Become a Spanish Teacher

Why become a Spanish teacher?

Hola! Do you have a passion for the vibrant Spanish language and culture, and a desire to share it with others? Then becoming a Spanish teacher could be your dream career! Here's why:

Open doors to a world of opportunity: Spanish is the second most spoken language in the world, spoken across continents! By teaching Spanish, you'll equip pupils with the skills to travel, study abroad, and connect with a rich and diverse culture.

Spark a lifelong love of learning: Spanish isn't just about memorising verb conjugations. You'll design engaging lessons that bring the language to life through films, music, literature, and cultural exploration, fostering a love for lifelong learning in your pupils.

Nurture well-rounded individuals: Learning another language promotes intercultural understanding and empathy. As a Spanish teacher, you'll help pupils develop these vital skills, preparing them to be successful citizens in a globalized world.

Why is teaching Spanish important?

Spanish is more than just a beautiful language; it's a gateway to a rich culture and a valuable skill in today's interconnected world. Here's why teaching it matters:

Empower pupils for future success: Spanish is spoken in many countries across the globe, making it a valuable asset in numerous careers. By equipping pupils with Spanish language skills, you'll be opening doors to exciting opportunities for their future.

Promote intercultural understanding: In today's diverse world, appreciating different cultures is essential. Teaching Spanish fosters empathy, communication, and understanding between people from diverse backgrounds in your pupils.

Boost cognitive development: Learning another language enhances memory, problem-solving skills, and critical thinking. As a Spanish teacher, you'll be contributing to your pupils' overall cognitive development.

How do teachers make a difference to young people's lives?

What will I be teaching?

You will teach the national curriculum for modern foreign languages. The national curriculum for languages aims to ensure that all pupils:

understand and respond to spoken and written language from a variety of authentic sources
speak with increasing confidence, fluency and spontaneity, finding ways of communicating what they want to say, including through discussion and asking questions, and continually improving the accuracy of their pronunciation and intonation
can write at varying length, for different purposes and audiences, using the variety of grammatical structures that they have learnt
discover and develop an appreciation of a range of writing in the language studied

How will I learn?

Structured Weekly Plan: Follow a clear and manageable weekly schedule that combines online learning with hands-on experience in a real school setting.

Online Learning: Dedicate 20% of your time to in-depth subject knowledge and professional development modules delivered through our engaging e-learning platform. Access course materials, engaging lessons, and helpful tutorials whenever you need them.

Expert Mentorship: Receive dedicated support from a school-based mentor who will guide you through your ITT course, offering regular progress checks and helping you plan your next steps

How can I prepare for Spanish Teacher Training?

Read the National Curriculum programmes of study for KS2 and KS3 Languages
Read the GCSE specifications for Spanish for Edexcel and AQA from September 2024 (these are taught the most in schools currently)
Engage with the A level specifications for Spanish for both AQA and Edexcel
Visit the following websites: Association for Language Learning (ALL)

What qualifications do I need to train to be a Spanish teacher?

To train to teach physics, you will need:

GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above in English and maths
a bachelor’s degree in any subject
A keen passion for, and interest in, Spanish
If we think you might need to top up your Spanish knowledge, we might ask you to complete a subject knowledge enhancement (SKE) course before you start your teacher training

What funding is available to me to train to be a Spanish teacher?

Tax-free bursaries of £25,000 or scholarships of £27,000 are available for eligible trainee Spanish teachers.

You can get a bursary or scholarship alongside a tuition fee and maintenance loan.

You may also be able to get extra funding support if you're a parent/carer or disabled.

Non-UK citizens without indefinite leave to remain in the UK are unlikely to be eligible for funding. You can find out more about fees and financial support available for non-UK citizens.

What funding is available to my employing school?

If you choose to train to teach Spanish through a Teacher Apprenticeship, a grant will be paid directly to your employing school to support paying your wages (paid according to the unqualified teacher pay scale).

Secondary specialism	Cost of training	Unqualified Teacher Pay scale	Employer grant
Spanish	Levy-funded	£20,598	£25,000

The Application Process

What is the application process like?

You can apply directly through our website below. After an initial check, we will then contact you to arrange an interview. Once a successful interview has been completed and you have accepted a place to train to teach with BPN, we will then search for a school placement for you (if you do not already have a school that is willing to support your training).

How do I train to become a Spanish teacher?

First, you will need to decide which programme best suits your needs. We have two programmes available to budding Spanish teachers, the Postgraduate Teacher Apprenticeship and Fee-funded Initial Teacher Training (ITT).

Both programmes are school-centred in that the majority of your training will occur in school as you learn on the job. However, there are key differences when it comes to funding and salary. You can compare the two programmes looking at the respective programme structures below.