Teach English in Chile

Due to its wide range in latitude and coast to mountains geography, Chile offers a wide range of climates and cultures for the teacher visitor.

Formalities

Most teachers will arrive on a tourist visa and then seek employment. Schools can help you arrange a temporary residence permit and from there you can get legal working papers.  To get a school to help you with this you are going to need to be willing to sign a one year contract.  Otherwise, tourist visa it is, but many teachers ply their trade on a tourist visa without serious difficulty.

Teaching Jobs

Demand is strong for teachers and a good portion of your weekly teaching schedule will involve teaching business English.  The smart teacher will get a Certificate in Teaching Business English before arriving and enhance their employment possibilities.

Wages and Benefits

Language institutes tend to pay about US$10-12 an hour and that rate goes up for teaching on site at a company class or on the weekend.  Universities and college hire regularly but like a graduate degree or a public school teaching license from your home country.  Private tutoring can be a profitable past-time with going rates at about US$20-$25 an hour.

What Schools Provide

Language schools will provide an hourly wage and not much else.  Public schools will sometimes provide free accommodation along with the job.

What is Expected of You

Language schools will have your working 15-30 hours a week depending on your popularity with their clients. Public school jobs will have you teaching about 25 hours per week and you will be expected to participate in extra-curricular activities (sports day, outings, etc.).

Better schools will want you to have a bachelor’s degree and and a TEFL certification. As always, once you move away from the big cities, things get more flexible.

Public and private K-12 schools will want you to be licensed by your home state or province for teaching public school.