Teaching in Chile | Teaching in Chile

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Teaching in Chile

Chile is a great country. Teaching English in Chile is the perfect way to learn Spanish and explore a vibrant friendly culture. Teaching in Chile is NOT going to make you a fortune.

In most cases, teaching jobs in Chile do NOT include airfare, housing OR medical. This is definitely something to consider before getting to far into your research. If you have student loans or debt of some description, you are better off considering Korea or Taiwan or an Asian or Middle Eastern country.

What is Teaching in Chile Like?

Chile Information - Teaching in Chile

Chile’s spectacular Pacific coastline and Andean highlands make it a spectacular backdrop for a teaching job. The country is known for its warm and friendly people and its European atmosphere. It is also known for its thriving indigenous traditions and incredible, breathtaking national parks that draw adventurous spirits from around the world.

The students range dramatically in their ability to speak English based on their socio-economical status. In the public schools the English proficiency is rudimentary and the resources are limited.

The Ministry of Education is working on developing curriculum and programs to support the initiative to increase the national level of English but these steps are in their infancy.

If you're interested in teaching in Chile I highly recommend taking a TESL/TEFL course to prepare yourself.

Teaching in a Semi-Private School in Chile

Chile Information - Teaching in Chile

My school is great. There are usually about 40 children in a class. I'm in an all girls' school which I really enjoy. A friend of mine is in a school that is co-ed.

I can’t even express to you how loving the children are. They are really interested in learning English or about culture from English speaking countries. I’m teaching 3rd grade through 10th grade and I’m doing kindergarten once a week.

The teachers are so helpful. Ashley teaches her classes a little more independently than I do. I’m team teaching. At the beginning it was a little frustrating because I wanted to spend more time with the children teaching and felt like I was mostly assisting but now I have at least half of the time to teach each class. For example I’ll go to 4th grade for 45 minutes and then the other teacher takes over while I go to 7th grade.

My principal is wonderful. She calls me her daughter and really tries to make me feel at home. She is very motivated to improve the English department with me here and its nice to have that support.

As far as materials go, I have access to the internet, a copy machine, and a tape player. Other than that I’m making my own things or buying them. There are teaching stores but nothing like we have at home. Anyone that is coming here should consider buying a good deal of teaching supplies at home because they are cheaper and more efficient.

What if I can’t speak Spanish?

Chile Information - Teaching in Chile

Well, there are plenty of people that live in Santiago that don’t speak Spanish. For the most part you will be able to pick up things very quickly as it is a Romance language (Latin based). It’s recommended that you get a phrase book and try and practice basic things. Try and find a native speaker to practice your accent if at all possible.

If you do speak Spanish, prepare yourself. Chilean Spanish is full of slang and words that you will find are not used in any other Latin American country. Combine that with a manner of speaking in which letters are dropped and you will wonder if Chileans are even speaking Spanish. After the initial adjustment period, you will find that once you can speak Chilean Spanish, you can speak Spanish with anyone. For the most part, you will find it difficult to find locales in which English is widely spoken unless you are in Providencia or Las Condes. You may find that even though someone understands English, they might not like to speak it. Chileans are very proud and rather than speak English and be wrong they would rather not speak.

Why teach in Chile?

Chile Information - Teaching in Chile

There are loads of reasons to teach in Chile:

Chile has the most diverse climate of any single country in the world.
The people are wonderfully accommodating.
Exposure to Latin American culture.
Learn Spanish, if you can speak and understand Spanish here in Chile, you can speak Spanish anywhere, cachay? (pronounced catch- meaning “Get it?” or “Understand?”)
Travel, from the Lakes Region and Patagonia in the south, or San Pedro de Atacama in the North