Are you dreaming of moving to Spain to teach English? Now’s your chance! The North American Language and Culture Assistants Program (NALCAP) is accepting applications for the 2025-2026 school year this February. You could be a part of the Auxiliares de Conversación, or conversation assistant, program for the 2025-2026 school year! You don’t need to be a teacher to teach English in Spain.
My Story
I participated in the auxiliar program from 2020-2022. I was nervous to go during the Covid-19 pandemic, but I’m so glad I did! It was a life-changing experience. I had never traveled to Spain before, so my time in the program opened up a whole new world for me. I became more independent, built a strong relationship with myself, and met so many others along the way (including my now fiance)!
Who Can Apply?
Native English speakers with a bachelor’s degree in any subject can apply for the program. A basic level of Spanish is recommended for everyday life, but not required. See my post on setting up your account to teach English in Spain for the full requirements. You can also view the NALCAP official webpage (note that this page is for US citizens only).
How to Select a Region?
If you’ve decided to apply, congratulations! One of the most fun, and sometimes stressful, parts of the process is choosing your top 3 regions. Keep in mind that you may be offered a placement outside of your preferred regions – this is just how the program works. See the Applying to NALCAP webpage for the number of positions open in each region in 2024. You can anticipate that the 2025 placements will be similar, but there may be slight variations.
When deciding your regional preferences, remember that the regions will be split into 3 columns. You can only select one region from each column to rank. This means you likely can’t add both Madrid and Cataluña, for example. Many regions have more placements than others, so take that into account as you plan.
The Auxilair Facebook Page is a fantastic resource when making your regional preferences. It has tons of information and opinions, as well as which regions typically pay on time. (Note that some schools, in any region, may be late with payments.) Salary and work hours required will also vary slightly by region.
I recommend applying as early as possible – the day the application opens, if you can. They review applications in the order they are submitted, so more popular regions may fill up quickly.
What if I Don’t get one of my Preferred Regions?
If this happens to you, I know it can be disappointing. But remember, all of Spain is beautiful, and each region has something unique to offer. Many smaller regions can offer a more authentic experience where you can immerse yourself with locals. I wouldn’t write the program off entirely if you don’t get your top placement. Do as much research as possible to see if you can make your placement work for you. Think of it as an adventure!
Video Tutorial
Check out my video tutorial below on selecting your regional preferences on your PROFEX application. PROFEX is the platform used by the Spanish Ministry of Education to review applications. Click to the side of the presenation to view!
NALCAP Regions Guide by Amanda