 Teach English in Chile Program
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FAQs
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FAQs 
Why am I required to pay a placement fee?
TeachingChile supports Chile's English educational needs by matching an applicant's skills with reputable kindergarten through 12th grade schools, universities, and adult-learner language institutes. Our network of schools does not subsidize TeachingChile, nor does TeachingChile take a percentage of your monthly salary while you are in Chile.
The placement fee you pay covers a number of key services including, but not limited to:
- accepted applicants receive an express-mailed job offer from a reputable Chilean school, visa processing arrangements, and preferred housing reservations, all of which are confirmed before the applicant boards the airplane to teach in Chile,
- screening of the best teaching opportunities for our participants with a monthly salary sufficient to cover your basic living needs at the local standard of living,
- first 22-30 days of prepaid lodging in a pre-selected location with other TeachingChile participants arriving at the same time,
- assistance in finding affordable long-term housing during the first 22-30 prepaid days of lodging,
- secure and prepaid Santiago airport transfer to the prepaid lodging,
- experienced in-country coordinators to provide support and services during your stay,
- in-country orientation,
- pre-departure information to ensure you are prepared for your trip including resident visa advice and assistance, and other recommendations to be sure you are properly equipped.
With TeachingChile you are guaranteed a worthwhile teaching placement and a professional network to guide you through it.
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What is the cost of living in Chile?
To view our Cost of Living Guide, click here (PDF file format).
Note: While the information in our Cost of Living Guide is expressed in Chilean pesos, and conversions are extended into a number of different currencies for your relative understanding, it is important to recognize that you will be paid in Chilean pesos and spend your earnings in Chilean pesos.
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What type of visa will I need, how will I obtain it, and what will it cost me?
In all cases, TeachingChile always ensures and assists our program participants to obtain a valid long-term stay resident visa, in full accordance to Chilean law and procedures, for the duration of their teaching tenure.
The Chilean government offers three types of long-term stay resident visas for foreigners: estudiante (student), sujeta a contrato (subject to contract), and temporario (temporary). Each of these three visas types can be obtained either in the applicant's home country at a local Chilean Consulate or directly in Chile—thus six variants exist—and it is not your option to choose which one you want to have. Instead, the school that reviews your application and ultimately offers you a position will choose which type of resident visa they wish to sponsor and also whether you obtain that visa in your home country or in Chile. For this reason, it is not possible to answer this question with any precision until after your application has been received and an acceptance obtained from a sponsoring teaching institution.
The cost of the visa is the responsibility of the accepted applicant. Once an applicant has received an offer, TeachingChile will provide legalized sponsorship documents and step-by-step instructions on how to apply and obtain the visa. Applicants should not (and cannot) apply for the resident visa without these sponsorship documents.
The visa costs vary depending on your country of citizenship. The prices are set by the Chilean government and are based on a "reciprocity fee" established by the country in which you hold a current passport. For example, if you are a U.S. passport holder your visa cost will be what the U.S. government charges Chileans to obtain the same type of visa to enter the U.S. In a similar manner, if you are a British passport holder, your visa cost will be what the U.K. government charges Chileans to obtain the same type of visa to enter the U.K.
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What type of long-term housing arrangements have past TeachingChile participants had while in Chile?
The TeachingChile program is very flexible in terms of allowing its participants to live in locations and with whom they choose. In the urban centers, teachers may choose to live in residential neighborhoods near their school with a short commute, or may elect to live in a bohemian district (for example) that will involve a longer commute. The decisions are entirely up to the participant and the first 22-30 days of prepaid housing provides more than ample time to make the appropriate choice.
Historically, the following is an approximate breakdown of the living arrangement our past participants have chosen.
- 45% live with other TeachingChile participants in a fully-furnished shared housing arrangement.
- 45% live with local Chileans in a fully-furnished shared housing arrangement.
- 10% live alone in a fully-furnished apartment.
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Will I have access to a social network of other English-speaking persons during my time in Chile?
Absolutely! The TeachingChile program typically has 100+ participants resident in the country at any given time.
TeachingChile understands that, while our participants seek the full Spanish-language and cultural immersion, it is occasionally important to share the new learning with others in their native English language. For this reason TeachingChile organizes a number of optional free or low-cost weekend events through the year (e.g., mid-semester reunions, ski/snowboard trips, horseback riding, rafting, canopy, and surfing excursions, and more). Dates and registration details for these events are distributed to all in-country participants via a periodic email newsletter.
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Will my family and friends in my home country be able to contact me?
Yes, with today's Internet technology, your family and friends will have very easy and low-cost communication options available. Aside from free email and Facebook connectivity, Skype's voice and video communication from your laptop or from most cyber cafés in Chile have been a great source for our participants.
Additionally, upon arrival TeachingChile will assist you in purchasing a low-cost Chilean cell phone, and provide you with international dialing instructions that you can give to your family and friends to reach you on your personal cell phone.
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Do I need to have a college/university degree?
Yes, our network of schools requires that all applicants must have completed a degree prior to entering the country. Note, if you are still completing your degree, you can still apply, as long as your graduation date will be prior to your planned arrival/teaching date.
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I am not a native speaker of English. Can I still apply?
Our network of schools requires that all teachers must be native speakers of English.
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Can I contact a current or past TeachingChile participant?
Once your application is reviewed and accepted by a school in our network, we will provide you with a list of current and past participants to contact and ask as many candid and private questions as you want. However, as a manner of respect to those in our program, we do not provide a contact list to all of our current and past TeachingChile participants due to the high number of general inquiries we receive on a monthly basis. We will provide that same professional courtesy to you, once you have been accepted into the program.
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Do I have to know Spanish to apply?
No. All positions in which TeachingChile can place you do not require knowledge of Spanish. (In fact, as a rule Spanish is not allowed in your English class). However, any knowledge of the Spanish language will certainly enrich your experience in Chile. TeachingChile can recommend fast-paced Spanish language schools should you desire. See our Related Links section for recommendations.
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In the hours per week of classroom instruction I'll be committed to teaching, am I prohibited from doing freelance work, private tutoring, or volunteer work?
Participating teachers are not prohibited from doing freelance work, private tutoring, or volunteer work. However, given your visa will have been sponsored by the teaching institution, your primary responsibilities are with your sponsoring school's schedule.
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What is meant by 18 hours per week of "classroom instruction"?
In general, the teacher will conduct six classes per week, 1.5 hours per class; a total of 18 hours of face-to-face time with the students. Lesson preparation, review, and other necessary tasks are not included in the classroom hours' calculation. Some schools provide more than our baseline requirement of 18 hours.
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Is teaching experience necessary to participate?
No, but an interest in teaching is necessary.
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Where in Chile does TeachingChile offer placements?
Depending on the demand during a particular semester, most participants will be placed in Santiago, Viña del Mar, Valparaiso, Melipilla, Concepción, Puerto Montt, Rancagua, Rengo, Los Andes, La Serena, and others.
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Can I request a teaching assignment in the city of my choice?
You may submit a preference of teaching location with your application, but TeachingChile cannot guarantee that it will be able to honor your request.
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Can I be placed at the same institution as a friend also participating in the TeachingChile program?
TeachingChile will try to place travel companions within the same Chilean school or university or city if requested, but it cannot be guaranteed. Although every effort will be made to place friends together, please remember that this is not always possible.
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Can I bring my girlfriend/boyfriend or wife/husband with me when I teach in Chile?
Your partner may accompany you to Chile if they are able to obtain the proper resident visas on their own. Be advised that she or he does not have the right to work or attend school in Chile unless their visa documentation states they may do so. TeachingChile will only assist our accepted applicants in visa processing.
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I would like to apply with intentions of bringing my children to Chile with me. Can the TeachingChile program accommodate my children as well?
While culturally Chile is a very family-oriented country, the TeachingChile program is not set up to manage the important details needed to provide support for our participant's children—both prior to leaving their home country and during their time in Chile. Many of the issues involved, but not limited to, include: long-term stay resident visas, medical assistance, free housing during the first 22-30 days, and enrollment and placement for your children in a local Chilean school.
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Can I bring my cat or dog with me to Chile?
We love our pets and understand they are important for you, too. However, past TeachingChile participants have brought their pet and it has been problematic. You will not be able to take advantage of the prepaid lodging during your first 22-30 days, plus most permanent housing options will not allow pets. Additionally, your pet may be quarantined prior to entering Chile and also when trying to bring it back with you to your home country. As difficult as it may be to endure, we suggest that your beloved pet remain at home with a family member or friend during your teaching tenure in Chile.
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