Canterbury English Reviews 27

I am a non-native English teacher and, thanks to Canterbury, I could obtain my TEFL. In spite of having a degree and many years of experience teaching at an academy, I was at a standstill, unemployed and with no hope. But since I obtained the certificate, I have taught senior managers at the Bank of Spain, children and teenagers at a bilingual school, medical English...I refreshed my technological and didactic knowledge. While I obtain my Master's Degree in Secondary Education Teaching, I can count on the TEFL to get more opportunities. Even an American online university is about to offer me a part-time job. And none of this would have been possible without John Bouse and his great teaching style, as well as his team.

I attended the CE TEFL training while I was an undergraduate student in Madrid. It was a great experience! Aside from the extremely competent teaching staff and fun friends I made from all over the world, I was soon able to teach English to three different clients which allowed me to gain extra cash while studying full time. I fully recommend CE!

I was with Canterbury English for one year and got everything I wanted out of it! I was able to travel, and experience Spain and much of Europe, so it was a truly rewarding time. The people running Canterbury were helpful, and for those wanting the TEFL course, the professor is really nice.
What I liked most about the program was that they organized group outings and were continuously advertising teaching jobs when they became available. They also put you in contact with many English academies in Madrid for work. All in all, Canterbury English is one of the best companies to work with in order to stay in Spain for however long you’re looking to stay.

1. How I Found the Program

I discovered Canterbury English after a tough reality while studying in Switzerland—I couldn’t legally work on my student visa, and that made staying there long-term pretty unsustainable. I knew I wanted to keep living in Europe, and that’s when I started searching for alternatives. When I came across Canterbury, it immediately felt like an easy solution that made sense. The idea of teaching English in Madrid while getting set up sounded like the opportunity I’d been looking for. Canterbury had everything clear and encouraging—it felt like I was finally going to move in the right direction to start my next chapter.

2. Teaching English in Madrid

One of the most helpful parts of the Canterbury program for me was the internship agreement they provided. It gave me the legal framework I needed to start applying for stable teaching positions around Madrid. That flexibility made a huge difference—I wasn’t limited to just one path and could find an academy that really matched my schedule and teaching style. It felt empowering to be able to explore my options while still having Canterbury’s support in the background if needed. Thanks to that setup, I found a teaching position that gave me the stability I was looking for when I was searching for different programs.

3. Support

Having lived in several different countries before, I knew how complicated navigating legal systems can be. While I’m used to the process and have gone through the Spanish process before, I wanted something a little easier this time—especially when it came to the bureaucracy. What stood out to me about Canterbury was that they provided access to a lawyer who handled all the legal work for me. It took much of the stress off my plate this time around.

4. Cultural Immersion

I’ve lived in Madrid before, so I’d already seen a lot of the usual sights. What I appreciated about Canterbury, though, was that they offered a few new places and experiences I hadn’t explored yet. It gave me a chance to see parts of the city in a different light. The program also let me revisit some of my favorite spots, so I could enjoy them again while discovering something new.

5. Career Opportunities

When I first came to Madrid, I didn’t expect this experience to shape a career. Thanks to the stable academy position I found through the internship agreements, I was able to settle into a steady teaching role. After a year, I was promoted and given the opportunity to lead a team of teachers. That responsibility gave me the chance to exhibit my skills and develop them further. It even opened up new career options in the corporate world. It’s been rewarding to not only teach but also mentor others, and I feel more confident in my transferable skills. It’s great to see how much I’ve evolved in such a short time.

6. Making friends

Having lived in multiple countries before, I was a bit concerned about meeting new people or finding a sense of community again. Canterbury made it easy to connect with some others, and I’ve met some good people through the program. It’s been nice to share experiences with people who are going through the same thing. I also feel like my background in Madrid has given me a unique perspective that others appreciate, and I’ve been able to help newcomers navigate the city.

7. Spanish Classes

I already spoke some Spanish before coming to Madrid, but the classes offered by Canterbury’s partner school have been great to refresh some skills, especially regarding grammar and all the uses. The class times are in the mid-afternoon, which worked well for me since I was able to adjust my schedule to fit them in. Overall, it’s been helpful to polish up on things I’d forgotten and to make my Spanish more fluent.

Canterbury provides a good program to work and live in Spain as an English teacher. Due to bureaucracy and challenging visa process, it is nearly impossible to work in EU unless you're from one of the EEA countries. But thanks to CE, I decided to quit the career I had back home and moved towards a completely different path. Taking the TEFL Certificate with the program fee and the moving expenses are not cheap, but I believe it's worth it. Since I moved here I work part time, I go to the Spanish classes of CE and then work in the afternoons. Madrid is a beautiful city to live in, it has developed public transport system. Housing is not the best as it's the capital and a popular tourism destination. Demand is high, therefore the prices are equally over the average. But in return you find yourself in a city where it has all the social life, culture, art, history. I didn't have many language issues as Spaniards improved their English skills lately -and I'm learning the language. Overall, I am happy to be here and recommend it to everyone who is considering!

When I was researching ways to move to Spain, Canterbury English was one of the first organizations I came across. After spending time on their website and reading numerous reviews, I learned that Canterbury promised support throughout the entire visa application process, as well as throughout one’s experience in Spain, which prompted me to enroll in the program. Canterbury English sent me multiple documents to help with the visa application process. Applying for a visa can be a challenging process, especially in Spain, so these documents were priceless.

Canterbury’s TEFL program was excellent as well. I arrived in Spain with little teaching experience, and some professional training experience, but I did not have any experience teaching English as a foreign language. The TEFL course prepared me with the tools and confidence I needed to teach English. It was a small group, so there was plenty of time to ask questions, and it was a comfortable learning environment. Without the TEFL course, I would have been quite lost starting off my teaching journey. John, the TEFL instructor, was an excellent teacher and made the class engaging.

Once I arrived in Spain, I took advantage of Canterbury’s social events, which take place multiple times per month in and around Madrid. Having moved to Spain without knowing anyone, I was eager to meet people, so I attended the first Canterbury social event of the season, and I met some of my best friends here in Spain. The social events that Canterbury offers are a great way to meet new people and explore many of the great things Madrid has to offer.

Overall, the program isn’t necessarily the cheapest, and there have been a few hurdles, but I am happy that I received guidance throughout the visa process and have had the opportunity to meet a lot of people.

Here in Spain, in addition to the Spanish language course, I have English private lessons and even online lessons. Thanks to Canterbury English and the marketing ideas that Richard provided during orientation, I have many students here. I work as a substitute teacher and also give business English lessons here. I taught English in a college for a while therefore I had the opportunity to get to know the students and to discover the education system. There is also a great need for English teachers so it is possible for you to give English lessons online or on-site.
It is easy to rent a room or a studio at an affordable price. When it comes to transportation, you can buy a public transportation card and go wherever you want. It is very easy to reach everywhere by metro and train. I can truly say that Spain is a great country to live in. The city is very safe, the weather is delightful ,and the cuisine is exceptional.
With the support of Richard and his team, I am now living in Madrid, learning Spanish, and teaching English. The experience has exceeded my expectations in every way. The support and resources provided by CE are unmatched, making the process smooth and enjoyable. I have had the opportunity to meet new people, explore beautiful places, and immerse myself in the vibrant culture of Madrid. If you are considering a similar adventure, I highly recommend reaching out to CE or me for guidance and support. You won't regret it! #CE #Madrid#CEtefl

I moved to Madrid and joined Canterbury in September 2023. At first, moving to Madrid was a big change and all the bureaucracy for arranging your visa and TIE can be quite overwhelming and confusing. But the Canterbury induction really helped me to ground myself and make sense of all the admin processes. In addition, Canterbury’s lawyer, Paola, helped me with all the processes for obtaining all the appointments and paperwork for the process. I couldn’t have done it without her!
I have been attending Spanish classes every week with Canterbury. The teachers are incredibly engaging and enthusiastic. We cover a range of really interesting topics in class and study all the helpful vocabulary and grammar you need to get by in Spain.
Canterbury hosts a range of social events and trips to museums, galleries, hikes in the county, picnics in the park and even the zoo! It’s the best way to get to know a new city and the best way to make new friends. I’ve met some really close friends for life at these events.
Finding work in Madrid can sometimes be difficult. I know that trying to fill a calendar with just private classes can be tricky and it can be a struggle to survive financially in Madrid with just private classes. Canterbury can help you find clients, but you have to do a lot of work yourself.
I was fortunate and was able to find a job with an Academy. There are a ton of language academies in Madrid and lots of them are desperate for teachers (especially native speakers). This has become even more difficult for them since Brexit, as only Irish can legally work in the EU. (I know this well as a Brit myself). Canterbury helped send my CV out to academies and I got loads of job and interview offers right away. But my advice is to take your time and not just go for the first option. Go to the interview and find out more about the pay, your timetable, the resources, the academy’s reputation etc. There are a lot of academies who exploit teachers and don’t pay well. You should try to ensure you’re picking a reputable one. Canterbury can help with this. They helped me with finalising things with my academy and getting all the contracts and paperwork sorted.
Canterbury helped me get to Spain and start teaching (something that seemed impossible at first in the post-Brexit world). Yes, you have to pay a lot of money for this privilege. But life in Spain is fantastic and it’s totally merezca la pena!

Enrolling in Canterbury English's Madrid Lifestyle+TEFL program was an amazing journey. Richard's support and guidance from Lawyer Paola Altez ensured a smooth visa application process. Throughout my time with Canterbury English, their exceptional support remained consistent. They were always ready to assist with any challenges, providing necessary documents and valuable advice. While securing a teaching schedule requires personal effort, Canterbury offers valuable assistance. In November 2023, I relocated to Madrid through Canterbury's program. The experience exceeded my expectations with its comprehensive Spanish lessons, teaching enhancements, and enriching cultural experiences. Thanks to Canterbury's dedication, my experience was deeply fulfilling, and I highly recommend their programs

I am a Canadian citizen but was living in Australia when I got the acceptance to the one year Madrid lifestyle program with Spanish for September 2024. I had just gotten my Highfield Level 5 diploma in teaching English as a Foreign language (TEFL). Richard was fantastic in providing a step by step guide for me to get my visa, and to provide me the information I needed when I first arrived in Spain. With all the resources that was provided to me, I have had a smooth transition.
When I arrived in Madrid, I still had lots of questions on what to expect and how to build a work schedule that would suite me best. On orientation day, Richard was fantastic in answering all my questions. I left feeling really confident and excited for my year here in Madrid.
My previous work experience was in Makeup and SPFX in the entertainment Industry. It can be daunting to start a new career, but Canterbury English made it really simple. I would highly recommend anyone with or without experience to choose Canterbury English. What they offer is truly a unique experience, and I feel really lucky to be part of an amazing community and to experience experience life in Madrid.

For my South African gf, we paid a deposit (€600) in 2023, but she didn't received her visa.
All together we lost over €1200.
After a call with Richard, we now know, they will NOT pay back our €600.
So, please beware of this company !

Do not hesitate, Canterbury English is the best and genuine to their students.

This is a review of my first impression with Canterbury English, as I have not arrived to Madrid yet, and of Richard, the founder, whom I had the pleasure of meeting over a Skype interview recently. For starters, as someone who did extensive research in hopes to gather as much information as possible, for someone in my case, this program was best suited for me. In terms of cost and what they offer before and after arrival in Madrid. Quite frankly I started to feel helpless, as this can be a very daunting process. One of the most important things for me was to find a program I can mesh with and during my interview with Richard, it clicked. He was very warm natured and welcoming and his recepción made me feel at ease and took a lot of weight off of my shoulders by covering a lot of the “unknowns” for me. The process of emailing back and forth to submit my application, cover letter and resume was smooth and easy. In addition, What drew my attention to the program, which I found on linked in and mentioned in a video online, is by far the guidance they provide. As someone who is completely new to all of this, this was a huge point for me.
I have just been accepted to the Madrid lifestyle program one year student visa with Spanish courses. I will be paying my deposit and commence my student visa process very soon with the much needed guidance and assistance of Richard and the team at CE. I’m looking forward to this journey and what the program will bring after my arrival to Madrid!

What can I say about the Canterbury English TEFL and Madrid Lifestyle Programs? For me,
joining Canterbury English was one of the best professional decisions I ever made in my life. I had
always wanted to live abroad, and, being a native English speaker, I got my TEFL certificate.
Canterbury English offers a great ESL program at a great price and work as an English teacher.
A day before I was going to accept an offer to teach in Viet Nam, I had an interview scheduled
with Canterbury English Academy.
We had a great interview, and I was really considering changing the country I was going to go
to. I did a little research and discovered that my interviewer was none other than Richard
Clarke, the Founder and Director of the Academy. I was very pleased to know that someone at
that level in the company was so reachable and cared so much about his employees that he
conducted the interviews himself. And that is the culture Richard has fostered so successfully:
a friendly community of ex pats all living out a great life in Madrid.
In terms of the work itself, the amount of hours you work depends on you. If you are
driven to make money while in Spain, you have plenty of opportunities to make money. If you
are more interested in exploring the city, the country, and the continent, you can make
enough
money to support yourself while abroad. How much or how little you work is really up to you.
In short, Canterbury English Academy gave me the opportunity to live and work in
Europe, while I made some amazing memories and true friendships!

I came to Madrid in September, 2023 on a student visa with Canterbury English. In short, I've loved every minute of it! From the time I initially applied, the staff at Canterbury English were always very helpful with any questions I had regarding navigating the somewhat complicated visa application process. Richard provided LOTS of helpful documents to help make the process less daunting.

Since arriving in Madrid, I have been taking classes through Canterbury English and my teacher, Irene, has been fabulous! She's very professional and she really cares about her students. The academy is situated right in the middle of the city, in Sol, which is always bustling with activity. It's absolutely fabulous!

I've had a great year so far and I've made some wonderful friends through Canterbury English! I plan to come back to Madrid in the future and continue studying Spanish whenever I'm in town.

I would highly recommend this program for anyone at any age!

In May 2019, or around that time, I was browsing the internet, searching for an opportunity to move abroad because I had always wanted to live in a different country. Going to university wasn't an option because I didn't have enough money. I was searching for info on Spanish courses, but they were all too expensive. Then, I found the Canterbury website. I kept reading it because the deals seemed too good to be true. I emailed them, and they replied quickly. Soon after, I had an interview and signed up for the Madrid Lifestyle program. A few months later, in September 2019, I was in Madrid! And I've been with Canterbury ever since. Richard and everyone at Canterbury have been incredibly nice and helpful. Canterbury English (CE) offers me many teaching opportunities. Not only that, CE also sends our CVs to schools, English academies, and companies to help us connect with them. Two years ago, I worked as an interlocutor and invigilator for Pearson exams. And since last year, I've been working as an English language assistant in a school in Madrid. Additionally, apart from the teaching English program, CE provides Spanish classes and cultural events. I'm really enjoying my life in Madrid. It's a fantastic city with a rich culture: the food, the traditions, the people! I highly recommend checking out the Canterbury English website, contacting Richard, and applying for the program if you want to improve your teaching skills and experience living in Spain! You won't regret it!

Would give negative stars if I could: Richard Clarke scammed me and multiple of my friends out of €2600 - we did not receive a VISA or jobs. He is now emailing everyone begging for people to leave positive reviews because people are catching on. I was essentially trapped in Spain with no income or remorse from Richard. He lured us to his company under false pretenses and once we arrived in Madrid and paid (he demanded cash), he then told us that a new law was in place that no longer recognized Canterbury as an accredited program (if it ever even was). Please save yourself and do not waste your time or money and do not fall for his manipulation. He made it clear he would file for bankruptcy before giving us a refund back.

When I landed in Madrid, I wanted to teach but then I realised because of the whole Brexit situation I had only had 90 days to stay.

However, Richard and the team at Canterbury English told me exactly what to do. The following Monday they connected me with their lawyer who got my paperwork underway.

Now residing in the country legally, Richard helped me explore my teaching options

Although the teaching industry in Spain is quieter in the summer months, he sign-posted and networked with me, so I could hit the ground running when the school term started.

As such I secured a one month placement teaching on2one English and then a contract at another academy for the entire academic year shortly after. I was very grateful for the security this brought.

Looking back I think Canterbury English was the best choice for me. There are of course other programs out there, and they do a lot of the work for you, but you need to apply way ahead in advance. Unfortunately this was not possible for me. I was applying later. However Richard and his team were nevertheless able to help me. They are very flexible and they give you the tools you need to succeed. You have to help make it happen, and you are more in control, with their help every step of the way.

I moved to Madrid with Canterbury’s (Madrid Lifestyle) programme in November 2021. Canterbury English helped me with the Spanish visa application and job search in Madrid. They also helped me with any queries I had regarding accommodation, living in Madrid, etc. Madrid Lifestyle programme (and any CE programme really) is a great option for those who want to learn Spanish (the programme offers 4 Spanish lessons a week), enhance their teaching profile (the programme helps you with job search in Madrid by providing you with all the necessary information and by sending your CV to over a hundred schools in and around Madrid; thanks to the latter, for example, I got my current job), and experience the rich culture of Spain and its capital city (the programme offers weekly cultural events to its participants from September to June).

All in all, I got everything I wanted from CE programme and would recommend it to those who are interested in what I’ve described above.

I have been working with CE for 8 years now. Loving every moment of it. The constant support made me feel at home all the time. They have a highly organized staff that works tirelessly to support both their students and the instructors.