Everything You Need To Know About Teaching English In Chile

Although the most popular type of work teaching in Chile is at private language centres, it’s very common for teachers in Chile to work at public schools too. To work in a public school, applicants usually apply through recruitment agencies rather than directly to schools. If you’re successful in your application, the agency will usually place you in one or more schools and arrange a teaching schedule for you. This is a good option if it’s your first experience teaching English abroad and you feel that you need a bit of extra support.

Another popular option for those teaching in Chile is to teach private classes. This type of work is usually done in addition to a full-time job. It’s not the kind of work you can arrange in advance; you’ll generally build up a clientele of private students after working in Chile for a while and getting to know people around you. Once you get one or two private students, that should get the ball rolling and they will recommend you to other learners.

It is also possible to teach at private schools in Chile. However, to be eligible for these jobs, you’ll need a teaching license or a Master’s degree in education. Like teaching private classes, this kind of work is also easier to find once you’re on the ground in Chile.

If you are a fluent English speaker, you are technically eligible to start teaching in Chile. Employers do tend to give preference to those with a passport from Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, the UK or the US. However, much like the rest of South America and Central America, Chilean employers are willing to consider passport holders from around the world as long as your level of English is up to scratch.

When it comes to qualifications, there are no official qualifications needed to teach English in Chile. However, those with a Bachelor’s degree will usually be given preference by employers and a TEFL certificate is certainly helpful. Some employers will ask for a degree and a CELTA, but this is not essential to teach English in Chile.

The cost of living in Chile is fairly low, particularly taking into account its comparatively good living standards. You’re unlikely to get accommodation as part of your TEFL package but you can normally rent an apartment fairly cheaply – and many TEFL teachers in Chile can afford to live by themselves. For example, a one-bed apartment in the city centre might set you back around 300,000 CLP (£350 / $450) per month.

On average, you can expect to spend around 500,000 CLP – 800,000 CLP / £550 – £950 / $750 – $1,200 USD per month on living costs. Both a litre of milk and a standard loaf of cost around 790 CLP (£0.90 / $1.20). A meal in a relatively inexpensive restaurant costs around 5,000 CLP (£6 / $7.50) and a three-course meal for two can set you back around 25,000 CLP (£30 / $37).

Chile is the perfect location for explorers and adventurers, jam-packed with outdoor activities across a unique terrain. This long, thin country boasts 6,000km of coastline on one side and the Andes mountain range just a few hundred kilometres away on the other side. The majority of the country is made up of mountainous areas and is known for excellent hiking, both well-trodden paths and undiscovered trails. Torres del Paine is perhaps one of Chile’s most famous trekking spots – this national park is a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve home to lagoons, rivers, glaciers, waterfalls and more.

Outside of Chile’s natural beauty and stunning scenery, the country has a bit of an obsession with football. You can expect to find locals watching plenty of football as well as playing it on football fields across the country.

Chile has quite a traditional, family-orientated culture with a heavy influence from the Roman Catholic church. In fact, divorce was illegal up until 2004. Families are close to each other with extended family meeting up regularly for national holidays, birthdays and other celebrations.

Other parts of the Chilean culture have a heavy Spanish influence as well as influence from the indigenous Mapuche people. Traditional folk music and dance play a big part in Chile, with different types of music and dance being local to different parts of the country.

When it comes to meeting and greeting, presentation is important in Chilean culture. You’ll find that what you wear and the way you dress is judged by others, especially in working situations. So, if you’re unsure about what to wear to a certain event or place, it’s best to dress smarter than you need to! Families will great each other with affection hugs and kisses, but outside of the family unit, it’s more usual for men to shake hands and women to pat each other on the arm or shoulder. You should call people Senor (for men) or Senora (for women) followed by their surname unless they ask you to call them something else.

Chilean food has lots of similarities to Spanish cuisine, with pork, chicken, potatoes, wheat and beans making frequent appearances in popular dishes. Chilean meals tend to be quite rich and heavy but full of flavour – Spanish bread (tortilla) is served with lots of dishes, stews and soups are very popular, and local wine is added to many recipes. With miles of coastline, Chile is also known for some great seafood, especially salmon.

Fish dishes not to be missed include Paila Marina – shellfish soup, Almejas a la Parmesana – saltwater clams and parmesan, and Caldilla de Congrio – cusk-eel stew. Other Chilean meals to tantalise the taste buds are Empanadas – classic stuffed pastries usually fried or baked, Cazuela – a beef or chicken broth with coriander, corn noodles, potatoes and pumpkin, and Completo – a Chilean hot dog served with mayonnaise, sauerkraut and tomatoes. To top it all off, wash this delicious food down with Mote con Huesillos – a sweet peach nectar drink filled with husked wheat and dried peaches.

Most TEFL employers in Chile will expect you to find and pay for your own accommodation. It’s not usual for accommodation to be included in TEFL teaching contracts here. House shares are common and it’s relatively easy to find both local housemates as well as other foreign teachers to live with.

One thing to keep in mind is that your deposit won’t usually be refunded at the end of your stay. So, it’s worth shopping around the find accommodation with a low deposit.

Chile is a long, thin country – approximately 4,300 kilometres in total! – with a variety of climates. The north of the country is home to desert terrain, the centre of the country has lush green scenery and the south of the country sees snowy mountains.

Overall, the climate is Chile is considered tropical with warm rainy summers and slightly cooler dry winters. The average temperature year-round is roughly 27°C.

In Santiago, the hottest months are December, January and February with average temperatures of 20°C to 21°C. The coolest months are June and July with an average temperature of 9°C. In Concepcion, the temperature is around 26°C from October to March and then drops to a low of around 21°C in July. Whereas, the temperature in La Serena ranges from 12°C to 18°C.