All About the Auxiliares de Conversacion (NALCAP) Program

I recently talked via Instagram with my 11th-grade English teacher, Ms. Thompson. She asked me for more information about the Auxiliares de Conversacion program (also known as NALCAP) because her daughter is a college senior and may be interested in doing something like this after graduation.

This caused me to realize that, for as much as I talk about the program and how to apply, I’ve never written a post on what all the program is and actually entails. So, here it is!

Auxiliares/NALCAP Program History

The Auxiliares program, or the Language and Cultural Assistants program, started as a partnership between the Spanish and British ministries of education. Spain realized it was falling behind other European countries when it comes to English education. Through this partnership, Spain began introducing bilingual education programs at its public schools in 2005. This includes not only the language assistants but also English curriculum and materials.

Update 2023: These days, the program is known as NALCAP — North American Language and Cultural Assistants Program

What does Bilingual Education entail?

To be an official bilingual institution, for participating grade levels, half the students’ subjects must be taught in English. At the elementary school where I work, this is their third year in the bilingual program. That means that the first, second, and third grades are currently bilingual. They have Spanish, math, music, and religion class taught in Spanish; they have English, science, social studies, art, and P.E. taught entirely in English. This year’s current third graders were the first ones to participate in the program, so by the time they are in sixth grade, the whole school will be fully bilingual.

What does a language assistant do?

Language assistants are not teachers. We are there to do what our job title suggests – assist – in the English classes. The teachers, most of whom are all native Spanish speakers with high levels of English, are fully committed to conducting the class entirely in English. (Or at least they should be.)

A language assistant may help the teacher by preparing short presentations on relevant topics, helping with speaking activities, conducting oral tests, working with students in small groups or one-on-one, or anything else the teacher needs. The main role of a language assistant is to help the students gain exposure to the English language and promote cultural exchange. Here’s what a day in my life as a language assistant looks like.

Also, at my school, the other assistant and I pretend we don’t know any Spanish. If the kids knew that we speak Spanish, they would lose all motivation to try to speak to us in English. 😉

Logistics

Language assistants in Madrid work 16 hours a week for a salary of €1000 per month. Language assistants in all other regions of Spain work 12 hours a week for €750 per month. Last year, they increased the salary for language assistants in the region of Murcia to €875. There are about 5,000 language assistants in Spain every year.

The program does not provide any sort of assistance with flights, housing, or even getting settled from a legal perspective upon arrival. They do, however, provide free health insurance to language assistants. (This might be the sweetest part of the deal.) Last month I went to the emergency room on a Saturday night because I had tonsillitis and didn’t want to wait until Monday to go to the doctor. I was in and out of the ER in 30 minutes and I didn’t pay a dime.

Who can apply for NALCAP?

Are you a native English speaker? Do you hold a bachelor’s degree in ANYTHING? If you answered yes to both questions, you’re approved! Seriously. The program is first come, first served. As long as you meet those two basic requirements (and you submit all the required documents), you’re automatically accepted.

What do I need to apply?

You’ll need a copy of your passport, a letter of recommendation from a professor, a letter of intent, and a copy of your diploma. If you’re still in college and graduating in the spring or summer, you can use your transcripts and state that you will be a graduate by the time the program begins.

Do I need to know Spanish?

Nope, you don’t need to know any at all! In your job, you will be speaking only English, so knowing Spanish isn’t a requirement at all. Though, it does make every single other aspect of life in Spain much easier.

When does the NALCAP application open?

The application (2023) is open this year from February 8 to April 4. It may vary by a couple of days from year to year.

When does the program start?

Language assistants begin their first day of work on October 1, and the school year goes until May 30 in all regions of Spain except for Madrid, where it goes until June 30.

Anything else to know?

After your first year in the program, if you want to stay for a second year, you’re guaranteed a position. Upcoming second years get priority over all other applicants. When I made the decision to apply, I thought that only one year in Spain seemed like too short a time for which to uproot my whole life in the U.S., sell my car, etc. So I planned for two years from the get-go.

Oh! Also, every NALCAP assistant gets one working day off from school, and it must be adjacent to a weekend. So you’ll get either Monday or Friday off! Three day weekends every week. It’s amazing. Some assistants even get four-day weekends! It just depends on the school and its needs and schedule.

By the way, you can still apply for the 2023-2024 school year until April 4! Learn more about the application process.

 

What else do you want to know about the Auxiliares de Conversacion (NALCAP) Program? Leave me a comment and let me know!
-Cathy

Originally Published on March 11, 2019.