 Teach English in Chile Program
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Teaching English in Chile 
TeachingChile is a recruitment and placement company, headquartered in Santiago, Chile. We provide full-service assistance for qualified applicants to 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.
TeachingChile works closely with Chilean schools and universities, all with the common goal to advance the nation’s working knowledge of English. We offer a number of teaching opportunities to work with students in three distinct categories: children ages 5 to 18 (grades Kindergarden-12), university level, and adult learners, based upon your interest and experience level.
The schools within the TeachingChile network are not seeking volunteers to work for free or for a small monthly stipend. Instead TeachingChile program participants receive a full monthly salary, directly from the school, comparable to what local Chilean teachers earn.
Chile’s school system is divided into two semesters:the first commencing roughly the 1st of March and the second around the 1st of August. TeachingChile’s opportunities are typically five- and ten-month programs which include an in-country orientation and extensive training prior to each semester’s session commencing. Some institutes require teachers from abroad commit for one full year; others are flexible.
As a participant in our program, you will be complementing a major, multi-faceted program initiative established by Chile’s Ministry of Education named “English Opens Doors”. Additionally, with your participation in the local community you will be afforded opportunities to learn more about Chile’s culture and the impact your contributions will have on its economy.
“English Opens Doors”
Chile continually rates highest amongst all Latin American countries for safety, and for economic and political stability. In an effort to further establish the country as an economic leader, Chile’s former president, Ricardo Lagos, stated the country must have a better working knowledge of English if it intends to be more competitive. The Ministry of Education has reiterated that point stating “Education is the wealth of Chile and English opens doors to increase that wealth.”
Your effort will be fully aligned with these major initiatives for improving English skills throughout all of Chile.
Testimonials from Past Participants
Click here to see testimonials from past participants.
Participant Responsibilities
Based upon your interests and experience, and the demand at the time, participants will be placed in a public or public-private school (ranging from grades kindergarden through 12), in a university (undergraduate level only), or within a language institute (adult learners). For univeristy level and adult-learner students, teachers take sole responsibility for the English class instruction. For the K-12 students, teachers will most likely be involved in a co-teacher setting, working alongside a Chilean teacher with full shared responsiblities.
In all cases you will be involved with preparing lessons, outside class activities such as an “English Club”, creating instruction materials, grading and more. Your host teaching institution will provide an in-country orientation and institution-specific methodology training relevant to your assignment.
Housing
All participants will receive three-weeks (four weeks if the institution provides for such) of rent-free furnished accommodations starting the first day of the in-country orientation. After this rent-free period, TeachingChile will assist you in finding housing. Most participants have opted to share a furnished apartment with one or more other participants or with Chileans. In these cases, participants generally buy and cook their own food. Other participants choose to live with host families near their assigned school or university, enriching their cultural experience. In many cases, the monthly rent you will pay from your salary to a host family will include one or more meals.
Salary
TeachingChile participants are not expected to be volunteers. Instead they will receive directly from the school a montly salary comparable to what local Chilean English teachers earn. Schools in TeachingChile's network pay a minimum monthly salary of $335,000 Chilean pesos for 15 weekly hours of classroom time (more can be earned if more hours are worked). In all cases the monthly salary is paid directly to the participant from the teaching institution; nothing is withdrawn from the participant's paycheck to pay TeachingChile.
The salary is competitive to the wages that local Chilean teachers earn and sufficient for participants to meet basic living costs at the local standard of living. For most this salary is sufficient; some choose to augment it with their own personal funds and or pick up side jobs teaching/tutoring with private clients. Click here to view our Cost of Living Guide.
Placements
TeachingChile always attempts to meet an applicant’s placement requests whenever possible. In the application process, we will examine your placement preferences for a K-12 , university, or adult learner school. Based upon the demand during any given month, and if you are accepted, you will be provided with a job offer and given one week to accept or reject the offer.
Program Duration
All TeachingChile programs involve a minimum five-month/one semester commitment. TeachingChile does offer ten-month (two semesters), and one-year programs as well. Participants in the first semester programs will depart end of February and can return mid-July. Second semester participants will depart for Chile end of July and can return mid-December.
While most of our network of teaching institutions hire only on the semester basis, we do work with some that hire new teachers every month, without regard to the semester academic calendar.
For all programs, the participant’s teaching term will be prefaced by an in-country orientation and training session.
Program Placement Fee
Given the program is not supported by external funding, an $1,095 USD program placement fee will be charged and payable (in two installments) only upon acceptance of a job offer. This fee covers a variety of services that TeachingChile provides to the participant:
- screening of the best teaching opportunities for our participants with a competitive monthly salary sufficient to cover your basic living needs at the local standard of living,
- assistance in finding affordable lodging, the first 3-4 weeks of which are prepaid, depending on the school's program
- visa assistance that will allow you to stay legally in Chile for the duration of your teaching experience,
- experienced in-country coordinators to provide support and services during your stay,
- in-country orientation and training,
- a one-year subscription to an online English-language Chilean news service, and
- pre-departure information to ensure you are prepared for your trip including visa advice and other recommendations to be sure you are properly equipped.
Emergency and Non-emergency Medical Coverage
TeachingChile recommends that all accepted participants purchase an emergency medical coverage policy which will cover the participant from date of departure from the home country through the duration in Chile. This covers the participant for urgent higher-cost medical needs.
For non-emergency medical needs (for example only, an ear-ache, sprained ankle, flu conditions, X-Rays) that need attention, TeachingChile has contracted with a Santiago-based medical clinic for a 20% discount for all TeachingChile participants. A bi-lingual member of TeachingChile’s staff will help arrange all doctor appointments and even accompany you at the doctor’s appointment and subsequent pharmacy visit to purchase the appropriate medication if needed.
Additional Expenses
In addition to the program placement fee, participants will be expected to pay for roundtrip air travel from country of origin to Chile, all transportation costs within Chile, all housing, food, and other incidental expenses, proof of medical insurance, and a visa (if applicable). For an idea of the cost of living in Chile, click here.
Skill Requirements
Depending on the type of program, participant skill requirements will differ. For example, past teaching experience, TEFL or TESOL certification, prior experience living abroad, and proficiency in Spanish all vary based upon the type of program and teaching institution in which the participant will be placed. In most cases, none of the above are required.
Special TeachingChile Sponsored Events
We understand that our participants, while as independent as they are, enjoy the camaraderie with our fellow program participants, from the start of the program and throughout their stay in Chile. For this reason, TeachingChile sponsors a mid-semester event for all participants (in the Santiago area). To view year 2008 events, click here. (Year 2009 sponsored events have not been scheduled).
Testimonials from Past Participants
Click here to see testimonials from past participants.
Applications
To apply, download an application from our website.
Submitting your application early increases your chance of placement!! |
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