North American Language and Culture Assistants Program NALCAP

Program Overview

The Education Office of the Embassy of Spain promotes diverse educational outreach programs in the United States and Canada. Located in Washington D.C. within the Embassy of Spain, the primary goal of the Education Office of Spain is to foster collaborative educational programs between these countries and Spain, building long lasting ties among their citizens.

One of our most outstanding programs, both in number and scope is the North American Language and Culture Assistants Program (NALCAP). American and Canadian college students and graduates, who are native-like speakers of English and French (in Canada), partner with elementary and secondary schools in Spain to bolster language programs, as teaching assistants (TAs) under the supervision and guidance of teachers of English or French as a World/Foreign Language.

Placements are offered all across Spain, in practically every city and town in the country, running from October 1st to May 31st for most assignments. Short term contracts and/or alternative starting dates are unfortunately not available. NALCAP recipients receive a monthly stipend of 700 to 1000 euros depending on the assigned region and medical insurance from either the national government or the regional governments of Spain. Hours of assistant teaching range from 12 to 16 hours per week also depending on assignment awarded.

At the same time, the program offers recipients the opportunity to study the language and culture of Spain by becoming a local and growing on a personal level, while sharing the language and culture of the United States with students in Spain. This is why we use the hashtag #growasyoushare for this remarkable program.

Over 35,000 Americans and Canadians have participated in the program and lived this amazing opportunity in experiential learning. Come to Spain and become a cultural ambassador. It'll be the experience of a lifetime!

Program Eligibility

The following requirements must be met in order to participate in the program.

• Have a valid U.S. or Canadian passport
• Have earned a bachelor's degree or be currently enrolled as a junior or a senior in a bachelor's program. Applicants may also have an associate degree or be a community college student in their last semester
• Have a native-like level of English or French (Canada)
• Be aged 18 - 60
• Have a basic level of Spanish
• Be in good physical and mental health
• Have a clean background check

How to become a Language and Culture Assistant in Spain

Do you meet all the program requirements? Interested in applying? Once your decision is made, just wait for the application period to open. Application to our program is free of charge.

Please note that all the information on this website and in the guidelines and handbooks is only applicable to American and Canadian citizens.

Information for first time applicants. We recommend becoming familiar with the guidelines, handbooks and tutorials that we have made readily available for the application process on this website. All application processes can be stressful, so it is important to carefully read through all the information. Taking the time to go through them before the application period begins will make the process much easier.

If you need help with something that isn't found in the guidelines or handbooks, you can write to us at the email address in the Contact Us section. We also answer any general questions concerning the program.

Information for renewals already in NALCAP. Please be aware that any questions/issues having to do with renewal candidates have a different email address, also found in the Contact Us section. Renewals are only those language assistants who are currently in their first NALCAP year in Spain and would like to apply for another.

Information for those candidates applying to NALCAP who have been language assistants in Spain but in other programs. If you have been a language assistant with another program and would like to apply for a position in NALCAP, please note you are not considered a renewal. You will need to follow the procedures for first time applicants.

So now, just click on Applying to NALCAP. Carefully read the instructions and follow the guidelines and videos. Step by step you'll be getting closer to your amazing experience in Spain!

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