Teach English in South America
The wages and opportunities in South America are not quite as accessible and abundant as in Asia, and lean more towards the volunteering market. But if you look to the business communities of the big cosmopolitan cities such as Santiago and Caracas there are great opportunities for an Aussie ESL teacher. You can also find paid work in the poorest of Latin American nations, provided you are not precious about the size of your pay packet as you might be looking at $3 an hour in somewhere like Quito or La Paz rather than an hourly wage of $10-$30 in cities like Santiago and Rio.
It is worth remembering that ESL teaching in this part of the world is geared towards the American business community so there may be a preference for American English and complaints about the Aussie twang, but don’t let this discourage you from getting amongst it in this party prone and beautiful part of the world. Seek and you shall find…here are a few education institutions to investigate for opportunities.
Argentina
www.Interchangels.com.ar – This is a language school in Buenos Aires worth approaching for work.
www.road2argentina.com Road2Argentina’s Teach English Argentina ESL program places volunteers in schools in Buenos Aires where they intern as teaching assistants in English language classrooms. This is a 1 – 4 month program and will cost about over $1000 US, but includes accommodation. You can also study for a TEFL qualification at the same location. This is aimed at Americans, but so are many organised programs in this part of the world. Companies like i-to-i and STA travel offer similarly pricey organised programs.
Bolivia
www.cba.com.bo – This is a language centre which would be worth contacting to find out about job vacancies at their schools as well as other local opportunities. Don’t be put off by the Spanish site, just go to ‘Contactenos’ and email and call to find out more. They also offer teacher training.
www.speakeasyinstitute.com This language school offers Spanish lessons as well as English classes to locals. They have highs standards in terms of TESOL qualifications, but worth contacting for jobs and information.
Brazil
www.britannia.com.br Again this is a language centre offering multiple languages and CELTA courses for aspiring English teachers. The Portuguese site includes email and phone contacts, so get in touch for more info.
www.newstart.com.br New Start is an English language school based in Rio de Janeiro, offering business English courses. Get in touch and send your resume.
www.sk.com.br This language school in Santa Cruz is could have job opportunities, but also runs a project in the local barrio for under privileged youths who cannot afford language tuition. Worth contacting for info or job. Check site for phone and email contacts.
Chile
www.languages.cl With a base in Iquique, this language school offers English and Spanish lessons and worth contacting for job opportunities.
www.acpen-academy.cl This Santiago based course offers a variety of English lessons, focussing on business English. Worth sending your resume to and contacting them for some further information.
www.ef-chile.cl. The Chilean wing of English First who have schools around the world and it is worth getting in touch for job opportunities in oodles of locations.
www.fischerenglishinstitute.cl This central Santiago English institute is worth getting in touch with for job opportunities. All contacts are on their website.
http://www.tronwell.com/english/why-choose-tronwell/work-with-us.html find out about work opportunities by contacting this education company with offices in Santiago.
Colombia
www.praxis.edu.co This language school has a confusing website – but includes a contact page and it would be worth getting in touch and asking about teaching opportunities.
Costa Rica
www.teacheslcostarica.com - This San Jose based school is well established and although San Jose is not the most lovely city on the planet, Costa Rica is a fantastic place for outdoor activities and partying it up, so worth getting in touch with a good resume ready.
www.institutobritanico.co.cr This global company International House has schools all over the place and is worth approaching for work. If you study for your CELTA or another TESOL qualification with International House in Sydney or Brisbane then you would have an added advantage going for work with their international schools.
www.prolanguage.org/empleo.html in return for a minimum four month commitment this language school also based in San Jose will offer training as well as competitive salaries apparently.
Ecuador
www.benedictquito.com This Quito based school offers English classes to kiddies as well as adults and asks for you to get in contact if you are keen to join the staff : english@benedictquito.com
www.inlinguaquito.com.ec/trabaja.php Check out this Quito school for work opportunities. Send a resume and follow up. Teachers wanted at the time if writing this!
www.nexus.edu.ec Have offices in the lovely city of Cuenca and the not so nice city of Guayaquil. Their website has a ‘Teacher opportunities’ page which is under construction as I write this, but there are clear contacts and I am sure job listing in the future.
Guatemala
www.casa-guatemala.org This charity is a orphanage for children and has an associated hostel to make money and to house volunteers. You can pay around $300 US a week to provide general voluntary services and stay in the hostel. But if you are fluent in Spanish you can get paid teaching work at the orphanage, staying in staff quarters. Don’t expect much money, this is a genuine charity looking for you to give your skills for a good course. Worth considering if you have your heart set on this part of Latin America.
Mexico
www.ahpla.com This education outfit offers students business English as well as Spanish for foreign professionals in Mexico City. Worth contacting and sending your resume for opportunities.
www.dunhaminstitute.com Offers TEFL courses for $1600 US which includes the course and a home stay with a local family for the four weeks of the course. Opportunities to teach at the centre seem to be mainly voluntary but if you wish to study there you will be fully equip with local knowledge and contacts to find work afterwards.
www.englishunlimited.org educational centre in San Luis Potosi with a slightly confusing website, but clear contacts to find out about work opportunities.
www.innovative-english.com Offers TEFL courses including job placement – but also offers advice on job hunting in Latin America.
Peru
www.icpna.edu.pe a large education or ‘cultural’ institution which offers English classes but has not clear job listings for teachers. Website includes contacts, so get in touch for more info.
Venezuela
www.iowainstitute.com This language school run by Americans from Iowa offers Spanish lessons as well as English. It would be worth contacting them for info on what they require in English teachers, but also guidance on other places to approach for work.
South America Explorers
This organisation has clubhouses in Lima, Cusco, Quito and Buenos Aires with useful notice boards and contacts. Also maintains an Explorers Volunteer Resource section, a database of volunteer opportunities to which members can gain access, and have online information sheets about teaching in Ecuador and Lima.
For job hunting tips check out: Finding a TESOL Job (page link)
