About Teaching Spanish
Teaching can be an extremely rewarding profession. The pleasure of watching another person learn is something that is difficult to describe and most teachers will tell you that they get as much from the experience as their students do. Given the right conditions, teaching a foreign language such as Spanish can be a good source of income and for some people it may even become a long-term career. With a good understanding of the language, some basic training and a few tools, almost any Spanish speaker can learn to teach.
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Training
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If you have never taught a language before it is important to get some training before you start, even if you have a firm grasp on Spanish grammar, syntax, sentence structure, conjugations, verb tenses, accents and idioms. Being a competent Spanish speaker doesn't necessarily make you a good teacher. Nevertheless, you don't necessarily have to have a degree in education to teach Spanish. Some institutions, such as the Instituto Hemingway, (based in Bilbao, Spain), offer relatively inexpensive online certification courses. Others, like Nebrija Universidad in Madrid, combine distance learning with an intensive on-site course, which may last as little as two weeks.
Finding a Job
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There are many places and ways to teach Spanish. Once you have received some training, you can search the Internet for possible teaching jobs. While some people prefer to teach children or young adults at a public or private school in their own area, others may choose to teach adults or search for work abroad. Another option is freelancing, whether it means giving private lessons, tutoring students or both. These days it is even possible to find online jobs that allow you to teach from home, so explore your options.
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Teaching Methods
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Teaching methods vary greatly from person to person and from place to place. They also depend on your educational background, personality, experience, philosophy and most important, who your students are. Some Spanish teachers prefer a more conversational approach, while others emphasize reading, writing or memorization. Keep in mind that, depending on your employer, you may have to follow a very strict curriculum or use specific materials. Freelancers tend to enjoy much greater freedom than school employees, however, most teachers find a way to experiment with different teaching methods and try to incorporate the techniques that produce the best results.
Resources
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It is important to remember, that unlike English and despite regional differences, Spanish is a language with rules governed by one entity: The Royal Spanish Academy (Real Academia Española or RAE for short). Although it has been highly criticized by some, the Academy is widely accepted to be the chief authority on all matters pertaining to the Spanish language. In addition to a host of grammar books and dictionaries, RAE offers free resources online, which can be obtained by visiting the official website (a link to the site is included in the reference section below).
A host of other resources are also available online. Some websites even offer free teaching materials in addition to links to institutions, trade associations and job postings.
Useful Tips
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To be a successful teacher, it is important to be well organized and to plan your lessons in advance. It is also helpful to use resources and teaching tools such as visual aids, games and other in-class activities to keep your students interested. Last but not least, avoid speaking in any language other than Spanish and don't translate. That way you force students to apply their skills in the classroom and learn to think in the target language.
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