Teaching English in Latin America

Overview

Latin America is home to some of the most talkative and sociable groups of people on the planet. The larger-than-life characters who reside in every English class will ensure that your teaching career in this part of the world is nothing short of a joyous and passionate experience.

There is an increasing demand for native English teachers by the business communities of large cities in South America, including Buenos Aires, Bogota, and Mexico City. Because of strong commercial links, the preference is for American English as opposed to British English so American and Canadian teachers may be at an advantage. In addition, those who can speak Spanish or Portuguese will also find settling in a great deal easier.

Work is available at the usual language center franchises although many starting jobs are paid by the hour and it can take time to build up the contacts to obtain a good salary. Flights from/to the teacher’s country of origin are only very occasionally paid for by the company. Several nations in South America have bilingual schools that generally pay better than language centers. In many cases, it is much easier to find work ‘on the ground’ as speculative emails are often not replied to if sent from overseas. Check the local English language press when in the country. Living costs vary. This region of the world is perhaps the most vibrant of all. Just think of all the festivals and carnivals!

Locations and Salary

Country	Main Cities/Areas	Salary range (USD/month)
Argentina	Buenos Aires	$800 – $1500
Belize	Belmopan	$500 – $800
Bolivia	La Paz, Santa Cruz	$500 – $1000
Brazil	Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro	$800 – $1500
Chile	Santiago, Iquique, Puerto Montt	$800 – $1500
Colombia	Bogota	$700 – $1000
Costa Rica	San Jose	$800 – $1300
Ecuador	Quito, Cuenca	$600 – $1200
Guatemala	Guatemala City, Antigua	$500 – $1200
Honduras	Tegucigalpa, San Pedro Sula	$500 – $1200
Mexico	Mexico City, Chiapas	$800 – $1500
Nicaragua	Granada, Managua	$500 – $800
Panama	Panama City	$800 – $1500
Paraguay	Asuncion	$500 – $1000
Peru	Lima, Cusco	$500 – $1200
Puerto Rico	San Juan, Ponce	$1200 – $2000
Uruguay	Montevideo	$500 – $1000
Venezuela	Caracas	$500 – $1000

Typical Job Requirements

Country	Degree?	TEFL Certification?	Experience?
Argentina	No	Yes	No
Belize	Yes	Yes	No
Bolivia	Yes	Yes	No
Brazil	Yes	Yes	No
Chile	Yes	Yes	No
Colombia	Yes	Yes	No
Costa Rica	No	Yes	No
Ecuador	No	Yes	No
Guatemala	Yes	Yes	No
Honduras	Yes	Yes	No
Mexico	No	Yes	No
Nicaragua	No	Yes	No
Panama	Yes	Yes	No
Paraguay	Yes	Yes	No
Peru	No	Yes	No
Puerto Rico	Yes	Yes	No
Uruguay	Yes	Yes	No
Venezuela	Yes	Yes	No

Fun Fact About Latin America:

One interesting fact about Latin America that would be of interest to an English teacher is that it is home to the most Spanish speakers in the world. With over 400 million people speaking Spanish as their first language, Latin America offers a vast range of dialects, accents, and cultural nuances within the Spanish language. This diversity can provide an enriching learning experience for English teachers and their students, as it presents opportunities to explore various regional differences, idiomatic expressions, and literary traditions across Latin American countries.