Teaching English in Spain
Spain is a good place for English language teachers to gain teaching experience, while enjoying interesting cultural and sightseeing activities. The English language is in demand in Spain, and so are good English language teachers. If you are interested in teaching overseas, you might want to consider Spain.
Life in Spain
To know Spain is to love Spain. Anyone who has ever been to Spain knows that it is unique. However odd in any other context, the old streets winding around modern architecture and sawdust-floor bars neighboring modern clubs seem to fit right in. Only in Spain does old meet new with such charming elegance.
Travel is easy in Spain. Modern buses are plentiful and cheap. Wonderful hotels, restaurants and beaches are easy to come by. The climate is comfortable. This is perhaps why almost 60 million visitors travel Spain every year.
History of Spain
Spain's powerful world empire of the 16th and 17th centuries ultimately yielded command of the seas to England. Subsequent failure to embrace the mercantile and industrial revolutions caused the country to fall behind Britain, France, and Germany in economic and political power.
Spain remained neutral in World Wars I and II, but suffered through a devastating civil war (1936-39). In the second half of the 20th century, Spain has played a catch-up role in the western international community; it joined the EU in 1986. Continuing concerns are Basque Fatherland and Liberty (ETA) terrorism and further reductions in unemployment.
Economy of Spain
Spain's mixed capitalist economy supports a GDP that on a per capita basis is 80% that of the four leading West European economies. Its center-right government successfully worked to gain admission to the first group of countries launching the European single currency (the euro) on 1 January 1999.
The AZNAR administration has continued to advocate liberalization, privatization, and deregulation of the economy and has introduced some tax reforms to that end. Unemployment has been steadily falling under the AZNAR administration but remains high at 11.7%.
The government intends to make further progress in changing labor laws and reforming pension schemes, which are key to the sustainability of both Spain's internal economic advances and its competitiveness in a single currency area. A general strike in mid-2002 reduced cooperation between labor and government. Growth of 2.4% in 2003 was satisfactory given the background of a faltering European economy. Adjusting to the monetary and other economic policies of an integrated Europe - and reducing unemployment - will pose challenges to Spain over the next few years.
Teaching English Overseas
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TEFL & Spanish
