Relocating to La Linea Andalucia

[Caz.I]

Originally Posted by lala4506

Really?

I have heard different with regards doing TEFL and then undertaking a placement in Andalucia greatly improves your chances?

Does anyone know anyone with tefl teaching in or around la linea/ Andalucia ?

Well any experience will help and most TEFL work in Andalucia is in the academies, not sure how much there is about at the moment though think it has gone quiet in many academies. Full time in the academies usually means working Mon-Thurs/Fri from about 3.30pm-10pm since classes will be after school finishes (mainly teaching children and then adult classes from about 7.30/8). Though if you are lucky you may get sent out to do some in-company classes in the mornings - but unlikely to be much in La Linea.

As it happens, I do know of an academy in La Linea who often advertise in the Sur In English for TEFL teachers. (I used to work part-time for their school in Fuengirola when I first came here.) PM me if you want the phone number.
From what I have heard, La Linea is quite a typical Spanish town (but a bit rough), although its not huge so may not be that much work around.

[jimenato]

Originally Posted by Caz.I

As it happens, I do know of an academy in La Linea who often advertise in the Sur In English for TEFL teachers. (I used to work part-time for their school in Fuengirola when I first came here.) PM me if you want the phone number.

That sounds good - I hope that works out for you. I based my comment (that there's not much TEFL work to be had) based upon a conversation I had with the head of English at an International school about 10 miles away from La Linea. I asked him if it was worth me getting a TEFL qualification and he said that there were any number of TEFL teachers he knew of and none of them had worked in years. However La Linea itself might be different. Get down there and have a look around - good luck and come back and let us know how you get on.

[mrypg9]

Originally Posted by lala4506

Really?

I have heard different with regards doing TEFL and then undertaking a placement in Andalucia greatly improves your chances?

Does anyone know anyone with tefl teaching in or around la linea/ Andalucia ?

In the area around La Linea - thirty minutes from where I live - unemployment is probably at the 30%plus level - it's over 20% in Spain as a whole.
Gibraltarians are bilingual, as has already been pointed out.
There are very many would-be TEFL teachers and few positions.
Few people appreciate how dire things are here.
There are job opportunities for qualified professionals in Gibraltar but again , many applicants.
La Linea is a rather unattractive, run-down border town with not much going for it, frankly. Rents in Gibraltar are extremely high so you would be looking for accommodation near the border, I would guess.
To put it bluntly, this is not a good time to look for work in Spain but there may be a few opportunities in Gibraltar.

[Alcalaina]

Originally Posted by jojo

I've only been there a couple of times. I found that in the few places I went into, English was spoken! From what I know, most people who live in La Linear work in Gib or in related industries. Sadly, its a bit of a dormitory town for Gib. Go there and do some investigative work and find out tho, you may prove me wrong

Jo xxx

It could be that you are only going into places where English is spoken ...

La Linea has one of the worst unemployment rates in Spain, and that´s saying something. Over 10,000 registered unemployed, out of a total population of less than 70,000. Hence many people depend on smuggling to live.

The town is practically bankrupt, and council employees haven´t been paid for months. This has lead to all the primary schools being closed, as they haven´t been cleaned for a week, CampoPulse: Primary schools closed for health and safety reasons: no class for 12,000

The Mayor wanted to raise money by charging a toll to leave Gibraltar, but the national government declared this to be illegal.

I´m glad to hear that Mayor Sanchez has cleaned up the drug problem on the streets, because that´s about the only good news to come out of the place since I´ve been living in the area.

[jimenato]

You have to wonder why it's so bad.

Most similar towns in Spain would give their back teeth to have an economic powerhouse like Gibraltar as a neighbour, for their people to go and work in and bring home valuable wages and I know that many Gibraltarians spend money in La Linea as well. What with that and the amount of industry between there and Algeciras and the potential (untapped) for tourism, the place should be rich.

I can only think that the place is thoroughly badly managed.

[Siods]

Sounds like la linea is struggling a bit? How do the costs compare to some of the areas further up the coast for rent etc. If things are pretty bad then an extra 15-20 mins drive in the morning might be worth it?

I am (hopefully!) going to have the same sort of decisions to make shortly so would be interested in what experiences you have!

[lala4506]

Exactly my thoughts and I would be interested too! What will you be working as if you don't mind me asking perhaps we could exchange email addresses?

Both my partners Aunty and uncle commute to gib everyday to work both good jobs but admittedly they've been in la linea for 6 years almost.

I am in the process of finding out re teaching with tefl and she has put me in touch with language schools.

I guess I have the added benefit of having family there. I have researched rent costs etc in la linea and they are considerably cheaper compared with Malaga etc and you get quite a lot for your money in most instances

[Alcalaina]

Originally Posted by jimenato

You have to wonder why it's so bad.

Most similar towns in Spain would give their back teeth to have an economic powerhouse like Gibraltar as a neighbour, for their people to go and work in and bring home valuable wages and I know that many Gibraltarians spend money in La Linea as well. What with that and the amount of industry between there and Algeciras and the potential (untapped) for tourism, the place should be rich.

I can only think that the place is thoroughly badly managed.

I'm sure that's right. It's been PP for years ... and one of Sanchez's predecessors has just been banned from holding public office for seven years, having narrowly escaped a jail sentence.
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