With your TEFL qualification and the growing teaching opportunities in cities like Bueno Aires, Cordoba, and Mar del Plata, getting an English teaching job in Argentina will be just as easy as walking in the park.
Argentina has incredible similarities to the European lifestyle without the correspondingly high cost of living. This is one of the attributes that make the South American country a popular destination for ESL teachers.
You'll need to have a TEFL certificate if you want to be an English teacher in Argentina. A degree and teaching experience is not compulsory but may help you find better teaching positions with higher salaries. The average ESL teacher in Argentina earns between US$650 and US$850 per month.
Teach English in Argentina for a rewarding experience. The country's mouth-watering cuisines, incredible wine from home-grown grapes, hugely rich artistic culture spread over a beautiful landscape, and a great climate are only a few of the reasons most ESL teachers stay in Argentina.
Get a TEFL certificate in Argentina to teach English in Argentina's rich cultural cities and enjoy a lush European lifestyle with Latin American charm.
Available TEFL Courses in Argentina
A Guide to Teaching English in Argentina
Are English teachers in demand in Argentina?
English teachers are in high demand in Argentina. In fact, the demand for English teachers in Argentina is usually greater than the teachers in supply. Although teaching opportunities are available throughout the country, most ESL teachers choose Bueno Aires since it has the highest concentration of English teaching jobs in Argentina.
There are more teaching jobs with more business experts attracted to the country for its abundant natural resources. You can find opportunities to teach English to business people who need to learn the English language for their international trade transactions.
There is also the demand for teachers in the hospitality and tourism community to help officials learn English to communicate better with tourists. There is a high demand for English teachers in Argentina with a preference for native English speakers and TEFL certificate holders.
What qualifications do you need to teach English in Argentina?
The standard requirement for prospective English teachers in Argentina is an internationally recognized TEFL certificate. A degree and some prior teaching experience are not always mandatory, but they will certainly help you get higher-paying offers.
Additionally, an internationally recognized TEFL certificate is important if you apply to private language schools and as a private tutor to business experts. If you choose to teach in a public or state-run school, you may be required to obtain a Teacher Training college Qualification and a degree (B.Ed. or BS). However, since Argentina maintains fairly regulated standards, ESL teachers often get an offer without a degree.
In a nutshell, your best bet of landing an English teaching job in Argentina is with a TEFL certification. You can find teaching opportunities with better benefits even with little or no experience.
What type of jobs are available for English teachers in Argentina?
Common job types for ESL teachers in Argentina are found in the private language institutes, private tutoring, and public schools.
Private Language Institutes
English teaching jobs in private schools are usually advertised publicly, especially in the Buenos Aires Herald, and available to teachers with required qualifications. Teaching in private academies in Argentina is mostly preferred because it offers a stable income for English teachers. Unlike private tutoring, private institutes will pay their teachers whether the students attend classes or not.
Public Schools
ESL teachers can find jobs in Argentinean public primary schools, the Polimodals (secondary schools) or universities. Some of the opportunities are advertised in newspapers while some are circulated in a vacancy-offering event called Actos Publicos. However, while there are English teaching jobs in public schools across Argentina, they mostly come with low wages than private schools. Still, you can combine teaching in a public school in Argentina with online teaching or private tutoring to augment your income.
Private Tutoring/ Online Teaching
Most ESL teachers in Argentina take private tutoring or online classes to make additional income, with the majority of their students being business professionals. Other ESL students that demand private English tutors in Argentina include children, students, and the tourism/ hospitality officials.
Note that while private tutoring may get you a chance to earn beyond what a private/public school can offer, it does not promise the same level of stability as a regular job offer. Therefore, you need both the regular and private tutoring jobs to complement each other.
How to find English teaching jobs in Argentina?
You can find an English teaching job in Argentina in different ways depending on what type of job you prefer. Getting a job immediately after you move to Argentina can be a hurdle. Therefore, it is best to get an employment offer in a private or public school before you travel. This way, your employer can help you obtain a work visa, and it will also be easier for you to settle when you arrive. These are some of the ways to find an English teaching job in Argentina.
Explore the Internet
The internet is the best place to search for private teaching opportunities. Jobs are usually posted on local websites between December and February when schools begin to open. Websites such as zonajobs, computrabajo, and empleos.amia are great places to start your job search. Craiglist helps a lot too.
Connections and Networking
For private tutoring opportunities, you have to advertise yourself and connect with the right people, mostly foreign people in business and local traders. This means you have to already reside in Argentina to get private tutoring opportunities. By speaking to locals, you can find some Argentines who wish to learn English or know someone that does.
Joining support groups on social media is another way to connect and build networks. Also, joining Facebook groups for English teachers in Argentina are great avenues to look for TEFL jobs in Argentina.
Check Local Newspapers
Private language schools also publicly list their vacancies in the local newspapers. Check local newspapers like the Buenos Aires Herald, Clarin, Diario Democracia, and La Nacion for English teaching opportunities in Buenos Aires and other regions.
To get English teaching jobs in Argentinean public schools, teachers register and attend Actos Publicos, where they can find positions in government-run institutes. Another option is to visit universities and inquire about exchange students willing to learn English language through private tutoring. Some of the universities with a large concentration of exchange students in Argentina include Universidad de Buenos Aires, Universidad de Belgrano and Universidad Nacional de Cordoba.
Visit Language Schools
If you plan to visit the country first before looking for a job, you need to be strategic about it. First, try to contact a few schools directly before you travel, ask if they're hiring, then send them your CV (resume). If not, send a speculative application. These are some popular private language institutes in Argentina where you can send speculative applications; Wall Street English, Cultural Inglesa de Buenos Aires, and Brooklyn Bridge.
Once you arrive in the country, visit several schools, speak with the school directors, and drop your resumes. Your CV should include a recent headshot, your local address, qualifications, and experience.
Most language schools in Argentina conduct interviews before selecting candidates for a job, so prepare to be interviewed. Employers prefer face-to-face interviews but may be willing to grant an online interview if you aren't in the country yet.
Try Volunteering
Argentina has volunteer teaching positions or ESL teachers without experience. Volunteering is a great way to get used to the environment and build connections while gaining experience. Most of the organizations will also provide accommodation for their teachers. Examples are International Volunteer HQ, VoluntarioGlobal and Road2Argentina.
Although you should find a job easily with your TEFL certificate, it is essential to have enough funds to see you through the first few months.
What is the salary for English teachers in Argentina?
The salary for English teachers in Argentina ranges between US$650 and US$850 monthly, depending on the city. Most English teaching jobs in Bueno Aires offer higher salaries, but the city also has a higher living cost. Additionally, ESL teachers with TEFL qualifications and native English speakers get more lucrative teaching offers. They live a comfortable life and can break even or even save.
English teachers in Argentina typically work 20-25 hours per week with enough time for extra work or travel. Some of the widespread benefits of teaching in Argentina include paid holidays as well as health insurance. Housing benefits are hard to find, but most language schools in Argentina will help you find a suitable apartment once you arrive in the country.
What type of visa do you need to teach English in Argentina?
The type of visa you need to teach English in Argentina varies depending on your nationality. If you are from Australia, Canada, the US, and the UK, you can enter Argentina without a visa for up to 90 days and teach English during that period.
Tourist Visa
For citizens of other countries, you can also enter the country on a 90-day tourist visa and teach during that period. However, the 90-day period can be inconvenient as most language schools will sign teachers on a six-month contract. Some ESL teachers do visa-runs to overcome this challenge. They make a quick trip to nearby countries to spend a day or two and then come back into Argentina with a renewed 90-day tourist visa. Visa-runs can be quite risky because of the possibility of being denied re-entry.
Work Visa
To teach English in Argentina for a long term without fear of visa issues, you need to obtain a work permit or visa. Without a TEFL certificate and a teaching job offer in Argentina, the process of obtaining a visa to teach Argentina may be quite complicated.
TEFL qualified teachers often get help from Argentine officials at the embassy of their country, making the whole process a lot easier. Many language schools in Argentina will help you obtain a work visa if you have already been offered a position.
Entry Permit/Permiso de Ingreso
Application for an entry permit is the first stage of obtaining your work visa to Argentina. Usually, this will take about 30 days for teachers within Argentina and about four months if you apply through the Argentina consulate in your country. An entry permit will be issued to you by the Argentine Immigration Authority, known as Permiso de Ingreso.
For guidance on obtaining a work visa to teach English in Argentina, see the Argentinian government website.
Can you save money while teaching in Argentina?
Yes, you can break even or save as an English teacher in Argentina. ESL teachers with TEFL qualifications and native English speakers get more lucrative teaching offers. They live a comfortable life and can break even or even save.
If you're teaching in a public school in Argentina, you may not be able to save much except you combine a few private tutoring and online classes. Nevertheless, the cost of living in the city where you teach will also influence how much you can save.
Cost of Living in Argentina
Argentina has a low cost of living, usually more economical than most ESL destination countries in Europe. The average cost of living for English teachers in Argentina is between US$600 and US$800, which is about the same as the average salary, making it a break-even situation.
However, your budget size and the part of Argentina you choose to live in will affect your monthly spending. You may also save if you take on private teaching offers, which is what most ESL teachers in Argentina do.
Cities like Bueno Aires, Corrientes, and Cordoba have the highest cost of living in Argentina, with lower cost in areas like Santa Fe, Mar del Plata, and Rosario.
Accommodation Options in Argentina
Your rent takes up a big part of your cost of living in Argentina. For a one-bedroom apartment, the average monthly rent is about US$500 in the city center and US$400 away from the big cities.
Most ESL teachers in Argentina choose to share apartments to reduce the cost of accommodation.
When can you apply for teaching jobs in Argentina?
The best time to apply for English teaching jobs in Argentina is at the peak of the hiring season when schools are set to employ new teachers for the coming session. This is usually between March and August, although offers are open all through the year.
Similar to most other ESL destinations, English teachers in Argentina undergo an interview before getting hired. This is mostly conducted in person, with a few exceptions over the phone or by email.
To get private tutoring opportunities, you need to do personal advertising (word of mouth) and seek students who need your services.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I teach English in Argentina without a degree?
Yes. All you need, if you want to teach English in Argentina, is a TEFL certificate. However, most employers favor degree holders. If you have both a degree and a TEFL certificate, then you're in a better position to get the more competitive and high paying teaching jobs in Argentina.
Can a non-native get a teaching job in Argentina?
Yes. Being a native speaker is not a requirement for getting an English teaching job in Argentina. It would be best to have an internationally recognized TEFL certification and a degree for highly competitive positions.
Where can I teach in Argentina?
You can teach anywhere in Argentina, either in the big or small cities, depending on your preference. Buenos Aires is the most lucrative city in Argentina where you can find teaching jobs easily. Other cities include Cordoba and Mal de Plata.
Do I need to know Spanish to teach in Argentina?
No, you do not need to understand Spanish to teach English in Argentina. Most language school employers prefer that you speak only English in the classroom. However, some Spanish knowledge can help your stay in Argentina a lot smoother since you'll be able to communicate with the locals better.
How easy is it to get a teaching job in Argentina?
The ease of getting a job in Argentina varies. Sometimes, being a native speaker is enough. However, you can get jobs more easily with a TEFL certificate, a degree, and some teaching experience.
Fun and travel activities while teaching in Argentina
Argentina is one of the world's best destinations for lovers of adventure. There is the thriving nightlife of Bueno Aires to explore and awe-inspiring views of the Iguazu waterfalls. Explore the great plains of Patagonia and the glaciers in the south during the midsummer.
The Argentine wine is also one you do not want to miss. Argentina is the sixth-largest wine producer globally, and if you have never tasted a wine where its grape was grown, this is your chance. Many of the Argentine wineries offer exciting wine tours and tastings.
