Meddeas programme

It should come as no surprise that Spain has always been a popular destination for prospective TEFL teachers.

With its fantastic location, nestled in southeast Europe, with Africa just below, the Mediterranean to the side and mainland Europe to the north, Spain is a traveller’s dream. Not only can you take sojourns along its 505,935 km² span, but you’ve also got gateways to distinct parts of the Earth.

So, with all that said, how does someone get into TEFL teaching over in Spain? Or, how does one get on the ladder to becoming a fully-fledged English language teacher? That’s where the Meddeas programme comes in. 

The Meddeas programme allows budding TEFL teachers to work as teaching assistants while earning a monthly stipend and undertaking TEFL training. You can go solo, or stay with a host family in Spain - a fantastic opportunity to soak up some real-life experience on the continent!

Countless TEFL teachers have got their start through the Meddeas programme, so what’s it all about? How can someone gain entry into the programme, and what are the long-term benefits?

Let’s explore one of the most popular teacher placement programmes in the TEFL world!

Meddeas application process and training 

Do you fit the requirements, are a native level speaker of English, and like the sound of the work you’d be doing with Meddeas?

Then it’s time to get into the application process. What will you need to do?

First, you’ll need to do some life admin. Can you feasibly take at least one term abroad to work as a teaching assistant in Spain? Do you have any prior TEFL certification, that could really help in your application and in the classroom?

It's important to know about the different types of Meddeas experiences. The programmes you can apply for include:

● Recent Graduate Placements

● Educator Graduate Work Experience

● Early Childhood Educator Work Experience

● Co-Op Student Placements

● One-Term Volunteer Placement

You will have the opportunity to be placed anywhere in Spain! Meddeas collaborates with
schools all over the country, and since they are profile-based, you’d get the chance to be
placed anywhere.

It’s time to get into the process of making your Spanish TEFL teaching dreams come true!

Application 

First, there’s an application form. Here, you’ll detail your career experience to date, explain where you’d like to teach in Spain, what age ranges you’d like to assist with, and more. You can either upload your CV directly into the application form or send it later on.

Then, if you’re deemed eligible, the application period ends and the interview process begins. Meddeas will contact you for a first interview, then a second with a “Meddeas delegate”, if you’re initially successful. These interviews usually take place on Google Meet. If the first interview is successful, there'll be a second interview on the same platform.

Teaching placement openings/deadlines 

Meddeas’ different programmes run from September/October/January to May/June. If you complete the program, you may apply for a second year as a Meddeas Language Assistant. Excitingly, you can choose to stay at the same school or move to a different one.

There are no deadlines for application, although be sure to apply well in advance of when you’d like to start.

Programme training

The Meddeas programme includes a fantastic opportunity - a chance to study at a Spanish university! What’s more, tuition is entirely covered by Meddeas, meaning you can gain a qualification for free.

Successful applicants will spend one day in either Madrid or Barcelona, after which, you’ll move on to where you’ve been assigned a school. You’ll then complete the online course during the academic year. The University course, which is 360 hours (or 225 hours if you start in January), will provide you with the tools and knowledge needed to teach English as a foreign language.

The benefits of the Meddeas Programme 

It’s hard to think of what could sound better for the TEFL-curious than the Meddeas Programme, especially for those who have a particular interest in Spain.

The experience of hands-on classroom assistant teaching is a great first step for any TEFL teacher. For starters, it means your first classroom experiences in a teaching role aren’t running the show - you can see what works, experiment a little, and take advice from veteran teachers who have worked with different age groups.

It's also a chance to try creating teaching materials or become adept at using the teaching materials on offer at a school. As a native-level English speaker, you'll have insight into what works and what doesn't, in terms of curriculum. That gives language assistants a crucial role in helping any school's language teachers. Meddeas is also a chance to not just help to teach English, but work in an environment that supports multilingual teaching. For any prospective language teacher, that's a great insight.

Not only can you develop your teaching and professional abilities, but you can also gain international experience. Thanks to the Meddeas program facilitating your adventure abroad, you will be able to determine if staying abroad is for you!

During your time as a Language Assistant with Meddeas, you will enjoy the perfect balance of working and living in Spain! Even though you will be at school 20-24 hours per week, you will have time every day (and paid school holidays too) to enjoy the Spanish lifestyle, the warm weather, the culture, making new connections, and building relationships while boosting your professional career. And, of course, how about improving your Spanish? You will be using it outside the classroom every day.

Meddeas programme salary 

The salaries, or stipends, as we’ll call them, differ depending on the kind of Meddeas experience you have.

The monthly stipend you receive varies depending on the number of weekly in-class hours, the
maximum number of students in your conversation groups, and your accommodation choice.
The stipend ranges from €900 to €1,200, enough to live well as a young professional across
Spain.

The kind of previous teaching experience you have and your qualifications will determine what kind of language assistant placement you get from Meddeas.

Accommodation 

For accommodation, you can either sort out your own rental property in Spain or stay with a local family.

The advantages of staying with a Spanish family are obvious. You can help others to brush up on their English, and they can help you to learn Spanish. You’ll gain some first-hand local knowledge of where you’re staying, and you don’t have to worry about paying for rent, utilities and other costs you might come across while renting. 

However, if you’d prefer to set off alone, your monthly stipend will be larger to accommodate this. Ultimately, it’s a personal choice and will be covered in your application form.