An Overview of Job Prospects for Teaching English in Latin America
Work in Latin America
English Language Links Visitors and Residents
By Susan Griffith
The vast continent of South America holds an almost infinite range of opportunities for anyone who aspires to share his or her native English. From the specialized training for the business communities of Santiago and Caracas to the informal conversation exchanges with Mexican fishermen and Peruvian waiters, the English language provides a key link between visitors and residents.
Apart from a few popular cities, seldom do you find the glut of teachers you find elsewhere in the world, possibly because South America is often pictured as a place of poverty and crime, danger and corruption, dictators and drug barons. In fact, South America is home to a staggering variety of charming and generous people from café-culture urbanites to street kids, many of whom are eager to meet travelers and improve their knowledge of the gringos’ native tongue. The stampede to learn English seems unstoppable.
In the big cities the greatest demand for English comes from the business community. And because of the strong commercial links between the two American continents, the demand tends to be for American English. The whole continent is culturally and economically oriented towards the U.S.
Among the most important providers of English language training are American Bi-National Centers and Cultural Centers—in Brazil alone there are 25 Brazilian-American Cultural Institutes (ICBEUs) plus 16 in Argentina and nine in Mexico. Information on the centers, including email addresses, can be found on the web at exchanges.state.gov/englishteaching/index.html. The English Language Fellows Program places TESL/TEFL graduates in language centers abroad including binational centers for ten months. Individual centers are all engaged in the teaching of English, some on such a large scale that they employ more than 20 teachers. While some want a commitment from teachers to stay for two years, others are happy to take someone on for shorter periods or part-time. While some require teachers with a BA/MA in TESL from a US university, others are looking for no more than a good command of English (whatever the accent).
Novice teachers are more likely to be employed by one of the language school chains like English First and Wall Street Institutes which at first offer part-time contracts and relatively low wages. For contact details for indigenous schools in a number of South American countries see links from the web site www.inglesnet.com.
Several South American nations have American- or British-style bilingual schools and colegios. Although they normally hire state-accredited teachers, a number take on students and university graduates looking for brief periods of work experience as classroom assistants
Voluntary and international exchange organizations which arrange for fee-paying young people to do English tutoring include WorldTeach, www.worldteach.org, with programs in Costa Rica, Chile, Ecuador and Guyana, and Alliances Abroad, www.allianceabroad.com, whose destination countries include Ecuador, Brazil, Argentina, Peru and Costa Rica. An increasing number of language schools offer Spanish instruction to paying foreigners in the mornings and arrange a community volunteer program in the afternoons, for example, CIS-MAM in El Salvador . Bridge-Linguatec Language Services based in Denver, www.bridgetefl.com, is a language training company which offers TEFL teacher certification and job placement programs in Latin America and worldwide. TEFL training with Bridge Linguatec lasting from two to four weeks is available in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico and Peru. Other TEFL training colleges in the U.S. like Transworld Schools and the Boston Language Institute send a number of their graduates to posts in Latin America.
Even the poorest of Latin American nations offer possibilities to EFL teachers, provided they are prepared to accept a low wage. In contrast to an hourly wage of $10-$30 in Europeanized cities like Santiago and Rio, the wages paid by language schools in La Paz and Quito may be closer to $3.
Picking up Casual Work
Many aspiring teachers find that the response to sending their resumés to addresses abroad is disappointment. It is better to present yourself in person although having sent a “warm-up” resumé beforehand can do your cause no harm. Finding casual teaching work is a matter of asking around and knocking on enough doors. Check ads in the English language press such as Mexico City’s Herald or the Caracas Daily Journal. Now that Argentina is beginning to recover from its economic crisis, the Buenos Aires Herald is again becoming a promising source of teacher job vacancies.
English language bookstores are another possible source of teaching leads; try for example the English Book Center in Guayaquil ( Ecuador) or Books and Bits in Santiago ( Chile). Many foreign teachers are simultaneously learning Spanish, so a good place to link up with people in the know is to visit the local Instituto de Lengua Espanola para Extranjeros or its equivalent. Check the telephone directory for schools or agencies. In Lima and Quito the clubhouses of South America Explorers (see below) keep a list of language institutes and the expat staff will be happy to share information with members.
Credentials Not Required
Teachers tend to agree that Latin American students are a joy to teach because they love to talk. If you have plenty of enthusiasm in addition to a good education, are carrying references and diplomas, and are prepared to stay for an academic year, it should be possible to fix up a contract with a well-established language institute. Many institutes offer their own compulsory pre-job training.
The academic year begins in February or early March and lasts until December. The best time to look for work is a few weeks before the end of the summer holidays. However, many institutes run 8- to 12-week courses year round and will hire a native speaker whatever the time of year.
In-company teaching usually takes place early in the morning; a popular starting time is 7 a.m. People learning English outside their workplaces usually sign up for evening lessons. Most teachers enjoy the off-site teaching more than classroom teaching, which tends to be more textbook-based.
Work visas require gathering a battery of documents—including notarized and officially translated copies of teaching qualifications, a police clearance, etc.—and paying a hefty fee. Consequently, a high percentage of teachers work on tourist visas. These must be kept up-to-date by applying for an extension from the immigration department or by crossing into and back from a neighboring country.
Not only will a stint of teaching be good for learning a language, it will give you the chance to experience the Latin zest for life.
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English Teaching Contacts in Latin America
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Argentina
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The American Training Company, Viamonte 577, 8° , 1053 Buenos Aires; 011-54-11-5031 3939; contactenos@americantrainingco.com.ar. In-company part-time work. Must have TEFL certificate.
CAIT (Capacitacion en Interpretacion y Traducciones), Maipú 863, 3rd Fl. C, 1006 Buenos Aires, Argentina; 011-54-11-4311 8544; fax 011-54-11-4314 2583; cait@ciudad.com.ar. About 30 freelance teachers for in-company language training, must be available for local interview.
Colonias de Inmersion al Idioma (CII), Fernando Damian Carro, Casilla de Correo 044, Sucursal Plaza Italia, 1425 Buenos Aires; 011-54-11-4831 8152; www.coloniasdeinmersionalidioma.com. Program for 25-35 university students and graduates from any English-speaking country. Homestay accommodation with full board, small stipend, Spanish coaching and TEFL training given.
Interchange Language Service, Islas Malvinas 542, 1878, Quilmes, Buenos Aires Province; 011-54-11-4253 8556; www.Interchangels.com.ar. Business English.
Road2Argentina, Av. Pueyrredón 1535, 10B, 1118 Buenos Aires; 011-54-11-4821 3271; www.road2argentina.com. Cultural exchange and language immersion program with possibility of ESL teaching and training courses.
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Bolivia
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Centro Boliviano Americano (CBA) , Parque Iturralde Zenon 121, Casilla 12024, La Paz; 011-591-2-430107; cbalp@caoba.entelnet.bo. The Binational Centers in Bolivia are the largest English language provider in Bolivia with four locations in La Paz plus schools in Cochabamba, Sucre and Santa Cruz de la Sierra (www.cba.com.bo).
Speakeasy Institute, Av. Arce 2047, La Paz; 011-591-2-244 1779; www.speakeasyinstitute.com. Qualified TEFL teachers for 6-12 months.
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Brazil
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Britannia Schools, Central Department, ,Rua General Rabelo 36, Gávea, Rio de Janeiro, RJ-22451-010; Tel/fax 011-55-21-2511 0143; gavea@britannia.com.br, www.britannia.com.br. Also: Rua Garcia D’Avila 58, Ipanema; 011-55-21-2511 0940. Employ 30 native speaker teachers with TEFL certification for schools in Rio de Janeiro and Porto Alegre. Despite name, North American teachers are hired. CELTA Certificate course offered.
IICA Brazil, Instituto de Intercậmbios e Cultura Americana, Avenida 29, 1251 Ituiutaba, Minas Gerais 38300-114; 011-55-34-3269 6099. Runs a trainee teacher scheme lasting 6 or 12 months for candidates aged over 20 with some teaching experience. Homestay accommodation is provided and a monthly salary is paid.
Lex English Language Services, Rua Humberto 1, No. 298Bloco B, 2°Andar, Sala 2, Vila Mariana, Sao Paulo 04018-030, SP; 011-55-11-5-84 4613. Looking especially for lawyers or law students to teach legal English.
New Start Comunicacoes Ltda., Rua Uruguiana 10/1211, Centro, 20050-090 Rio de Janeiro, RJ; 011-55-21-2508 6917; newstart@newstart.com.br; www.newstart.com.br. TEFL certificate required and preferably professional experience in a non-teaching area. Hourly rate of R$28 (US$13+).
Schütz & Kanomata ESL, Rua Rio Branco 550, Santa Cruz do Sul 96820-040; 011-55-51-3715 3366; www.sk.com.br. Exchange program of ESL teaching for Portuguese learning.
Wizard, Rua Marechal Henrique Lott 120/107, Barra da Tijuca, 22631 390 Rio de Janeiro; www.wizard.com.br . More than 1,000 branches listed on web site, though most hire locally. |
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Chile
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Typically these schools may offer a newcomer no more than a few hours of teaching work, gradually working up to a full timetable after a probationary three months. American job-seekers, especially those with a TEFL background, should approach one of the Institutos Chileno Norteamericano including the one in Santiago listed here.
Academia de Idiomas del Norte, Ramirez 1345, Iquique; 011-56-57-411827; www.languages.cl. Language institute in northern Chile.
Acpen Academy, Avda. 11 de Septiembre 1860, Of 123, Providencia, Santiago; Tel/fax 011-56-2-252 0465; www.acpen-academy.cl. Contract available only to teachers with work permits.
Berlitz Language Centers, San Martin, 524, Concepcion; 011-56-41-239936; www.berlitz-biobio.cl. Several other branches in Santiago (linked from berlitz.com).
EF English First, Hernando de Aguirre 215, Providencia, Santiago; 011-56-2-374 2180; chile@ef.com; www.ef-chile.cl. Large EFL staff for this branch and another in Huechuraba in the Santiago region.
Fischer English Institute, Cirujano Guzman 49, Providencia, Santiago; 011-56-2-235 6667; www.fischerenglishinstitute.cl. Teaches both on- and off-site. Offers plenty of structure in planning lessons.
Instituto Chileno-Norteamericano de Cultura, Moneda No. 1467, (Casilla 9286), Santiago; 011-56-2-696 3215; info@norteamericano.cl. 15-20 teachers with experience.
Linguatec Language Center, Av. Los Leones 439, Providencia, Santiago; 011-56-2-233 4356 ext 15; www.bridgelinguatec.com. Large branch of U.S.-based teaching organization; head office 915 S Colorado Blvd., Denver, CO 80246; 303-777-7783. Compulsory 1-week training course for all accepted teachers which is unpaid but guarantees the offer of some hours of work on completion.
Next Level, Castellón 96, Of. 301, Concepción; 011-56-41-219813; www.nextlevel.cl. Teachers of conversational English hired form time to time.
Polyglot-Mitford Ltda, Guardia Vieja 181, Of. 1302, Providencia, Santiago; 011-56-2-233 3250; info@polyglot-mitford.cl. Employs 40-50 teachers a year.
Sam Marsalli, Av. Los Leones 1095, Providencia, Santiago; 011-56-2-328 9114; www.sammarsalli.cl/sammarsalli/welcome. Hires 60 North Americans only on one-year contracts.
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Colombia
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Colombia is even more strongly oriented towards the U.S. than elsewhere in South America with an extensive network of Colombian-American Cultural Centers around the country including the following which teach English:
Centro Cultural Colombo Bogotá, Avenida 19 No. 2-49, Bogotá; 011-57-1-560 6066, www.colombobogota.edu.co.
Centro Cultural Colombo Barranquillo, Carrera 43, No. 51-95, Apartado Aereo 2097, Barranquilla; 011-57-5-340 8084, fax 011-57-5-340 8549; colomboamericano@metrotel.net.co.
Other prominent schools include:
EF Education First, World Trade Center,Calle 100 # 8a-55, Torre C - Oficina 801, Bogotá; Tel. 011-57-1-616 1130; www.ef.com.co.
Praxis, www.praxis.edu.co. 5 schools in Bogotá hire native speakers for 3 months and pay $300 a month for a full-time timetable.
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Costa Rica
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Centro Cultural Costarricense Norteamericano, Apartado Postal 1489-1000 San José, Costa Rica; 011-506-207-7500; www.cccncr.com. Branches in San Pedro, La Sabana and Cartago. Compulsory pre-service training.
Idioma Internacional, La Uruca, San José; 506-290-1229; fax 506-290-1227; jobs@idiomacr.com; www.idiomacr.com/about_us.php. Qualified and serious candidates only.
Ingles Empresarial, Apdo. 12.471-1000, San José; 011-506-272-2000; teachingeslcostarica@hotmail.com; www.ingles-empresarial.com (click on “Teaching Opps”).
Instituto Britanico, Apartado 8184, San José 1000; 506-225 0256/234 9054; www.institutobritanico.co.cr. 15 full-time teachers including qualified North Americans.
Intercultura Language and Cultural Center, Apdo. 1952-3000, Heredia; Tel/fax 506-260-8480; info@interculturacostarica.com; www.interculturacostarica.com.
Pro-English, Edificio Langer, Oficina #3, Zapote, San José; 506-280-6053; fax 506-280-7098; www.prolanguage.org. Minimum stay 4 months. Online-application form. |
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Ecuador
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The market for English, particularly American English, continues to thrive despite grave economic difficulties in the country. Dozens of language academies and institutes can be found in Quito, the second city Guayaquil, and in the picturesque city and cultural center of Cuenca in the southern Sierra.
Benedict Schools of Languages, Edmundo Chiriboga N47-133 y Jorge Paez, Quito; Tel./fax 011-593-2-243 2729; english@benedictquito.com; www.benedictquito.com. College degree needed. Branch also in Guayaquil.
CEDEI - Centro de Estudios Interamericanos, Casilla 597, Cuenca; 011-593-7-283 9003; English@cedei.org, www.cedei.org. Needs up to 40 university-educated native speakers to teach for at least 6 months. Recruitment information available online. CEDEI offers 3-week TEFL training course in January.
EF English School Quito (English First), Catalina Aldaz No. 363 y Portugal, Quito; 011-593-2-224 8651; steve.tomkins@ef.com; www.ef.com.ec. 15 CELTA-qualified teachers for at least 6 months. Accommodation arranged.
Genesis Volunteer Program, Malecón 1312 and Ascazubi St, Bahia de Caráquez; 011-593-5-269 2400; vladir@childrenecuador.org; www.bahiacity.com/volunteer. Volunteers teach English to children aged 4-7 for 2 hours a day for a minimum of 2 weeks between April and January, Program fee of $800 per month covers homestay accommodation plus 25% as donation to the schools.
Inlingua, Calle Sebastián Quinteros No.3712 y Jose Correa (El Batan), Quito (P.O.Box 17-17-1324, Quito); 011-593-2-245 8763; inlinguaquito@inlingua.com; www.inlinguaquito.com.ec. Seeks 30 native speakers. Preference given to those with inlingua experience Hires for this branch and also for one in Guayaquil.
Key Language Services, Alpallana 581 y Whymper, Quito Casilla 17-079770; 011-593-2-220956; kls@hoy.net. Up to 15 native speaker teachers needed.
Nexus Ecuador, Avenida 12 de Abril 2-47, Cuenca ( P.O. Box 01 .01.1013; 011-593-7-281 5963; infoteaching@nexus.edu.ec; www.nexus.edu.ec. 10-week semesters begin; January, April and October. Hiring takes place 2-3 months before this. |
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El Salvador
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CIS Centro de Intercambio y Solidaridad (MAM Language School) , CIS, Avenida Bolivar #103, Colonia Libertad, San Salvador, El Salvador; Tel. +503-2226-5362, +503-2235-1330; cis_elsalvador@yahoo.com; www.cis-elsalvador.org. Volunteer teachers to give evening English lessons to further social justice. Training provided, and also Spanish classes and a 2-week political-cultural program.
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Guatemala
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Casa Guatemala, 14th Calle 10-63, Zona 1, 01001 Guatemala City; Tel./fax 011-502-2331 9408; casaguatemal@guate.net.gt; www.casa-guatemala.org. Runs an orphanage in the Petén region that needs volunteer teachers and nannies, among other tasks including bar and restaurant staff for backpackers’ hotel.
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Mexico
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Teach English in Mexico based in the US runs a placement service for ESL teachers (toll-free 877-490-5185, www.teach-english-mexico.com) and provides information and resources on teaching English in Mexico. The fee for having a job arranged is $925.
AHPLA Institute, Juan Escutia No. 97, Colonia Condesa, C.P. 06140, Mexico, D.F.; 011-52-55-4286 9016; kallen@ahpla.com; www.ahpla.com. 35 teachers for centers in Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara.
American School of Veracruz, Progresso 52, Jardinas de Mocambo, Boca del Rio, Veracruz 94298; 011-52-229-21 97 78; theamericanschoolofveracruz@hotmail.com . Package includes immigration clearance, (shared accommodation females only), contribution to airfare and approximately 8000 pesos per month.
Anglo American, Campos Eliseos No. 111, Col. Polanco 11560 Mexico D.F.; 011-52-55-5395 6779 or 011-52-55-5557 3848; empleos@angloamericano.com.mx; www.angloamericano.com.mx. 5 locations.
Arizona School of English, Blvd 1 Rosales y Ortega, Deco Plaza, Loc. 7, Col. Centro, Los Mochis, Sinaloa 81200; 011-52-688-18-56-71; azschool@yahoo.com. 92 pesos per classroom hour.
Berlitz Mexico, Ejército Nacional 530 2 Piso, Col. Polanco, 11550 Mexico D.F.; 011-52-55-3531-4353; www.berlitz.com.mx.
Dunham Institute, Avenida Zaragoza 23, Barrio San Jacinto, Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas; 011-55-961 61 61498; academic-coordinator@dunhaminstitute.com; www.dunhaminstitute.com. Students may volunteer to teach English classes or tutor local students in exchange for Spanish classes for 2-5months.TEFL training courses available.
EF Education First, México D.F., Jaime Balmes 8, Local 6, Col.Polanco, México D.F., D. F. 11550; Tel. (55) 5282 2150, 01 800 0008999; Fax: (55) 5282 2155; www.ef.com.mx.
English Unlimited, Valentin Gama #800, Colonia Jardin, San Luis Potosi, SLP 78270; 011-52-444-833 1277; teaching@englishunlimited.org, www.englishunlimited.org. No special qualifications requested.
IMARC Instituto Mexicano Norteamericano de Relaciones Culturales, Pres. Cardenas 840, Saltillo, Coahuila 25000; 011-52-84-14 84 22, fax 011-52-84-12 06 53. Interviews can be carried out at TESOL conferences in U.S.
International Academic Assistance Program, Calle Altamirano 3407 Ote, Col. Nuevo Terréon, Torréon, Coah; 011-52-871-732 3417/720 1315; www.iaap.org.mx. IAAP provides enthusiastic native speakers to teach English at technology institutes throughout Mexico. Candidates must speak Spanish and commit themselves to stay for two complete semesters. Hourly pay from 75 pesos.
Teachers Latin America, Rio Ebro 31 Suite 3, Col. Cuauhtemoc, Mexico City CP 06500; 011-52-55-5533-1233 ; www.innovative-english.com. TEFL certificate course and practice teaching program followed by job placement assistance. .
Vancouver Language Centre, Av. Vallarta 1151, Col. Americana (CP 44100), Guadalajara, Jalisco; 011-52-33-3826-0944; www.study-mexico.com. Large staff all with university degrees and TEFL qualification. Centre offers TEFL training courses.
Wall Street Institutes, Presidente Masaryk #178, 2 nd Floor, Col. Nosque de Chapultepec 11580 Mexico D.F.; ggv@wsimex.com; www.wallstreetinstitute.com.mx. One of the most important language training organizations with about 20 franchise schools, 12 of which are located in greater Mexico City; all email addresses for job-seekers are given on website.
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Nicaragua
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ABC School, 530 Calle Consulado, Granada. 011-505-552-0812; abc@cablenet.com.ni. Volunteer teachers from North America needed for minimum 3 months.
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Peru
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Instituto Cultural Peruano Norteamericano, M. M. Izaga #807, Chiclayo; 011-51-74-231241; anatu@cpi.udep.edu.pe. One of many binational centers in Peru with an expanding English teaching program. The website for the Lima operation is www.icpna.edu.pe.
VIVE Peru Cross-Cultural Educational Centre, Av. Larco 500, Urbanizacion San Andres, Trujillo; 011-51-44 205711; viveperu@ukplanet.net. Natives speaker volunteer tutors and teachers wanted to commit for at least 3 months. 4 week TEFL training courses available including homestay. |
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Venezuela
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Despite the anti-American rhetoric coming from the Venezuelan President, Hugo Chávez, the English language is still a valued commodity. A number of Caracas-based agencies continue to recruit teachers for in-company language training, though native speaker teachers are far less numerous than they once were.
Centro Venezolano Americano , Av. Principal José Marti, Edf. CVA, Urbanización Las Mercedes, Caracas 1060-A; or: Apartado 61715 Del Este, Caracas 1060-A; 011-58-2-993 7911, fax 011-58-2-993 6812; academ@cva.org.ve; www.cva.org.ve/Internship.doc . Binational center offering combined work/study internships, open only to U.S. and Canadian graduates.
Centro Venezolano Americano del Zulia, Calle 63, No. 3E-60, Apartado 419, Maracaibo, Estado Zulia; 011-58-261-718 0842; www.cevaz.com . Also CVA Merida, Prolongacion Av. 2, Lora Esq. 43, No. 1-55, Urb. El Encanto, Merida; . Native speakers given pre-service training; cevam@ing.ula.ve.
Inlingua Venezuela, Torre Credicard, Piso 13, Ofc. 131, Av. Principal de El Bosque, Chacaíto,1060 Caracas; 011-58-212-953-6571. Fax: 011-58-212-952 3873; lori.timm@inlingua.com or caracas@inlingua.com. 20 TESOL-qualified native speakers employed at two centers in Caracas and one in Valencia.
Iowa Institute, Avenida 4 con Calle 18, Mérida; 011-58-274-252 6404; www.iowainstitute.com. Teaching opportunities for trained TEFL teachers and for Americans with camp counseling experience to teach children.
The Sakirema Project, Caracas – 011-58-212-283-9592 or 011-58-414-271-0974; sakirema8787@yahoo.com. Cooperative-based organization for ELT professionals (including foreign nationals) operating an English club and in-company English courses in Venezuela.
Venusa , Program at the Instituto de Estudios Internacionales, # 49-49 Avenida Urdaneta, Edificio Guilam, Mérida . U.S. contact: 6542 Hypoluxo Rd #324, Lake Worth, FL 33467 (561-357-8802; fax 561-357-9199; venusa@earthlink.net. Work-study positions, mainly for American graduates and undergraduates studying English/Spanish. Minimum stay 3 months. |
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American Friends Service Committee, 1501 Cherry St., Philadelphia, PA 19102-1479; 215-241-7295, fax 215-241-7026; mexicosummer@afsc.org; www.afsc.org/latinamerica/int/mexicosummer.htm. A Quaker organization which recruits Spanish-speaking volunteers aged 18-26 to work in Mexico for 7 weeks in the summer, some on teaching projects. Program fee plus travel expenses. Mexican partner organization is SEDEPAC, Calle Huatusco, 39 Col. Roma Sur Mexico D.F. Mexico 06760; www.sedepac.org.mx.
Association of American Schools in South America (AASSA), 14750 NW 77th Ct., Suite 210, Miami Lakes, FL 33016; 305-821-0345, fax 305-821-4244; info@aassa.com, www.aassa.com. Coordinates teacher recruitment for about 40 international schools in 14 South American countries. Candidates who attend a recruiting fair in November/ December must be state-certified teachers and pay a registration fee.
Caledonia Languages Abroad, The Clockhouse, Bonnington Mill, 72 Newhaven Rd., Edinburgh EH6 5QG, U.K. 011-44-131-621 7721; www.caledonialanguages.co.uk. Spanish language and voluntary work programs organized in Brazil, Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico, Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru, year round.
ELTAP (English Language Teaching Assistant Program), Univ. of Minnesota, Morris, MN 56267; 320-589-6404; craig@educatorsabroad.org, www.eltap.org. Placement of students and adults for 4-10 weeks as teaching assistants, starting at various times of the year in Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras and Peru (as well as countries worldwide).
Global Choices, Barkat House, 116-118 Finchley Road, London NW3 5HT; 011-44-207 433 2501; info@globalchoices.co.uk, www.globalchoices.co.uk. 12-month program teaching English in Brazil. From January or July. Monthly contribution of 500-800 reals towards expenses; program fee is £550-£600. Shorter summer placements tutoring families in exchange for homestay accommodation.
Global Vision International — GVI (North America), 252 Newbury Street, Number 4, Boston, MA, 02116; Call toll free 888-653-6028; Teacher training program in indigenous community near Antigua Guatemala; 2-12 weeks, cost from $1550; Click and visit the GVI website for more information on volunteering abroad.
i-to-i, www.i-to-i.com. TEFL teacher training and travel organization which accepts North American participants for voluntary teaching placements lasting one to three months or longer in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Peru and Venzuela.
LanguageCorps Inc., 101 Longfellow Road, Sudbury, MA 01776; 877-216-3267; info@languagecorps.org, www.languagecorps.org. Year-long programs in Mexico, Costa Rica and Ecuador provide TEFL training, job placement, and support for a fee.
Office of English Language Programs, U.S. State Department, SA 44, Room 304, 301 4th St. SW, Washington, DC 20547; 202-619-5892; exchanges.state.gov/education/engteaching . Part of the State Department, this office runs a network of overseas field offices based in U.S. Embassies, many of which have English teaching programs employing native speakers of American English. Binational Centers offer English instruction in most of the countries of Latin America; contact details are available online.
Projects Abroad, www.projects-abroad.co.uk. Volunteer English language teaching assistants placed in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico and Peru and many countries worldwide. No TEFL background required.
South America Explorers, 126 Indian Creek Rd., Ithaca, NY 14850; 607-277-0488; admin@saexplorers.org, www.saexplorers.org. Annual membership costs $50. Allows access to SAE clubhouses in Lima, Cusco, Quito and Buenos Aires with useful notice boards and contacts. Also maintains an Explorers Volunteer Resource section, a database of volunteer opportunities to which members can gain access.
WorldTeach , Center for International Development, Harvard Univ., 79 John F. Kennedy St., Cambridge, MA 02138; 617-495-5527, 800-4-TEACH-0; info@worldteach.org, www.worldteach.org. Nonprofit organization which places several hundred graduates as volunteer teachers of EFL or ESL in several countries including Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Guyana for the summer or for 1 year.
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SUSAN GRIFFITH is co-editor of Work Abroad and author of the book Teaching English Abroad. See Susan's bio for more information about her extensive bibliography or to purchase her book.
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