HOW TO GET YOUR PERFECT TIMETABLE

HOW TO GET YOUR PERFECT TIMETABLE WHEN TEACHING IN MADRID

07-04-2008

HOW TO GET YOUR PERFECT TIMETABLE WHEN TEACHING ENGLISH IN MADRID

Many teachers often feel frustrated that they’re not getting the timetable they want, that they’re teaching all over Madrid and spending more time on the metro than actually teaching.

At the moment the demand for classes in Madrid is huge and seems to be increasing, so with a little bit of patience and effort you CAN achieve your ideal timetable. Below are some tips for getting your ideal timetable:

1. KNOW WHAT YOU WANT.
This is important in every area of our life. What type of English classes do you want to teach? Which profile of class are you good at? Where are your strengths? Which geographical area to want to teach in?
We meet so many teachers who are not focused, who take on classes they don’t really want to do and end up becoming de-motivated. In the worst case scenario, they drop the class, let the both the student and the school down, but most of all they let themselves down, as they then don’t get allocated the most attractive classes. It’s a lose-lose situation.

2. MAKE FULL USE OF THE INTERNET.
So, you now know which type of class you want, at what time and where. Send an email to lots of schools and let them know. I can guarantee you that at least 80% of the major schools have got classes available particularly at peak times. Also, check out sites like www.lingobongo.com who now offer a “gap matching” service to teachers. I receive information every day from Lingobongo informing me of teachers who are looking for classes at specific times. Also check out www.madridteacher.com who supply a similar service.

3. SEND YOUR CV TO ALL THE SCHOOLS YOU MIGHT WANT TO WORK WITH.
In our case all the contact information I receive from CVs goes onto a data base and we then regularly send out emails to prospective teachers with details of specific class vacancies.

4. GO THE EXTRA MILE.
What do I mean by this? Ok, so you need a bit of patience for this one, but if you’re working for a school that’s professional and caring, any positive behaviour traits like reliability, conscientiousness, willingness, initiative will be quickly picked up and rewarded. We’ve all heard the cliches, “give to receive”, “we get what we deserve” etc. and they’re basically true. So if you help us out by taking the less attractive classes one year, by willingly doing substitutions and by collaborating you WILL get the pick of the best classes very soon. If this doesn’t happen in your school and you feel undervalued or unappreciated for your efforts, don’t stick around, move to a school where you ARE appreciated and thanks are regularly given to the team.

5. KEEP YOUR SCHOOL INFORMED.
If we don’t know about changes in your circumstances we won’t know when you’re available for that perfect class you’re looking for. Make sure your school knows which area you live in so there’s more chance of getting classes next to your home. Help your school out with any information you think might be of interest to them, for example what’s going on in the market with teachers, what other schools are doing etc.

6. BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR SCHOOL
Even if you only go into the school once or twice a month, make the effort to be sociable and interested in what’s going on. Get noticed and most importantly, communicate. It’s all about relationships at the end of the day. If you’re liked and respected you’ll stand a better chance of being thought of when that off peak 10.30-12.30 class comes up.

I hope these tips are of use to you. There’s more than enough work out there for everyone and with a bit of patience you can get the type of classes you are looking for. Just remember though, that it may take time. The most important piece of advice I can give is to act as professionally as possible and you’ll come out winning.

Janice Haywood
Directora Windsor Idiomas

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