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TEFL CHILE / TESOL in CHILE
TEFL Jobs Chile. A guide to teaching English in Chile
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| At a Glance - teaching English in Chile |
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Chile is truly a beautiful country of spectacular contrasts. The country forms the spine of Latin America and has a spectacular pacific coastline, with beautiful Andean highlands. It has a thriving economy and has not fallen foul of the economic turmoil that hit its neighbours Argentina and Ecuador. While the people are warm and friendly, many struggle to forget the dark period of the recent past under Pinochet. But if Chile is your destination you have chosen wisely and may well find a country to fall in love with.
Chile also has a large European community and the capital City Santiago is quite cosmopolitan. Although wages are better in Chile than in many other countries on the continent, the cost of living can be quite high in comparison. If you are looking for work outside the capital, expect your pesos to go further.
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Travellers from Europe and North America find that Chile is a welcoming country with several teaching opportunities, including a large and increasing demand for business English. So when choosing which course is most appropriate, think about the Global English Level 2 TESOL with business. As with many countries in this region you’ll find a preference for American English, although this preference should not deter teachers from other countries in their search for employment. There is much competition for teaching jobs among the larger institutes in Santiago, where qualifications and experience are often required. But the government push to increase the ability and level of English among younger learners has led to an increasing demand for teachers in this area as well. A degree and EFL certificate will enhance your prospects, as will any business qualifications or experience. There is an increasing amount of in-company teaching to middle management and senior management as the commercial sector continues to grow robustly.
As with most other countries in this area, you’ll find jobs appear over the Internet most regularly. The academic year runs from March to December and while several schools and institutes do advertise abroad and also recruit at college fares, there are still opportunities for the adventurous traveller to pick up work on the spot. Some teachers advertise for private clients in the principle newspaper El Mercurio. Other sources of invaluable contacts are English language bookshops.
Chile has several well-qualified and experienced teachers, so picking up work could be more challenging than some of the other South American countries. But there are opportunities and speculative CV’s sent beforehand might prove useful. Even if they don’t yield immediate success, the schools may remember that they have heard of you and be more inclined to give you some work when you later present yourself on their doorstep. If you are looking for work in the business English sector, remember to highlight any business or commercial experience you may have. You will find a guide to writing your CV on the Staffroom section of our website at finding work overseas. Similarly it may be wise to dress in a business like manner to create that vital first impression at interview.
The British Council (see Useful Numbers below) may be able to provide a list of schools throughout the country. However you may find that an employer will want to see you before committing to giving you a job. If you can secure work before you travel, you will be able to obtain a work visa via the Chilean Consulate or Embassy in your country, or your employer may help you by doing the necessary paperwork in Chile. Alternatively you can travel on a tourist visa and exchange it for a work visa when you find employment, but you will have to leave the country to do this. Again some employers may help you in this process, although many teachers continue to work on a tourist visa, as the interest from the local police is minimal.
If you find work with a private language school, expect pay to be the equivalent of 4000 to 5000 pesos per hour. While it doesn’t sound much, it is more than many other countries in the region, although the cost of living is also a little higher. Rent in shared accommodation could start from around 70,000 pesos per month so it won’t consume all your earnings and you should be able to live quite comfortably.
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Global English graduate John Soto completed the Global English Level 2 TESOL course from Chile and writes about living and working there:
I can confirm that there are many opportunities for native English speakers. There are almost countless organisations offering English lessons here in Chile. As you state, the government has a major drive at the moment to make Chile a bi-lingual country with English as the second language, this means that all schools teach English as a normal part of the curriculum. Payment rates for schools are somewhat lower than in private institutions. Teaching institutions range from small offices offering reasonably priced tuition to high quality institutions like Berlitz.
Getting a job before you arrive can be quite a challenge though as the Chilean institutions will often insist that you attend an interview in the first instance rather than submitting a CV, some institutions can be very reluctant to take teachers that they have not seen and most will enrol you on an induction/training program of 1-2 weeks which you must pass before being offered the job. We have seen native English teachers fail this induction process and not be offered a contract. Simply speaking English and having a certificate is not enough to guarantee a job here, you will be put to the test and assessed on your confidence and ability to deliver the lessons in the way that is acceptable to the institute. You will also have to design your own lesson plans and provide your own teaching aids in many cases.
Class size varies from school to school. In an average school for 5 to 16 year olds, you are likely to encounter groups between 30 to 45 students. In contrast, private institutes have small group sizes that vary from 4 to 15 students.
A degree will almost certainly improve your chances here in Chile, though we recently heard of a fluent Spanish speaking nursing professional who was told that her American Degree was not acceptable in Chile and was turned down for a job in nursing, so it’s no guarantee.
One important consideration is that it can be very difficult to rent accommodation in Chile. As a new tenant you will need any or all of the following;
- Last 3 months payslips from a Chilean company which show a monthly salary of more than 3 times the cost of the rent.
- A bond, usually equal to one months rent.
- A Guarantor, who will sign the contract with you and is legally bound to pay your rent should you default.
- 2 types of ID
- up to six months rent in advance, however, this still is not a very common practice among estate agents (corredores)
(Even if you can prove that you are bringing enough money to cover rent for the entire duration of your stay, you may not be considered to rent through any letting agency unless you can provide the above)
If you do secure a job offer from a Chilean employer it would be well worth asking them to arrange your accommodation for your arrival in Chile.
Other options are renting an Apart hotel room (the equivalent of an English bed-sit) which costs from $10’000 to around $20’000 roughly £20 a night, though the difference definitely reflects the standard you can expect. There is also the alternative of Home-stay, which costs from around £50 per week., this is a good choice for those who want to experience Chilean life and also improve their Spanish.
Accommodation outside the city can cost considerably less, though transport can prove a problem before 7am or after 10pm if you live outside of the Metro line areas.
Some institutes offer part time hours. If you are going to be working teaching in-office (working in various offices and companies around the city as scheduled) be prepared for a lot of walking and travelling from class to class, Santiago is a huge city.
Bear in mind that you are coming to a country that is very different to the UK and North America, there are big differences in may things. There is a great deal of poverty evident on the streets of the city once you are away from the tourist sites and prosperous areas.
You will ideally need some Spanish in order to live and teach in Chile as there are still few services and shops where English is understood, however, you will find the average Chilean individual is unfailingly willing to help you to communicate.
This is a wonderful country with something for everyone, it has its problems of course and those can be quite shocking to those of us who live in countries with a highly developed social care system.
Travelling to the North and South of the country can provide breathtaking views and memories to last you a life time. If you are into adventure tourism or activity pursuits, Chile offers an almost inexhaustible supply of options.
It is perhaps not the best choice if money is your motivation or if you are looking for a ‘working holiday’. Employers here are not casual in their appointments, no allowance will be made for you to come and go as you please like a tourist. You will be expected to work with the same level of professionalism and commitment as your Chilean counterparts or as you would in your job in your home country. Most teaching jobs are Monday to Friday. Once you are offered a contract you are entitled to the usual benefits that a Chilean gets such as Holidays, Public Holidays off and in most cases health care and private pension. The usual holiday allowance is 20 days plus bank holidays, though these are not paid. Business dress is a standard requirement in most institutions.
If anyone is considering working in Chile, I would be happy to answer their questions and help them get a realistic picture of what living and working in Chile is like.
If you have any experience of working in Chile and would like to share it with us, please email us at info@global-english.com.
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BIMARC, Presidente Cardenas 840 Pte., Saltillo, Coahuila 25000. Recruits graduates to teach children on 11 month contracts.
British Council http://www.britishcouncil.org/
British Council in Chile: http://www.britishcouncil.org/chile.htm
Chilean Embassy UK: http://chile.embassyhomepage.com/
Chilean Embassy USA: http://www.chile-usa.org/
Chilean Tourist Office: www.visit-chile.org
Need more info? Go here: Teaching English Abroad
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DISCLAIMER
These pages are for general information only and whilst every effort has been made to ensure information is correct, it is up to the individual to thoroughly investigate the conditions of entry to countries and the legal working regulations. If offered a job, please carefully vet all terms and conditions. Inclusion of potential employment opportunities does not in any way represent a guarantee of employment.
When travelling overseas, please refer to your government’s own advice on current conditions in each country. The British Foreign Office website is a good resource for travel advice. Please follow the link: http://www.fco.gov.uk/
If you find a broken link or if you have an experience you would like to share with others about working in a particular country, please email us.
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