With the 90 days ticking down, I scrolled endlessly online, searching for a solution. Everyone told me it was impossible. There was no way to get a visa without enrolling in university or landing a work visa, and work visas are notoriously hard to come by when employers face high fees for hiring and sponsoring foreigners. But I was determined to make it work, one way or another.

Then, one day, I stumbled across TEFLBarcelona — and it had visa options that suited my exact situation. I could enrol in a 6-month Spanish course alongside a one-month, 190-hour TEFL course in Barcelona, giving me 7 months in the city I’d already fallen in love with.

Finding this option felt like a lifeline. Not only would it get me a visa, but I’d also walk away with a qualification that could open new career doors. On top of that, the language classes meant real immersion in the city and a built-in friendship circle — people I’d actually stay in touch with, rather than the usual night-out acquaintances you meet once and never hear from again.

Security, Structure, and a Real Path Forward

What I appreciated most about the courses at TEFLBarcelona was the security they offered. They turned what felt like an impossible dream into something achievable, giving me a solid foundation and legal residency in the process. If you’re wondering how to get a visa in Spain and feeling stuck, a TEFL course in Spain might be the answer you’ve been searching for.

Where I Am Now

After completing my TEFL course and Spanish course, I reached a C1 level of Spanish — essentially fluent — and started working as an online English tutor. That career shift has opened doors for me to live anywhere in the world while setting my own hours, my own rates, and enjoying a level of freedom I hadn’t had before.

Why TEFL Still Matters in the Age of AI

As we move further into a new era of work, TEFL continues to hold its ground in an industry increasingly disrupted by AI. It offers something apps and algorithms can’t replicate: creativity, community, and genuine human connection — the things that keep students actually learning, rather than downloading an app and abandoning it a few months later.

TEFL has also adapted well to the demand for remote work. You can teach fully online, or if you’d rather be hands-on, there are plenty of opportunities at schools, universities, and institutions around the world looking to hire English teachers — many of which come with a guaranteed visa for wherever your teaching journey takes you.

And even if you take the course and later decide teaching isn’t for you, it’s still one of the quickest, most effective ways to qualify for a visa in Spain, and it gives you a solid base to explore other options once you’ve arrived.

Final Thoughts

So if you’re looking to travel, feel lost trying to figure out how to get a visa in Spain, or have a passion for teaching English or wanting to learn Spanish in Spain, TEFLBarcelona has the answers you’re looking for.

The post How to Get A Visa in Spain With A TEFL And Spanish Course appeared first on TEFL Barcelona - TEFL Spain.

Finding My Niche

I started small, teaching English to Spanish friends in Barcelona. This early experience did wonders for my confidence and helped me build out my skillset. One of these friends needed English for a job opportunity, which pushed me into the niche of business English.

To develop personalised lessons for his needs, I drew on free online resources like the Market Leader and Business Result workbooks (both easy to find as PDFs), focusing especially on sales language and pitching. This friend became my first loyal student, and the six-month deadline he set for himself kept me motivated to deliver real results.

Moving to Online Tutoring Platforms

With this experience under my belt, I applied to online tutoring platforms like Preply and iTalki, using business English as my selling point while still teaching general English to students who wanted it. Students came from all over the world, and as I built up reviews, my profile gained more visibility – creating a kind of snowball effect toward steady bookings.

Don’t Undervalue Yourself Early On

If there’s one piece of advice I’d give anyone starting out, it’s this: don’t work for less than you’re worth.

Platforms like Preply already take a significant cut when you’re starting (commission begins at 33%). So if you’re charging their recommended $10/hour, you’re really only earning around $7/hour. Depending on where you live, that might be workable. But after moving back to the UK, that translated to roughly £5/hour — a fraction of the UK’s minimum wage of just under £13/hour.

Your progress may feel slower than other tutors’ at first, but I’d strongly recommend setting your prices at a rate you’re actually comfortable with from day one, rather than underselling yourself to rack up reviews. If you don’t make this change early, you risk resenting your first students – their rate stays locked in at whatever you originally charged (say, $10), even as your listed price rises, unless you renegotiate. And renegotiating comes with its own risk: losing students who can’t afford the new rate.

Going Independent

Once you’ve built a solid client base and developed real relationships with your students, it’s worth considering a shift to private tutoring outside these platforms. Technically, this isn’t allowed under sites like Preply’s terms – but in practice, as long as you have a way of contacting your students directly, you won’t run into trouble for going independent.

Making this move myself was the best decision I made for my financial success. It let me escape the high commission rates and build a client base made up entirely of loyal, direct students.

Building Toward Freedom

From there, the path is about growth – branching into new markets and niches until you’re earning enough to work as a full-time, self-employed tutor, on your own terms, at your own rates, and on your own schedule.

This kind of freedom is something more people are chasing every day, as digital nomad living and remote work become increasingly suited to modern life. If that’s the kind of freedom you’ve been looking for, it all starts with a TEFL course.

The post How To Start Your Online TEFL Business appeared first on TEFL Barcelona - TEFL Spain.

That’s the real reason so many students choose to learn Spanish in Spain. Instead of squeezing in a few hours of practice a week, you start hearing and using Spanish constantly. It stops being a subject and becomes part of your daily life. So if you’ve ever asked yourself is it actually better to study Spanish in Spain? – for most people, yes, and by a noticeable margin.

A Spanish language course in Spain gives you the structure: proper teaching, correction, and a clear sense of progress. Living in Spain gives you everything around it, from daily exposure to real conversations and a feel for the culture. Put those two together and fluency comes a lot faster than it does from home.

Constant Exposure Helps Spanish Become Natural

The single biggest benefit of studying Spanish in Spain is constant exposure. When you live here, Spanish is simply everywhere: on menus, shop signs, transport apps, posters, and official forms. You hear it in cafés, supermarkets, metro stations, and in the conversations happening at the next table.

This kind of Spanish immersion in Spain is what makes the language start to feel familiar. In the first week, you might only catch a word or two. But your brain is quietly doing the work, picking up on rhythm, pronunciation, and the phrases that come up again and again. Before long, you stop translating everything in your head and just start understanding what people mean.

That’s exactly why people search for how to learn Spanish in Spain rather than only studying at home. A classroom gives you the foundations, but immersion brings them to life. Something you learn in your morning lesson might pop up that same afternoon when you order a coffee, ask for directions, or read a sign on the metro, and that’s when it really sticks.

Real Conversations Build Real Confidence

Many learners know more Spanish than they think, but they lack confidence when it comes to speaking. This is where learning Spanish in Spain can make a real difference.

Living in Spain gives you daily chances to use the language in real situations. You may speak to a barista, chat with classmates, ask a question in a shop, or have a simple conversation with a neighbour. These small interactions build confidence much faster than classroom exercises alone.

Why is this so effective? Because real conversations teach you how Spanish is actually spoken. You hear natural rhythm, everyday expressions, and the kind of informal language that does not always appear in textbooks. You also learn that communication does not need to be perfect. Even if you make mistakes, you can still be understood.

For students looking at a Spanish language school in Barcelona, this balance is especially helpful. You get structured lessons during the day and plenty of opportunities to practise Spanish in Barcelona outside the classroom. That mix of support and real-life use is one of the best ways to improve quickly.

Cultural Understanding Deepens Language Learning

Learning Spanish isn’t only about grammar and vocabulary. A huge part of it is understanding the culture the language lives in.

When you study Spanish in Spain, you pick up far more than words. You absorb the local habits, the humour, the social customs, the way people greet each other and the rhythm of a typical day. That context helps you understand not just whatpeople say, but why they say it the way they do.

A Spanish language course in Barcelona is especially rewarding for this reason. The city gives you a strong place to learn alongside a genuinely rich cultural backdrop. Neighbourhoods, food, history, festivals, and everyday life all feed into your learning, which makes the language easier to remember and a lot more enjoyable to use.

A Gateway to Life in Spain

For a lot of students, studying Spanish in Spain ends up being about more than the language. It’s often the first real step towards building a life here.

A Spanish course in Spain can leave you feeling more confident, more independent, and more at home in everyday situations. If moving abroad is on your mind, learning Spanish in the country itself makes that whole transition feel far less daunting. You arrive with skills, cultural understanding, and a real connection to the place.

And if you’re thinking longer term, it’s worth knowing that pairing a Spanish course with a TEFL qualification opens even more doors. While your Spanish helps you settle in, a TEFL certificate can lead to teaching English abroad or teaching English in Spain, a practical route to staying for good.

So, what’s the best way to learn Spanish in Spain? For most people, it’s a blend of structured lessons, daily practice, and full immersion. That’s the combination that turns what you know into what you can actually do.

Because by living in Spain while you learn, you build more than just better Spanish. You build confidence, cultural awareness, and real communication skills, the kind that stay with you long after the course is over.

The post Why Studying Spanish in Spain Helps You Learn Faster appeared first on TEFL Barcelona - TEFL Spain.

Moving to Spain to train as an English teacher isn’t just a career move. It’s a full-scale rewiring of how you see yourself and what you think you’re capable of. The classroom techniques matter, sure. But the real education happens in the gaps – on the metro at rush hour, in a tapas bar where your Spanish falters mid-order, in the small victory of finally understanding your landlord’s rapid-fire Catalan.

1. Increased Resilience

Let me be honest: the first few weeks of moving to Spain can be humbling. You’ll get lost. You’ll misunderstand something important. You’ll probably overpay for a SIM card because you nodded along to terms you didn’t fully grasp.

But here’s what happens next. You figure it out. You navigate Spanish bureaucracy — an achievement worthy of its own certificate. You learn which metro line takes you home and which one deposits you somewhere entirely unexpected. You open a bank account in a language you’re still learning. Small wins stack up, and quickly.

Barcelona, in particular, has a way of demanding your participation. It’s not a city that lets you stay passive. The noise, the energy, the packed streets of the Gothic Quarter at midday, the late dinners that don’t start until 10pm — all of it pulls you out of whatever comfort zone you arrived with. This is one of the most underrated parts of taking a TEFL course in Barcelona. You are not only learning how to teach English. You are learning how to trust yourself in a completely unfamiliar environment. There’s a particular kind of confidence that comes from solving real problems in a foreign country, and it doesn’t come from any textbook.

By the end of the course, you’ve built something that doesn’t show up on your CV: a quiet, durable resilience. That feeling doesn’t fade when you leave Spain. It follows you into job interviews, new cities, and difficult conversations. You’ve already proven to yourself that you can adapt. Future challenges start to look more manageable because you have evidence – real, lived evidence – that you’ve navigated harder things.

2. Expanding Empathy and Understanding

There’s a moment that happens to almost everyone who moves abroad. You’re trying to explain something simple, and the words just won’t come. Maybe you’re at a pharmacy trying to describe a headache, or you’re in a café and you’ve blanked on a basic word. You feel exposed. A little foolish. Suddenly, you are the beginner in the room.

That feeling is the most useful teaching tool you’ll ever acquire when it comes to teaching English abroad.

Living in Spain means you experience first-hand what it feels like to communicate across a language barrier. That experience makes you a more empathetic, patient, and perceptive English teacher. You understand that language learning isn’t purely cognitive — it’s emotional. Your future students aren’t just memorising grammar rules. They’re risking embarrassment every time they open their mouths.

Taking a TEFL course in Barcelona places you at a genuine crossroads of cultures and perspectives. The city draws people from everywhere: South America, Northern Europe, Asia, other parts of Spain. Your classmates might include a graphic designer from Berlin, a nurse from Colombia, a recent graduate from Seoul. Conversations tend to go further than you’d expect. If you decide to study Spanish while you’re there (and you really should, because it transforms the whole experience) you’ll know exactly what it feels like to be a beginner again. That vulnerability is uncomfortable and valuable in equal measure. It will shape the kind of English teacher you become.

3. A Fresh Start and a New Sense of Possibility

This one is harder to explain, but it might be the most important shift that comes from moving to Spain for a TEFL course.

When you change your surroundings completely, you start to question assumptions you didn’t even know you were holding. The way you’ve always structured your days. The career path that felt inevitable. The version of your life that seemed fixed.

For many people, a TEFL course abroad represents exactly that: a fresh start. Not in a clichéd, wipe-the-slate-clean way, but in a genuinely practical sense. Teaching English in Spain can lead to a job you love, a language you speak, friendships that span continents, and a more expansive understanding of what your life can actually look like.

Some people finish their TEFL course in Barcelona and stay, picking up teaching work in local language schools or through private tutoring. Others use it as a launchpad, moving on to teach English in Asia, Latin America, or the Middle East. And for plenty of people, it’s simply the experience that proved they could take a leap when it mattered.

If you’ve been feeling stuck, uninspired, or quietly fed up with the same routine, moving to Spain might be less of a risk than staying put. The course gives you a qualification, but the experience gives you perspective – and perspective has a way of changing everything.

Why TEFL Provides The Structure You Need Whilst Moving Abroad

Here’s the practical reality: moving abroad alone can feel chaotic. No routine, no familiar faces, no one expecting you anywhere. A TEFL course in Barcelona changes that equation from the moment you arrive. You land with a purpose — a clear schedule, a cohort of people in the same slightly-overwhelmed boat, and trainers who’ve guided hundreds of people through this exact transition. You have somewhere to be every morning. You have people to eat lunch with, debrief alongside, and explore the city with on weekends.

This structure doesn’t limit the adventure, instead it makes it sustainable. Joining a TEFL course means you step into a supportive learning environment instead of landing in a new country without direction. Someone helps you understand the visa process. The paperwork gets streamlined. You’re not navigating it all alone.

That combination of genuine freedom with a solid foundation is what makes taking a TEFL course in Spain one of the smartest ways to make the move abroad for the first time. You get the independence, the exploration, and the sense of possibility, without the paralysing uncertainty of having no structure around you.

Written by Hannah Welsh

The post 3 Ways a TEFL Course in Spain Can Change You Forever (For The Better) appeared first on TEFL Barcelona - TEFL Spain.

When I moved to Barcelona to begin my TEFL course, I had already committed to an experience that went far beyond teacher training. I had enrolled in a package that combined a TEFL qualification with a Spanish language course at the connected language school, meaning that from the very start, my time in Barcelona was designed around studying Spanish whilst living in Spain.

Rather than learning the language in isolation, I was fully immersed in it — in the classroom, on the streets, and in everyday life. So when the intensive TEFL training came to an end, continuing straight on to the Spanish language school felt like a natural progression and the beginning of a deeper cultural and linguistic immersion.

Starting My Spanish Journey at B2.1 (Intermediate)

When I began the Spanish course, my level was B2.1. I could communicate reasonably well, but I lacked the confidence and fluency to feel truly at ease. Conversations often required conscious effort, and expressing more complex ideas still felt frustratingly out of reach.

My goal wasn’t just to “get by” in Spanish. I wanted to live in the language — to think, connect, and express myself naturally.

An Immersive Language Learning Experience

From the outset, the language school offered a deeply immersive approach to learning Spanish. Classes focused not only on grammar and vocabulary, but on real-life communication. We debated topics, shared opinions, learned idiomatic expressions, and practised the kind of Spanish people actually use in everyday situations.

Slowly but surely, the mental barrier I had around speaking began to dissolve. The more I spoke, the less I overthought, and the more confident I became.

Learning Spanish Through Culture and History

One of the most memorable aspects of the course was the cultural immersion built into the learning experience. The guided history tours around Barcelona were far more than sightseeing. They were interactive lessons in Spanish, culture, and identity.

Walking through the Gothic Quarter while learning about Catalan history, architecture, and traditions in Spanish brought the language to life in a way no textbook ever could. Spanish stopped being something I was studying and became something I was actively participating in.

Living in Barcelona While Studying Spanish

Living in Barcelona while studying Spanish accelerated my progress in ways that felt almost effortless over time. Every interaction became practice — ordering coffee, chatting with neighbours, asking for directions, and making friends.

Mistakes were inevitable, but they stopped feeling embarrassing and instead became part of the learning process. Being surrounded by the language daily helped me build resilience, adaptability, and confidence — not just linguistically, but personally as well.

Building Friendships That Last a Lifetime

The people I met during those six months were another defining part of the experience. Students from all over the world came together with a shared goal: to learn Spanish, connect with others, and immerse themselves in a new culture.

Many of those connections quickly turned into friendships that extended far beyond the classroom. We studied together, explored the city together, and supported each other through the ups and downs of living abroad. These are friendships I know will last a lifetime.

Reaching C1 Level Spanish (Advanced)

By the end of the course, I had reached a C1 level of Spanish. More importantly, I felt genuinely comfortable in the language. I could express myself clearly, understand nuance, hold deeper conversations, and move through daily life with confidence.

Spanish no longer felt like something I had to translate in my head — it flowed naturally.

A Complete TEFL and Language Learning Experience

Looking back, continuing on to the language school after my TEFL course was one of the most valuable parts of my experience in Barcelona. It allowed me to fully integrate into life in the city rather than remain a visitor passing through.

The combination of TEFL training, Spanish language learning, and cultural immersion created a strong foundation that continues to support me today. If the TEFL course gave me the tools to teach abroad, the language course gave me the confidence to belong abroad.

Together, they transformed my time in Barcelona into a chapter of growth, connection, and self-discovery — one I’ll always be grateful for.

By Hannah Welsh

The post Studying Spanish While Living In Spain: Life Post-TEFL appeared first on TEFL Barcelona - TEFL Spain.

Rent prices

After living both in Manchester for 3 years for university and now in Barcelona for a 190-hour TEFL and 6-month language course, there’s a lot to compare. Rent-wise, I’ve lived both in the expensive city centre of Manchester and the likewise expensive beach-side of Barcelona, yet despite both places being high-demand and pricey, my Barcelona flat totals cheaper after conversions.

I shared a flat in Manchester with one other girl, and our rent was £1,300 total – £650 each, not including bills, so with bills on top, I averaged at about £710/month (€857.44). In comparison, our rent total in BCN is €1,350, bills not included, and generally come to about €80, so individually we pay €715. That makes BCN €142.44 (£117.95) cheaper than MAN.

Food costs

You save on food shopping and eating out also. I’ve been lucky enough in both cities to always live nearby a Lidl which is a supermarket I cannot recommend enough for people looking to save some extra cash. My weekly English Lidl shop totalled to around £35/week (€42.27) and my Spanish one is more around €30/week.

That sums up to a €12.27/week difference which adds up in the long-run. Eating out wasn’t something I did much in MAN as places can be pricey – even a Nando’s averages around £20 per meal nowadays. In BCN however, most places will have a ‘menú del día’, which I’d liken to the British idea of a meal deal but within a restaurant.

For €16 you generally receive 2-3 filling courses with drinks included. Or if you’re looking for something more light, a good tapas bar will cost you around €8-10 for a couple small plates and a drink. Stay away from the ones in touristy areas, though as they can rip you off. Look for where the locals go: if it’s full of Spanish and Catalan people, you’ve probably found a good spot. 

Travel costs

For travel, in Manchester I’d always bought the yearly term-time bus pass which cost almost £400 last year (€483.07) whilst in Barcelona you’re best off getting the T-mobilitat card which will cost around €40 every 3 months, giving you full access to the metro and most bus services all on the same card. That would work out about €120 for the term here, a huge price difference of €363.07. 

Events

Whilst Barcelona is known for being one of the most expensive cities in Spain, if you’re coming from a big city like Manchester or London, the prices will seem a huge discount! But the best of Barcelona isn’t just about the cost; it’s also about the rich experiences awaiting you!

I cannot recommend enough to follow the calendar of festivals that go on in this city as there’s always something to do and you can risk missing out if you’re not up-to-date. I remember when I first moved here, it was around the time of the festival of La Mercè, and it was only by chance that I lived near enough to the beach to hear the fireworks display that was happening there.

Unprepared, I ran in my sandals to catch the end of it. It was a beautiful display that I could’ve easily missed out on – since then, I’ve done my best to keep up with any festivities that might be going on. 

Places to Visit

You cannot miss out on the great opportunities to visit the many UNESCO World Heritage Sites here. The most famous Sagrada Familia offers a free international mass every Sunday at 9 am, which you need to get tickets in advance for, if you’re looking to see the inside without paying the average €26. More works of Gaudí are available around the city – Casa Batlló, which has an annual free lightshow that shouldn’t be missed, Park Güell, Casa Milá…

My personal favourite (non-Gaudí) site, Palau de la Música Catalana, is a beautiful theatre you can either tour during the daytime or attend a concert/show within on the evening which I’d recommend. For any historians, the Castle of Montjuïc is a great historical fortress offering panoramic views of the city and the sea, which is free to visit on Sundays after 3 pm and every first Sunday of the month. The Barcelona Cathedral is also a wonderful site to visit, which has open doors for prayer and worship, times for which you can find on their website, so you can also admire the building from inside whilst attending service. 

Barcelona’s location allows for incredible day trips and excursions. Tibidabo, a mountain overlooking the city, features an amusement park and a stunning church, perfect for a fun day out. Montserrat, with its unique rock formations and monastery, offers breathtaking hiking trails and a peaceful retreat. Additionally, the Costa Brava coastline is only a short trip away, boasting stunning beaches and charming villages, ideal for a weekend getaway. 

Nightlife – Clubs & Bars

Moving onto nightlife, Barcelona certainly has something for everyone. For those interested in big club nights out, Razzmatazz and Bling Bling are popular amongst the locals here. They are huge venues with many rooms for those who want to dance to different music styles throughout the night, there tends to be a lot of techno, pop, and reggaeton in these venues.

Jamboree is a popular place in Plaça Reial, just off of Las Ramblas, for people who enjoy more of an R&B, hip-hop, and afrobeats scene. If you don’t know much Spanish but are still looking to make friends on a night out, the strip of clubs along the Barceloneta beach have a lot of music in English of all different styles and most people there are also international so no Spanish required – Shoko is my favourite here, a huge club that mirrors Miami vibes and music styles. Keep your eye out for famous performers that they sometimes host here!

If clubbing isn’t your cup of tea, there are plenty of bars, particularly rooftop bars that I’d encourage anyone to visit. If you’re looking to get exclusive views of the Barcelona city whilst sipping on sangria, I’d recommend any of the following: Hotel Majestic, in Passeig de Gracia – particularly during Christmas time when the adorn the streets with Christmas lights; Ohla Hotel and Hotel Colón which are both close to the Cathedral in Barri Gòtic; and Azúl in Barceloneta to get a great view of the ocean, as well as Hotel W’s rooftop bar, though this at times can be exclusive and always pricey. 

A Final Word

Overall, my move from Manchester to Barcelona has been a thrilling adventure filled with new experiences and opportunities for growth. While the cost of living is a vital factor to consider, the richness of culture, history, and excitement in Barcelona makes it a worthwhile investment. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or just looking for a change, this city has so much to offer.

I hope this blog inspires you to consider Barcelona as your next destination or helps you with your journey. From exploring its breathtaking sites to immersing yourself in its vibrant culture, Barcelona is sure to capture your heart, just as it has mine.

Happy exploring!

Written by Hannah Welsh.

Final Note: The prices mentioned in this article are based on data from the first semester of 2025. If you’re reading this at a later date, please check for updated pricing, as costs may have changed over time.

The post From Manchester to Barcelona – Pricing and Things to Do appeared first on TEFL Barcelona - TEFL Spain.

This incredible opportunity not only allows you to share your knowledge but also immerses you in the rich and diverse Spanish culture. Here, we’ll explore how such an experience can significantly benefit your personal and professional growth.

Experience Spanish Culture First-Hand

Learn Spanish While You Teach

Develop Professionally in Unique Ways

Teaching in Spain presents unique challenges that can greatly improve your teaching methods. You need to be creative and innovative to adapt lessons for students who aren’t native English speakers. This might involve developing new types of activities, creating engaging learning materials, or breaking down complex topics to make them easier to grasp. A key aspect of this adaptation involves understanding the specific patterns, pronunciation, and nuances of the Spanish language. Learning to navigate these language differences will help you better serve your Spanish-speaking students and make your lessons more effective.

In addition to the day-to-day teaching challenges, Spain offers numerous opportunities for professional growth. There are many workshops and conferences available that focus on the latest teaching strategies, which can provide fresh ideas and approaches for your classroom. You can also enroll in courses to earn additional teaching qualifications. These professional development experiences not only help refine your teaching skills but also improve your career prospects, opening doors to new opportunities within the education sector.

Connect with Teachers from Around the World

One of the most rewarding aspects of teaching in Spain is the chance to meet and work alongside educators from various parts of the world. Spanish schools often boast a diverse mix of international teachers, creating a lively and dynamic environment where exchanging ideas and teaching methods is the norm. This mix allows you to learn from others’ experiences and views, which can greatly improve your teaching approach.

This diversity also builds a strong professional network. Working with other educators, you get to share and learn about new teaching practices and strategies that you might not see in less diverse settings. These interactions can lead to fresh ideas for classroom activities, curriculum development, and better ways to engage students.

Additionally, the connections made in these diverse educational settings can open doors to future career opportunities. Networking with other teachers can lead to collaborative projects, such as international educational programs or research studies, which can further your professional development and improve your CV.

Enjoy the Spanish Food and Lifestyle

Spain’s food is famous worldwide, and you can dive into its culinary scene during your free time. From tapas and paella to fine dining, the options are endless. You could also take cooking classes or go on tapas tours to really experience Spanish culture through its food.

Spain is also rich in history and culture. You can visit museums, historical sites, and attend local festivals that showcase everything from traditional flamenco dancing to modern art and music.

The laid-back work schedule also means you can take part in the local tradition of a siesta to escape the midday heat and refresh yourself.

Overall, teaching in Spain offers not just a job but a lifestyle that lets you relax and enjoy everything this beautiful country has to offer.

Consider Making Spain Your Long-Term Home

Many teachers come to Spain for a short time but end up loving it so much that they stay longer. They enjoy the relaxed lifestyle, job opportunities, and learn a lot too. Some even find new jobs that they never thought about before!

At TEFL Barcelona, we help teachers from America and other countries come and teach English in Barcelona. Our programs include a course to become a certified English teacher and help point to the right direction when it comes to requirements to live in Spain.

These courses help you get a Spanish Student Visa, so you can legally work up to 30 hours a week here. This visa also lets you travel around Europe anytime you want for a whole year.

If you want to teach English in Spain and enjoy living here, get in touch with us! We’ll help you start your Spanish adventure and make sure everything goes smoothly.

The post Teach English in Spain appeared first on TEFL Barcelona - TEFL Spain.

However, when my now wife and I were deciding to buy an apartment, it didn’t even cross our mind to stay in the city. We knew that if we moved out of the city, (1) we could find a bigger, newer place for less money, (2) avoid the hordes of tourists constantly moving around the city, and (3) begin to feel part of a community rather than as just another face in the crowd.

In the home buying process, we looked around the province of Barcelona. We wanted to find a place that was close to Barcelona but not so close that it was just a place for commuters to sleep at night.

We wanted to find a town that had everything to offer like Barcelona: a bustling Rambla full of bars, restaurants and all the major stores but that also felt smaller and more relaxed. Lastly, we wanted to find somewhere where we could fit into the local community and raise a family.

That is why we decided on Sabadell.

A mere 30 minutes from Plaza Cataluña by train, Sabadell is a charming and lively city of 215,000 + residents with a rich history and vibrant culture.

To its north and east, you will find the River Ripoll and a vast expanse of woods, which are perfect for those who enjoy doing day hikes.

To the south and west, you will find other towns like Terrassa and Sant Cugat, which also have a ton of amenities to offer. There are so many things to love about the area but I just want to tell you a few of my favorites:

Observa Musical Festival

This music festival takes place every year at the end of May and beginning of June at the amphitheater of Parc Catalunya.

The festival organizers try to showcase local Catalan bands so it is a great way to delve deeper into the culture and discover musicians that you wouldn’t typically listen to. That being said, if you don’t speak Catalan, there is also something for you too; last year specifically, a really good Queen tribute band played.

Apart from the music, there are food and drink stands, large canvas tents to lounge in and fun activities, like foosball and mechanic bull rides. This year the music festival will be held May 25 through June 11^th. More information can be found on their Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/observafest/?hl=en

English Language Movie Theater

So I have to be honest, both this and the next thing are not directly in Sabadell but rather in the neighboring town of Sant Cugat, a 20 minute car ride away. We were so excited when we found the Cinemes San Cugat because we had always had a hard time finding Hollywood movies in English.

Most theaters only offer such showings on premiere weekends or some obscure day of the week. Cinemes Sant Cugat, on the other hand, offers all of the latest movies in their original version everyday of the week. And it is cheap too! We went to see a Saturday evening showing of Avatar 2 in 3D and we paid 7.50€ for the movie + 3D glasses.

I don’t think I had paid so little for a movie in 15 years. To see what’s playing this week, go to their website: https://www.cinemessantcugat.com/

Mercantic in Sant Cugat

This next thing was a discovery made on an uneventful weekend. We quickly googled “things to do on or around Sabadell” and we were recommended the Mercantic in Sant Cugat. The Mercantic is an expansive antique market running out of an old factory.

The complex is made up of three large buildings, containing both indoor and outdoor shops run by local artesans as well as restaurants and cafes. Our favorite thing to do is go on a Saturday or Sunday morning because we can first shop around peacefully and then around noon, we go take in the live music at a café on the grounds, which has been converted from an old library.

If you are interested in opening times, check out their website: https://mercantic.com/. Keep in mind that if you arrive on Sunday after 11 am, you have to pay a 2€ entry fee but it is well worth it!

La Rambla and city center of Sabadell

Every time someone asks me if I like living in Sabadell, the first thing I have to mention is the Rambla.

Just like in Barcelona, the Rambla is the main drag of the city where all stores, restaurants and bars can be found. Unlike Barcelona though, it is not overcrowded with tourists. The entire Rambla is about a kilometer long, starting in the south and leading north until you reach the town square.

Along both sides of the Rambla, you will find not only cute local shops and boutiques but also the top players: Zara, Mango, Decathlon, Stradivarius, etc. Once in the city center, you will be welcomed by the view of the beautiful town hall and church, Sant Feliu.

The small side streets of the city center lead you down winding paths to great bars and restaurants. Our favorites are the local breweries La Fem and La MicroCeveseria and the cocktail bar Reencuentro.

However, my absolute favorite thing about the Rambla of Sabadell is that from Saturday morning to Sunday night, the road is closed to both car and scooter traffic, meaning that the street is full of people walking. Restaurants even bring their chairs and tables out into the streets to offer more seating to patrons.

It also allows for the city to regularly host small fairs and markets, where venders can set up their booths in the middle of what is normally a street full of cars.

Sense of community

I think my favorite thing about Sabadell as a whole is the sense of community that I feel here. As we English teachers do, I moved around extensively in my 20s, which meant it was not always easy to establish myself as a member of the community and many of my friendships lasted only as long as my stay but here in Sabadell, it feels different.

First of all:

There is a plethora of community activities that you can become a part of. My wife and I go to the local community center and take swing classes. And once a month, we dance in the town square with others from the class.

A friend of mine is part of the Correfoc group in Sabadell and every year at the Festa Major in September and at the Cebafoc in March, he puts on the traditional fireproof cloak and parades through the city spitting fire.

We have yet another friend who is apart of the Castellers club of Sabadell and we love going to watch him build human towers in the town square. There are groups and activities for everyone year-round.

Secondly:

The people in the local shops know us. Pablo from the local fruteria knows my name and greets me when I come in. He even gave me his number so I can ask if the things I want are in stock to save me an extra trip.

Cari and Ricardo from Reencuentro, the cocktail bar I mentioned previously, excitedly greet my wife and me when we show up for our bi-monthly mojitos and ask us about updates in our lives. (Plus, you get a free cocktail on your birthday!) I don’t just feel like another face passing through their establishments.

Lastly and most importantly:

There is a great community of young adults, both local and international, who are open and welcoming. When I came to Sabadell, I knew no one but now a little more than two years later, I have a friend group of about 10 to 15 people, with whom I meet regularly. This is something that I was missing in Barcelona- a sense of community and belonging.

So in conclusion, if you are looking to move out of Barcelona and try something new (or even just take a day trip), I can do nothing but highly recommend Sabadell. It is a city in its own right with so many things to do and see.

At just a stone’s throw from Barcelona, Sabadell  will happily take you in and welcome you in its open and charming community.

By Kristen Schuenemeyer

The post What if I don’t want to live in Barcelona? appeared first on TEFL Barcelona - TEFL Spain.

Accommodation

The first and perhaps the main ingredient in our dish called “reasonable economy” will be accommodation. Because that will be the biggest part of your expenses in Barcelona. And here are some tips which will help you save money. 

1. Let’s start with the accommodation search. Try to find a place on your own, without the help of agents, because you will spend a decent amount on agents. You can search in the Idealista and Badi apps. In the second one, there are more ads placed directly by owners. 
2. The average cost of a room is 450-500 euros. If you see a good but very cheap option, be careful, most likely they are scammers. Also, to avoid problems and losing money, make sure you sign a contract ( and read it carefully! ). 
3. The cost of a room or apartment depends on many factors. The cheapest options are not in the city centre. However, Barcelona has a good public transport system, so it won’t be a problem. If you check out the districts, Nou Barris is one of the most affordable districts, along with Sant Andreu and some parts of Sant Martí, Sants-Montjuïc, and Horta-Guinardó. On the contrary, the districts of Sarrià-Sant Gervasi, Eixample, Gràcia, Ciutat Vella, and Les Corts are the most expensive. 

Food

The next station on the way to an economical and high-quality lifestyle will be food. One of the most affordable supermarkets is Mercadona, also Dia is pretty cheap. But it is better to buy fruit and vegetables in the local markets. 

Of course, it’s more economical to cook your own food, but always eating at home can be boring. To diversify your menu, try what is called “menu del día”, this is the equivalent of a business lunch. The average cost of a “menu del día” is 10-15 euros. And here are a few places where you can satisfy your hunger with a tasty meal for a small cost:

1. Bar Morryssom
2. El Señorío de Peru
3. Sopa 
4. La Pepita 
5. Cervecería Catalana 
6. Can Codina
7. La Muscleria 
8. Thai Barcelona 
9. Ciudad Condal 
10. Hostal Olivera 

To be continued… 

Entertainment and cultural recreation

So, we have covered our basic needs. It’s time to move on to entertainment and cultural recreation. There are quite a few opportunities to save money here. For example, art fans will enjoy free days in museums. Do you want to know when they are? Here is the information:

City History Museum

A must-see is Barcelona’s History Museum where you will experience first-hand the Roman city.

FREE TIMES: Every Sunday after 3 pm & the first Sunday of the month.

Natural History Museum

There is a good permanent exhibition, “Planet Life”, that represents the relationship between man and earth. Plus there are also temporary exhibitions which are worth checking out. 

FREE TIMES: Every Sunday after 3 pm & the first Sunday of the month.

Frederic Marès Museum

Frederic Marès was a university professor, sculptor, and collector. His public work includes the fountain in Plaça Catalunya and the steps leading up to Montjüic, among other places in the city. His passion also lay in collecting art. That is why after his death he left a truly impressive collection, which you can enjoy in this museum. 

FREE TIMES: Every Sunday after 3 pm & the first Sunday of the month.

Botanical Gardens of Barcelona

Barcelona Botanical Gardens offers a 14-hectare oasis and splendid views of the city. 

FREE TIMES: Every Sunday after 3 pm & the first Sunday of the month.

El Born Cultural & Memorial Centre (El Born CCM)

It’s interesting that originally this impressive iron structure housed a food market. However, during some renovation work inside the market, an archaeological dig was done revealing beautifully preserved paths and house foundations from the previous neighbourhood which once stood here.

FREE TIMES: Every Sunday after 3 pm & the first Sunday of the month.

Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (CCCB)

The Contemporary Cultural Centre of Barcelona is a “space for creation, research, exhibition, and debate on contemporary culture”. Exhibitions here are always changing, so it is worth checking their website to find out what is on show. 

FREE TIMES: Every Sunday after 3 pm.

Ethnological & Cultures of the World Museum

The Ethnological and World Cultures Museum was born thanks to a group of passionate intellectuals in ethnology who wanted to preserve objects relating to traditions. 

FREE TIMES: Every Sunday after 3 pm & the first Sunday of the month.

Music Museum

Music fans will find here a collection of around 2,000 instruments from all over the world of which 500 are on display. 

FREE TIMES: Every Sunday after 3 pm, Thursday after 6 pm & the first Sunday of the month.

Maritime Museum

The Maritime Museum was once Barcelona’s Royal Shipyard. It is a perfectly preserved example of Gothic architecture as its construction began in the 13th century. 

FREE TIMES: Every Sunday after 3 pm.

Design Museum (HUB)

My personal favourite. Everything strikes you here, starting with the unusual shape of the building. 

FREE TIMES: Every Sunday after 3 pm and the first Sunday of the month.

Catalonia’s National Art Museum (MNAC)

The impressive building of this museum was constructed for the 1929 Barcelona International Exhibition. It is one of the largest museums in Spain and has a majestic avenue leading up to it from the very impressive Placa d’Espanya. 

FREE TIMES: First Sunday of the month from 10 am to 3 pm & Saturdays after 3 pm.

Monastery of Santa Maria de Pedralbes

This Gothic Monastery was founded in 1326 and now it is one of the national treasures. Within its walls, you will find a big collection of art and artefacts like furniture, gold & silver, pottery, and manuscripts. 

FREE TIMES: First Sunday of the month.

Picasso Museum

This gem is located in the medieval part of the city and proudly exhibits around 4,000 works by Pablo Picasso. 

FREE TIMES: First Sunday of the month & Thursdays from 4 pm to 7 pm. Don’t forget to book your tickets online. Actually, this advice can be extended to all museums. 

Palau Güell – designed by Gaudí

It is not one of Antoni Gaudí’s best-known buildings, but it was one of his earliest important commissions. And there is so much to see, for example, impressive wrought-iron works, woodwork, ceramics, stained glass, and much, much more. 

FREE TIMES: First Sunday of the month. 

Catalonia’s History Museum

If you want to take a journey into Catalan history, I can recommend the Catalan History Museum. Here you will travel in time from Roman Christianity and the Roman Empire through the history of Counts and Kings, up to the Spanish Civil War and the present day. Some of the exhibits are interactive. 

FREE TIMES: First Sunday of the month from 10 am to 2:30 pm.

Night Life 

The main recommendation here is very simple: buy your tickets online well in advance . Like this,  

• you get the best market price and can save up to 30%.
• you will be sure to get in.
• you get to skip the long lines.

Our economics lesson has come to an end. I hope you now know how to save more money and at the same time enjoy living in this bright city. 

By Lilya Syromiatnikova
@digidogs

The post How to save money in Barcelona? appeared first on TEFL Barcelona - TEFL Spain.

Aigüestortes & Sant Maurici

We will begin our journey through Catalonia with a real diamond, a unique natural object — the only national park in Catalonia— Aigüestortes & Sant Maurici. Here you’ll find beautiful high mountains and fields, rivers, and peaks of up to 3,000 meters.

Do you need instructions on how to take stunning photos for Instagram there? Here it is. The most “instagrammable” place in the national park is the Lake of Sant Maurici with the Els Encantats mountains in the background. You will get millions of likes. 

Besalú

Another gem is Besalú. The name Besalú came from the Latin Bisuldunum, meaning a fort on a mountain between two rivers. In this old fort, you will be surrounded by a worldwide significant heritage.

Perhaps the best-known example is the magnificent and much-photographed Romanesque bridge, but it’s also worth paying a visit to the synagogue and the church-hospital of Sant Julià, the monastery of Sant Pere, the church of Sant Vicenç, and Casa Cornellà. Besalú’s El Miqvé, or ritual bathhouse, is, with Girona’s Miqvé, which we will talk about a bit later, the only example of its kind so far discovered on the Iberian Peninsula.

Vall de Boí

This is another must-visit for architecture lovers. Boí Valley is where the Romanesque style reached its peak of splendour, and you will not be surprised there that its ensemble of churches has been given World Heritage Site status by UNESCO. 

Ebre Delta

If you like nature more than the town’s spirit, I would recommend visiting the Ebre Delta. This is a paradise both for birds and rice farmers and as a consequence for people who want to be closer to nature. 

Embalse de Talarn

Аnother place for fans of a relaxing holiday in nature and bird-watching is Embalse de Talarn, a large lake formed by a dam that supplies a hydroelectric station. It is one of the largest reservoirs in Catalonia. The lake is surrounded by beautiful scenery, with many pine trees. That’s why you can practise bird-watching, boating, sailing, camping, and fishing here. 

Siurana (and Priorat in general)

Priorat is worth visiting, especially if you are a connoisseur of good wine. After all, here is where some of the best wines of Catalonia and Spain are produced. In this beautiful comarca (county) you will see vineyards interspersed with cherry trees and rivers flowing between mountains. 

Siurana is a very special spot in Priorat. It’s an isolated village, located practically on the edge of a cliff. It preserves its original stone houses and offers stunning views of the region. 

Benifallet caves

Let’s go down from the top of the cliff to the caves. Some of the Benifallet caves were inhabited during the Neolithic Age. The different caves are attractive in different ways.

For example, the Cueva de Culla contains a cave painting depicting two slim figures (greetings from the distant past!). In the Cueva de Aumidiella or Cova de l’Aumediella Gran a bell-shaped vase and numerous fragments of other pottery were found. Some of the caves are equipped with electricity, so the tour there is not only interesting but also comfortable. 

Sitges

If you have very little time, but the desire to explore Catalonia and discover new places drives you forward, I advise you to visit Sitges. There you will find a lot of interesting things: first of all the sea, which is much cleaner than in the area of Barcelona, a variety of museums, beautiful churches, restaurants, and cafes which are difficult to leave.

Do you need anything else for a nice weekend? I don’t! 

Tarragona

Also please add Tarragona to your travel list. Here you can combine beach leisure with visiting historical sights. Playa del Milagro beach is within walking distance from the historic town centre and it is magnificent. After getting tanned on the local beach you can visit the well-preserved Roman amphitheatre of the second century.

Also among the top attractions of Tarragona are a Romanesque-era cathedral and charming medieval streets. And be sure to visit the Barrio del Serrallo, a picturesque port area that was once a fishing village. The best seafood meals can be enjoyed at this neighbourhood’s waterfront restaurants.

Girona 

Colourful Girona has a rich cultural heritage with diverse influences from the ancient Romans, Moorish-era Arabs, and Jews. There are two especially interesting places to visit: The first one is the red bridge which offers a cool view of the houses located right by the river.

The second one is the Old Town which includes two areas: the original Roman city founded more than 2,000 years ago, and the Medieval Quarter, which was built when the city expanded in the 14th and 15th centuries.

This is an extremely atmospheric historic quarter filled with narrow pedestrian streets and impressive medieval buildings.

Figueres

In Girona province, there is also another famous town which is called Figueres. It is famous first of all for its association with Salvador Dalí, because the town’s main tourist attraction is the Salvador Dalí Theatre-Museum.

The artist didn’t live in this house, but the museum located in the 19th-century Municipal Theatre presents all sides of his art. Also, the museum hosts special events and festivals.

“And so on” — that’s how I could finish the list of my recommendations. Because honestly, it is very difficult to finish it. You can travel and travel and travel in Catalonia and constantly find new breath-taking places. Just pack your backpack and have a nice trip!

By Lilya  Syromiatnikova
@digidogs

The post Top places to visit in Catalonia, by Lilya appeared first on TEFL Barcelona - TEFL Spain.