Great program but pitiful pay

Thus far this program has been an excellent experience that has helped me learn to work in an international environment, build my resume, and improve my Spanish, all while getting to live abroad in Madrid. Although not without its own challenges, I would still highly recommend this program.

The pay certainly leaves a lot to be desired. The bulk of my monthly stipend of 900€/month goes towards food and rent. Seemingly, rent prices have been on the rise in recent years and the pay has not increased to match it. I have relied heavily on my own savings for most of my entertainment and travels. Although I would imagine it would be possible to live off the stipend alone, I could not imagine it would be that easy or nearly as fun. While I am on this topic, Learnlight's (the company you work for in Madrid) way of managing and tracking the hours for your monthly work requirement is extremely complicated and confusing. They rely on a rolling balance system that deducts hours worked from a "positive" month (over 50 hours) to make up for hours in a "negative" (under 50 hours) month and then pays you every two or three months at 18€/hour for that balance. It sounds confusing because it is; and if you don't keep a close eye on it you might miss out on some of your compensation.

My experience working with Learnlight has had its ups and downs. I have experienced some disorganization on the part of Learnlight (breakdowns in communication, being provided with the wrong locations of clients, etc...) Although these issues are not too frequent, it can still be a nuisance. That being said, the classroom management software and material provided on their platform is an excellent tool that makes lesson planning easy and efficient once you understand how to use it. Students' feelings about the platform material is mixed but certainly a good starting point.

I feel the two week intensive training provided by Learnlight at the start of the program was sufficient to prepare me for classes. However, it certainly took me a few weeks to really get into the swing of things and build my confidence when teaching classes. Unfortunately, the training did not allow for much time to get settled and find an apartment (which is not as easy of a task as it may sound). I do wish Learnlight provided more support in this process or provided a slightly longer accommodation to provide more time for this process.

What I would recommend to anyone who is interested in this program?
1) Make your visa appointment early (like do it right now!) It's free to make and cancel the appointment and it will save you a lot of anxiety in the future.
2) This is really a personal choice depending on what kind of lifestyle you want to have but set aside some savings and be ready to part with it. Personally, I would recommend upwards of $3,500.
3) Practice your Spanish. It's not an official requirement but I would argue you need some Spanish to get you into many of the companies.
4) Do the grammar course before you go and study it. The more English grammar you know the easier the training is when you arrive and the more confidence you will have in lessons.

Overall this has been a wonderful experience. I heave already gained a lot from this program and I am excited for more to come. Presented again with the choice to go, I would take it 10/10 times-just don't expect to make a fortune!