I’ve always dreamed of living abroad.
Not just because I had lived in the same place for 20 years, but because there’s so much to be explored in the world — and I wanted to experience more than what the United States offered.
Because I studied Spanish in school for 6 years, it made sense to pick a country where I would be able to practice the language.
Most importantly, I desperately wanted to escape the hustle culture of the United States to live somewhere that prioritized the enjoyment of life.
Therefore, Spain seemed like the perfect option.
The real question was how to legally move abroad as an American who had just graduated university… and thus had no career experience or enough savings to simply volunteer abroad?
Enter NALCAP.
The North American Language and Culture Assistant Program.
NALCAP is a Spanish governmental initiative to enhance the English educational curriculums in public schools.
Teaching English is usually the most accessible entry point to begin working abroad for Americans. Therefore, NALCAP was the perfect opportunity.
Now that I’m halfway through the NALCAP program, I’d say I’m a pretty credible source on the advantages and disadvantages of it.
If you want to learn more about the opportunity to live in Spain through NALCAP, make sure to read the following pros and cons before applying!
Pros of the NALCAP program
First, let’s talk about some of the pros of signing up for the NALCAP program.
An easy Spanish visa
NALCAP is the easiest entry point into legally living in Spain.
As you may know, Spain is not the easiest country to move to for Americans.
Sure, you can get a digital nomad visa or try to find a company that will sponsor your work visa — but if you’re fresh out of university like I was, that probably isn’t an option.
So, NALCAP is the easiest way to live in Spain as a non-EU citizen.
A relaxed schedule
The work schedule is pretty chill.
Since NALCAP sponsors a student visa only, you are legally not allowed to work more than part-time in Spain.
This means you are only working up to 16 hours a week. My work schedule is 9 AM to 2 PM, Monday to Thursday.
That means I have the entire rest of the day – and a three-day weekend – to do whatever I want.
And in Madrid, there’s a lot to do. Check out this list of Madrid’s musts for more.
A positive impact
As a part of NALCAP, you have the opportunity to make a positive impact in Spain.
Although you are technically only an assistant teacher, you are still part of the classroom and students’ day-to-day lives.
Even if it doesn’t feel like it, working in education is a space where you can make a difference.
Whether you’re assigned to an elementary (primaria), high school (secundaria), or adult vocational institute, you are working with individuals whom you have power to influence.
Travel around Spain and Europe
With NALCAP, you have the flexibility to travel during your time off!
It really is mind-blowing how accessible entirely different cities and cultures there are within few hours via public transport in Spain, and Europe in general.
You can travel to anywhere in the country by train, bus, or even BlaBlaCar pretty inexpensively.
I was most shocked that it was cheaper to fly to other countries, such as Morocco, than it was to stay within Spain — depending on the time of year.
For example, a 30 euro round trip ticket from Madrid to Morocco.
I definitely took advantage of our 3 free off-days to travel, sometimes even working with my school coordinator to take a couple of extra days off in exchange for making them up other weeks (this is school dependent though).
Cons of the NALCAP program
Of course there can’t be pros without some cons.
So here (for your perusal) are a few negatives I’ve found about the NALCAP program.
No help from the organizers
First, you don’t get any assistance from NALCAP.
You’re pretty much on your own the whole process — from applying to the program to figuring things out in Spain.
I won’t sugar-coat it.
The process can be intimidating, confusing, and stressful — especially if you’ve never lived abroad before.
My best advice is to utilize online platforms, such as Reddit, for assistance with the legal paperwork or apartment searching process.
Just remember that you’re not alone in this — there is a whole community of other people struggling along with you — and it is all worth it to experience living in Spain.
Pay your way to Spain
You have to pay for your own flight and visa under the NALCAP program.
Unlike other teaching English programs that often pay these things for you – such as the Fulbright program – you’ll have to pay various expenses out of pocket.
Budget at least $800 for your flight and $200 for your visa.
Low pay on the ground
Also, the living stipend is just that — a living stipend.
Yes, you get “paid” in this program.
The stipend is 800-1000 euros per month, depending on the region in Spain you’re placed in.
However, the payment is considered a “living stipend” to cover your living expenses such as rent, utilities, and groceries.
Eating out, traveling or going out with friends are expenses you might have to sacrifice if you’re coming to Spain with limited savings.
Most auxiliares recommend coming with at least $4000 in savings, though I think closer to $6000 is preferable if you plan to travel during your year abroad.
No school choice
Lastly, you get no say in which school you’re placed in.
Sure, you get to select your top 3 regional preferences out of the 17 autonomous regions in Spain, ranking them from first to third choice.
And many auxes (myself included) receive their first choice.
However, which school you’re placed in within that region is entirely random.
You could be an hour away from the main city; you could be placed with little kids or grown adults; you could be placed in a school with no other auxes and it’s just you and the Spanish teachers.
Your experience in NALCAP is heavily dependent on both the region and the school you’re placed in — things out of your control.
Therefore, if you’re applying, make sure to have an open-mind and trust that wherever you’re placed is where you’re meant to be.
Frequently asked questions about NALCAP
Let’s finish here with some of the commonly-asked questions about NALCAP – and their answers.
Ready? Set… Go!
1. Can I have an extra job while working in NALCAP?
As an English language auxiliar, you are technically only allowed to work part-time since you do not have working visa.
However, it is popular to tutor English on the side and get paid “under the table” (by cash or online payment apps) to earn extra money.
I tutor online through a website called Preply, though there are many other websites to find jobs online or in-person.
2. Are the living costs in Spain cheaper than the United States?
This depends on where you live in the United States and where you are placed in Spain.
In general, Spain’s living costs are lower, but the salaries are too.
In my experience in Madrid, I thought it would be cheaper before I came.
Some things, such as groceries, public transit and dining out are definitely cheaper than the United States.
But rent or a night out with friends may not be as cheap as you would expect.
Overall, I think Spain is slightly cheaper, but not significantly.
3. How can I travel cheaply once in Spain?
For flights, budget airlines such as Ryanair are your best friend (though I know… not for the environment). Find round-trip flight deals for under 50 euros round trip on Skyscanner.
For trains, I used Trainline to buy the cheapest tickets across companies.
For carpooling, I highly recommend BlaBlaCar, which can often be the cheapest option.
For accommodation, hostels are always my recommendation — especially if you’re solo traveling.
Check out my article all about hostels here if you’ve never stayed in one.
And though it might not be for everyone, the app Couchsurfing (staying with strangers for free), is an option I’ve used multiple times in destinations where hostels were a bit too costly.
Should you sign up for NALCAP?
I hope this overview of the pros and cons of NALCAP helps you when deciding to apply or not.
Making the leap to move abroad is certainly a big decision to make, but guaranteed to be an enriching experience no matter what.
If you’re considering applying, I say: go for it.
There’s no risk in applying, and you can remove your application at any time.
It’s better to change your mind and not want to do the program after applying than to change your mind to want to do the program and miss the deadline to apply.
Every year, the application portal on the NALCAP official website opens either late January or early February.
I’m always happy to answer any any specific questions you may have — my Instagram is linked here to directly message me.
Best wishes with the process and no matter where life takes you… YOU GOT THIS!
Yours,
Lydia.
P.S. This is a guest post, here’s a bit about the author: Lydia Schultz is a Chinese-American who spent the first part of her life in Chicago, but plans to spend the next part traveling and living abroad. Lydia has a travel blog and podcast called “gottacaseofwanderlust” that promotes solo female travel and mindful tourism. Find her on Instagram here.
P.P.S. Note from Mr Chorizo: I came to Spain the old-fashioned way. It was 2004, and I just overstayed a tourist visa and hoped for the best. Since then, these Auxiliar programs have popped up and seem like a better option for moving to Spain if you have a college degree and some savings.
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