Language assistant programmes in Madrid, Murcia, Valencia and beyond
Sunshine, tapas and a four-day teaching week, in one of the most popular countries in Europe to live abroad. Here's what language assistant roles pay, who can apply and how to make the numbers work.
Most English teaching in Spain for newcomers is as a language assistant: you support the class teacher with speaking and listening, rather than running classes alone. Here are the three Spain programmes we're recruiting for.
Private schools · Across Spain
200+ schools nationwide · 6 or 9 months · Recent graduates
You'll need: a degree from the last four years, native-level English and to enjoy working with children.
See the job and apply
Vocational colleges · Valencia
Valencia region · Vocational training students · 10 months
You'll need: a degree, native English or a C1 certificate, and the right to work in the EU.
See the job and apply
Public schools · ConversaSpain
Madrid or Murcia · 6 or 8–9 months
You'll need: a degree and an eligible passport (incl. UK, US and South Africa). Programme fee from US$1,200.
See the job and applyFrom the UK or outside the EU? ConversaSpain and our private school programme are your best routes, as they work with non-EU applicants. The Valencia role needs existing EU work rights.
Get Spain job alertsThe three programmes differ in pay, hours, fees and who can apply. Here they are side by side.
| Feature | Private schools, across Spain | Valencia vocational colleges | ConversaSpain, Madrid or Murcia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly pay | €912 | €1,400 net | €1,000 Madrid, €875 Murcia |
| Hours | 20 a week | 24 a week | 16 a week, over 4 days |
| Housing | Free homestay option, or your own flat | Your own flat | Your own flat, with advice |
| Contract | 6 or 9 months | 10 months | 6 or 8–9 months |
| Start dates | September or January | September | October, November or January |
| Fee | No fee, €850 refundable deposit | No fee | From US$1,200, including visa support and insurance |
| Who can apply | Recent graduates with native-level English | Native or C1 English with EU work rights | Eligible passport holders, incl. UK, US and SA |
| Best for | Living like a local and saving on rent | EU citizens wanting the highest pay | Non-EU applicants wanting full visa support |
Figures are from our partners' current programme details. ConversaSpain fees are quoted in US dollars.
Spain has invested heavily in bilingual education, and schools across the country welcome native English speakers to bring the language to life. As a language assistant you work alongside a qualified teacher, leading conversation, games and cultural activities rather than managing a whole class alone.
The hours are short, often just four days a week, which leaves plenty of time to learn Spanish, travel Europe and enjoy the Spanish way of life. It's not a big-money option, so think of it as a paid year abroad: a chance to gain classroom experience, a second language and friends for life.
Weekend hiking above Cartagena's harbour in Murcia.
Spain is affordable by Western European standards, especially outside Madrid. Your allowance covers a modest, fun life, and the short week leaves time to earn more.
Monthly allowance or salary on our Spain programmes
A room in a shared flat, from Murcia at the lower end to Madrid at the top
A three-course menú del día at lunchtime, drink included
What many assistants charge for private English lessons
Budget flights and trains across Spain and Europe
On some programmes, so every weekend is a long one
Here's an illustrative budget for a language assistant in Madrid, sharing a flat. Costs are lower in Murcia and most of Spain, and much lower in a homestay.
| Monthly allowance | €1,000 |
| Room in a shared flat | €500 |
| Bills and internet share | €50 |
| Phone and data | €15 |
| Groceries and eating out | €250 |
| Metro and bus pass | €30 |
| Going out and hobbies | €100 |
| Weekend trips | €80 |
| Balance from your allowance | about –€25 |
Add four hours of private lessons a week at €20 an hour, where your visa allows, and you're about €300 a month better off.
In Madrid, the allowance alone covers your living costs but little more. In Murcia, Valencia or a homestay, it goes much further. Most assistants make Spain work by teaching a few private lessons a week.
If saving money matters, Asia or the Gulf will suit you better. If you want Europe, a new language and a year you'll talk about forever, Spain is hard to beat.
Arrive with around £1,500–£2,000 to cover a flat deposit, your first month and any visa costs before your first payment.
Requirements vary by programme, but you'll usually need:
No TEFL or Spanish needed. Want to feel ready for the classroom? See the courses we recommend.
Non-EU applicants should allow three to four months for the visa.
A short online application and interview, then you're matched with a school or region.
You receive your school placement, which you'll need for your visa application.
You apply at the Spanish consulate with your placement letter, background check and medical certificate. ConversaSpain guides you through it.
Regional orientation and training, and the chance to meet other assistants.
Non-EU assistants apply for a TIE residence card; EU citizens register their residence and get an NIE number.
Not for our Spain programmes. But a TEFL helps you plan engaging activities, handle a lively class and charge more for private lessons, which is how most assistants boost their income. Book through ESLstarter for our discounted prices with partner TEFL UK.
£133£279
ESLstarter price, only when you book here
from£63
ESLstarter price, only when you book here
Good to know: ConversaSpain offers its own TEFL as an optional add-on to its programme fee. Planning a teaching career after Spain? The Ofqual-regulated 168-hour Level 5 TEFL (£239) is at the same level as CELTA.
Our Spain placements cover Madrid, Murcia, Valencia and private schools across the country.
The buzzing capital: museums, parks, tapas bars and nightlife, with the highest allowance and the highest rents.
Sunny southeast Spain, with low living costs, a relaxed pace and beaches on the Mar Menor.
Beaches, paella and the Fallas festival in a city with one of Spain's best quality-of-life reputations.
Private school placements from small towns to big cities, often with the option to live with a Spanish family.
Long lunches are part of the job description.
Spanish programmes vary a lot. Wherever you apply, these are the questions we'd ask before saying yes.
Check whether you need a visa, and whether the programme helps you get it. EU-only roles aren't open to UK citizens without EU work rights.
If there's a programme fee or deposit, ask exactly what it includes and when, or whether, it's refunded.
Check the monthly amount, whether it's net, and whether it's paid during Christmas and Easter holidays.
Non-EU assistants need private health insurance. Ask whether it's included or if you must buy your own.
Ask about homestays, housing help and typical rents in your town before you accept a placement.
Private lessons make the numbers work. Check what your visa allows before you rely on the extra income.
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Language assistants in Spain typically receive a monthly allowance of around €875 to €1,000 for 16 to 20 hours a week. Our Valencia role pays €1,400 net a month for a 24-hour week, for candidates with the right to work in the EU. Many assistants top up their income with private English lessons.
Yes. All three of our Spain programmes ask for a bachelor's degree in any subject. Our private school programme is also aimed at recent graduates, within four years of finishing their degree.
Not for our Spain programmes. Language assistants support the class teacher rather than running classes alone. A TEFL still helps you feel confident in the classroom and is useful if you want to teach private lessons or stay on in Spain afterwards. See the courses we recommend.
Yes, through language assistant programmes such as ConversaSpain, which help with the visa application. Since Brexit, UK citizens need a visa to live and work in Spain, and roles that require the right to work in the EU, such as our Valencia role, are open only to people who already hold that right.
No. You work in English with your students and teachers. A little Spanish makes daily life, renting a flat and making friends much easier, and living in Spain is one of the best ways to learn.
It depends on the programme. Our Valencia role has no fee. Our private school programme has no fee but asks for an €850 deposit, refunded when you complete your contract. ConversaSpain charges a programme fee from US$1,200, which covers visa support, orientation, training and health insurance for non-EU participants.
Not much on a language assistant allowance alone, especially in Madrid. Most assistants cover their living costs with the allowance and save through private lessons. Spain is about the experience, the language and the lifestyle rather than savings.
Most start between September and November, for the full school year to June, with a second intake in January for a six-month placement. Apply several months ahead, especially if you need a visa.
Pick the programme that suits you and apply in a few minutes.
We currently have the following programs available in Spain
