How to Teach English in Chile in 2021
Disclaimer: This post includes two referral links for the online teaching companies I work with. Some links are affiliate links – this means that if you use one of my links, at no extra cost to you I receive a small commission which helps support my life abroad. Gracias!!
The pandemic has impacted how teaching English in Chile looks; however, it doesn’t make it impossible.
Teaching English is one of the most popular ways to move to Chile and abroad. Different teaching opportunities allow you to qualify and apply for a temporary resident visa.
My Experience Teaching English in Chile.
In March of 2019, I moved to Santiago, Chile, to teach English at a technical college. I went through CIEE’s Teach in Chile program.
I am currently living in Chile, but I am working as an independent contractor teaching online. More on that later.
General Information We Need to Cover
- The school year in Chile begins in March and ends in December.
- Borders are currently closed until the end of June.
- You need a TEFL certification to teach English abroad( and a Bachelors’s Degree).
What does teaching in Chile look like in 2021?
As a result of the pandemic, many programs either stopped taking applicants, and others closed down altogether. Additionally, most students in all grades are learning remotely, therefore, removing the in-classroom experience as an option.
If your dream is to teach in person, right now, that is not possible in Chile. However, if you want to start your adventure sooner rather than later, there are online teaching positions in Chile you can apply for.
Teaching Online in Chile
Let’s call this option A.
If you want to move abroad to Chile in the next couple of months, this is your best bet. With these options, you are teaching online. You can apply for a temporary resident visa as long as the company provides you with a contracto, contract, which is one of the documents you need to apply for the visa.
Here are three routes you can take.
CIEE
CIEE offers free job placement assistance in Chile for current students and alumni of their 150-hour TEFL certification course.
This is an excellent option if you do not have your TEFL because you can get it with CIEE and then use the placement assistance offered in Chile.
Check out their website here.
Beyond English
You teach adults or kids 4-14 years old and must be authorized to work in the U.S or Chile.
See all the info here.
The Language Co.
A language company that offers different options to teach online. From adults to kids. They provide you with a contract, one of the documents you need to apply for your temporary resident visa.
You need to be a native English speaker with a Bachelor’s degree. For more info on their requirements or to apply, click here.
Classroom Experience
Option B
If you are looking for classroom experience, whether you are a language assistant or the main teacher, unfortunately, you will have to wait for these opportunities.
As I previously mentioned, almost all students are doing remote learning, which will likely be the case until the end of the school year in December and potentially in 2022 (TBD).
I recommend checking around September – November because if programs open and accept applicants, they will be recruiting/ hiring for the 2022 school year around this time.
Here are some programs to check as the new school approaches.
English Opens Doors Program
The Chilean Ministry of Education runs this program. They provide a stipend for all volunteers, wave the visa fee, and have placements through all of Chile. Note they are currently not accepting applicants for 2021 but have not said anything about the 2022 school year. More info here.
Check theses out:
CIEE’s Teach in Chile Program and English First (EF) are programs that previously had in-classroom opportunities but are currently closed. Again, I would check around September to see if they open back up.
Two great additional resources for teaching abroad positions are Dave’s ESL Cafe and Teach Away. They are job boards with positions all over the world and resources. Go Overseas is like Yelp for Teach Abroad Programs. Here you can read reviews from past participants and get a feel for the programs. Keep in mind some of the programs for Chile that are listed are currently closed or on pause.
Tip: Always make sure you read the requirements of the program or position. You will almost always need a Bachelors’s degree( any field) and a TEFL certification. If you need a financially friendly option, check out this option.
A Shorter Term Option with Less Commitment.
Option C
Let’s say you want to get a taste but not commit for a year. This might be your path to living in Chile.
This is the one I am currently doing. I am in Chile with a tourist visa and teaching English online with two companies based in China. Whales English and VIPKID.
If you would like guidance on the process for WE or VIPKID make sure to send me an email.
This option is suitable if you are a digital nomad or have a remote job.
As a U.S Passport holder, you can enter Chile on a tourist visa. The tourist visa is for 90 days ( 3 months). After you are in Chile, you can extend your tourist visa for 3 additional months for a total of 180 days or 6 months ( of course, when borders open).
*check your country for specific details about tourist visas. *
If you don’t have a remote job and want to teach, you can teach online with ESL companies. For example, I work for two companies based in China, and you get paid in USD. There are so many available you have to see what is the best option for you.
The downside to this option is you can’t get a Chilean ID or open a bank account, but you can experience Chilean day-to-day life and travel. If you decide you want to stay longer, you can find a job with one of the companies I previously mentioned and apply for a temporary resident visa.
En Fin
Teaching in Chile looks a bit different because of the pandemic, but it is possible to teach in Chile and call this beautiful country home.
Suerte!
