What Is The Auxiliares de Conversacion Programme? A Q&A With Catherine

While I was at university, I knew I wanted to spend some time living abroad. I considered moving to different countries, such as France or Canada, but the pandemic cancelled some of my plans. After graduating, I started working in New Zealand. 

Very quickly, I realised I didn’t enjoy my job and wanted a way to travel and leave New Zealand. I had taken some Spanish courses and remembered my Spanish teacher mentioning the Auxiliar de Conversación programme. 

I did some research and realised it was the perfect option: the role had minimal hours, lots of holidays, and the chance to live and travel around Spain and neighbouring countries. 

Read more: Requirements And Hiring Process To Become An ALT In Spain

The programme is a bilateral agreement between the Spanish government and other countries to facilitate language and cultural exchange. Students get to improve their English skills and learn about different cultures by spending time with native speakers. 

My role was to support local teachers while they taught English. Responsibilities differed according to the teacher and class. For example, sometimes I created presentations about New Zealand and shared my culture and background. Other times, I read aloud to help with pronunciation.

Overall, the work was simple — I never felt stressed or overburdened. Most auxiliars (ALTs) work in public schools, with a small number in private schools or language academies. 

Read more: Government Teaching Programmes Around The World

The ministry programme is the most direct way to get accepted. 

The programme is very flexible: I could choose my region (Canary Islands) and even the island where I wanted to be based. It also has shorter working hours than other programmes, and there is no upfront payment. 

You can apply through other companies, like recruitment agencies, but I think it’s better to apply directly through the ministry. 

Editor’s note: The Meddeas programme requires a refundable deposit of €850 after accepting your placement, while UCETAM charges a non-refundable fee — €160 for North Americans and $64 for non-Americans — for training and only places ALTs in Madrid. It also requires as many as 18–26 hours of teaching a week. 

MEFP stands for Ministerio de Educación y Formación Profesional (Spain’s Ministry of Education and Vocational Training), which runs the Auxiliares de Conversación programme (the one Catherine did). This programme is most accessible for TEFL beginners, offering 12–16 hrs of teaching, no payments, and nationwide placements, making it very competitive.

Other programmes include: ConversaSpain, the BEDA Language Assistant Programme, and (for US citizens) the North American Language and Culture Assistants Program.

Read more: What Is NALCAP? Become An English Language Assistant

The pay varies depending on your region and the number of hours you work. Since it’s considered a stipend, the money isn’t taxed. During my time, I was paid €840 ($980) a month for working 14 hours a week. I thought this was a very fair and more than enough to live on. 

My lifestyle was modest, so my expenses were low. I shared a small apartment with a roommate outside the main city, so my rent was low. I always shopped at the supermarket and cooked my own meals, which also helped me save. 

Read more: How Much Can You Save Teaching In Spain?

Living on the island was easier since most people led a relaxed lifestyle, and I could enjoy nature at no cost. In cities like Madrid or Barcelona, more events and entertainment could cut into your budget. I also had savings from working full-time in New Zealand, so I didn’t stress too much financially.

Having spoken with others in the programme, some people experience financial difficulty. This was because they had higher expenses and insufficient savings. 

Everyone has a different lifestyle, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with wanting to make the most of your time. If you want to dine at restaurants regularly or live alone, it just means you need to save enough before you go to Spain. 

Many people also find other sources of income, such as remote work, personal business, or teaching private lessons. 

Read more: What Is The Cost Of Living In Spain? We Asked Our TEFL Teachers

I was based at one high school and taught students aged 12–17. My responsibilities varied depending on the class and the teacher.

The amount of time I spent with each class also differed. I helped out with some classes for four hours a week, while others were only once a week. I saw the Younger Learners more often, which meant we had a better relationship. After a few months, I got to know all their names and spoke with most of them individually. 

I always had a Spanish co-teacher, so I never felt much pressure. They handled discipline — I didn’t have to correct students. I didn’t have a very active role in most lessons, as the teachers planned lessons. My role was to provide support rather than to teach. 

My responsibilities weren’t always clearly defined, but I always tried to interact with the students and get them speaking as much English as possible. This was fine, as I didn’t need to do much planning.

Overall, I found the work very easy. I was lucky to work with great teachers and students who valued my presence, while understanding that I was an assistant and not the primary teacher. 

Read more: Co-Teaching In The EFL Classroom

High school in Spain is quite different from high school in New Zealand. Students stay in the same classroom all day, while teachers move between rooms. Students stay in the same class for all their subjects, which has benefits, as students get quite close to each other. 

I also noticed less distance between teachers and students. For example, teachers are addressed by their first name. 

The school environment was quite relaxed: there were no uniforms, and teachers wore T-shirts, shorts and sandals. Of course, this may not be the case everywhere in Spain, as I was based on an island.

Read more: Things To Know About Spanish Classroom Culture

Previously, I had been an exchange student in Italy, so this wasn’t my first time living overseas. However, it was a very different experience. 

Read more: Spain Vs Italy: Which Is Best For TEFL Teachers?

In Spain, I lived in an apartment, and it was my first time renting away from home. I moved alone and didn’t know anybody in the area, so I had no one else to depend on. I was responsible for opening a bank account, finding a place to live, and going to the police station to obtain my residency card. Fortunately, everything was fairly simple for me, and I had no major challenges in this regard. 

Admittedly, knowing how to speak Spanish was a huge bonus, and all the time and effort I put into learning had paid off. 

I learnt that I was capable of a lot. Moving to an island on the other side of the world would be a nightmare for many people, but for me, it felt like an exciting prospect. I was bored with my life in New Zealand, and a drastic change was exactly what I needed. 

The experience in Spain gave me immense confidence in myself and the ability to move anywhere in the world. 

Read more: Ways To Work & Live In Spain As A Foreigner

Since returning to New Zealand, I appreciate my life here more. I don’t think it was about escaping, but experiencing something new, which helped me grow both personally and professionally.

Before moving to Spain, I’d worked as a university tutor and taught English online, but I’d never considered teaching as a full-time career. 

During my time there, I realised that I enjoy working in education and now see teaching English as a real career. I loved working with kids, and feeling appreciated by them was very rewarding. I felt the students were not only interested in learning English but also in me and where I came from, as there wasn’t much diversity in their area.

I also met a wide variety of people on the programme, including former teachers and others studying education. 

For some, it’s a kind of gap year, which I think can be just as valuable. You gain independence, perspective and plenty of interesting anecdotes to share in future job interviews. 

Read more about Catherine’s online teaching experience here: Teaching On Italki: What You Need To Know

Here are my recommendations:

• Learn Spanish as much as possible.
• Try to have some savings so that you don’t have to worry about your finances. 
• Keep a calendar or plan activities to structure your days — many people can feel overwhelmed by the abundance of free time due to the programme’s few working hours.
• Join Facebook or WhatsApp groups to connect with the community — that’s how I found a place to live and met most of my friends. 
• Check the school calendar and plan trips around the holidays when you have days off. 

Ultimately, the most important thing is to approach the situation with an open mind and a positive attitude. Everyone’s experience is different, so while it’s great to do some research and ask for advice, sometimes you just have to experience it for yourself. 

Read more: What Do You Need To Know About Moving To Spain?

Favourite Spanish street food? 

Churros 

Favourite Spanish word or phrase (and translation)? 

Qué guay! 

Guay (pronounced like “why”) basically means “cool” and can be used if you see something nice or interesting. You can also use it to respond in agreement — for example, if somebody says, “Let’s meet at 10:00 AM,” you could reply, “Guay.” 

The most interesting thing you learnt about Spanish culture? 

I realised how diverse Spain is. Every region is distinct, and there are many historical influences that are still visible. For example, the Canary Islands have a long indigenous history, preserved in their many museums — something most tourists don’t get to see, but I explored. 

Catherine’s story highlights how you can shape your life the way you want. Just say no to a boring life. You have the power to change your path anyway you like — and a TEFL qualification is one way to make that happen. 

Learn how to apply to the Auxiliares de Conversación programme today – kickstart your TEFL adventure in Spain!