| The continent of South America, together
with Central America, offers a wide range and variety of teaching
opportunities. The cultural diversity and Latin charm combine to
make this region an attractive destination for EFL teachers. On
the whole salaries are low but this is compensated for by the low
cost of living.
Most schools in the region cannot afford
to advertise vacancies internationally, so most hiring is done
'on the spot'.
|
Argentina |
|
Capital city |
Buenos Aires |
|
|
Language |
Spanish |
|
Currency and exchange rate |
Peso (1 US$ = 2.95 Peso) |
|
Typical TEFL teacher salary |
US$15 per hour |
|
Major TEFL locations |
Buenos Aires |
|
TEFL job prospects
Argentina has always had a substantial
English speaking population and as a result EFL jobs were
never easy to come by. Recent economic and political problems
can only serve to decrease demand for native speakers. Some
opportunities may still exist teaching business English on
a freelance basis but there are many more promising destinations
for the EFL teacher than Argentina. |
| Bolivia |
|
Capital city |
La Paz |
|
|
Language |
Spanish |
|
Currency and exchange rate |
Franc (46 franc = $US1) |
|
Typical TEFL teacher salary |
US$4 per hour |
|
Major TEFL locations |
La Paz |
|
TEFL job prospects
As with most countries in the region,
jobs are quite easy to find but salaries are very low. Most
jobs seem to be in La Paz but there are certainly opportunities
elsewhere in the country for those prepared to accept a local
wage. The cost of living is low which means that despite
the low salaries teachers can enjoy a reasonable standard
of living. |
| Brazil |
|
Capital city |
Brasilia |
|
|
Language |
Portuguese |
|
Currency and exchange rate |
Real (1.58 real = $US1) |
|
Typical TEFL teacher salary |
US$900 per month |
|
Major TEFL locations |
Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro +++++ |
|
TEFL job prospects
Brazil is the fifth largest country
in the world and there are good job prospects in all of the
larger cities (as well as some smaller ones). Qualified teachers
in Brazil can usually find work easily. Trying to arrange
employment from outside Brazil can be considerably more 'hit
or miss'. Salaries usually afford teachers a comfortable
lifestyle. |
|
Chile |
|
Capital city |
Santiago |
|
|
Language |
Spanish |
|
Currency and exchange rate |
Pesos (560 pesos = $US1) per month |
|
Typical TEFL teacher salary |
US$900 |
|
Major TEFL locations |
Santiago, Punta Arenas |
|
TEFL job prospects
Chile has one of the stronger economies
in Latin America and the growth in demand for the English
language has matched the economic growth. There is a booming
market for business English and an increasing demand for
teachers of children. There are many private language schools,
particularly in the capital, and certified EFL teachers should
have little problem in finding suitable employment. |
|
Colombia |
|
Capital city |
Bogota |
|
|
Language |
Spanish |
|
Currency and exchange rate |
Peso (2,200 peso = $US1) |
|
Typical TEFL teacher salary |
US$500 per month |
|
Major TEFL locations |
Bogota, Medellin, Cali, Barranquilla |
|
TEFL job prospects
Despite the increasing demand Colombian
language schools find it difficult to attract native speaker
teachers due to Colombia's reputation for crime and violence.
In reality EFL teachers are unlikely to find themselves victims
and for any teacher willing to work for the low salaries
on offer the prospects are good. |
|
Costa Rica |
|
Capital city |
San José |
|
|
Language |
Spanish |
|
Currency and exchange rate |
colones (1 USD = 479 colones)
|
|
Typical TEFL teacher salary |
400-550 USD a month |
|
Major TEFL locations |
San José |
|
TEFL job prospects
Most jobs in Costa Rica are located in San José,
which is a major city in the center of the country. Some
jobs can be found in beach locations or in Monteverde;
however, these locations normally have huge waiting lists
and require patience to obtain a job with them. Peak hiring
season is from May to September.
Language schools at this time are desperate for teachers, and there aren't enough
to go around. Conversely,
from November to mid January, it is more difficult to find employment for new
teachers arriving the country. |
|
Ecuador |
|
Capital city |
Quito |
|
|
Language |
Spanish |
|
Currency and exchange rate |
Sucre (25,000 sucre = US$1) |
|
Typical TEFL teacher salary |
US$400 per month |
|
Major TEFL locations |
Quito, Guayaquil, Cuenca |
|
TEFL job prospects
Ecuador is one of the most attractive
and most stable countries in the region. Salaries are low
but so is the cost of living and teachers can afford a reasonably
comfortable lifestyle. Jobs are plentiful in the major cities
and there is a particular demand for American English. Voluntary
work is also possible. |
|
Mexico |
|
Capital city |
Mexico City |
|
|
Language |
Mexican Spanish |
|
Currency and exchange rate |
Peso (9.5 peso = US$1) |
|
Typical TEFL teacher salary |
8,000 Pesos per month |
|
Major TEFL locations |
All large cities |
|
TEFL job prospects
Due to its close proximity to the
USA there is a huge demand for the English language in Mexico.
The demand for native speaker teachers is enormous almost
everywhere and any qualified EFL teachers should be able
to find work in the location of their choice. There is also
significant demand for business English in the major cities. |
|
Peru |
|
Capital city |
Lima |
|
|
Language |
Spanish |
|
Currency and exchange rate |
New Sol (5NS = $US1) |
|
Typical TEFL teacher salary |
US$5 per hour |
|
Major TEFL locations |
Lima |
|
TEFL job prospects
There is an enormous demand for English
and native speaker teachers. However, the low salaries, difficulty
in obtaining working papers and bad reputation of the country
in safety terms generally mean that it is often ignored by
English teachers. Yet the range of opportunities in Lima
is enormous for those willing to overlook the downside. |
|
Venezuela |
|
Capital city |
Caracas |
|
|
Language |
Spanish |
|
Currency and exchange rate |
Bolivar |
|
Typical TEFL teacher salary |
- |
|
Major TEFL locations |
Caracas, Merida, Puero La Cruz |
|
TEFL job prospects
The current political and economic
situation is rather turbulent and as a result Venezuela (once
an appealing TEFL location) is perhaps best avoided. Hopefully
this situation will change in the near future. |
|
Others |
|
Capital city |
Various |
|
|
Language |
Spanish and others |
|
Currency and exchange rate |
- |
|
Typical TEFL teacher salary |
- |
|
Major TEFL locations |
Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras etc |
|
TEFL job prospects
If you happened to be in the area,
it would probably be fairly simple to arrange work in Central
America. However, with the exception of Costa Rica salaries
are likely to be impossibly low. Very few positions are ever
advertised and you would probably need the refer to the yellow
pages and present yourself to language schools listed there.
Costa Rica is somewhat more promising and there is a reasonably
high demand for native speaker teachers at reasonable salary
levels. |
|
