and teaching abilities than ever before.

So Hard to Say Goodbye …. Maybe I’ll Just Stay

As this school year was coming to a close, something became clear to me – I wasn’t ready to leave. The personal and professional development I had experienced was amazing, and I wanted to continue this path of accelerated growth. I started looking for jobs, but I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to live this dream. While Meddeas does offer a second year, I missed lead teaching and wanted to return to my roots in Secondary Education History. I sent out so many applications and got quite a few rejections because I didn’t have a work visa or EU citizenship. I think if my resume hadn’t already said Logroño as the location, I wouldn’t have even gotten the interviews. Finally, I found the British School of Navarra in Pamplona. After a few rounds of interviews, they offered me the position and are sponsoring my work visa!

The Experience That Helped Me Land My Teaching Job

Not only did my time in Spain build my desire to apply for these positions, but also the opportunity Meddeas provided me here allowed me to chase the dream. I was already set up with a Spanish phone number, a working knowledge of the language and culture, and I was on Spanish time (I knew not to schedule any interviews during siesta – but, I also just wasn’t the six hours behind that I would have been in New York). In addition, my TEFL Certification and my knowledge of the Spanish education system greatly boosted my application. To put the cherry on top of the cake, one of my roommates was also moving to Pamplona, so I wouldn’t be starting from scratch all over again!

I’m beyond excited about this next opportunity and am so grateful to Meddeas for opening the door for me. For anybody interested in running with the bulls in Pamplona, I’ll see you at San Fermin next year!