TESTIMONIAL FROM A FORMER TEACHER AT EL CENTRO DE INGLES IDIOMAS BAILÉN- JAÉN (Spain)

Name: Lilly Hromadka

Position held at the school: Teacher From Oct 2021 to June 2022

LIVING AND WORKING IN BAILÉN

1. The Town
Small and quaint but with many hidden gems. The surrounding countryside is very beautiful and the people are warm and friendly.

2. Getting Around
Small enough to walk everywhere easily. Well-connected by bus nearby Jaén which is connected to many surrounding towns and major cities. Traveling required careful planning but was not difficult.

3. Support regarding living everyday in Bailén
Absolutely wonderful. María and Ana are very knowledgeable and always willing to help. If they can’t help directly the probably know someone who can!

4. Finding a Flat
Very easy. I had several options to choose from as soon as I arrived!

5. The School
Bright and comfortable. Very well maintained. Cool in the summer heat!

6. Materials and Resources
Laptop and projector available in every classroom. Coursebooks are updated and engaging. There are plenty of supplementary resources and María and Ana will not hesitate to supply you with whatever materials you may need!

7. The Staff
Everyone is so kind and supportive! A wonderful group of people to work with. They truly care about their coworkers and students and are passionate about teaching. Overall a fantastic work environment.

8. Students/Classes/Levels
I taught 7 – 19 years olds ranging from Pre-A1 to C1. The students are generally motivated and engaged. They were all very excited to hear about life in the United States and worked hard to communicate beyond the coursework.

9. Teacher Training/help to grow professionally
I was offered an incredible amount of opportunities!
Not only in the form of online webinars and trainings but I had a mentor teacher from the Andujar School as well who was fantastic. María also was always sharing resources and offering guidance and support.

10. The cost of living. How did you manage moneywise with food, rent, travelling going out.
Easily manageable. Drinks are cheap and tapas are free almost everywhere. Grocery stores are much more reasonably priced than in the states. Utilities were the biggest chunk of my budget but I still had plenty to travel on breaks and take occasional weekend trips.

11. Health cover
I didn`t need it while here but the process was easy and accessible.

12. Social life; meeting people, blending in.
There aren’t many foreigners in Bailén but many locals get excited to hear you speaking English. The bar and restaurant owners and staff are very friendly and will introduce you to regulars! People recognize you around town and always say hello, although the may not directly seek out your company.

13. What made you decide to stay for another year/leave the job?
I am taking part in a government sponsored assistantship program and am unable to continue in the same local public school for another year. I would love to stay but I have been moved to Oviedo for my next assignment!

14. What recommendations would you give to someone coming to work at the school and live in Bailén?
It is a lovely, enriching experience if you make the most of it! Don’t be afraid to ask for assistance, in the school or around town, and interact with your coworkers and the townspeople as much as possible! Bailén is small but there is plenty to make life interesting. Explore nearby Jaén, Baños de la Encina and hike out to Burguillos when it’s nice! I also highly recommend touring Picualia, the olive oil factory and doing a tasting! My favorite tapas places included Piñero III, Bar Ñ and Mi Casa. The food around here is all incredible!

TESTIMONIAL FROM A FORMER TEACHER AT EL CENTRO DE INGLES IDIOMAS BAILÉN- JAÉN (Spain)

Name: Jacqueline Alleyne

Position held at the school: Senior teacher From January 2019 to June 2021

LIVING AND WORKING IN BAILÉN

1. The Town
Bailén is a small town and fairly typical of many in Andalusia with its customs and character.

2. Getting Around
Being small makes it easy to get around on foot but the distances between places such as the health centre and the school, means that it is more convenient with access to a car or moped. I can’t say anything about the bus service as I didn`t use it.

3. Support regarding living everyday in Bailén
n/a

4. Finding a Flat
n/a

5. The School
ECI Idiomas Bailén has earned itself a good reputation as a professional, no non sense academy where everything is by the boo and they are open to suggestions that with lead to improvements in teaching and getting the best outcomes for the students.

6. Materials and Resources
There is a wealth of additional resources to support your teaching practice, most of which are designed to increase student enjoyment and to encourage the advanced levels in being more autonomous learners However extra materials can be requested.

7. The Staff
María is always on hand to assist with pedagogical issues relating to your classes and Ana will always to her best to accommodate your needs such as facilities, extra materials or contact with parents.

8. Students/Classes/Levels
The vast majority of students want to do well in English and a few will go the extra mile by completing homework. As with most academies, classes have to cater for mixed abilities so you will need to bear this is mind when planning lessons.

9. Teacher Training/help to grow professionally
Teachers are encouraged to takepart in the numerous training sessions run by the big instutuions, such as Cambridge English and Trinity and publishiers such as Macmillan. On top of this, there are the annual ACEIA conferences in Seville and Jaén, which are very engaging and informative. Obviously, everything is now done remotely.

10. The cost of living. How did you manage moneywise with food, rent, travelling and going out.
The cost of living is a lot more expensive that it used to be but you can still get a coffe for around 1.50 €. Had I been thirty years younger I’d be able to comment on the vibrant club scee.

11. Health cover
I’ve lived in Spain for nine years so I’m glad I didn´t have to go through the rigmarole again.

12. Social life; meeting people, blending in.
Fortunately, I have a car so occasionally I was able to meet up with friends I’d met previously.

13. What made you decide to stay for another year/leave the job?
Although I’ve really enjoyed working here, particulary the relationships I’ve developed with the students, I’m off to the UK to embark on a new challenge at a secondary school in the state sector.

14. What recommendations would you give to someone coming to work at the school and live in Bailen?
You need to be resourceful! Have your own interests and friends because it’s difficult to have a social life with your work colleagues as the al live outside the town. Apart from that, you’ll find the atmosphere convivial and there are specific times of the year when it is exceptionally busy. That’s not to say you wont´t have plenty to do all year round. Be prepared to put in the extra effort to keep your practise fresh and up to date, and take advantage of any training opportunities especially if you want your students on your side!

TESTIMONIAL FROM A FORMER TEACHER AT EL CENTRO DE INGLES IDIOMAS BAILÉN- JAÉN (Spain)

Name: Roxi Siegert

Position held at the school: English teacher From January 2017 to June 2018

LIVING AND WORKING IN BAILÉN

1. The Town

Bailén is a nice place to live even though it can be boring.

2. Getting Around

Everithing is walking distance and easy to find. You don´t need to  use public transport.

3. Support regarding living everyday in Bailen

N/A

4. Finding a Flat

María helped me find a flat by using her contact and even viewed some properties.

5. The School

The School i small and cosy. Good group of people to work whith. Kids are great.

6. Materials and Resources

Wide Range of materials + all very easy to use follow.

7. The Staff

Great girls! What else can I say?

8. Students/Classes/Levels

Classes can be a litle big students mostly respectful, sometimes a but rude.

9. Teacher Training/help to grow professionally

Caroline has been great! Can not say anything negative.

10. The cost of living. How did you manage moneywise with food, rent, travelling and going out.

Bailen is a cheap town to live in. Nice cheap bars and walking distance to work means saving money.

11. Health cover

Whith my back-easy

12. Social life; meeting people, blending in.

Bailén is a community friendly people and ease to make friends.

13. What made you decide to stay for another year/leave the job?

I like the school, the staff + living in Bailén is comfortable so this decision was easy.

14. What recommendations would you give to someone coming to work at the school and live in Bailen?

Learn basic Spanish

Look at as many apartaments as possible – somo are not nice!

Other relevant comments:

TESTIMONIAL FROM A FORMER TEACHER AT EL CENTRO DE INGLES IDIOMAS BAILÉN- JAÉN (Spain)

Name: Edgar Ferreira

Position held at the school: English teacher From September 2018 to June 2019

LIVING AND WORKING IN BAILÉN

1. The Town

Small, not much to do, good if you enjoy quietness a lot.

2. Getting Around

In Bailén everything is in walking distance. Transport to other towns/cities isn’t spectacular.

3. Support regarding living everyday in Bailen

Good. Support whith all documents, information about school was clear and all quiestions answered. Julie, María and Ana will help with whatever you need.

4. Finding a Flat

Had three to choose from on arrival and got one the same day. It’s still available to be rented at this time.

5. The School

Well equiped, generally nice students.

6. Materials and Resources

Plenty.

7. The Staff

Nice, helpful, welcoming.

8. Students/Classes/Levels

Not the most hard-working, but mostly good.

9. Teacher Training/help to grow professionally

Weckly meetings, most of them aimed at CPD

10. The cost of living. How did you manage moneywise with food, rent, travelling and going out.

Low cost of living. If you have no extra expenses, you can live comfortably.

11. Health cover

Good

12. Social life; meeting people, blending in.

Difficult. Not many foreigners, if any, live here, so you stand out.

13. What made you decide to stay for another year/leave the job?

Too small a town.

14. What recommendations would you give to someone coming to work at the school and live in Bailen?

• Good to have a car
• If staying in Bailén, keep in mind it’s a small town where not much happens.
• Use Blablacar to visit cities whithin driving distance, as Bailen is connected to all major Andalucian motorways.
• If you take a coach to Córdoba (1h30′) you can travel by train almost everywhere from there (AVE)

Other relevant comments:

TESTIMONIAL FROM A FORMER TEACHER AT EL CENTRO DE INGLES IDIOMAS BAILÉN- JAÉN (Spain)

Name: Alona Bondarenko

Position held at the school: English teacher From January 2020 to June 2020

LIVING AND WORKING IN BAILÉN

1. The Town

I was living in Andujar and working in both centres, ECI Andujar and ECI Bailen. So, I didn’t see much of Bailen, but I can definitely say that even though the town is small, it is beautiful and has everything you need for everyday life – shops, a lot of restaurants, parks etc. Also, the town is famous for the Battle of Bailen and there’s a wonderful museum there dedicated to this historical event. Locals are proud of it and happy to tell you everything about it.

2. Getting Around

As the town is quite small, it is easy to get everywhere on foot. There’s a bus station in Bailen (very close to the school) and it takes only 25 minutes to get to Andujar.

3. Support regarding living everyday in Bailen

4. Finding a Flat

5. The School

The school itself is a big and modern building. I absolutely loved the classrooms! They are spacious and well-lit, so you can easily play games which require students to get out of their seats and move around.

6. Materials and Resources

The school has quite a substantial library with lots of modern resources. There is a lot of professional development literature, as well as books full of practical ideas for everyday teaching.

7. The Staff

The staff is professional and friendly. The management is great, the other teachers are helpful and always ready to share their ideas and resources with you.

8. Students/Classes/Levels

I was teaching kids and teens of almost all levels, exam and non-exam groups. Most of the students are really enthusiastic, motivated and eager to learn, which makes teaching a lot easier. A lot of attention is paid to Cambridge and Trinity exams, as the school makes sure that all students are ready to pass them.

9. Teacher Training/help to grow professionally

The school takes this quite seriously. There was lots of internal and external training provided by ECI. I attended a couple of conferences in Seville and Jaen. They were really interesting. As for internal training – usually these sessions helped us with practical teaching ideas and how to carry out exam preparation classes. On the whole, they were informative and engaging.

10. The cost of living. How did you manage moneywise with food, rent, travelling and going out.

The cost of living is quite reasonable. There are lots of restaurants with free tapas and cheap drinks in this area. You don’t have to spend much on food either, as a wide variety of fresh fruit and vegetables are available in the shops all year around.

11. Health cover

12. Social life; meeting people, blending in.

13. What made you decide to stay for another year/leave the job?

Me and my husband are going to move to a bigger city as we don’t have a car and it’s not always easy to travel around without one. Also, to make it easier for our families – so they can visit us more easily as their home airports fly mainly to the Costa Del Sol.

14. What recommendations would you give to someone coming to work at the school and live in Bailen?

Enjoy your time in this school working with professional and dedicated teachers. Travel around and visit some beautiful places nearby, like Andujar, Jaen, Cordoba etc. And surely enjoy amazing food for a good price in local restaurants.

Other relevant comments:

I was teaching in ECI Bailen during difficult times as in March of the current year COVID-19 took us all by surprise. I am immensely grateful for all the help and support provided by Maria throughout this challenging semester. The school reacted to the changes fast and only in a couple of days our teaching team started lessons online. It wasn’t easy from the very beginning but thankfully to the great team work we made it!

Testimonial from a former teacher at   EL Centro de Ingles Idiomas Bailen – Jaen (Spain)

Name: Carol Hurley

Position held at the school: EFL teacher           From: 7/1/16 to 24/6/16

Living and working in Bailen    

• The town 

A great opportunity to live in a ‘non-tourist’ location and experience the workings of an everyday Andalusian town. It’s a small and close community. The people are friendly and I’ve felt at home since day one.

• Getting around 

Bailen is small enough to get around on foot. Travelling further afield by public transport can be a little challenging (in terms of routes, times and frequency) but Bailen does benefit from having a bus station and with a bit of careful planning many neighbouring villages, towns and cities can be reached.

• Support regarding living everyday in Bailen 

Bailen is an easy town to live in. Once you’ve adapted to Spanish opening times, there are plenty of shops to cater for everyday requirements – including a very good supermarket close to the school. There are several banks within the town and assistance can be sought with opening an account if needed.

• Finding a flat 

There are a reasonable number of flats to rent within the town. I would recommend waiting until you’re here so that you can view and choose a property you feel most comfortable in (even if this means staying in one of the low cost hotels for a day or two.) School colleagues can be helpful in recommending properties and assisting with viewings if needed.

• The school 

A very pleasant, bright, clean and modern building to work in.

• Materials and resources 

Classrooms have all the equipment you need to teach. There is a good internet connection and a well-stocked staffroom of books and teaching support material.

• The staff 

The colleagues I have worked with – management, teaching and office, have been both helpful and welcoming. A small and pleasant team of professional people.

• Students/Classes/Levels

A good mix of ages (children, teenagers and adults), levels and exam/non-examination classes. Most students are local and many of the children have school friends and siblings attending the school.

• Teacher Training/help to grow professionally 

Although only here for 6 months I’ve had the opportunity to attend a regional conference (with some interesting guest speakers) and a voice care session. The school also encourages the sharing of ideas and good practice between teachers through regular staff meetings.

• The cost of living. How did you manage moneywise with food, rent, travelling and going out? 

I have found my wage to be more than adequate to support myself comfortably whilst here (this includes bus fares to visit places at the weekend and a couple of trips away during holiday periods.) Compared to the UK the cost of living is considerably lower. It’s good to remember that utility bills need to be budgeted for (and any possible discount you can negotiate on your rent could help towards this.)

• Health cover 

I have only had need of the local pharmacy whilst living here but the school ensures its staff are all officially registered with the local authorities.

• Social life, meeting people, blending in. 

As in most Spanish towns there are lots of cafes and bars in Bailen. I made a point of regularly taking morning coffee at one of them before going to work and found this to be a good way to initially integrate with local people. Many of the children you teach recognize you and are eager to both acknowledge you and introduce you to their families and friends. Although a small town, throughout the year there are many street carnivals and festivals taking place which are interesting to experience. There is also a ‘Casa de la Cultura’ (a small Arts Centre) which has a programme of music/performance events throughout the year and some bars have ‘band/musical’ evenings too. There is also a local football stadium and several gyms in town if of interest.

• What made you decide to stay for another year/leave the job? 

My contract was for 6 months to cover a short term vacancy at the school. Although invited to stay for another academic year, current commitments back home prevented me from doing so on this occasion.

• What recommendations would you give to someone coming to work at the school and live in Bailen?

Make the most of the experience and your time here! If you don’t have your own transport, visit the bus station early on and check out the times and places you can visit during your weekends off – some really interesting towns and cities are within reach as well as some pretty little villages and surrounding countryside. Get out and watch the street festivals, experience the cuisine and the regional culture – the people in Bailen are friendly and welcoming. Make the most of working in a good quality school, take up any opportunities to attend conferences or training sessions, to exchange ideas with others and develop.

EFL TEACHER November 2015 to June 2016

– I live in Andujar and work in Bailen two days a week. Transport is easy between the two towns as I either get a lift or take the bus which takes half an hour.

-The School is close to the bus station and the town centre. It’s a modern building with bright, fully equipped classrooms.

-The staff are incredibly supportive and friendly, if you have a problem they’re quick to help and offer advice. We usually have lunch together which is a nice way to relax and get to know each other. It’s easy to make friends here and the staff socialise with each other at the weekend.

– 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.

-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. If I wasn’t returning to the UK to do a PGCE I would definitely stay longer.

EFL TEACHER September 2011 to June 2014.

The town

A small market town, quiet but with a thriving tapas culture.

Getting around

Bailen is on all the main motorways and with a regular bus service to Jaén and other nearby towns.

Support living everyday in Bailen

The directors help in any way they can including interpreting and even finding a lawyer.

Finding a flat

The school has a large number of contacts in the town and a suitable flat at a low rent is easy to find.

The school

A lively but serious atmosphere.

Materials and Resources

Plenty, IWBs and computers in all rooms, wifi access and a very good range of resource books make lesson planning easier.

Teacher Training/help to grow professionally

Teachers are encouraged to develop their skills. Regular workshops and an annual conference help you to keep up to date. Teachers showing an interest in the DELTA will find plenty of materials and aid from experienced teachers.

The cost of living

Rent and nights out are cheap. Utilities can be expensive.

Health cover

You get a health security card and full access to the Spanish Health Service and an annual health check-up if you want.

Social life, meeting people, blending in

Bailenenses are friendly people and there is a lively night life of tapas, bars, pubs and discos.

What made you decide to stay for another year/leave the job?

I stayed because it was a great place to work. I left because I had to return to London.

What recommendations would you give to someone coming to work at the school and live in Bailen?

It´s not a big city, but if you get out and about, you can have a great time here getting to know Andalucia. There´s skiing not far and national parks if you like the outdoor life, and cities like Granada, Jaén and Córdoba are only an hour away.

EFL TEACHER September 2012 to June 2013.

If you are reading this and wondering if ECI Idiomas Bailen is a great and legitimate school to work for then I can honestly say you will be in safe and professional hands. Being in a small school creates a warm, welcoming environment where you will not be a cog in a massive school and you can pursue continual professional development in a secure and support environment with up to date technology, terrific staff as well as great parents and students. Feel free to contact me at leannesanchez1971@hotmail.com and good luck!

The town

No complaints apart from the fact that the buses can be late/not regular, but there isn´t much you can do about that.

Support living everyday in Bailen

Excellent

Finding a flat

Excellent. I had literally 1-2 days to find one and found a 3 floor house for 275 €.

The school

No complaints. Had steep learning curve with doing CAMBRIDGE EXAMS for the first time but senior teachers were amazing and always dropped what they were doing to help.

Materials and Resources

Excellent. Having the internet is great but the staff are the most useful resource.

The staff

Maria (DOS/Director) was brilliant with weekly planning also. The secretary is extremely helpful and very patient with my bad Spanish.

Teacher Training/Help to grow professionally

Lots of opportunities, there was also the seminar in Seville and also weekly meetings altogether. Any time I had a problem everyone helped.

The cost of living

Ok. Everyday prices are reasonable.

Health cover

ECI provided great support, including registration with the local doctors´surgery shortly after arrival.

Social life, meeting people, blending in

Good. Going out with other teachers from school and sometimes meeting adult students. People in general are friendly.

What made you decide to stay for another year/leave the job?

I decided to leave due to personal issues.

Recommendations to someone coming to work at the school and live in Bailen

Get away at weekends and visit nearby cities like: Jaén, Ubeda, Baeza, Granada, Córdoba etc…

EFL Teacher from November 2012 to June 2013.

I worked at el centro de inglés Bailen part-time from November 2012-June 2013 whilst also working in the Andújar centre. I had a great experience there and would highly recommend it.

I taught young learners ranging in age from 7-13 at elementary level and adults from pre-intermediate to advanced level.  Students were highly motivated and there was a big focus on Cambridge, particularly KET, PET, First and CAE.

The school has a great bank of resources available to make lesson planning easy and professional development such as DELTA is also encouraged.  Regular training sessions were also offered; customised to the needs of the teachers.

The management is friendly, professional and highly approachable.  If I ever had any issues, which was rare, I had no problem asking them for advice

The other teachers were very helpful and we worked well as a team.

IWBs were available in the school and this greatly enhanced the learning experience for the students.  It made the learning process much more interactive and motivating for them.

The town itself is a very typical Spanish town, ideal if you want to learn Spanish as not much English is spoken locally.  Transport options are limited but available.

I only left as I was offered a position in the Middle East with a very attractive salary which was just too good to turn down!

Heather, Scotland

EFL TEACHER September 2013 to June 2014.

ECI Bailen is a professional academy that feels like home.  The school is run by the most supportive, fair and knowledgeable team around.  If I didn’t have to leave to pursue further studies I would have easily stayed indefinitely. I was fortunate enough to work at ECI Bailen and learn an incredible amount about teaching, and my own development was always encouraged.  I was taken to a National conference on teaching, an invaluable experience- I promise!  We also had the opportunity to attend a number of workshops outside of the school, Cambridge exam and Trinity exam workshops to name a few.
It is a small school and a small team, which I personally found to be ideal, as there was a nice amount of one to one time and feedback with the DoS. I would need another page of this testimonial to talk about the students, in short – they were incredible to teach.
Bailen is a very small town, and can be very quiet during the winter months, so if you don’t have a car it might feel smaller.  However, it is a lovely social little town and the people are very welcoming.   There are buses to Cordoba, Malaga, Granada and Sevilla, and stunning Ubeda and Baeza are ridiculously close.  I went away for day/weekend trips quite often without a problem.
Working for ECI Bailen has given me wonderful memories and a stack of teaching knowledge – if you’re looking for peace of mind with an employer, fairness and a genuinely lovely team – this is the place.

Good Luck!

Simi Sandhu

Please do not hesitate to contact me about the academy if you have any specific questions.
teacher.simi@gmail.com, if you would like to talk to me, I will send my telephone number via email.
The town:

Very small but easy access to Linares and Jaén. Good bars, good tapas. Not a lot of vegetarian food but it´s ok.

Support living everyday in Bailen:

I was personally supported by DOS and landlady. The people are very friendly.

Finding a flat:

Easy, with the help of DOS I found one withing 24 hrs. Lots of landlords desperate for renters. Get a good deal! If they advertise 350 € , ask for 300 €

The school:

Amazing !!! plenty of resources, small, cosy, friendly, organised, clean.

The staff:

Fantastic! Couldn´t have worked with better people. So much support, great teachers. I learned an incredible amount.

Teacher training/help to grow professionally:

A lot of training was given, lots of opportunities, very useful workshops. The DOS and senior teachers were great mentors.

Cost of living:

Cheap, great social life

Health cover:

Great.

Recommendations to someone coming to live in Bailen:

The best bars are close to the Palmeras. Bar Andujar has great tapas and an amazing staff. Has wifi

Franky´s on the palmeras has wifi.

The only café with wifi is open from 7 am – 12/1 pm. It is at the end of the high street, close to Hello Kitty shop.

Ask your landlord for a legal contract and make sure the deposit is stated there as paid.

EFL TEACHER September 2013 to December 2013.

The town

Bailen is small and relatively quiet, but the friendliness of the people make it a fun and easy place in which to live.

Getting around

Walking around the town is easy and safe, although getting to other towns requires planning due to limited bus services and no rail station.

Support regarding living everyday in Bailen

Excellent support was provided from ECI staff about everyday practicalities, making the move to Bailen very easy to manage.

Finding a flat

The academy´s director, Maria, very kindly sacrificed a lot of her own time to arrange flat viewings and to meet prospective landlords. This support was incredibly generous and I was very graeful for this help

The school

The school has a well-deserved reputation locally, and the students are able to enjoy clean, modern, well-equipped classrooms, including the latest in modern technology.

Materials and Resources

Unlimited materials and resources to support the teachers were/are available fully, in addition to the textbooks themselves. Collectively, this provides endless opportunities to make the lesson preparation simple.

The staff

The whole staff were/are extremely helpful, and quick to resolve any small issues that arose.

Students/Classes/Levels

The students at ECI BAILEN are generally friendly, curious and attentive. Classes are extremely varied and teachers can expect a huge range of different ages/levels/abilities within their timetables.

Teacher Training

Opportunities for teacher development are offered regularly at ECI BAILEN, including participation in the excellent annual ACEIA conference.

The cost of living

In Bailen, renting a good quality flat is relatively cheap, and everyday prices are reasonable.

Health cover

ECI BAILEN provided great support, including registration with the local doctor´s surgery shortly after arrival.

Social life, meeting people, blending in

In Bailen, there are very few other Brits, therefore a teacher´s social life often involves other teachers with whom one works, or possibly some adult students (good for improving your Spanish)

What made you decide to stay for another year/leave the job?

I left my position because I don´t consider myself a strong YL teacher, and the local demand for English lessons attracted a very large number of five, six and seven year old students. This resulted in a very high percentage of my timetable being dedicated towards YLs.

Recommendations

Enjoy the low cost of living!!

Become familiar with local bus times, in order to make the most of opportunities to visit places like Córdoba, Granada, Úbeda and Sevilla.

Testimonial from a former teacher at   EL Centro de Ingles Idiomas Bailen – Jaen (Spain)

Name: Ieva Sadzevicuite

Position held at the school: EFL teacher          

From: 10/9/13   to    22/6/2018

The English academy is situated almost in the heart of the town centre, near the bus station too. You always will be supported and provided with new material. The school has got an enormous amount or resources that are available at all times to use. Also, it encourages your professional development.

Every day over 5 lessons are held for learners of English at all levels from elementary to proficiency. The classrooms are spacious, modern and bright with natural light in abundance. They are heated in winter and air-conditioned in summer.

Classes with 8 students MAXIMUM! The groups ages range from 4 years old to adults, so be ready to teach different levels and ages. Students are willing to learn English and very friendly. This makes the job very enjoyable and the days flow easily.

All teachers are professional and friendly. All of them have CELTA certification. The working environment is friendly and helpful. Some weekends we organize barbecues and we get together. It is a multicultural workplace so you will have a pleasure to meet people from different countries and cultures.

Bailen is a town in the province of Jaen, Spain. It is a small town. The nearest cities are Jaen, Cordoba and Granada. There are some gyms and dancing schools. There is theatre. So at the weekends you can go and see the performances.

The living level is very cheap if you compare it with bigger cities. You may rent a big flay just for 250 euros. Utility bills could  probably cost around 50 euros. Maybe, just in winter electricity bills are a bit bigger. You don’t spend any money for transport. All places you can reach via walking.

It has got quite good connections with other places. So, at the weekend you can get the bus and go to Jaen, Cordoba and Granada. Or just enjoy the nice weather in terrace and have tapas with beer.

If you are looking for a calm place and professional school. It is the right place!
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