(2020-2021 and 2021-2022)

I worked at El Centro de Inglés during the school years of 2020/2021 and 2021/2022.  Something that I really enjoyed about working at ECI is that you are able to teach many different age groups and levels. Some of these groups might include test prep (Cambridge and Trinity) which can be a bit intimidating and stressful if you haven’t got a ton of experience. However, a lot of support is available, the other teachers are always willing to lend a helping hand. There is also a huge staffroom with loads of different resources to supplement your classes. Additionally, many teacher training sessions are held throughout the year, these are all very helpful, particularly for exam preparation classes.

ECI  is incredibly driven to get the kids to grasp the English language and more so develop a love for it. I loved teaching at this school, but what I enjoyed most of all was being able to learn from the talented teachers who I worked with. Everyone at this school is very kind, friendly, and professional; they all bring a lot of experience and important skills to the table.

Alyona B (January 2020 to present) – Kris T (September 2019 to present)

We have really enjoyed our time here at ECI Andujar, and in the town itself. If you drive you are within easy reach of any part of the peninsula, if not there are busses to most big tourist spots that take a few hours (take the earliest possible coach to get more time or stay overnight in an AirBNB). Andujar itself has some of the best places to eat, even former Michelin-starred places, and a ton of places to have a coffee (or beer) in the sun.

What has been new for us is the attention to Cambridge and Trinity exam preparation. The school takes students’ preparation for these exams seriously, which is great.

Even though the COVID-19 quarantine has been a stressful time for all the teachers and schools all around the world, ECI managed to organize the whole process quite smoothly and thanks to the training we received from the academic management, all of us learned how to teach online very quickly. Of course, we’ve been mastering our skills of teaching online throughout recent months, but the initial training was extremely helpful and everyone was supportive and patient. We were sharing ideas and materials with each other and the team work really helped us to move forward.

Also, we are immensely grateful for all the help with our paperwork concerning our move to Spain. Julie guided us through this complicated process, which helped us to settle in.

If you want to work for a professional reliable company, develop as a teacher, meet new interesting people who are passionate about their teaching jobs, this is a place for you!!

September 2019 to present

This is my first year working for El Centro de Ingles and it has been a thoroughly enjoyable experience. I was attracted to school because if its professional attitude and the various opportunities presented to advance my teaching career.

This year I have taught a range of ages from primary through to adults. This has allowed me to develop my teaching style and adapt to the various needs of my students. I big part of my teaching has been the Cambridge exams. This was an area that was quite new to me when I arrived, but thanks to the excellent programme of support for teachers at the school, I now feel very comfortable delivering these types of classes.

For the last few months my teaching has changed considerably due to COVID-19, however the company’s response to the pandemic has been excellent. We were set up giving online classes in less than a week, and I maintained a full timetable until the end of the year. I have also been able to develop my online teaching which is a very useful skill to add to your CV.

September 2017- present

I´ve worked here for three years now and what initially attracted me to the school was the fact that they came across as very professional and supportive – a place where I could further improve my skills and I must say I have. At ECI you work with students aged 6 to 18 mainly (some adult classes as well) and the main focus is on Cambridge exams which is great work experience to add to your CV. However, if you´ve not taught Cambridge before, planning and structuring these lessons can be very time-consuming and requiring a lot of effort. As a result, you end up putting in a lot of extra hours. Nonetheless, once you dominate the skill, it gets a lot easier.

Teaching online is another thing we all had to get used to given the circumstances, but we managed to get it up and running and it works very smoothly indeed now.

September 2018 – present

I have worked for El Centro de Inglés for two years now and would thoroughly recommend the academy to anyone looking to advance their teaching career.

I was initially attracted to the academy by its professional approach to TEFL and support in skill development. I feel that I have been empowered to develop professionally, specifically in the areas of exam preparation and improving students’ reading comprehension.

COVID-19 took us all by surprise and I must state clearly here that ECI acted quickly and effectively, getting online platforms and digital resources organised within days of Spain announcing a national emergency. I was very impressed by this and felt fully supported in transitioning to teaching classes online, which was completely new to me.

Anyone considering a career in teaching is in safe hands here. If you want to improve professionally, I recommend applying.

September 2018 – June 2019 and continuing

The Town

The town is small and quiet although in spring and summer there always seems to be something going on! There are plenty of bars and restaurants and the people here are really friendly.

Getting Around

You can get around the town quite easily on foot and most of it is flat. There´s a rail station and bus station which connect Andujar with Cordoba, Seville, Malaga and Madrid.

The School

The school is modern with interactive whiteboards and you have your own room to put your personal stamp on. There´s a lovely patio in the middle of the school which brings in lots of light.

Materials and Resources

There are so many materials to use! There is everything you could possibly need for every level.

The Staff

Everyone here is extremely helpful and professional. There is always someone on hand to help you or give you advice.

Students/Classes/Levels

You will probably be teaching a mixture of kids and teens and possibly exam classes. It means there´s plenty of variety in your week and you can gain a lot of experience teaching different groups.

Teacher Training

There is a lot of training both external and in house. You get plenty of opportunities to grow as a teacher and get new ideas to try.

Finding a Flat

I arrived Monday afternoon and by Tuesday afternoon, I was in my new flat! The process was so smooth and easy and there were a few flats to look at so it wasn´t just a case of having to take the first one I saw.

Cost of Living

It is a lot cheaper to live here than it does to live in some other Spanish cities. Water comes in at about 55 euros for 3 months, electricity about 70 every 2 months and gas just depends on the time of year and what you have connected to it. You can get a much bigger flat here than you could elsewhere for the same money.

Health Cover

It was easy to get set up with a doctor when I first arrived here. Cover is pretty similar to the UK but prescriptions are a lot cheaper! If you do need to go to the doctor, get the first appointment in the morning because they rarely run on time!

September 2017 – June 2018 and continuing

LIVING AND WORKING IN ANDÚJAR

The town

Andujar is a charming little town where everything is close and people are extremely friendly. Full of shops, supermarkets, restaurants and tapas bars you can really enjoy the centre and the delicious local products. Celebrations in Andujar are another great aspect. It’s always beautiful to watch how the entire town comes to life every time.

Getting Around

To get around Andujar you only need your feet, but it’s quite easy to get to other cities as well by bus or train.

The School

The school is in the centre, in a quiet building with lots of natural light. The courtyard, which can be seen from almost all the classrooms, helps to create a great atmosphere  with its plants and flowers. Teaching there is a real pleasure.

Materials and Resources

 The school offers an incredible variety of materials and resources for all levels and age groups. Everything is extremely organised and easy to find.

The Staff

“Welcoming”and “supportive” are huge understatements when describing ECI’s staff. Everyone is kind and always ready to help you out with everything; from lesson planning to finding extra resources or just talking about your lessons to come up with better ideas. Each member of staff is competent, committed to teaching and to improving as a teacher. They put their students first and work really hard to help them get the results they want. I believe this to be the perfect environment for someone who wants to work just as hard and enjoys working in a team.

Students/Classes/Levels

Something that I really love about ECI is that you are able to teach different levels and age groups, from very young kids to adults. Students are in general very good, motivated and willing to learn. Parents are constantly kept informed about the progress of their children and you can directly talk to them during weekly meetings to discuss any problems arisen in class or worries you might have.

The classes are generally well organized and fully equipped with interactive whiteboards, computers and wi-fi connection.

Teacher Training

Being a new teacher who had just done her CELTA, when I arrived here I was looking for a school which could offer a valid teacher training programme and I believe I couldn’t have found anything better. Peer observations, meetings, workshops and conferences give you a chance to constantly improve and try new things in your class.

Here you definitely have a chance to grow as a teacher and, more importantly, you are given the freedom to do so while exploring what kind of teacher you want to become.

Finding a Flat

The school is very supportive not only for what concerns the job, it also gives you a great help in finding a flat and taking care of everything you might need in the first few months. At my arrival, Julie already had different flats lined up for me to see and the Spanish speaking staff kindly brought me to see all of them and helped me sort out the internet, my bank account and everything else I needed. Everyone is extremely patient and kind and they do their best so that you get the best deals.

The Cost of Living

The cost of living is lower than what I have experienced in any other country. The rent is very cheap considered the amount of space and type of flat that you can get. Utility bills come every 2 or 3 months and even if the water bills are fairly cheap, electricity can be a bit more expensive, but it all depends on the flat you live in.

For what concerns grocery shopping, prices vary depending on which supermarket you go to, but the central market offers quality and local products for really good prices.

Health Cover

The health care system is very good. You will have a local GP and will be able to refer to a health centre for every problem. When I needed further exams or tests they were always quick in processing my requests and I didn’t have to pay anything for the visits.

September 2014 until June 2017

LIVING AND WORKING IN ANDÚJAR

The Town

Andujar is a small, friendly town. In the spring and summer there is always something going on. There are many fiestas including the Romeria. The cost of living here is low and the cost of a wine or beer with a tapa is around 2.50 euros. There is a lot of opportunity to practice and learn Spanish, it’s very easy to set up a language exchange with somebody and there’s also an “intercambio” group that meets up on a Thursday night.

Getting Around

Public transport is not too bad. You can get to Jaen, Malaga, Cordoba and Madrid quite cheaply and easily. It´s very easy to take advantage of any bank holidays or to just go away for the weekend. The Malaga bus is particularly handy as it leaves early on a Saturday morning and gets back into Andujar late on a Sunday night. The buses to Madrid are also very cheap and there are about 5 each day. If you can afford it, buying a car is a fantastic idea as there is lots to explore. Spain is such a diverse country in terms of scenery and temperature. In February, we went to Ronda and drove through snow covered mountains in the morning and ended up at the beach in the afternoon wearing just a T-shirt!

The School

Our experience in the school has been nothing but positive. We were both fresh from our CELTA when we applied and had heard horror stories about some academies in Spain. As we were newly qualified we were almost expecting that we wouldn’t be able to find a decent school that would take a chance on us. The support we had was phenomenal! We were helped with finding an apartment, guided through the paperwork we needed to complete and helped with settling in to the job and life in Andujar.

Materials and Resources

There are so many resources available it´s almost daunting to a new teacher. From folders to containing ideas for those first classes in September, exam preparation books and plenty of extra materials to use in class such as plastic food, telephone, and toy animals with the smaller children. There´s anything and everything a teacher could need and more.

The Staff

The support has been fantastic. If you are ever stuck for an idea, there is always someone who has a solution for you. Everyone helps each other and you really feel part of a team in ECI.

Students/Classes/Levels

Most of the students are motivated and willing to learn. If you do have a problem, you are encouraged to speak to the parents in order to resolve it. The classes are very comfortable and all have interactive white boards and internet connections. The levels that you teach are varied. Every teacher has a preference to what ages and levels you prefer and ECI will try to accommodate you, however, the majority of classes are usually children.

Teacher Training

If you want to improve and develop there is ample opportunity. If you have any specific area you want to improve in, just speak to someone. We had the opportunity of watching some classes when we started and something small like this helped so much with our confidence. We also had the chance to go to the FECEI conferences in Madrid and the ACEIA conferences in Seville, these were invaluable! We also had numerous other workshops both in house and in Jaen.

Finding a Flat

When we arrived, our Spanish was almost non-existent. Having to deal with the language barrier when looking for a flat would have been immensely stressful. We expected that this was something that we would have to do for ourselves. However, Julie helped us find a flat and checked everything was legitimate with the contracts. Then, after we bought a car we started looking for a new place with a garage, this time Lorraine (director of studies) helped us. Everyone in ECI is willing to help you out if you need it.

The Cost of Living

Cost of living as we’ve said above is much lower than the UK. To be honest, our wages in Spain are less than what we earned in the UK but our disposable income is so much higher! We’ve been able to go away for the weekend at least once a month, buy a car, return to the UK every Christmas and have decent holiday in the summer whilst working here. Obviously, there are two of us in our household and this helps a lot.

Health Cover

Health care from what we’ve seen is great. Booking a doctor’s appointment is very easy and can be done online. Medication has to be paid for and isn’t free like in some parts of the UK but it is very cheap.

Other relevant comments

As we’ve said above I feel very lucky to have had the support we’ve had these past three years. We will be very sad to be leaving the school and Andujar. We’ve made friends here that we are sure we will keep in contact with in the future. Thankyou ECI for your support and helping us develop as teachers.

I came to teach in ECI Andujar in April 2016 for three months to cover a maternity leave.

Everyone at the school has been very friendly and welcoming. The support from management and colleagues is total and the atmosphere is friendly. The teaching resources are extensive and the classrooms are well-equipped with interactive whiteboards. It’s a really nice place to work.

Andujar is a small town with a lovely historic centre and all amenities. There are lots of shops and supermarkets and a riverside walk. It’s easy to get into the hills on the edge of the Sierra Andujar if you like walking.

There are bus and train connections to Sevilla, Córdoba, Malaga and Madrid as well as local towns.

In the few weeks that I’ve been here, I’ve joined a gym, found a wonderful Spanish teacher close to the school and been invited out for drinks and excursions. There is also an English conversation group in the town where you can meet local people to chat in English and Spanish.

Nov 2015-June 2016

Amy is moving back to Britain to do a PGCE

– Andujar is a typical small Spanish town with plenty of bars and shops. People here are very welcoming and patient with my Spanish.

– Though there’s not much to do in Andujar it’s easy to make weekend trips to other cities in Andalucia such as Seville, Granada, Cordoba, Jaen, Cadiz etc. Bus and train tickets are reasonable and easy to buy online.

-The School is in the centre of town with bright classrooms and a whole library of resources.

-The staff are incredibly supportive and friendly, if you have a problem they’re quick to help and offer advice. We usually go out for a drink together after work on a Friday and often do things at the weekend which is a lovely way to relax.

– I teach a variety of ages and levels which keeps things interesting. They all follow a course book but I supplement with resources from the staff room. The students are lovely, they are very sweet and eager to please.

-I’ve really enjoyed the training on offer with ECI, I have been to three ELT conferences this year. It’s a great way of learning new things and getting ideas for the classroom. There are also internal sessions which are great and particularly helpful for exam groups.

-Julie found several flats for me to view when I arrived in Spain which was a great help. I live in a flat above a Spanish family who are wonderful and always inviting me to do things with them and making food for me!

-The cost of living is much lower than back home and I manage to save each month as well as go on regular weekend trips.

I’ve loved teaching here, working with a variety of levels has broadened my experience and there are plenty of opportunities for professional development. Everyone is super friendly and it’s great working in such a collaborative and supportive environment.

Sept 2014 – June 2016

Deciding on a private language school in Spain can be a daunting experience. With so many to choose from it can be hard to separate legitimate business from less reputable employees. For me, the priority was finding a place where I could be an actual teacher and not just a glorified babysitter or tape-recorder. El Centro de Ingles was definitely the best place for me.

You certainly get a great variety of classes at ECI: at 6:30pm I’m teaching six year olds in their first year of English; one hour later I’m teaching advanced adults. We teach eight or nine different groups a week, so that’s sixteen or eighteen lessons (always 21 hours) to plan. However all the classes use textbooks which are accompanied by great teacher resource books and the school has more resources than you could ever get through. There is an established culture of sharing at ECI and if you’re stumped for an idea, somebody else will have one. One thing I was really keen to add to my CV was experience teaching internationally accredited exams like Cambridge and Trinity. I have been able to get that in spades!

I have seen photos and videos of the “classrooms” that some teachers in Spain get to enjoy; good luck doing any kind of movement in those tiny spaces. At ECI all are classrooms are big enough to deserve the label ‘classroom’ and have windows and a/c. Your classroom is yours for the year, and comes with a work laptop that is also “yours”. Anything that breaks is quickly repaired. These might seem like small things but it’s worth checking whether the school you’re thinking of applying to includes them. The staff is a nice mix of new teachers, more experienced teachers, and downright veterans; married couples, those with families, and singletons. We work hard and you are held accountable for the progress in your classroom and fulfilling administrative requirements, but in return absolutely everything is legal and above board and you will never have to worry about what you are being asked to do and whether you will get paid. If anything becomes a problem – professional, pastoral or personal – you will find a supportive and accommodating atmosphere at ECI. Definitely expect to add some professional development to your role when working here. There are weekly meetings, which often involve a teacher training element, and the opportunity to attend conferences.  In my second year I was able to expand on my role to include delivering some teacher training.

Andujar is a city. Yes, a city! I didn’t believe it either when I was corrected for calling it a town. You definitely need to put the qualifier “rural” city before that to give you a better idea of what to expect. You can comfortably run around the circumference of Andujar in about 40 minutes and everywhere is accessible by foot, even the big supermarkets. The benefits of this include a community feel – expect to see someone you know every time you go out – and lots of independent businesses. But don’t expect any items on your usual city checklist; a Carrefour, a Lidl, and a McDonalds are the only big name hitters. If you do crave the metropolis, Seville, Madrid and Cadiz can be reached by public transport for a weekend away, especially if it’s a long weekend. I’ve even managed to make it to Barcelona. Nights out in Andujar tend to be of the bar-hopping tapas variety.  Buying a car in my second year gave me so much more freedom and it was a non-negotiable for staying on in Andujar.  I definitely think you need to factor this into your decision to come to ECI:  can your budget run to a car?  Will you be happy with occasional car hire?  Or are you prepared to save money but forgo experiencing a lot of what Spain has to offer?

If you want more from your weekends then just relaxing and tapas, Andujar has some great road-biking and mountain biking potential. The city doesn’t have the dramatic mountains found in other areas of Spain (the town itself is unnervingly flat!) and the land in every direction as far as you can see and beyond is given over to olive production. But the Sierra is a drive or a committed morning’s bike ride away for some hiking. Jaen – a 40 min drive or one hour bus ride away – has some impressive limestone crags for climbing. El Chorro is a two and a half hour drive away (not really accessible by public transport for a weekend) and has enough world-class climbing to keep you occupied for years. You can also rock climb, hike and ski in Granada, which you can get to by bus for the weekend, or very easily by car. As Andujar is so flat, running is a good activity. There are always races of various lengths in nearby areas including Cordoba and Malaga. There is a very strong contingent of those who live for the active lifestyle in Spain but you have to seek them out, especially in Andujar. With a little bit of effort and confidence and you can meet up with people who share your cycling/running/climbing/skiing passion and will be happy to act as your guide. If you have a car, the world is your oyster.

Unlike my co-workers, I chose to wait until I arrived in Andujar before finding a flat. There are a few websites which can give you an idea of what’s available but I didn’t want to commit to a rental without seeing the place for myself and understanding its position in Andujar. It wasn’t a problem as a teacher at ECI very generously let me use their spare bedroom when I first arrived, and I was out and into my own place just under a week later. Most apartments cost around 350 Euros per month but the quality (and the tastefulness of decor) differ a lot, so decide on your priorities.

Aside from rent, my monthly expenditures include the internet and mobile phone bundle (about 45 EUR per month), a bi-monthly water bill (about 60 EUR) and a bi-monthly electricity bill (about 100 EUR). My electricity bill is based on no air-con in the summer and no heating in the winter. I’m from Yorkshire and I’d rather wrap up in a blanket than spend the money! Look to spend around 35 EUR a week on food if you like cooking for yourself. Fruit and vegetables are cheap.

The general consensus is that it is difficult to save money in Spain, but living in Andujar helps as there isn’t much to spend money on. Prior to living in Spain I lived in Asia, so for me the cost of living is high.  I also live on my own which means my experience is different to those teachers who are in couples.  I would say it is definitely possible to put something aside, but it is hard.  It is especially hard to save if you start to do anything at weekends as even with my frugal sense of adventure, petrol, camping fees and perhaps a museum entry or similar, soon add up in Spain.  My advice?  Get a roommate, it’s the only real way to make any significant savings here.

And now for the TLDR generation… Andujar in a nutshell: small, quiet, olives. Possible necessities to make the most of it include a car, a sense of adventure, drive to learn Spanish, patience, a hobby for those quiet weekends. ECI: lovely school and facilities, helpful staff and senior management, caring atmosphere, oodles of potential for building your CV.

Sept 2014 – June 2016

LIVING AND WORKING IN ANDÚJAR

The Town

Andujar is a lovely town, very traditional with a great community atmosphere. It’s the type of town where everybody knows everybody. It isn’t jam packed with things to do, so would certainly suit someone who is ready to get stuck in with the local community. There are plenty of religious festivals and events throughout the year that are wonderful to experience – especially the Romeria in April.

Getting Around

Within the town everything is accessible by foot and if you happen to have a lot of shopping there is a local bus which runs from the centre up to the big supermarkets. If you’re going further afield, there is a train station and a bus station which have fairly regular links to Cordoba and Jaen and a few of the other major cities. Once you get to Cordoba, Spain is your oyster as there are trains to pretty much every province.

The School

The school is located right in the centre of Andujar, perfect for nipping out for breakfast or a coffee in the morning. The school is split over two buildings, the main school and the annex. The classrooms are modern and bright, with everything you need.

 Materials and Resources

All course books come with a wide variety of resources, almost all the books have ipacks and the classrooms have interactive whiteboards. Teachers are given a laptop that is “theirs” to use – so that’s useful for designing and organising your extra resources. The staff room is fully equipped with so many books and resources that I guarantee you’ll find whatever it is you need.

 The Staff

The staff are so supportive and there is always someone who can help you with an idea or solution to a problem both in work and outside. There’s a real community feel amongst the staff and there’s always somebody to do something with. I’ve made some great friends during my time here that I’ll be sad to leave behind.

Students/Classes/Levels

Each teacher will have a variety of ages and levels, from young learners to exam classes. This means that everyday is different and enjoyable! There are no more than 12 students in each class. Spanish students tend to be very passionate (noisy!) but generally are very keen and willing to learn.

Teacher Training

There is a wide variety of training both internal and external, with sessions paid for by the school, in Madrid and Seville each year.

Finding a Flat

Finding a flat is very easy during the summer, there are flats or houses to suit most budgets and generally come with all the appliances and necessities you need.

The Cost of Living

The cost of living is very reasonable, especially being able to have a drink and a tapas for less than €3 after work! The most expensive things are the utility bills, normally electricity comes every two months and water every three. On average, I would say they run a little more expensive than the UK, whereas your groceries and day to day life will probably be cheaper here.

Health Cover

You are fully covered on the health system, I have experienced both visiting the GP and attending A&E. Appointments are easy to make however you may occasionally have to wait longer and you certainly will need to establish your place in the line – Welcome to the Spanish queuing system!

Sept 2015- June 2016, moving back to Britain to take a PGCE

Walking around Andujar is very easy, though a car may be better for weekends. The train and bus links are good.
The school is quite simply the best I have ever worked in. Excellent resources, including a huge variety of books suitable for every purpose in the library, as well as the collective knowledge of the current teachers who have a great deal of experience and are more than happy to share it. Indeed, sharing ideas is a big part of the school, and opportunities to do so are given regularly. We often have the chance to observe our peers in the classroom and be observed in turn, which is a great opportunity for professional development. This school year the school paid for the teachers to go to a development seminar in Sevilla, including rail and hotel for the night, which was another great opportunity.

It was very easy to find an apartment, and with the help of Julie, the owner, we had an apartment ready to move in to on the day we arrived in Spain.

The students are lovely. Almost all, whilst noisy at times, are enthusiastic and willing to learn. Most students are existing groups who have been in the school for a number of years, and their previous teachers have instilled upon them a strong desire to learn and good work ethic.

September 2013 to Present (Returning)

The Town

The town is small (ish) and everything that one needs is available and accessible. The people are friendly, and it’s a very much «everyone knows everyone» type of place. There are also fairs, festivals, carnivals and the likes that take place throughout the year. The most famous is the Romeria de la Cabeza which really is worth seeing.

Getting Around

There is a train station on the outskirts of the town, and has a direct train to Cadiz (which goes through Cordoba and Seville) and to Barcelona (which goes through Linares and Valencia). There are also regular trains for Jaen and Cordoba. But for other cities, you would have to change at Cordoba. There is also a bus station which pretty much goes everywhere in Andalucia as well as Madrid. Within the town, everything is within walking distance.

The School

The school is in two parts, the main school and the annex which is literally three/four doors down. The classrooms are of various sizes, and are equipped with everything you need and want.

Materials and Resources

There is a staff room full of resources and materials for various ages, levels and teaching points which is continuously growing. The management are open to new ideas for resources, etc. There is also a huge selection of books for those who are studying for a diploma.

The Staff

The staff are great, supportive and will help wherever they can. They have a vast range of experience and expertise between them, from young learners to exam skills and knowledge.

Students/Classes/Levels

The students are, as a whole, great fun. The classes are never with more than 12 students and the levels range from beginner to advanced. The children are noisy, the noisiest I have ever had, but wanting to learn

Teacher Training

There are lots of opportunities for external training with talks and sessions offered and paid for by the school in Seville, Granada and Madrid, just to name a few.

Finding a Flat

My partner and I were lucky. We told Julie what we needed before we arrived, as we were also bringing three cats (insane, we know!) and within two weeks of emailing her, we had a gorgeous flat, which we?re intending to keep for next year.

The Cost of Living

Everything is cheap. The most expensive things would be toiletries and the electricity bill and the latter only appears to be expensive because it isn’t paid monthly but every two months. It is still slightly more expensive than the average UK bill.

Health Cover

Having injured my foot early in the school year, I had the experience of visiting the hospital and the doctor’s clinic. Excellent care and treatment provided and as the school has arranged for a medical card, nothing is paid for or rather the bare minimal is paid for. My partner’s asthma inhaler cost 36 cents on the medical card. You couldn’t ask for better!

Working at El Centro de Ingles has been a great experience. I’ll be sad to leave and am only doing so because I want to move back to the UK.

I don’t think you could find a more helpful boss than Julie. From arranging my first flat here and taking me to the supermarket on the day I arrived to helping me at the tax office, she has always gone out of her way to make it as easy as possible to adapt to working in the town.

She also provides lots of opportunities for professional development. In the two years I have worked at the school,

I have been to both ACEIA and FECEI twice and have attended a number of other external training sessions, which have all been really helpful.

Although the town is small, there is always something to do or see and if all else fails, it will take you a few weeks to get round all the tapas bars and restaurants before you even consider going anywhere else.

There is also a lot to be said for being able to walk to work in less than five minutes. Unless you have a car, you will need to plan weekends away carefully but there are buses to Madrid, Malaga, Seville and Cordoba on a fairly regular basis so it is possible to get out and about.

Coming here was a good decision for me. I gained experience of teaching lots of different levels and age groups, got to work with a lot of fantastic teachers and made a few very good friends. Not bad for two years.

If you are already an enthusiastic teacher of young learners, or a newly-qualified teacher with an interest in becoming such, then the ECI in Andujar could be an excellent next step in your career. It is a small school run in an absolutely professional way, with an excellent team of senior teachers who are genuinely helpful, approachable and supportive. They will do their best to help you settle in, both in your new job and your new home, always going the extra mile if any particular problems arise, or additional support is needed. The classrooms are well-equipped with all the latest technology, so if you are already a whizz on that kind of thing, or would like to learn it, that is a big bonus too. The town is small, but with a pretty, typically Andalusian historical centre, and those famous towns like Cordoba, Seville, Malaga are a convenient bus or train ride away.

The Town
This is a small town that is easy to get around. The bus station is walking distance from the town centre and the train station is 5 minutes by taxi. All major cities such as Madrid, Seville, Malaga, Barcelona, Granada etc are accessible by both train and bus. The main airports Malaga, Madrid and Seville are all accessible from Andujar.

Getting Around
Because Andujar is a small town, everything is walking distance. The major supermarkets such as Mercadona and Carrefour are 15 minutes walk from the town centre. Local supermarkets such as Dia and MasyMas are very handy for the daily shop or an item you may have forgotten to buy in your weekly shop. If you are looking to go for a bite to eat or go shopping for new clothes or shoes, there is a plethora of shops and tapas bars to choose from. Some bars even offer a free tapas with every beer you buy.

The School
El Centro de Ingles is a Trinity and Cambridge Exam preparation centre. Students are prepared for the First Certificate, PET and KET exams. Those taking the Trinity exams are prepared for both the GESE levels and the ISE level.

Materials and Resources
Course books are used for each class. There are excellent additional resources available in the form of grammar games, vocabulary quizzes, puzzles and crosswords. There is also a library of DVD’s and Songs available with prepared lesson plans.

The Staff
The staff are very experienced and come from England, Scotland, Ireland and South Africa. The ethos of the school is to pool and share ideas. Teachers are available to brainstorm ideas or to help a Teacher who needs advice on a particular part of the Curriculum.

Students/Classes/Levels
The maximum size of every class is 12. Levels vary from beginners to advanced. Pre-School, Primary, Secondary, University and Adults are taught.

Teacher Training
Teachers are given the opportunity every three months (Semester) to go on a Training day. The training sessions are held in Madrid, Seville and Granada and are a very useful learning tool. Training sessions are also held in-house on a Friday morning to help Teachers prepare their students for the Cambridge and Trinity exams

Finding a Flat
There is plenty of accommodation available in Andujar. The school helps teachers find suitable accommodation at the best price.

The Cost of Living
It is cheap to live in Andujar. It should cost no more than €20-€25 for a weekly shop. To go out for tapas and beer/wine should cost no more than €8-€10.

Health Cover
You pay a social insurance contribution in your monthly salary which covers you for doctor visits and hospital appointments.