Thinking of moving to Estepona?

[chica escocesa]

Maybe the Canaries would be a better place for us then! We have holidayed many tunes in Lanzarote but found it a little quiet to actually live there. Hmmm, food for thought though.

[Hepa]

Originally Posted by chica escocesa

Maybe the Canaries would be a better place for us then! We have holidayed many tunes in Lanzarote but found it a little quiet to actually live there. Hmmm, food for thought though.

It is even quieter here!

When we need a short break from the solitude and remoteness of this island, we fly to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, now that city buzzes, couldn't live there though, here is now our home.

There are photos if you follow the link below.

[Pesky Wesky]

Hi,
I'm an English teacher who's lived here for a good few years. I started out working in an academy giving classes to children and adults, then another couple of academies teaching only adults. From there I went part time academy/ part time company classes to part owning a cooperative, and eventually to being freelance company teacher which is what I do now... I think...
I've been freelance for over 10 years and I've never had any problems getting classes; the opposite in fact, waiting lists and people phoning almost every day, prices steadily going up - until this year. One company has halved its classes, another is thinking about it until September... Another is actually expanding, but I won't be able to cover all the classes so they actually might get rid of me and get an organisation that can cover everything, I can't win!

But that's just what's happening to me...
It's true there will always be some work for English teachers, but you always have to take into account the permanency, the salary level and the outside issues.
Permanency - you'll start off with a group of 6 in September that'll be 5 in December, 4 in January and you'll be struggling to have 2 together on any one day of the week by Easter. I charge a price per hour and it doesn't matter how many there are in the group, the company always pays the same price.
Salary level - Children go to after school English classes A LOT. There is a lot of interest in the Cambridge exams (Flyers, Movers etc all the way up to First, Advanced etc) But these are not clases where you'll make big money usually, and when they have school exams they often don't go to class ... Company classes are much better paid than academies and children's classes, but the companies are closing down or cutting costs (which is what has happened to me)
Outside issues - Spaniards know that English is vital for their children and for an adult to get almost anywhere on the career ladder nowadays. They will do anything they can to learn English, but if they haven't got the money (unemployment at 25%, salaries at around 1000€) or the time (many finish work at 8 in the evening) they'll find it difficult to do.

So, one way or another I think you'd get some work. Enough to live on, rather than survive on? I wouldn't like to say. I think your best bet would be to look at opportunities in British or international schools which might be a bit better paid and with a guaranteed monthly salary. Or somewhere very well established like British Council or International House. And obviously I'm talking about now. Three or four years down the line, who knows?

PS Forgot to say that I'm in the Madrid region and this info is based on that and what I know of the south of Spain which is very general.

[chica escocesa]

Ok that's great thanks. Sounds like there is the chance of me earning enough to supplement my husbands income enough. I think the plan would be to arrive with enough of a financial cushion to support us for a year and maybe before I arrive start contacting international schools to let them know I'm available and in the area. I don't need to earn a lot, in fact I'd rather earn less and work for myself. Do you pay the autonomo and how much are taxes on top of this?

[Pesky Wesky]

Originally Posted by chica escocesa

Ok that's great thanks. Sounds like there is the chance of me earning enough to supplement my husbands income enough. I think the plan would be to arrive with enough of a financial cushion to support us for a year and maybe before I arrive start contacting international schools to let them know I'm available and in the area. I don't need to earn a lot, in fact I'd rather earn less and work for myself. Do you pay the autonomo and how much are taxes on top of this?

Yes, I pay 254,41€ a month and tax has just gone up from 15% 21%, coming into force on the 1st of August. The tax used to be lower for the first couple of years though, and may still be. Also xabiachica told me the autónomo payment varies according to age and I don't know what else.

[xabiachica]

Originally Posted by Pesky Wesky

Yes, I pay 254,41€ a month and tax has just gone up from 15% 21%, coming into force on the 1st of August. The tax used to be lower for the first couple of years though, and may still be. Also xabiachica told me the autónomo payment varies according to age and I don't know what else.

yes, the older you are (nearer to retirement) when you start paying (I think that's how my gestor explained it ) the more you pay - mine is more than Pesky Wesky's cos I started as autónoma here more recently than she did & I think I'm a bit older, too

[Pesky Wesky]

Originally Posted by xabiachica

yes, the older you are (nearer to retirement) when you start paying (I think that's how my gestor explained it ) the more you pay - mine is more than Pesky Wesky's cos I started as autónoma here more recently than she did & I think I'm a bit older, too

Hello there xabiachica.
Just wondering what you think about what I wrote earlier on the teaching situation/ opportunities as they are now. I didn't say anything about starting an academy, but my feeling would be - Risky!!

To chica escocesa - if you decide to go for international schools you'd do well to look here for jobs and info, the Guardian and the TES
Jobs | Nabss

[xabiachica]

Originally Posted by Pesky Wesky

Hello there xabiachica.
Just wondering what you think about what I wrote earlier on the teaching situation/ opportunities as they are now. I didn't say anything about starting an academy, but my feeling would be - Risky!!

To chica escocesa - if you decide to go for international schools you'd do well to look here for jobs and info, the Guardian and the TES
Jobs | Nabss

I totally agree with everything you said - & yes, way too risky imo to start an academy atm - but in four years - who knows?? I suspect it will be more risky still, but only time will tell

I was about to start one a few years ago ( a sort of co-op like you used to have) , but almost at the last minute I got cold feet - the recession seemed to be biting - it was the best decision I ever made to put a stop to it - one day I hope to resurrect the idea - but I suspect I'll be hobbling around on a zimmer frame long before it's a viable time

[chica escocesa]

Thanks for all the info guys it's really helpful. If you are self employed do you HAVE to pay the autonomo and if so what does it entitle you to?

[xabiachica]

Originally Posted by chica escocesa

Thanks for all the info guys it's really helpful. If you are self employed do you HAVE to pay the autonomo and if so what does it entitle you to?

yes, if you are in regular work, you have to pay it - it does entitle you to healthcare though & maybe a bit of a pension further down the line

I have heard recently that if the work is very erratic & you earn less than something like 600€ a month (that sounds too much to me - but it might be an average) then you might not have to - I'm going to try & check that out with my gestor this week before he disappears for August - I'll post when I know more