Madrid Lifestyle 1-year Program Study Spanish & Teach English

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!

When I landed in Madrid, I wanted to teach but then I realised because of the whole Brexit situation I had only had 90 days to stay.

However, Richard and the team at Canterbury English told me exactly what to do. The following Monday they connected me with their lawyer who got my paperwork underway.

Now residing in the country legally, Richard helped me explore my teaching options

Although the teaching industry in Spain is quieter in the summer months, he sign-posted and networked me, so I could hit the ground running when the school term started.

As such I secured a one-month placement teaching on2one English at a well-known school and then a contract at another academy for the entire academic year shortly after. I was very grateful for the security this brought.

Looking back, Canterbury English was the best choice for me. There are of course other programs out there, and they do a lot of the work for you, but you need to apply way ahead in advance. Unfortunately, this was not possible for me. I was applying later. However, Richard and his team were nevertheless able to help me. They are very flexible and give you the tools you need to succeed. You have to help make it happen, and you are more in control, with their help every step of the way.

I have lived in Spain twice before but this was pre-Brexit when everything was a lot simpler! I was very keen to move to this wonderful country again but couldn’t see any way I could afford it. The only visa that seemed to be an option was the student visa but the cost of studying at most schools in Madrid was completely prohibitive for me. Plus being aged 50 I was excluded from some other teaching programmes.
To be honest, I had nearly given up hope when I came across Canterbury English, so I checked out their website and was immediately impressed. The site was really comprehensive and informative and I felt very fortunate to have found it. My Skype interview with Richard Clarke, the founder, went very well; he is really helpful and positive and I was given a lot more useful information and was able to ask him any questions I had.
I have been in Madrid since January and I love it! My induction with Richard was extremely useful and I am able to meet other teachers on an impressive variety of weekly activities. I love my Spanish classes and Richard and his team are always there to support you. Canterbury English offer an incredible deal compared to other options that are available and Madrid is a vibrant and wonderful city and ideally located to travel to other areas of Spain and Europe. I am so grateful that I found Canterbury English and I hope to be in Madrid for many years to come!