Those are cultural ambassadors. Basically they teach some French/English to Spanish kids. It’s a grant program providing 700? per month (nothing!) for students graduating THIS year only. Only once you have been accepted can you apply for the visa, which I’m sure will be expedited.

Not sure what “auxilliaries” are even.

Right, I know all about the program.  Those who take part in the program come to Spain under a student visa. What I’m wondering is, if what ttMadrid says about student visas is true, whether someone doing the cultural ambassador/auxillary program can work outside of the program since those under a student visa are supposed to be eligible for permission to work up to 20 hours per week. 

Also, it’s not true that you have to be graduating this year to be an auxillary. Anyone with a college degree can apply, no matter how long ago they obtained it.  Look at the people in the picture.. the guy on the right looks at least 30 😛

“Auxillary” means “assistant or aide”... it even has this meaning in English.  It’s someone who acts in a supporting capacity. These positions are “auxillary” positions because you are not teaching your own class, you are assisting a Spanish teacher with his or her class.

Look more closely 😊

I. Participation Requirements

Candidates will

      o         Be a national of the U.S. or Canada and hold a valid passport.
      o         Be a native English/French speaker.
      o         Be a Junior or Senior college student or have successfully completed a BA, BS, MA or MS by the end of the current academic year.
      o         Be in good mental and physical health.
      o         Have a minimum intermediate level of the Spanish language.

II. Duties

      o Grantees will work as English/French language assistant teachers, under the supervision and guidance of a classroom teacher in K-12 schools and Escuelas Oficiales de Idiomas (state-run language schools) throughout Spain.
      o         Grantees will teach 12-16 periods per week.
      o         The assistant and the classroom teacher (or the school representatives) may agree upon other activities and responsibilities they should be involved in, such as conducting conversation lessons, attending faculty meetings, making class presentations and participating in extra-curricular activities such as workshops, field trips, student exchanges, music and theater performances, or sports events.

III. Specific conditions of the grant

  *    A minimum monthly allowance of ? 700 after taxes, (USD $ 1,025; CAD $ 1,060, as of November 2009). The program begins in mid-September and ends in mid-June. The accademic calendar, however, is subject to the regional education norms.
  *    Full medical insurance.
  *    Teacher orientation course at the beginning of the school year and ongoing development.
  *    Official Certificate, issued by the Regional Government.
  *    Paid school holidays: winter and spring breaks.
  *    All additional expenses (such as lodging, transportation to and from the country of origin, and meals) are the assistant?s responsibility.
  *    In order to participate in the program, U.S. L&C assistants will need to apply for a visa at their nearest Spanish Consulate, once they have been accepted in the program.
  *    Canadian candidates apply at the Consular Section of the Spanish Embassy in Ottawa.
  *    Please refer to the Program Manual for a for a full list of the Spanish Consulates in the U.S. and Canada.

Or, wait, does that mean that one just has to be either a junior/senior OR have a degree?

yeah, it’s worded strangely.  But I have friends who have done the program a few years after they graduated from college.

If you look at the “Program Manual” under “Who May Participate?” it says:

“Candidates must hold a U.S. or Canadian passport. The candidate must be a native or bilingual English or French speaker. The candidate shall hold a minimum of a BA or BS by the end of the academic year preceding the start of the program or be an upcoming Junior or Senior student at their university. Candidates must be in good physical and mental health. Candidates MUST have an intermediate level knowledge of the Spanish language at minimum.
The average age of a participant is 21-35, as long as they meet the profile listed above and submit the documentation listed in the ?Requirements? section below. We ask for an open-minded, flexible attitude.”

Also, I was going to comment on the pay… it’s only 12 hours per week. So if you’re paid 700 euroes per month, that’s about 13.40 euros per hour. It’s not great, but it’s stable. Plus, you also get health insurance.

They have this to say about the additional work issue under the FAQs:

Q: Can I get a support job while in Spain?
A: It would be illegal to get a paid job because you will have a student visa.

That seems to contradict other information that says if you have a student visa you can get permission to work up to 20 hours per week! That’s why I mentioned this.

My friends who have done the Cultural Ambassador program say they were able to do under-the-table teaching, though.. and that’s how they get by on the low wage.

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