TEFL in Granada, Spain's jewel in the mountains

“If I could be reincarnated, I would come back as an Erasmus student in Granada”. I recently visited the gorgeous city of Granada for the second time. Previously, it was a stop on my trip travelling the South of Spain, in August. It was so hot that even our midnight viewing of the Alhambra was only just bearable. This time, I was able to explore the city with an energy that the summer sun simply did not allow (something important to remember!) I loved this quote that I heard whilst interviewing Daniel Fermoire-Smith, teacher and founder of the English Ascent school. It certainly sums up a lot about what is good about living and socialising in Granada, and what makes it such an exceptional destination for TEFL teachers.

Other than the magnificently beautiful Alhambra - the most visited monument in the whole of Spain - Granada is, in my opinion, extremely high up on the list in terms of stunning Spanish cities. And there are so many, (I am yet to visit one that I don’t consider breathtaking), so that is saying something. Granada is a city that demonstrates different vibes with many different angles. It can be cosmopolitan, and diverse. It can also be traditional, with its history dripping from the picturesque bridges that lead you over the river up onto its windy streets. The history of the city has not been forgotten, and much of what charms me about Granada is its acknowledgement and preservation of it's past. Not only is there beauty, but there is pain, which makes it a bittersweet beauty, some of the best kind.

For you TEFL teachers who are considering heading to Spain, Granada is a fantastic choice. Not only is it beautiful, but it is also a university city, with tens of thousands of students. Since it is now the law that any student in Spain must achieve a B2 certificate in English, there is certainly no shortage of work in the ESL world. With this, in the past 5 years there has been an acceleration of English academies opening their doors to students and teachers, bringing in heavy competition. This may have produced factory schools - schools with little interest of the students’ education and teachers’ well-being - but has also made the determination for the distinction between a good academy and an excellent one, a lot stronger.

Fortunately, I went to three academies that clearly demonstrated the importance of providing a good education for its students whilst looking out for its staff. While each of the teachers agreed that the competition was fierce - with at least 50 English academies in the city - they emphasised the importance to provide their students an education that was higher than the basic need. Darren Anderson, from Be English, suggested that teachers should prepare themselves with a TEFL course that is longer than 3 weeks, with a good focus on grammar. In being better yourself, as a teacher, you will be able to work for a better academy, which will give you a good platform to begin your teaching career and continue improving. There is certainly nothing worse than beginning life as a teacher or a new job in a new school and realising you are alone and unsupported. It really is the basis of being successful and happy in any job. Mark Fury, from the Little Britain School of English, also offered some good advice for teachers thinking about moving to the city. It may seem obvious, but he encouraged teachers to visit Granada, and even different parts of Spain, if you can, before taking on a position at a school. Give yourself time to get used to the language, the culture, food, different hours (the Spanish have their own version of time…) just general life. It is hard enough starting a new job, in a new home, but to be accustomed to even a few of the smaller things could really help prevent any stress or homesickness in the early days. Not to mention, Spain is beautiful all year round, so should you decide not to come and live in the end, it will still be an amazing trip anyway.

Granada has something for everyone. It has an air of relaxation, filled with easy going people, street musicians, artists, ‘hippies’, who seem to spend a lot of their time just enjoying the scenery and great weather. It also has slightly more modern aspects, with a great nightlife and downtown city centre. As the birthplace of flamenco, there is a deep connection that is rooted in Granada and transcends throughout the whole of Spain. The tapas in Andalusia is unbeatable - I was at a restaurant having my daily croissant and cafe con leche (in Giordinos, a beautiful restaurant overlooking the cathedral, absolutely spectacular) and I overheard a German couple. With confused faces they turned to the waiter, “We didn’t order this”, pointing to a delicious concoction of bread, olives, cheese and crisps. The waiter smiled, “Is it your first day?” - and so he went on to explain the concept of Tapas in the south of Spain. It is a common fact that buying a couple of beers and getting your two free tapas is enough for your dinner. The weather is unfaltering. The people are just as warm as the weather. And lucky for us, it is a city that is always opening its arms to native English teachers, so don’t just take my word for it. Go and see it for yourself.