5 Trending Destinations to Teach English in Latin America

Join us & teach English abroad in Latin America!

Looking for the best place to teach English in Latin America? Here you'll find trending contenders to consider!

These days, more and more graduates are choosing to take a year out after university to travel the world before settling into their long term career. This isn't surprising considering traveling is one of the most fulfilling and emotionally rewarding experiences you’ll ever have.

However, unless you are heir to a fortune, chances are you will need to find a way to fund your travel… might we suggest teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL)?

Teaching English abroad is a great way to facilitate your adventure, and for many people, the job can be a real experience in itself. By making a difference to the lives of the students you teach, you can develop the competence to teach anywhere in the world.

In fact, this is what many TEFLERs go on to do (it can be pretty addictive as you can imagine!). And those who return home find that their teaching English abroad experiences have helped them develop the skills required to dynamically adapt and respond to the challenges of a fast paced working environment. What’s not to love?!

Those of us in the TEFL community have noticed that Latin America is having a ‘moment’ right now and for good reason! TEFLERs worldwide are attracted by the continents cultural richness and varied landscapes. Latin America not only boasts the world's greatest river—the Amazon—but also the world's longest mountain range-—the Andes.

Latin America is home to the Atacama Desert, which is the driest place on earth! There is certainly a lot to see and do, with flamboyant cultural traditions such as the Rio Carnival in Brazil or Mexico’s famous Day of the Dead, you are guaranteed an awe inspiring experience, whichever part of the continent you go to. 

Enjoy our guide to the top five up and coming destinations to teach abroad in Latin America!

5 best places to teach English in Latin America

1. Mexico

Where better to launch your career teaching English in Latin America than Mexico itself?! With one of the greatest economies in the world, there is certainly no shortage of jobs for teaching English in Mexico. It’s a popular choice within the TEFL community because of its stunning scenery, dense jungles, and vast sandy deserts.

For those who prefer the urban life, there are several vast and bustling metropolitan cities. In fact, Mexico has a rich and unique history—even its capital was built directly over an ancient Aztec city. Archaeologists and historians are still obsessed with Mexico City today!

For the modern day English teacher abroad, there is no end to the attractions on offer. Mexico boasts a vibrant calendar of fiestas, world class cuisine, and is home to the tequila slammer! No doubt this country is diverse in both its landscape and culture.

Popular cities for teaching English in Mexico include Cancun, a particularly vibrant hotspot popular for its huge international Music Festival and vivid nightlife.

Puerto Vallarta is growing in popularity as a TEFL destination. It boasts a mixture of natural beauty and contemporary elegance with its evergreen covered jungle mountains, quant cobblestoned streets, and bustling city landscape. The town is renowned for its beach-side promenade dotted with sculptures, nightclubs, restaurants and bars, which all come to life when the sun goes down!

No surprise, but ESL jobs in Mexico are going fast!

Typically, when training to teach English abroad in Mexico, your courses are held in modern, state of the art language centers. Upon completing your face-to-face TEFL course, you’ll then go on to work in a primary or secondary school in Mexico. 

There are many extra part-time ESL jobs in Mexico to help supplement your main teaching gig with a little extra money for travel. Lots of TEFLers teach at language centers during weekends or evenings where students or adult learners come to receive extra tuition outside of their school or office hours.

Salaries for teaching English in Mexico aren't overly high, but the cost of living is relatively low. Accommodations are affordable, with the majority of students living in house shares, which are easy to find within the teach abroad and travel community.

Country Insight:

• Average Salary: ~$650-850 USD / 10,880-14,170 MXN (Mexican Pesos) per month
• Average Living cost: 300-700 USD / 5060-11,700 MXN Per Month
• Job Types: 50% school, 40% language center. 10% Business English Agency
• Average cost/ type of accommodation: 130-205 USD / $2500 MXN - $4000 MXN/ Apartments / Shared Houses
• Class sizes: 12 average
• Length of contract: Minimum 3 months, typical is 6 months, but the commitment preferred by employers is 12 months.
• School terms: School year runs from August through June. There are a two week Christmas Break for the last two weeks of December and an Easter Break for the last week of March and the first week of April. Language Centers run their classes throughout the year.
• Peak hiring seasons: June through August
• Chance’s of employment without a degree: Excellent

2. Argentina

Is Argentina the best place to teach English in Latin America? Famous for its European architecture, Latin passion, and Argentine tango, Argentina is another trending destination for teaching English abroad. This country has a massive foodie culture, with amazing seafood and arguably the best steak in the world!

But be prepared to eat late, with restaurants still bustling at midnight and bars and nightclubs open until dawn. A night out in Argentina isn't for the faint hearted (or for those who need to be up early to teach a class the next day!).

Buenos Aires, the Argentine capital, is situated on the west coast of the country and is a hot spot for TEFL teachers abroad—definitely a strong contender for the best place to teach English in South America. Described as the ‘city that never sleeps,’ Buenos Aires is the cultural hub of Argentina.

With a wide selection of restaurants, cafes and wine bars, the locals are extremely sociable. Food is usually eaten outside in the sunshine with good friends and a bottle of wine! For those looking for a bit of culture, there is a huge art scene in Buenos Aires, which is apparent not just from its many galleries, but also from the freshly painted murals and eye catching sculptures dotted all over the city. 

Argentina: Come for the colors and energy, stay for the amazing paid English teaching jobs abroad.

Most teaching jobs in Buenos Aires are in language centers, where you can teach different age groups as well as private individuals and business clients. The pay is in line with the cost of living in Argentina. But private tuition is also commonplace, which can allow you to earn a little extra money and have more control of your own teaching schedule.

Accommodation options range from ‘home stay’ vetted families to private or shared apartments—. Staying with a local family is a very affordable way to experience a traditional Argentine lifestyle, particularly if you want to improve your Spanish!

Country Insight:

• Average Salary: ~$800-1200 USD per month
• Average Living cost: ~$800-1200 USD per month
• Job Types: Language School/center (also individual students )
• Average cost/ type of accommodation: Anywhere between 250 - 500 USD depending on location and preference/ shared apartment
• Class sizes: 5 average if teaching kids, larger classes of 15-20 for teens!
• Length of contract: 6 months average
• School terms: Late March/early April through late November/early December, with a two-week break in July
• Peak hiring seasons: Feb-March / July-August / Sept
• Chance’s of employment without a degree: Excellent

3. Costa Rica

Where better to teach abroad in Latin America than gorgeous Costa Rica?! Costa Rica is one of the most economically advanced countries in Latin America and, as such, enjoys a relatively high standard of living. Many of its inhabitants are keen to learn English, and the demand for native English speaking teachers is great! Famous for its white sandy beaches, vast mountain ranges and stunning volcanic backdrops, this country has it all!

The majority of ESL teaching opportunities in Costa Rica are in English language centers, where the pay is reasonable and the focus is on teaching children and adults who want to increase their English speaking skills.

There are also plenty of opportunities to tutor students privately as English speakers are very much sought after in this country! Like Argentina, home stays are commonplace and can provide a great insight into the local lifestyle and culture of the area.  

Country Insight:

• Average Salary: ~$700-800 USD
• Average Living cost: ~$700-800 USD
• Job Types: Primarily language centers with a few school jobs
• Average cost/ type of accommodation: $250-400 USD per month/Apartment (private or shared)
• Class sizes: 5-15
• Length of contract: 6-12 Months
• School terms: This varies and depends on the organization participants work with. 
• Peak hiring seasons: In general, private institutes hire year-round. Hiring season for public K-12 schools is typically January – February and June – July. 
• Chance’s of employment without a degree: Excellent

4. Peru

**Immediately books flights to teach abroad in Latin America**

Peru is a culturally rich country steeped in history and tradition. Home to the Incas, it’s unspoiled, making it one of the most trendy destinations for teaching English in Latin America. There are many cultural highlights on offer, such as the famous Machu Picchu (which forms part of the Inca trail).

The Amazon rainforest also stems wide regions of Peru and is an awe-inspiring place to visit! It’s not just the climate that's warm and welcoming, the people are too. Peru is known to be one of the friendliest countries on earth, and English speaking teachers are greatly revered here, too.

Like the rest of Latin America, the majority of teaching jobs abroad in Peru are in language centers, which are open all year round with private tuition options available for those looking to make an additional income to fund their travels. 

Shared houses and apartments are popular in Peru and a great way to get to know other TEFL teachers in your local community. Just keep in mind that the general rule of thumb is you can't teach English in South America without TEFL—and that's true in Peru, too.

Country Insight:

• Average Salary: ~$350-550 USD Per month
• Average Living cost: ~$350-450 USD Per month
• Job Types: Primarily language center
• Average cost/ type of accommodation: USD $150 – USD $250 per month/ Apartment (private or shared)
• Class sizes: 5-15
• Length of contract: 6-12 Months
• School terms: This varies and depends on the organization participants work at. Teaching positions at K-12 schools typically require 25-30 hours per week.
• Peak hiring seasons: This varies and depends on the organization participants work at.. Private institutes typically hire all year round. Hiring season at K-12 public schools is January – February. 
• Chance’s of employment without a degree: Excellent

5. Guatemala

Guatemala is becoming an increasingly popular location to teach English and is one of the most rapidly developing travel destinations in Latin America. Famous for its coffee, it's also the birthplace of guacamole! Peru borders with Mexico, Belize, Honduras and El Salvador with the Pacific Ocean to the south-west of the country. Its central location makes it a great base for visiting the surrounding countries and as such is very popular amongst the TEFL community. 

The majority of English teaching jobs in Guatemala are in language centers, but you will typically be teaching adults, with some younger classes, depending on the employer. It's also common to travel to corporate locations and teach English to employees, as well as tutor private students.

The cost of living is generally low in Guatemala, so ESL teachers abroad can make a really good living here. Like other locations for teaching English in Latin America, accommodation ranges from home stays to private apartments and is very affordable on a teaching salary.

Spoiler: You might learn more from your students than you think.

Country Insight:

• Average Salary: ~$450-550 USD Per month
• Average Living cost: ~$350-450 USD Per month
• Job Types: Primarily language center
• Average cost / types of accommodation: USD $200 - $300 per month/ Apartment (private or shared) 
• Class sizes: 5-15
• Length of contract: 6-12 Months
• School terms: This varies and depends on the organization participants work at.Teaching positions at K-12 public schools typically require 20-35 hours per week.
• Peak hiring seasons: This varies and depends on the organization participants work for. Private institutes in general hire year-round. Hiring season at K-12 public schools is January – February. 
• Chance’s of employment without a degree: Excellent

[Browse ALL Places to Teach English in South America to Find the Best One for YOU]

Next steps to teach English in Latin America

Don't pack your bags juuuust yet. There are a few items on your teach abroad to do list you should check off first.

• Decide where to go. Figuring out where to teach English abroad in Latin America isn’t easy. The gorgeous coast? A major city? Somewhere in Peru? Don't let anything hold you back—choose a place that's right for you.
• Get TEFL certified. Even if it is not required, this is a wise investment for future ESL teachers. It will give you absolutely everything you need to prepare for the classroom (well, except for an ability to think on your feet!).
• Adults, kids, private schools, public schools? Spend time considering the type of teaching environment you'd most like to be involved in. You can choose from a range of ages, goals (for example, Business English versus Conversational English), and institutions, from one-on-one tutoring to university employment.
• Choose from the best teach abroad programs. Pay attention to past participants’ reviews, your school and organization reputation, location, and your ease of getting started as a paid worker. Some schools or providers may even provide contact info for ambassadors or past participants if you want the REAL dirt. Here are more considerations to make as you figure out how to choose the right teaching job for you. Pro tip: You can use MyGoAbroad to compare programs side-by-side.
• Plan your finances. Sort out funding before you go to afford daily essentials and splurge in travel (in addition to program costs and airfare). Do your research to have an idea of how to pay for teaching abroad.
• Get prepared! You've done your research, chosen your program, saved up the money, and are entering your last weeks of life "at home" before you move abroad to find ESL teaching jobs. Well done! Here's our teaching planning timeline/preparation guide to help make this stage more fun and less stressful.

You’ll love teaching English in Latin America!

Find the best place to teach English in South America for YOU

With its low living costs and high demand for English teachers, it is not surprising that teaching English in Latin America is growing in popularity amongst the TEFL community. Combine that with sunshine, amazing cuisine, diverse landscapes, and a rich cultural history, and it really is a no brainer! Latin American people are warm and welcoming to native English speakers, and there are lots of opportunities for those to teach abroad without a degree in South America, too! 

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