TOP KEYS FOR GETTING A JOB TEACHING ENGLISH IN CHILE
Education: Preferably a BA/BS though for teaching English in Chile it’s not required
TEFL Certification: Necessary TEFL/TESOL certification obtainable at any of our Worldwide TEFL/TESOL locations or the Online TEFL/TESOL Class.
Peak hiring months: Middle of February to March and July-August
Types of Jobs: Private tutors and teaching in English schools, public school teaching assistants through the Open Doors program
Citizenship Requirements: Preference given to citizens of South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, Canada, UK, and USA though this is not always a requirement
Typical Hiring Process: Local in-person interview mostly with some schools doing advance interview over phone
Average teaching hours per week: 20-30 hours in the classroom plus preparation hours
Types of Students: Business professionals, school children and private students
Cost of Living per month: $650-$1000 USD (425,000-650,000 CLP)
Visas: Work visa sponsored by most schools
Visa Fees: $470 for a temporary work/residency visa and another $270 in processing fees payable over a 3-month period
Average Monthly Pay: $750-$1000 USD (490,000-650,000 CLP)
Chile stands apart from the rest of South America as one of the most developed and advanced economies in the region. This makes the country one of the top job markets for those wanting to teaching English on the continent. The months of March and April, and again the subsequent period of July-August is when most of the hiring takes place.
There are seemingly endless reasons that would draw anyone to living and teaching in Chile. The country has one of the most diverse terrains in the world, featuring as its highlight a coastline that stretches over 2,400 miles. The Chilean Andes rank among the most beautiful and highest mountains in the world with some world-class skiing facilities. Contrast to that the Atacama Desert, considered the driest place on Earth. There is rich arable land and vineyards standing at the heart of the nation known for producing some of the finest quality of wines in the world.
Advance interviews conducted via email or over the phone is very much common in Chile, but the highest number of opportunities can be found by those appearing for in-person interviews on the ground in the country. Airfare and housing charges need to be borne by the teachers. Many prefer taking a shared accommodation with their coworkers. A major aspect that is different from some of the other South American nations is that Chilean schools offer their teachers a legal work visa for employment.
Voluntary teaching opportunities are also available with housing and a stipend on offer in the capacity of teaching assistants at some of the local public schools through the “English Opens Doors” Program sponsored by the Chilean government.
English teachers get to live a comfortable life on the solid hourly wages the country offers. A workweek is usually 20 to 25 hours long which leaves plenty of time for exploring and traveling. For TEFL certified teachers interested in a teaching opportunity in Chile, jobs can be typically found in the major cities such as Vina Del Mar, Concepcion, Serena, Valparaiso, and Santiago.
A Bachelor’s degree does not count as a requirement for getting a job in Chile though most employers tend to have a strong affinity for candidates possessing one. Those not having a degree can expect to be faced by a more competitive job search procedure.
