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Canterbury English TEFL

Why choose Canterbury English TEFL?

Canterbury English Teaching Academy gives you a job teaching English to earn $1600/mo, a Spanish Course, a TEFL Certificate & an ex-pat family to live for one year in Madrid. It’s the lowest cost program in Spain, with free tuition if you want to come back for a second year. Amazing!

Our One-Year Madrid Lifestyle Program with Spanish (for TEFL holders) and our One Year Study Abroad Program with TEFL & Spanish gives you a 1 yr. Work & Study Visa. With this visa, you can study Spanish for 20 hours a week and work teaching English for up to 30 hours a week, earning from $1200-2000 a month at our teaching academy.

Canterbury English Teaching Academy was created in 1994, our TEFL and Spanish Schools in 2001 and we have received many awards for the excellence of our programs.

We have graduated over 7.500 TEFL & Madrid Lifestyle teachers during the last 3 decades, who teach in Spain and around the world.

We are the easiest, most affordable, and exciting way to live, work & study in Spain

Reviews

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Nicola
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A great opportunity to be in Spain!

Having wanted to move to Spain for the last 13 years and not getting around to it, I decided last September that it was time. However, Brexit has made it very hard. I looked around for job opportunities after completing my Level 5 TEFL Course online last Summer and stumbled across Canterbury English. I looked on their website in detail and saw the Madrid Lifestyle program, and then pinched myself thinking this was actually a possibility! I applied and shortly received an invitation for an interview with Richard. He was very enthusiastic throughout, and provided lots of detail about the program, what to expect, and the culture of living in Spain.

The visa process was hard, but Canterbury English provided really useful documentation on what to expect and what needed to be done. If you treat it like a project, it will go a lot smoother!

CE was constantly keeping in touch throughout the process and was there to answer any questions. I needed my enrolment letter changed within a day after waiting a couple of weeks for the Spain School to receive my original one, and they returned a new corrected one within the day so I could attend my visa appointment.

I moved here in January and my orientation day was very informative and helpful, with useful documentation to start life here in Madrid. What I like about it most is they provide daily Spanish classes and assist with you creating a CV and finding jobs by sending your CV to schools, but it's up to you to build your life here in Spain and make it your own! I think it's the best of both!

There are weekly excursions at the weekend which are fun to spend time with peers and meet others, as well as explore Madrid and surrounding areas.

I am so happy I made this move and I want to make the most of this amazing opportunity!

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Aleksandr
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing experience

My time with Canterbury English in Spain was an incredible experience. This program offered a perfect balance of professional development and enriching cultural immersion, making it an unforgettable chapter in my life. The program truly shone in its commitment to cultural immersion. The organized activities and trips were fantastic. These experiences provided a deeper understanding of Spanish history, art, and traditions, enriching my overall experience and creating lasting memories. I must also commend the quality of the Spanish classes offered by the program. The instructors were excellent, creating a fun and engaging learning environment. The classes were structured in a way that effectively improved my grammar, vocabulary, and conversational skills. Overall, I wholeheartedly recommend Canterbury English to anyone looking for a rewarding and enriching experience in Spain.

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Nesrin
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Life in Madrid as an English Teacher

After years of teaching English in Istanbul,I had always dreamt of going abroad once I retired. For this reason, I did a lot of research for about 2 or 3 years on how I could go to a European country. I had many questions marks in my mind, such as what I could do, which jobs I could apply for, or in which country I could work. Finally, I found an amazing opportunity through Canterbury English on LinkedIn which has changed my life completely for the better. If you want to do the same like me, look no further! At first it seemed like a very compelling idea. I put a lot of emphasis on issues such as learning Spanish and getting a student visa. But thanks to Richard, everything went very well. Richard and his team helped me during difficult times especially the visa procedures. That's why I got a response that exceeded my expectations. I had already noticed that other Spanish courses were much more expensive and had less support. This motivated me even more.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
When you choose this program, you will be able to learn Spanish and also you will be able to work as an English teacher.
Pros
  • A new lifestyle/ Madrid lifestyle
  • Wonderful experience and very special moments in Spain
  • A chance to improve yourself
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Joshua
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing journey

Enrolling in Canterbury English's Madrid Lifestyle+TEFL program was an amazing journey. Richard's support and guidance from Lawyer Paola Altez ensured a smooth visa application process. Throughout my time with Canterbury English, their exceptional support remained consistent. They were always ready to assist with any challenges, providing necessary documents and valuable advice. While securing a teaching schedule requires personal effort, Canterbury offers valuable assistance. In November 2023, I relocated to Madrid through Canterbury's program. The experience exceeded my expectations with its comprehensive Spanish lessons, teaching enhancements, and enriching cultural experiences. Thanks to Canterbury's dedication, my experience was deeply fulfilling, and I highly recommend their programs

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Saphia
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best decision I’ve made!

In 2021, I spontaneously decided to move to Madrid after discovering the Canterbury English lifestyle programme. It turned out to be one of the best decisions I've ever made. Moving to a new country is never easy, but the supportive staff and fellow Canterbury students made the transition smooth and enjoyable. The programme has really enriched my life!

One of the highlights has been the Spanish classes, which have significantly improved my language skills. Thanks to these classes, I recently sat the DELE B1 exam and can now confidently navigate the city on my own. The programme's structure ensures that learning is both effective and engaging, making the entire process enjoyable.

Madrid is a great city, and the Canterbury English programme has ensured that I make the most of it. Weekends are packed with cultural events, allowing me to immerse myself in the local culture and history. I’ve particularly enjoyed trips to nearby cities such as Segovia and Toledo. Also, I've made lifelong friendships with people I would never have met otherwise.

As a music and flamenco enthusiast, living in Spain has been a dream come true. I take weekly flamenco classes and I am well integrated into that community, allowing me to participate in something cultural that I am passionate about.

Overall, the Madrid lifestyle programme has been an incredible journey of learning, cultural immersion, and personal growth. The combination of language support, cultural activities, and a welcoming community has made my time in Madrid unforgettable - I never want to leave!

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I would have made the decision much sooner

Programs

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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Cuma Barak

He is a teacher of English born in Turkey. He loves reading and learning. He speaks Spanish, English, Turkish, and a bit of German, Russian and Nahuatl.
Cuma Barak, Canterbury English TEFL, Madrid

Why did you choose this program?

I chose this program because I had been imagining a beautiful life in Spain. The conditions of this program were favorable to me. In spite of the fact that my mother tongue is not English, they were willing to support me in my endeavor. I liked this attitude a lot. I had some suspicions in the beginning, but their friendly and supportive attitude changed this.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

They helped me greatly with my visa process. It is a hard job for a person not a citizen of Europe to receive a visa from a European country. They facilitated this process by providing me with the required documents without any document missing. I could obtain my visa in less than three weeks, which is, I think, an incredibly short time for someone in my situation.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

I would say they should enjoy the culture and life in Spain, while enjoying teaching English, too, at the same time. Spanish food is great. They should try different kinds of food in Spain. They should also enjoy the beautiful Mediterranean climate.

Needless to say, they should learn the beautiful Spanish language:)

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

You have Spanish classes three/four times a week. You attend these classes to learn the native language while you teach English in your remaining free time. In addition, there are many gatherings and activities each week; you could join these. They enable you to enjoy life in Spain and meet new people.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

When I came here, I almost didn't speak any Spanish. In Spain, many people do not speak English, so you still need to speak the language when you want to speak to Spanish authorities and when you go shopping somewhere. Fortunately, I am a fast learner of languages. I improved my Spanish each day receiving classes from Canterbury English, talking to my girlfriend, and other people, and studying by myself. Spanish is a beautiful language; I think people shouldn't be discouraged from learning it thoroughly. I am sure speaking such a language would enrich their lives!

Write and answer your own question.

What are my chances of finding a long-term English teaching job here?

There are many people in Spain who want to learn English. I believe if you market yourself well, if you are an extroverted person, and if you SPEAK SPANISH a little bit, your chances of finding English teaching jobs and private students will increase greatly. If your native language is not English, you could even find students who would be willing to learn your language. I have had a few private students here, to whom I taught Turkish, of which I am a native speaker.