So, I’ve crossed paths with Mafe a few times—first at an English academy here in Barcelona (the job fell through, but hey), and then later at a cool book club she runs.
Mafe agreed to share her honest experience teaching English in Barcelona with me. This site is all about giving you the real, unfiltered stories from ESL teachers worldwide, so if you’ve got your own BCN teaching tales, drop them in the comments!
The Good Stuff: People and Experience
What’s the best part about teaching English in Barcelona? Hands down, it’s the incredible people you meet. I swear, I met two of my best friends at my first academy. You’re constantly surrounded by cool, international folks, and that goes for your TEFL course, too! I met another awesome friend there who’s a total social butterfly, and I basically met everyone else through him!
Plus, you live in Barcelona! The city is always buzzing. We’ve got a massive immigrant community, so there are always international events happening: comedy nights, monthly queer events, book clubs, and a million other things every weekend. It’s impossible to be bored.
Mafe (right) with two of her friends in Barcelona.
The Not-So-Good Stuff: Bad Bosses and Broke Months
Okay, here’s the sticky part. Your experience of teaching English in Barcelona really depends on the school. There are good ones, but there are also places with genuinely shitty managers and unprofessional people. And if you only do private classes, the pay can be super unreliable.
Academy #1: Overtime obligations with no pay
My first academy was a mess. They paid us for teaching, but not for any prep time or report writing. The manager tried to justify it by saying the curriculum was “done,” but half the book activities were blank, so we had to create them anyway. She had this super strict method that crammed too much into 90 minutes, so I always felt like I was racing the clock without seeing if the students actually learned anything.
The reports were a joke, too! AI-generated paragraphs based on our multiple-choice inputs (like “Are they good at reading? Excellent/Satisfactory…”). Even though they forced us to use it and didn’t pay us for the time, she complained about the final report quality. It made zero sense. So many teachers quit that year, and honestly, that tells you everything you need to know.
Academy #2: The dysfunction and messiness of not delegating
I jumped to a second academy that focused on reading and books, which sounded perfect for me! I love to read! But I messed up on the money front. They paid well per hour, but they just didn’t have enough hours to be a living wage. I literally had to move out of my apartment over the summer because I couldn’t pay rent. I was living paycheck-to-paycheck, which sucked compared to the 200 I could save at the first place. My mental state took a hit.
The place was also just chaotic and disorganised. The director was way too laidback, and even the workbooks had errors, which caused so much confusion for me and the kids.
Bottom line: If you don’t land a good school with enough teaching hours, you could struggle to do anything! Your school is definitely the make-or-break factor here.
A snapshot from one of Mafe’s English classes.
Was it Worth It? Expectations vs. Reality
Honestly? In both academies, the job failed my expectations. I was excited at first, and then things just went downhill fast. I’m crossing my fingers for a good year now!
What I wish I knew sooner…
- The Money Isn’t Great (Generally): You have to decide if you want to make a lot of money, or live in Barcelona. I work to live, and BCN is cheap once you figure out the local spots, but it’s a trade-off.
- Don’t Be a Hero, Just Leave: If your job sucks, QUIT. I stayed at the second one too long because I was wearing rose-coloured glasses (“It’s about books!”). Don’t limit your search to just Lingo Bongo; I found my new job by just Googling and emailing a ton of schools (Author note: see A complete list of English academies in Barcelona).
- Watch Out for Rent Traps: Foreigners get ripped off! Paying 700 euros for one room in a flat is insane. You can find rooms for 350–400 plus utilities (maybe another 50). Be super picky and selective.
- Brush Up On Your Grammar: If you’re a native speaker, don’t assume you can teach. You’ll get questions like, “Why do we say this and not that?” Academies will hire you without experience. However, if you want to have a good experience in class, brush up on grammar, vocabulary definition, and prep! As a native, it’s sometimes a bit difficult even to know how to define words, but you should be ready knowledge-wise so that you and your students have a good experience. Bad classes aren’t fun either.
- Keep Work Off WhatsApp: Ask if it’s necessary to be in the academy’s WhatsApp group. That’s why I couldn’t switch off…getting messages on the weekend about something a manager forgot to say on Friday. My new place uses Viber, so we know Viber is for work, WhatsApp is for chilling. Maintain that balance!
- Seriously, Learn the Language: I’m fortunate that I already speak Spanish, but learning the local language, Catalan, is about showing respect to the culture here. I’m slowly learning, and I make an effort not to ask people to switch languages, even when I don’t understand everything. If you don’t speak Spanish yet, get into a class! I know a great, affordable one my friends go to—let me know in the comments if you want the info. Don’t worry about Catalan right away; you’ll start picking up words naturally with Spanish.
- Tourist Traps 101: If you look like a tourist, sometimes those tiny mini-supermarkets will try to sneak in an extra charge. The easiest way to save money is to just avoid the most touristy zones altogether. Skip eating in Barceloneta, and definitely don’t go partying in Gòtic. They overcharge for everything. Get out there and immerse yourself in local spots!
- Watch Your Things: You absolutely have to keep your things safe here because pickpocketing is rampant. So many people I know have been hit, especially on public transport. They’re masters of distractions. A friend of mine was walking alone one night when two guys started “playing soccer” with him…bumping him, hugging him, and distracting him completely. While he was laughing, they tried to snatch his phone! The only reason he noticed was because his wired earbuds were yanked right out of his ears.
- Get the T-Jove: If you’re under 30, this is a lifesaver. It’s unlimited metro for three months for about 45 euros. If you’re broke, this ensures you can still get around.
- Look, every city has its issues, and while there are definitely some downsides here, it’s really just about learning how to navigate it. Honestly, living in Barcelona has far exceeded my expectations. I wouldn’t trade the life I have now for anything. The people I’ve met and the experiences I’ve had are priceless. I always tell people to go for it. I highly recommend it!
A photo taken at Primavera Sound, one of Barcelona’s most popular music festivals.
Pro-Tip: Protect Your Sanity
Teaching is intense. You’re overstimulated and drained from talking to people (and high-energy kids) all day. My biggest advice is to protect your peace and never take work home. Give yourself some grace. You’ll be exhausted after just a three-hour shift, and that’s normal.
Final Takeaway
Have fun! It’s an amazing city. You’ll meet incredible people, and it’ll be a life-changing experience. Honestly, the people are what I’m most grateful for. You’ll become a better teacher and learn to navigate the schools over time, but the friends you make are the real prize.
Mafe and her friends attending a drag show, one of many events in Barcelona’s thriving LGBTQ scene.
Pingback: Comparing each TEFL course Barcelona has to offer - Emma Teaches English