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Teaching English in Latin America (and other job opportunities)

Jobs

There is a high demand for native English speakers in many of the large cities in Latin America. The most common place to work is at private language institutes, teaching ages from adolescents to adult professionals and teaching to all levels from beginner to advanced. Private schools, universities and even preschools are often looking for native English speakers to teach lessons. There is also the option of teaching private lessons. This has the advantage of allowing you to create your own schedule and set your own prices. However many teachers of private lessons struggle with frequent cancellations or students who aren't able to pay on time.

Programs

There are programs which offer job placement or TEFL certification in conjunction with working. These are the type of programs which will arrange everything for you before you leave and can offer a sense of security. There are many reputable programs out there, and they can offer lots of in-country support, such as housing or Spanish language lessons. Some of these programs have great reputations like the World Teach program and the CIEE program. Some offer TEFL certification along with job placement in private institutes or universities.

These programs can be a great option for those who need more peace of mind, who have limited time in-country to job search or who would like more in-country support and training. The downside is that many are these programs can be expensive. Decide for yourself whether you could benefit from the support and training that an established program can offer. Many ESL teachers in Latin America have opted not to use these programs and instead have searched for a job on their own.

There is also a high demand for English speakers who are willing to teach English on a volunteer basis. These positions are generally with NGOs, usually working with underprivileged children or adolescents. If you are interested in teaching in rural areas or in working with impoverished communities, volunteer teaching is really your best bet. There is a lot of information on volunteering abroad here at our website.

Visas

Many English teachers work while on tourist visas. This is technically illegal, however, the demand for native English teachers is high and depending on the country, it is usually unlikely that you will have trouble with immigration officials. Most tourist visas can be renewed at the local immigration office or by crossing the border into a neighboring country. Check each country's visa requirements carefully before leaving at the country's consulate website. A guidebook like Lonely Planet will also give detailed information about how to renew tourist visas and the different regulations in each country. Some countries are much stricter than others, so try to research how previous English teachers have dealt with the visa issue within your country. Dave's ESL Café's Latin America board can be helpful.

If you are interested in staying for longer periods of time (more than 6-12 months) and want to have a work visa, the visa proceedings are not impossible but are often a bureaucratic pain. Getting a work visa from the US is often very difficult; if you are looking to get a work visa, plan on entering the country first, securing your job position and then spending a few weeks (or more) dealing with the paperwork. It is likely that you will have to pick the visa up in a neighboring country and re-enter the country, so add that into your travel budget. Before you leave the US, read up on the documents that you will need to present in order to request a work visa (for example: often you will need to present a certificate of good conduct from your local police station and have your documents certified or apostille stamped by the Secretary of State).

When processing a work visa, we recommend finding an immigration lawyer who will handle most of the paperwork for you. It may take some cajoling to get your school to agree to handle the paperwork; generally, they will be required to write up a contract for you. However, if you agree to cover most of the visa costs, it is in their best interest to have a legally hired employee. These costs can run anywhere from $200-$800. You can get recommendations for local lawyers through the expatriate population in your host country. There are often e-mail groups or websites for expats which will help you find this information. Try a Google search or check Transitions Abroad Expatriate Web Sites.

Money/Contracts

You will not earn anything close to US wages. However, you will probably be able to earn enough to live comfortably and even do some traveling within your country. Wages will vary drastically from country to country, and even from city to city, however they will generally provide for a comfortable living situation. Don't expect to save money while working in Latin America. In fact, it's a good idea to go into the experience with some savings while you are looking for a job at the beginning and for larger expenses such as a deposit on an apartment or a flight home.

Unless you have a work permit, you will probably not sign a contract and will not benefit from the stability that a contract provides. Some teachers have found that companies occasionally don't pay on time. It is helpful to remember that you will be working in a developing economy with lots of instability, so you may experience some of the negative repercussions of this. However native English speakers are in demand and if you are unhappy with your situation, you will probably be able to bargain with your employer so that you are fairly treated or find another job relatively quickly, if necessary.

Language Skills

I personally would not recommend teaching English without basic Spanish skills or without access to someone who can translate for you. Many of the directors of the major English institutes have surprisingly poor English skills and even many of your fellow host-country English teachers may struggle with conversational English. You may find it helpful to use some basic Spanish in the classroom to ensure comprehension. The more Spanish you have, the better you will be able to negotiate your position and discuss any issues you may have with your boss or co-workers. In addition, finding an apartment or making friends locally will be much easier with a strong grasp of Spanish. You could combine working as an English teacher with being a student in a Spanish institute as well.

There are some resources online for lining up a job offer before entering the country. Dave's ESL board can provide contacts for English institutes. Transitions Abroad has a list of job opportunities in Latin America. However, you will most likely need to travel to the country before securing a job. This sounds much scarier than it actually is. You will have best luck if you are arriving in the summer before the beginning of a new school year, as many schools hire over the summer and are looking for teachers to commit to one (or two) semesters of work. However, the private institutes are generally always hiring. The only times to be avoided would be the major holiday seasons (Christmas and Easter) when much of the country is on vacation and it will be very difficult to contact potential employers, in addition to the extra expenses you will incur while traveling during peak holiday traveling times.

When looking for a job, start by making a list of English institutes/schools to look at. You can compile this list through the local yellow pages, through scouring the contacts at Transitions Abroad or Dave's ESL Board on Latin America, through the local classifieds or just by asking around for the best English institutes. Make a list, print out a copy of your CV in Spanish (generally this is very similar to a US-style resume, but you may be asked to include a photo or a copy of your diploma), put on your business casual clothing (appearance is very important!) and hit the streets. When you arrive at a potential institute, ask to speak with the director and inquire about any open positions. Here are some important questions to ask in the interview before accepting a position: What are the wages and hours that the school offers? How often will you get paid? How long do they want you to commit to teaching? Will you be teaching alone or with an assistant, or will you be serving as an assistant to another teacher? How many students will be in each class? What levels and ages will you be teaching? Does the school have its own curriculum and textbooks? Could the school provide you with contact information of foreigners who have taught here previously?

Depending on the caliber of the institute, they may inquire about TEFL certification. However, the majority of English institutes don't require certification. Any teaching experience is a plus. Most places will want to see a university education, but many students have had no trouble finding work without having completed their degree. You will most likely work about 20-30 hours a week, plus unpaid lesson planning time. In private schools, you might be working mornings and afternoons, but in private institutes which market to professionals and university students, you might be teaching evenings and weekends.

An alternative to working for a school or institute is teaching private lessons. Finding students for private lessons will require networking or advertising, such as putting an advertisement in the paper. Be careful to choose students who seem serious about learning English and who are not just trying to get an opportunity to spend time with a foreigner. Asking other foreigners teaching English in your host country is a good way to find potential students.

Reality of Teaching

While it is relatively easy to find a job teaching English in many parts of Latin America, it is important to keep in mind that this is a job which can be very challenging and requires a lot of effort and enthusiasm. Most teachers adore working with their students and really enjoy creating relationships with them, but many are also taken aback at how difficult it is to create lessons and to create a fun and enriching classroom environment. I would highly recommend getting some experience in the US doing volunteer ESL work to decide if this job is for you. There are many opportunities here in Ann Arbor. I would also recommend doing some research into websites which will be helpful for planning lessons (Dave's ESL Café can help with that research). I would also highly recommend getting a book which details English grammar rules, especially if you are interested in teaching intermediate or advanced English courses. If you will be teaching children, bring along some materials which will be good for teaching (children's books, tapes with children's songs, games etc.). Make sure to set out enough time to adequately plan your lessons. This will be difficult at the beginning, but it will get easier as you learn what your class needs to focus on and as you get your footing as a teacher.

Other Job Opportunities

There are occasionally other opportunities for people with high levels of Spanish, such as work in tourism, translation or office work which requires English language skills. These jobs are much less common and are generally only arranged within the host country. If you are interested, plan on doing a long search with lots of visits to potential employers and plan on spending a lot of time searching the classifieds. Often these jobs are actually directed towards host country citizens with a medium level of English ability (and thus, don't pay very well), but some companies are looking for English fluency and will be looking to hire foreigners. Check out the bolsa de trabajo for your host country and the major newspapers' classified ads. If your country has an expat e-mail list or discussion board, employers will frequently post jobs there as well.

Housing

This is probably going to be your biggest expense while teaching abroad (apart from the flight and health insurance). It is a good idea to get a sense of the housing market so that you can budget effectively when choosing a job. Generally, foreigners will stay at a cheap hostel while searching for a job and housing. This has the added advantage of being a possible meeting point for future roommates or of being a source of information on ESL job seeking. Once you are ready for a more permanent place to live, be prepared to hit the streets, just as you did with the job search. The major newspapers will list classifieds for apartments to rent. Unless your Spanish is flawless and accent-free, have a native speaker make the initial calls for you, as many people will quote a higher price when they can tell a foreigner is inquiring. However, most apartments or rooms for rent are not listed in the classifieds. Instead, families will put a sign in the window saying “se alquila” or “departamento”. So pick a neighborhood you are interested in (ask around at your hostel to find out which neighborhoods are safe and fun to live in) and spend some time walking around and looking. If you have a native speaker friend, ask them to accompany you and even to enter the building first to get a price quote for you. Furnished apartments will often be much more expensive than unfurnished apartments. If you aren't looking to rent an apartment, your other options are to rent a single room in a family house (often called a pensión) or to share an apartment with another foreigner. When looking to rent a room, check the areas around universities; there are often many houses looking to rent single rooms to students. Depending on the house, you may be in more of a “host family” situation with shared meals or you may be living quite separate from the family. You can usually pay for meals when renting a room as well, this is often a very economical and tasty way to experience the local cuisine.

Benefits

Experience working abroad is helpful for those seeking careers with an international aspect, such as international development or teaching a foreign language in the US. Teaching can provide a job environment which is both fun and challenging, as you learn to navigate the classroom and design interesting lessons for your students. The experience that you will get in lesson planning, public speaking and in methods of teaching can be applied to a wide range of careers. Teaching English usually involves a lot of conversation and discussion with your students, which is a great way to get to know locals while you are abroad.

Michelle Hunscher, 2008 Peer Advisor for the Education Abroad Office

Last reviewed: 7/08