Spanish Student Teaching

15 March 2012

For the last couple months, our school has had a few additions in the teachers' lounge--new teachers doing prácticas or student teaching. In talking to them about práticas, I've learned that the Spanish teaching system is actually fairly different from our American system.

Like in the United States, new teachers must complete student teaching in order to become licensed to teach. However, at the end of their student teaching, teachers must present themselves for a big exam/interview called an oposición. It seems that this exam can make or break a teacher's career.

When the teachers present themselves for the oposición, they demonstrate their knowledge in front of a panel of 5 or so people who then give them a grade for their performance. I imagine it's pretty nerve-wracking! If, for some reason, I didn't pass the Praxis test in the US, I could at least take it again.

If you pass, you are officially a funcionario or government employee, and you are supposed to have more job security. However, it gets more complicated from there. Apparently, once you pass, you are given a number on a list. From what I understand, the number is basically randomly assigned. At the very least, the number has nothing to do with your scores or grades--so I'm not entirely sure where it comes from.

Your order on this list is incredibly important--since the administration goes in order on the list in offering teachers "plazas" and substitute teaching positions.

"La plaza" is a permanent position that is yours for as long as you want it. You basically can't get fired from that position. Ever. It's like teacher tenure in the United States, but even more secure.

Until you get a "plaza" you have to move around from school to school. However, you don't really get a lot of choice in the matter. If they call you to offer you a substitute position, you basically have to go, or they might not ever call you again because you'll move down on the list. Unfortunately, they can ask you to go just about anywhere in the Autonomous Community--so it can be pretty inconvenient.

These substitute positions help teachers gain experience points--which help them move up the list so you can eventually gain a plaza.

Unfortunately, someone who has more experience substituting has the potential to get a plaza over another teacher who has better grades and is more qualified. So some people argue that the system needs to be changed in order to choose the best teachers to educate the children of Spain.