The Spanish you need for your year teaching in Spain
You'll teach in English — but you'll live in Spanish. Talk with your host family at dinner, sort things out at school, open a bank account and make friends outside the staff room.
What you'll be able to handle
- 01
Living with a host family
Meal times, house rules, small talk and the art of the Spanish sobremesa.
- 02
Your first weeks at school
Introduce yourself to colleagues, understand timetables and follow simple instructions.
- 03
Paperwork & appointments
The vocabulary of citas, NIE/TIE and bank accounts — with links to official sources.
A real moment you'll handle
Dinner with your host family
- Hold a simple dinner conversation
- Introduce yourself at school
- Handle appointments and offices
- Get around any Spanish city
Carmen
¿Qué tal en el colegio hoy?
How was school today?
You
Muy bien. Los niños son muy simpáticos.
Very good. The kids are really nice.
Carmen
¡Qué bien! ¿Quieres más tortilla?
Great! Do you want more tortilla?
You
Sí, por favor. ¡Está buenísima!
Yes, please. It's delicious!
Most useful modules for you
Where you'll spend most of your time
Meeting People
Conocer gente
- Introduce yourself and others, and respond to introductions
- Say where you're from, what you do and how old you are
Home & Family
Casa y familia
- Name rooms and things at home and say what there is
- Talk about your family and other people's
At Work
En el trabajo
- Introduce yourself to colleagues and say what you do
- Understand schedules, meeting times and simple instructions
Paperwork & Services
Trámites y servicios
- Book and attend an appointment (“cita previa”)
- Understand the words used in official offices and forms
Questions
I teach in English. Do I really need Spanish?
At school, maybe not much. Everywhere else — your host family, the bank, the doctor, your social life — yes. That's exactly what this course covers.
When should I start?
Ideally 3–4 weeks before you fly. 15 minutes a day gets you through the course before your first day.