KEY INFO FOR GETTING A JOB TEACHING ENGLISH IN PERU
Education: Preferably a BA/BS though for teaching English in Peru it’s not required
TEFL Certification: Necessary TEFL/TESOL certification obtainable by the 4-week in-person course conducted at Arequipa, Peru, a 4-week in-person course available at 25 worldwide locations or 170-hour online TEFL class.
Peak hiring months: February-March and again in July-August
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
Average teaching hours per week: 20-30 hours in the classroom plus preparation hours
Types of Students: Business professionals and private students
Cost of Living per month: $500-$1000 USD (1,650-3,300 PEN)
Visas: Tourist visa
Types of jobs: Private students and teaching in English schools
Average Monthly Pay: $500-$1000 USD (1,650-3,300 PEN)
Teachers with a TEFL certification get to live a life of comfort in Peru and indulge in mass travel across the country. Be it the Amazon headwaters or the mystical Machu Picchu ruins, the natural and historical offerings of this amazing country are second to none. The national capital Lima houses 9 million people and has emerged as one of the largest job markets for teachers looking to establish themselves in South America.
For English-teaching job opportunities in Peru, one will typically find new employment in the period of February-March followed by another spell in July-August. In some instances, schools look to take advance interviews via email or over the phone but most of the times the candidates are expected to be present for an in-person interview upon their arrival in the country.
The Peruvian English teaching job market is a strong and rapidly growing one. Teachers are offered a solid hourly wage along with a very low cost of living which allows for a comfortable life. A typical work week consists of 20-30 hours of teaching and leaves plenty of time in which one can travel and explore the place. A BA degree is not mandatory for teaching in the country, but most prospective employers prefer one. Those looking for a job in one of the major job markets such as in cities such as Arequipa, Cusco, and Lima should produce a TEFL certificate.
While it is not necessary for prospective teachers to produce a Bachelor’s degree in order to land a secure job, employers usually prefer one. Not having a degree could mean a long and arduous job search process.
Obtaining a work visa for teaching in Peru is not the common practice. English teachers are found to be working under the table with the help of a tourist visa which does not constitute a legal work visa. Anyone choosing to follow this method must take on the responsibility of being informed of the potential consequences of such a practice.
