I’m a big fan of Japanese culture in most of its forms. There are countless special days and festivals to enjoy throughout the year, so today’s festivities put me in mind of some other events well worth attending. If you are teaching in Japan, why not go along?

Sapporo Ice Festival

This is a one-week long festival (February 5^th to 11^th, 2010) that celebrates the extreme cold of Hokkaido’s winter. The main attraction is, of course, the world-famous ice sculpture display. Hundreds of these snowy works of art are displayed in Sapporo city center. Drop your whiteboard pens and get up to Sapporo!

Great Japan Beer Festival

Admittedly, this event isn’t considered one of the major festivals in Japan, but if there’s one thing English teachers like more than textbooks, it’s beer. The Great Beer Festival is held in four locations throughout the year, starting with Roppongi, Tokyo on April the 23^rd to 25^th, 2010.

Fuji Rock Festival

23^rd-25^th July, 2010

This one hardly needs any advertising. The Fuji Rock Festival is pretty much the largest gathering of English teachers in Japan outside of the Japan Assistant Language Teachers (JALT) annual conference. Expect food, beer and music to be flowing (the same goes for Fuji Rock).

ELT – Paid Holiday Allowance

You might be wondering about time off as an English teacher. How much are you entitled to? The answer depends on who you work for, so check the terms of your contract (sorry, that’s pretty unclear advice, but there is a great deal of variation!). As a rough guide, most major companies allow 10-days of personal leave per year, plus two weeks of company holidays, plus most national holidays. In total, that amounts to a fair chunk of holiday throughout the year (nearly five weeks). Now you’ve got no excuse to hit all three of the above events! See you there!

TEFL in Spain

Most English language education takes place at one of the thousands of language schools, and this is your most likely source of employment. Some of the country’s top schools, such as Berlitz, are nationwide chains that employ many people. However, there are countless smaller operations, including family-run establishments and some rather shady employers, too, so do your research first and don’t get burnt.

Like France, Spain employs Assistant Language Teachers in primary and secondary schools. Although the title is ‘Assistant’ it is actually quite a hands-on role, and your duties will vary. As the government operates public schools, vacancies can be found through them. Pay is secure and it is a well-founded way into teaching English in Spain.

Getting a job

For EU residents, work visas aren’t an issue here, so your only task is to get a foreigner’s registration number. The ease of working in Spain for EU citizens means competition is fierce in the TEFL industry in the major Spanish cities. It seems everyone wants to teach in Barcelona and Madrid. If this is your first TEFL assignment, you might want to look at some of the smaller towns and rural areas around the major cities. Jobs are often easier to come by and accommodation and the cost of living is lower.

September is the peak time for recruitment, although you should begin looking for jobs from as early as June. Check ESL Base and other sites for job postings, and any specialist TEFL newsletters and magazines should have information too. Actually being in Spain at the time is ideal as it means you will be ready to attend any necessary interviews and you will be able to keep a closer eye on the job market.

Ideally, you should have a well-recognised qualification such as TESOL or CELTA before teaching in Spain. Most employers require this, although experience is desirable too. It’s important to note that university level education isn’t as essential as it is in many Asian countries.

Salary and hours

Teaching in a Spanish language school normally consists of a 25 hour (that is, teaching hours) working week, mostly taking place over evenings and some weekend work. ALT’s often work part time at public schools. Salary is normally 1100 euros a month, which is enough to live off, although too much Jambon Serrano and Alhambra will eat away at your salary quickly. Many teachers supplement their income with private lessons, which can provide some much needed extra money.