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The Auxiliares de Conversación Program in Spain is the most popular way to teach English in Spain with thousands of people doing each and every year.
The Auxiliares Program places Americans, as well as other native English speakers, in Spanish schools to teach English and other aspects of their culture to Spanish students.
In English, the Auxiliares Program is commonly referred to as the North American Language and Culture Assistant Program. When teaching in Spain with this program, your job title will be Auxiliar de Conversación or North American Language and Culture Assistant in Spanish and English, respectively. Typically, these are shortened to Auxiliar and Language Assistant.
The Auxiliares Program is an incredibly simple way, and one of the only legal ways, to be able to live and work in Spain as an American or Canadian. The application and acceptance processes are also very easy with little to no competition in terms of requirements.
The Spanish government – Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte – places admitted applicants in public Spanish elementary (CEIP), high schools (IES), and some public adult schools (EOI).
When applying to the Auxiliares de Conversación Program, you select regions based on your preference. This does not guarantee that you will be placed with a job in the region of your choice though.
The main difference in regions, aside from where you will live, is the pay for auxiliares. Outside of Madrid, auxiliares de conversación work 12 hours per week and makes 700 euros per month. In Madrid, auxiliares work 16 hours per week and make 1,000 euros per month.
Check out what a typical day in the life of an auxiliar de conversación in Madrid is like!
Read our Guide to the Regions in Spain for complete details about the pros and cons of each region, including average rents, so you can decide the best region in Spain to live as an auxiliar de conversación.
While it’s certainly not a ton of money, the lower cost of living in Spain makes it a livable wage. Plus, there’s always the opportunity for auxiliares to teach private lessons for some extra cash. If you are interested in teaching private classes for extra money, check out our guide on How to Teach Private English Classes in Spain.
Never taught before? Don’t worry. Here are 10 easy activities you can use to teach English classes in Spain.
Read specific posts about the Auxiliares de Conversación Program in Spain:
How to Apply to the Auxiliares de Conversación Program in Spain (updated for 2021-2022)
How to Apply for a Spanish Student Visa at the Chicago Consulate of Spain
Guide to the Regions in Spain
Auxiliares de Conversación Application Timeline
Is My Inscrita Number Too High to Receive a Placement?
What to Bring to Spain as an Auxiliar de Conversación
Day in the Life as an Auxiliar de Conversación in Madrid, Spain
Auxiliar de Conversación in Madrid: What’s It Like?
8 Things to Do When You Arrive in Spain as an Auxiliar de Conversación
How to Teach Private English Classes in Spain
10 Activities for Private English Classes in Spain
If you want to teach English in Spain but aren’t sure if the Auxiliares de Conversación Program is for you or not, there are other programs to teach in Spain too!
Check out our Teach English in Spain that’s filled with information on different programs for teaching English in Spain as well as other information about making the move to teach in Spain!
