What Is NALCAP? Become An English Language Assistant

To join NALCAP, you need:

• US or Canadian citizenship
• a Bachelor’s degree or be currently enrolled in a Bachelor’s degree
• Proficiency in English
• a basic level of Spanish
• to be between 18 and 60 years old
• to have a clean background check, and
• to be in good mental and physical health.

A teaching qualification is not strictly a requirement to apply for the NALCAP program, but a TEFL certificate is a valuable addition to your application. Competition for the program is stiff and having a TEFL qualification shows that you are committed to teaching. It’s evidence of your knowledge of different teaching practices which will be useful in the EFL classroom.

The application period for NALCAP runs from January to April each year. 

There are a bunch of documents you need to get together. You submit your application through an online portal called Profex 2. It’s advisable to sign up to Profex 2 and gather your documents before the application season opens. Even though you can only upload your supporting documents once the application season is open, setting up an account beforehand ensures a smooth, hassle-free application process.

The official NALCAP website has guidelines and a handbook to help you through the application process. Read them thoroughly to be doubly sure you’re prepared for the application process.

Prepare your documents 

• Make sure your US/Canadian passport is valid for three months after the end of the NALCAP placement.
• Make a copy of your passport’s main page.
• Make a copy of your college transcript or university diploma.
• Make a copy of your TEFL qualification (if you have).
• Make a copy of high school records or language certificates as proof of Spanish proficiency.
• Write a (signed) statement of purpose to the Ministry of Education in Spain explaining why you want to participate in the program. This should be between 250 and 350 words.
• Source a letter of recommendation from a lecturer, professor or employer.

Set up your Profex 2 account

• Open a Profex 2 account.
• Fill in your personal information.
• Upload your resume.

Begin applying with Profex 2

As soon as the application season is open, apply through your Profex 2 account. The NALCAP program works on a first-come first-served basis so apply as soon as possible. Bearing in mind that this is an online process, expect delays during busy periods – be patient!

Track your application 

The results of your application will be available between May and July. Once you’ve received notification of your acceptance you can apply for your visa and book your flight!

NALCAP is a teaching assistant program, but there is a big emphasis on the cultural exchange aspect of the program. 

You work alongside a Spanish teacher in the classroom, helping to run activities. You may be asked to create teaching materials and play games. 

Throughout the lesson you’ll interact with the students in order to improve their pronunciation and listening skills. You will also spend time on reading and writing.

As you spend time with your students you will be acting as a cultural ambassador, talking to the students about your country and your culture – and learning about theirs.

NALCAP runs from the beginning of October to the end of May, the academic year in Spain. Teaching assistants work between 12 and 16 hours a week, Monday to Friday. Weekends and school holidays are off.

Applicants cannot choose where they would like to be placed but they can give preferences. During your application you’ll be asked to rank your top three regions (comunidades autónomas) of Spain (out of 17), and whether you would like to be placed in a city, town or village.

You’ll receive confirmation of your placement between April and August. You must accept your placement within 3 days of receiving the email or you risk forfeiting your place.

Judging from the online community, Andalucia and Galicia are popular choices for placement. But which part of Spain would suit you depends on personal preferences.

Andalucia is in the south of Spain. It is home to many popular tourist cities, like Granada, Malaga and Sevilla. It can get ridiculously hot in the summer, but it’s known as a warm and welcoming region.

Galicia is a not-very-well-kept secret in the north of Spain. It’s a region which experiences a lot more rainfall than other parts of Spain, and even snow! But it’s famous for its natural beauty and its seafood.

• Think carefully about your preferences for destination. 

As an auxilar, you’ll have a lot of free time when you’re not teaching. Consider whether you’ll be travelling, working or learning Spanish when you’re not in the classroom. This will help define your choices.

Once you receive your acceptance and regional placement, you have three days to accept. Your placement can’t be changed: you either accept it or decline the program entirely.

• Connect with other auxilares. 

Current or former auxilares who have been in your area can be a wealth of information. There are various Facebook groups set up for each region. This can be helpful to help you prepare for your move, and to settle in once you’re there.

Some of the regions are unpredictable when it comes to payment, which is always good to know beforehand! This is not to say that they don’t pay but the region you’re put in might be known for late payment or even bi-monthly payments. This is the kind of info previous participants can tell you.

• Get a Spanish phone number and apply for a Spanish residency card as soon as possible.

A local phone number is often needed to fill out forms for, for example, to rent an apartment. A Spanish residency card is needed to open a bank account, which you’ll need to get paid!

Read more: 7 Things You Didn’t Know About Teaching In Spain

But of course, our top tip for the NALCAP program is: just do it!