The city of Madrid

"Madrid has a terrific nightlife for those of you who like to let your hair down after a hard days work, but it is also a great city for the arts, culture, history and sport."

Madrid has many official sights to offer, many places of interest that you can find in any travel guide, but also take some time to see the old part of the city. Discover hidden parks, small shops where artisans make and sell their wares, or colourful decorations on walls in the old neighbourhoods of La Latina, Lavapies and Rastro.

In these areas you can: see Madrid's original architecture, have a drink and something to eat in typical bars, meet ordinary Madrileños, visit covered markets selling mostly fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, fish and such. Probably the best attraction of Latina is to just stroll around, letting the neighbourhood get at you. Just walking the narrow streets and alleys, go with the flow, as if you were a boat on a river, always being pushed forward by the current. In Lavapiés, you can have a kebab out on the street, listen to the drummers in the square or simply have a beer at some bar where the furniture seems to have been collected from people's living rooms.

Aside from the ethnic and original Madrid ambience that Rastro shares with Lavapies and La Latina, Rastro is home to El Rastro, the biggest and most varied open market in Madrid. The Rastro is a famous flea market that opens on Saturdays and Sundays between the Plaza de Cascorro, La Latina and the street of Embajadores. Everything imaginable can be found here from valuable antiques to used clothing, including collector cards, books, records, paintings, etc. The side streets also teem with bars and cafes where you can take refuge after a hard day's shopping.

And finally, a word about Madrid's nightlife, if you are finished and ready to go home at 4 a.m., you'll probably be the first one to bed. According to the Madrid tourist board a good night out ends at around 7 a.m. after visiting at least 5 different night spots. Madrid has some of the best all-night entertainment in all Spain and you'll never be stuck for somewhere to go at just about any hour of the day.

With all this to offer, Madrid is a great place to have fun. History and character, artists and theatre, sport and a great nightlife.

Madrid is the heart of Spain and the country's business centre so there's never a shortage of teaching jobs. If you're in the mood to thoroughly immerse yourself in Spain, do it in Madrid.

Spain country facts

• Capital (and largest city): Madrid
• Official language(s): Spanish
• Government: Democratic (Parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy)
• Area: 504,030 sq km (195,364 sq mi )
• Population: 46,030,109
• Currency: Euro (EUR)
• Time zone: CET (UTC+1)
• Drives on: the right
• Calling code: 34

>> top

The EBC TEFL course training centre

All EBC international TEFL certificate courses in Madrid are given in our purpose built, air conditioned training centre right in the heart of Madrid's "mini manhattan" business district.

Our training centre is conveniently located within a 3 to 5 minute walk from the Nuevos Ministerios metro stop or number 27 bus stop. Both public transport stops are on Madrid's prestigious Paseo de la Castellana. 

Local area landmarks are the Santiago Bernabeu football stadium, home to Real Madrid. The Torre Picasso, home to many multinational companies. The BBVA (Banco Bilbao Vizcaya) tower, recognised within Spain's national architectural heritage. The Joan Miró convention centre and last but not least El Corte Inglés, the biggest department store in Spain. 

There are also plenty of shops, restaurants, bars, banks (including a Citibank and Barclays), a health club, a catholic church and Madrid's Holiday Inn in the immediate area.

Our training centre is located in central Madrid so you can easily get to the old part of the city. Discover hidden parks, small shops where artisans make and sell their wares, or colourful decorations on walls in the old neighbourhoods of La Latina, Lavapies and Rastro.

In addition to the teaching rooms, the centre also has a study room where you can do your course work. The centre is equipped with WIFI so, if you bring your WIFI ready PC, you can work in the study room with free internet access.

For detailed information about the training centre, what is on offer, where it is located, local information and job prospects, please click here to download a prospectus containing all the information you'll need.

>> top

Pre-approved bank account (no bank charges)

EBC has a special offer from Banco Sabadell, one of Spain's largest banks.

The offer is open to ALL EBC students (regardless of nationality) and includes the opening of a pre-approved bank account, a Maestro card that can be used in cash machines/ATMs and as a charge card, special offers and discounts on other products etc.

Hassle free account opening

To open an account, all you need to do is:

• fill out an application form
• give your passport details to the bank
• NO ADDITIONAL PAPERWORK IS NEEDED!

You can open the account before you arrive in Spain or at any time after your arrival.

Here are some of the advantages that the account offers:

• ZERO charges for administration and maintenance
• 3% CASH BACK monthly rebate on your direct debit electric, gas, phone (fixed & mobile) and internet bills up to a maximum of 20 Euros a month
• FREE cash machine/ATM withdrawals using the SERVIRED network for all transactions of 60 Euros or more
• FREE bank transfers within Spain and the European Union
• FREE internet and phone banking services

The Banco Sabadell branch is located right across the street from the Madrid training centre.

If you want to open an account, ask us for more details after you've sent your course payment.

Disclaimer: EBC accepts no responsibility for your relationship with Banco Sabadell. EBC does NOT receive any benefit (financial or otherwise) when you sign up for a Banco Sabadell account.

>> top

TEFL jobs in Spain

The EBC TEFL course training centre in Madrid also runs a language school. Subject to availability, you may get offered an English teaching job by the language school at the end of the course.

A few facts about teaching in Spain

• Demand for teachers - Even though there is a crisis in the construction and construction related sectors, the demand for English teachers remains VERY HIGH and COMPETITIVE
• Main job availability regions - Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville (EBC has contacts with hundreds of schools in these regions)
• Main types of teaching - Usually through "academias" covering: General English, Business English and English for Young Learners
• Busiest periods - the academic year from September to June
• Summer periods - there are usually opportunities to teach: intensive courses, English final retake preparation courses and summer camps during July and August
• Qualifications - an accredited TEFL/TESOL certificate
• Job duration - the full academic year or the remainder of the academic year
• Teaching hours per week - 20 to 30
• Salary - From 1,200 EUR to 2,000 EUR per month depending on the number of hours worked
• Freelance work - from 20 EUR per hour
• Average basic monthly expenses - 700 EUR

• Madrid has the greatest demand for native English teachers in the whole of Spain.
• There aren't enough native English teachers in Spain.
• EBC is always being asked for teachers by language schools as early as the first week of a new course.
• EBC graduates, EU and non-EU, are usually working within a week of finishing the course at full market rates.

Attention all US students:

EBC's lifetime job placement assistance programme works with a prestigious academy in Madrid that will apply for the work permit of all American teachers they hire from EBC.

FICTION:

It is impossible to find teaching jobs in Spain if you are not from the European Union.

FACT:

THIS IS NOT TRUE. If you take the advice of the non-experts that make these statements, you will miss out on a once in a lifetime chance to come to Spain.

How do we know this? EBC gets calls from many language schools in Madrid asking for teachers, EU or non-EU, and they are hired immediately and paid the same rates.

To use the USA as an example: So far, we've had hundreds of American students take the course in Madrid. They ALL found work after the course, as did all the Australians, Canadians and New Zealanders that also studied with EBC.

It is, however, almost impossible to organize a job in Madrid before going there. Language schools have become stricter, and most will now demand a TESOL TEFL qualification and/or some teaching experience. In addition, almost all schools will expect to interview you face-to-face before making a job offer.

This is one good reason to choose EBC.

We have direct contacts with over 250 local language schools. We ensure that your CV/resume is available to potential employers on the last day of the course which should then result in interviews and job offers.

>> top

Visas and flights

Tourist Visas

If you have a European Union, USA, Canadian, Australian or New Zealand passport IGNORE THIS SECTION because you DO NOT need a tourist visa to enter Spain.

If you have a USA, Canadian, Australian or New Zealand passport and you would like to get a student visa, click here to download an information sheet.

If you DO NOT have a passport from a European Union country, the USA, Canada, Australia or New Zealand then please make sure that you do the following:

1. Check with your country's Spanish embassy or consulate to find out what your specific entry requirements are to cover the 28 day TESOL TEFL course period.
2. Before you send a deposit you must check with your nearest Spanish embassy or consulate as to exactly what you need to do in order to apply for a tourist visa to enter Spain. In order to take the course you must have a tourist visa that will allow you to stay in Spain for 5 weeks. Make sure you have your visa BEFORE you send your deposit.

If you need a letter to apply for a visa, contact us.

Student Visas

If you have a European Union passport IGNORE THIS SECTION because you DO NOT need a student visa for Spain.

EBC has a great, value-for-money study abroad package that combines the EBC TEFL course + a Spanish course + a money back guaranteed student visa.

Click here to download a fact sheet.

Flights

You will have to arrange your own transportation from your home country. Click here for a list of student and discount travel services. We also suggest that before traveling to Madrid you look at our travel advisory page.

>> top