During these uncertain times, I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve had thanks to my TEFL certification and my job teaching English online. The pandemic began while I was living and teaching English online in Vietnam and since then, I’ve been able to teach online while living abroad in London, New York, and now Barcelona. As restrictions grew, the process of moving abroad came with a lot more requirements. Despite these conditions, I was able to apply and get approved for a long term student visa to live, study Spanish, and teach English online in Barcelona. Here are some tips to get you through the process of moving abroad to live and teach in Spain during the pandemic.

What to know before moving to Spain

Tourists cannot enter Spain at the moment. The process of moving to Spain during COVID-19 may be a bit simpler for EU citizens, but for US citizens, the only practical way to move abroad to Spain is by applying for a long term visa from the Spanish consulate in your home state. It’s advised to begin the visa process about two months before the time you plan to fly to Spain. I began the student visa process back home in New York in September 2020. I received my visa in late November and have been living and teaching English online from Barcelona since early December.

The best visa option that fulfils all travel requirements at this time is a Type-D Long Term student visa. To qualify, you must be enrolled in a course that’s at least 20-hours a week for 7 months or more. This type of visa is a very popular option amongst foreigners living in Spain. Taking language classes or studying at a university is a great way to learn the local language and immerse yourself in local culture all while fulfilling the visa requirements. The first step is to locate your home consulate and follow the application instructions on their website for a Type-D Long Term student visa. For more information on applying for a Spanish student visa, check out my article “How To Get a Long Term Student Visa for Spain.” https://teflbarcelona.net/how-to-get-a-long-term-student-visa-for-spain-by-christine-jacob/

TEFL Barcelona offers several other student visa programs, such as a teacher development course and Spanish language course. You can read more about their student visa options for Non-EU citizens at the following link: https://teflbarcelona.net/student-visa-for-non-ue-citizens-to-teach-english-barcelona-spain/

Tips for getting a COVID-19 PCR test before flying to Spain

In order to enter the country, Spain requires passengers to show proof of a negative PCR COVID-19 test that was administered within 72 hours prior to their arrival in Spain. This must be a PCR test and not a Rapid Test. The rapist test results are not as accurate and will not be accepted. I researched and called numerous testing sites in New York to see if any labs could process a PCR test in time for my flight. Finally, I found CareCube, a clinic with multiple locations in New York that provides PCR test results in 24-48 hours for those who are travelling and need quick results. Wherever you choose to get tested, make sure you confirm with the testing site whether or not they can have your results in time for your flight and within 72-hours of your arrival in Spain. I got my test done two days before my flight and with the time difference between New York and Spain, the results were still within 72-hours of my flight’s arrival in Spain.

Plaça de Catalunya

 

What to know about COVID restrictions in Barcelona

Restrictions to help control the spread of COVID-19 differ in each city in Spain, but overall, you cannot travel outside of your county. Here in Barcelona, face masks are compulsory in all public spaces. You’re basically not without a mask unless you’re drinking or eating. There is also a curfew right now that has been in place since I arrived in December. People must remain at home between 10 pm – 6 am. Bars and restaurants are open for takeaway and delivery, and outdoor/indoor seating is only open to the public from 7:30 am-10:30 am and from 1 pm-4:30 pm. Restaurants, as well as gyms and sports centres, can accommodate 30% of their usual indoor capacity. Large shopping malls are closed but smaller shops are open Monday-Friday. Markets, pharmacies, and some shops are all open at 30% capacity.

Even with restrictions, you can still have a great social life in Barcelona. Bars and restaurants are still open for a certain amount of guests, museums are open at 50% capacity and parks are open until 8 pm. The beach is also open to the public and groups can still gather or play sports on the beach. The website Meetup or the app Class Pass are great ways to find outdoor group activities happening in the area.

The cost of living in Barcelona

For a teacher working from home, cooking more than eating out, riding a bike more than public transportation, and only shopping a couple of times a month, the cost of living in Barcelona is pretty manageable. I find grocery shopping to be pretty affordable compared to what I would pay back home. I love the high quality and variety of fruits and vegetables I find in local “fruterias”. For other groceries, Consum and Mercadona are good places to shop. In general, groceries, beer, and Spanish wine are all very affordable. Second-hand shopping ~”compras de segunda mano”~ is also a great way to save money in Barcelona. Humana is a popular shop for second-hand clothing. Another great option is the website Wallapop where people can buy and sell all types of second-hand products. Barcelona is the perfect walking city but it’s also very easy to get around on the metro or bus. I usually opt for the “T-Casual” metro ticket which gets you 10 journeys for 11.35 EU.

Here’s a breakdown of typical expenses:

  • Renting a room in a flat: 400 – 600 EU/month
  • Orange phone plan: 10 EU/month
  • Groceries: ~ 150 EU/month
  • Meal out: ~ 8-10 EU
  • 1-trip metro ticket: 2.40 EU
  • 10-trip metro ticket: 11.35 EU

Catedral de Barcelona

Teaching English in Spain

Teaching online is a great way to secure a fun and fulfilling job while making a great income to support your living costs in Spain. I’ve taught with VIPKid, GoGoKid, and am currently teaching online with Whales English, an online ESL school based in China. I’ve enjoyed teaching with different companies, meeting new students, and experimenting with different types of curriculum but have had the best experience so far teaching with Whales English. They offer set hours and since you work with the same students every week, you have the chance to really connect with your students on a weekly basis. I love being able to catch up with my students every week and watch their English skills progress more and more together. Besides my students, I’ve also had a great experience with the company itself. Their teacher support staff are always there to address any questions or inquiries I may have. Another great part about working for Whales is the resources they provide to teachers. I’ve learned a lot of classroom techniques through their training sessions and workshops. You can make a great living teaching with Whales English and easily support your lifestyle in Spain as they offer a very competitive salary and lots of great bonuses. All lesson materials are provided to teachers and the curriculum is adapted from National Geographic and Oxford Learning Tree. I work with students of all different ages from level Pre-k to Level B. Classes are typically 50-minutes long with a 10-minute break in between. Teachers have the freedom to choose their own hours and make their own schedule, as long as you provide at least 8 teaching hours/week. With the time difference between Spain and China, I typically teach between 11 am and 2 pm. Once the time changes in March, my teaching hours will be between 12 pm and 3 pm. The teaching hours fit perfectly with my schedule at the language school I attend. I teach for a few hours then have a 1-hour break before I have to head to Spanish class.

There are so many teaching opportunities for TEFL teachers here in Spain. Besides teaching students in China online, you can also find opportunities to teach English within the local community. I’m always meeting people who are looking for private English lessons or know someone else who is. A great website for finding students is https://www.tusclasesparticulares.com/. You simply create an advertisement for yourself on the website and students searching for a tutor can contact you. This is a great way to secure private lessons online or in-person.

Playa de la Barceloneta

Spanish lessons in Barcelona

I’m currently enrolled in Spanish classes at BCNLip, one of many local language schools in the city. My classes at BCNLip are held in-person, but students also have the option to join the class via Zoom. With the protocols my school has in place, I’ve felt safe attending the lessons in-person. The classes are held Monday-Friday. I attend two sessions, one at 3:30 pm – 4:50 pm and another at 5 pm – 6:50 pm. The first session is a workshop, where we review phonics, grammar, writing, and have lots of conversation practice. The second session is the general A1 Spanish course with our main professor. The school also offers optional cultural immersion programs which are held on Friday mornings. They plan different activities and excursions for students to get to know each other, learn about different areas in Barcelona, and practice their Spanish or Catalan skills outside of the classroom.

BCNLip is located in the centre of the city in the Gothic Quarter. I live in Gracia which is a bit outside of the city centre. Now that the cold weather is passing, I usually walk or ride my bike to class. Before then, I mostly used the metro and although a crowded train during a pandemic sounds terrifying, I haven’t had any issues. I feel safe using public transportation here given how strict the mask and social distancing requirements are.

Tips for processing your TIE/NIE upon arrival in Barcelona

These requirements may differ depending on your country of origin.

In order to receive your TIE (Foreign Identity Card) and NIE (Foreign Identification Number) you will need to work on gathering the following documents once you arrive in Barcelona:

  1. Empadronamiento: registration in the apartment where you live in Barcelona. Schedule this as soon as you can using this link. I was able to get an appointment within a month of my arrival  → https://seuelectronica.ajuntament.barcelona.cat/oficinavirtual/es/tramit/20100001515
  2. Enrollment documents from your school (the same document you used for your visa application)
  3. Medical Insurance (the same document you used for your visa application)
  4. Passport (physical passport, copy of the first page, and copy of visa)
  5. 2 photos 3.5 x 4.5
  6. Pay the Tax model 790 012 – fill out the form online and pay the tax at a local bank (option to be paid TIE documenting the first grant of the authorization of temporary residence, stay or for cross-border workers)  → https://sede.policia.gob.es/ Tasa790_012 /
  7. Completed EX-17 Application Form → http://extranjeros.inclusion.gob.es/ficheros/Modelos_solicitudes/mod_solicitudes2/17-Formulario_TIE_FEB19.pdf

You can print and make copies at one of the many Copisterias in the city. Once you have all the documents, follow this link to schedule an appointment for getting fingerprints done at a police station. → https://sede.administracionespublicas.gob.es/icpplus/  You may not get an appointment in the city centre but I suggest you take whatever appointment you can get when scheduling this. I ended up taking my fingerprints an hour walk outside of the centre of Barcelona but I made the most of the trip and explored an entirely new area.

If you’re interested in teaching online with any of the online ESL schools I mentioned, VIPKid, GoGoKid, or Whales English, please feel free to use my referral codes. I also welcome you to email me with any questions you may have about applying!

Good luck & happy teaching!

Christine Jacob

Email: Christine@seajcub.com

Referral Codes: