Many young foreigners who move to Madrid usually work as English teachers. The reason for this is because Spain is in high gear for catching up to their European counterparts in the world of global business. As English is the world's language of business, many Spanish firms and individuals are investing heavily in English Language Training Programs in order to compete more effectively in the global market.
As a result, countless private language academies have sprouted over the past two decades in order to profit from the demand. Now, language academies begin to realize that the demand from young people, who want to travel and work in foreign countries, is a profitable business as well. Many academies offer Teacher training courses to prepare future Teachers of English as a Foreign Language (TEFL).
TEFL is a big business in Madrid and it is a great way to fund your stay in Madrid and meet wonderful people. Getting a job, however, is not easy as competition is tough and work visas can be hard to obtain if you are not a passport holding European Citizen. Most academies require that candidates hold a teaching certificate such as the CELTA or TOEFL, have some experience in teaching and are E.U. citizens.
Do I need to speak Spanish?
A working knowledge of Spanish is necessary if you expect to have meaningful interaction with Spanish people. Many foreigners can and do interact only with other foreigners and never bother learning or speaking Spanish. Madrid is a very cosmopolitan city with many languages spoken and it is possible to function here without knowing Spanish, but it is not recommended.
Remember that your main purpose of traveling is to experience other cultures, and the language of the culture is its primary component. Furthermore, the more you speak the native language the more enriching and meaningful your experience will be.
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