Programs on Programs

If you want to work and live legally in Spain, one of the easiest ways to do it (besides marrying a Spaniard) is by being an auxiliar de conversación. Auxiliares act as the on-hand English language assistant at a designated school. Your role will vary based on the school and the age group you're working with, but generally speaking you will help provide the students with language development by speaking and instructing them solely in English. You will not be the main teacher, just an assistant. As such, the most important requirement for this position is being a native English speaker, not necessarily a background in education (although that will probably help you out when you start the job). There's a wide range of programs for auxiliares, and choosing the right one for you is just as important as deciding to move abroad in the first place. I've tried to accumulate the information I have for some of the most popular ones to give a general guideline.

Ministerio de Educación

The Ministry's program is run directly through the Spanish government. The application period opens in January, and while it's open until early April, it is highly recommended that you apply early. You will be asked to fill out an application, complete a 500 word statement of purpose, submit a letter of recommendation, and upload a transcript. There will also be a section for you to select your regional preferences. If your application is complete, you're basically guaranteed to get in. You will eventually receive an email notifying you of your regional placement (usually starting late May), and then a while later a second email with details of your exact school placement.

• Payment details: €1000/month for Madrid, €700 for all other communities
• Pros: no cost to apply or participate; easy application and essentially guaranteed a spot; placements all over Spain unless a particular region chooses not to participate (this year, they were Cataluña, Valencia, and Castilla-La Mancha)
• Cons: cannot specify a particular city and limited options for ranking your top choices; program administration is disorganized and many things take forever to arrive (including placements); placements are first come, first served; program has a history of delayed salary payments to auxiliares 

CIEE

This organization has a wide range of study and teach abroad programs in different countries. For Teach in Spain, there's actually different programs depending on your comfort level with Spanish and prior teaching experience. There are both 2 and 4 week immersion programs for those who want to bring their Spanish up to scratch. Teach in Spain Regular is for those with little to no teaching experience, the Basics program is more suited for those with more of a background (such as those with an education degree), and the Professional program is for those who wish to teach in a business setting rather than at a school. I am focusing on the two most popular, the Regular and the Basics. The application process is very similar to the Ministry one, with just few more requirements but still simple. After completing your application, you will receive an email when accepted and eventually a school placement (starting in late April). *note: I am participating in the Regular Teach in Spain program, so I am best equipped to answer questions on CIEE

• Payment details: €1000/month in Madrid, €700/month in Andalucía
• Pros: more organized than Ministry program; placements are generally better because they are given out earlier; plenty of support and advice from the staff both before departure and after; on-time payments
• Cons: a rather hefty program fee (which covers things such as hotel accommodations your first week); only work in Comunidad de Madrid and Andalucía; CIEE acts as third-party between you and the government

I only applied to those two. The remaining programs on this page are other programs I have heard and researched on. I have also in some cases asked for information from former participants.

BEDA

This program works solely with Catholic schools. The applications period opens in November and run through the end of January. BEDA is a bit more selective than most other programs, as they require a Skype interview (done in English and usually quite short). Many people have stated that having some sort of teaching experience or a high level of Spanish gives you an edge when applying. If successful you will receive in assignment in either Madrid, Alicante, Andalucía, las Islas Canarias, Castilla-La Mancha, or Murcia. More details here!

• Payment details: Dependent on how many hours you work. This can range from €693 (16 hours a week) to €1040 (24 hours a week)
• Pros: more organized than the Ministry program; no late salary payments; plenty of support from the staff in preparing for NIE/TIE paperwork; no preference given to those who apply earlier
• Cons: program fee; required course with Comillas University that generally meets on Fridays (though not every Friday); limited to Catholic schools

Activa

Activa has a language assistant program to help them directly at their language schools rather than at an actual school. They do have programs that work in conjunction with schools to aid in language development but it's much more a language school than an actual school. They help in the preparation for all the official English language exams in Europe. To apply, you have to send your CV to the email listed on their site. They will contact you if they are interested in pursuing an interview with you. Language assistants with Activa work in 14 different cities across the Spanish peninsula.

• Payment details: €900/month
• Pros: located in some of the largest Spanish cities, including Barcelona and Valencia which no longer participate in the Ministry program; simple application process; rolling admissions
• Cons: (according to some) long hours; rather spotty with communication and difficult to reach them with questions

Fulbright

Of all the programs on this list, this is perhaps the most prestigious. The Fulbright Teaching Assistant Program is available in many countries ad the requirements vary for each. For Spain, 41 spots are available in Madrid and 17 in Cantabria. As such, it is much more competitive and the application is more extensive. Applications open in May and remain open till October, and they include a statement of grant purpose, personal statement, references, and a foreign language evaluation. After the application period ends, there is an initial screening process, and, if selected, your application will move on to the final selection round.

• Payment details: the amount of the grant varies by year depending on availability of funds and cost of living in your chosen area
• Pros: extremely prestigious
• Cons: much more difficult to receive a spot; will require undertaking a project in addition to teaching; aimed specifically at students and recent grads; no predetermined grant amount

Again any questions you may have, send them my way, and I'll try to help out as best as I can (or at least point you in the right direction!).