Study while working part-time in Spain
A new online course allows students to continue their degree and have an overseas experience while working in Spain.
AUT’s Spanish Overseas Experience course supplements the Spanish Government’s Language and Culture Assistants programme.
It helps students develop their Spanish language and cultural ability while being immersed in the culture.
Students spend a semester (January to June) assisting teachers for a maximum of 16 hours per week at a Spanish public school, while being paid an allowance of up to €1000 a month, as well as health insurance.
The level 7 course is 30 points and open to second and third-year students.
The main costs are that of the airfare and of supporting oneself until the first allowance is paid.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to have a formative experience that will change them forever in a very positive way,” Senior Lecturer Gloria Vazquez says.
“Spanish is widely spoken and a beautiful culture. It’s not a very hard language for English speakers to learn, and it opens the doors to future employment and travel opportunities."
The Spanish Overseas Experience course can be taken as an elective or can form part of a Spanish minor. It is only available for domestic students, and normal domestic tuition fees apply.
Gloria Vazquez says that previous Spanish knowledge is not required to apply for the course, but she recommends doing some of the other Spanish courses offered in the minor.
The opportunity also exists, depending on their degree, for students to instead complete their Work Integrated Learning as a language assistant in Spain.
“Students that have gone have had the most amazing experience. Spain is such a fun place with so much happening all the time. It's very accepting of language assistants, welcoming them with open arms,” Gloria Vazquez says.
“If you are keen on an experience of a lifetime in Spain and are studying your first or second year, get in touch with me as soon as possible.”
Applications for the Spanish Government’s Language and Culture Assistants programme for next year will open in the new year and need to be submitted by the beginning of April.
Fifteen students from AUT were accepted onto the programme starting in September 2023 or January 2024.
Spanish is one of the most widely-spoken languages in the world.