Argentina

Argentina is a fantastic country to live in and teach English as a foreign language, particularly for newly qualified teachers who are starting out on their TEFL career. Qualified EFL teachers should find plenty of job opportunities in all parts of the country, although competition for jobs is quite high in Buenos Aires as it is a very popular destination for English language teachers. Despite the increased competition, determined teachers will still have a good chance of securing a position in the capital if they are prepared to work hard to find them.

Teaching English as a foreign language in Argentina provides a great opportunity to gain valuable experience in the classroom. You will often find that the student group is made up of people from a wide variety of backgrounds, age groups and professions which creates an interesting learning environment for both the students and the teacher.

How to Find a TEFL Job in Argentina

There are many different methods that you can use when looking for English language teaching jobs. However, when looking for work in Argentina, the most effective method is to simply make contact with as many potential employers as you can find, even if they are not actually advertising any vacant positions. In order to find potential employers you can make use of a wide variety of sources including local newspapers, telephone and business directories, language teaching websites and online school directories.

Once you have compiled a list of potential employers you should contact their human resources department or even the school director by telephone or email. You should also back up this initial contact by sending them an up-to-date CV/resume which includes a recent photograph. Hopefully this approach will result in a positive outcome, however, even if the schools you contact are not looking for anyone at the time, you should stay in touch with them because situations can change quite quickly in the language school environment.

In order to have the very best chance of securing a good teaching position, it is a definite advantage to actually be in the area where you are looking for work. Employers often need to fill positions quickly so being immediately available for an interview or to teach a practice lesson can give you a head start over the competition. Being in the area where you want to live and teach also means that you can take advantage of the local expat teaching community who are often the best source of information regarding the local job market.

Questions to Ask Employers

If you are offered a teaching position that you are interested in, you should make sure that you are clear on a few important issues before you accept the job or sign a contract. Firstly, you should make sure that you have precise details regarding your pay scale, the amount of hours you will be expected to work, as well as any benefits you are entitled to such as travel expenses, health care or housing support. It is also a good idea to know what equipment and materials you will have access to when planning and carrying out your lessons. Finally, you should also enquire about the need for work permits or visas and whether the employer will help with the organisation and expense of any official paperwork you may require.

Job Expectations in Argentina

Job prospects for English language teachers are generally very good across Argentina as a whole. However, due to the high levels of competition for the more prestigious jobs you may find that you have to start out with a part time position or find work as a private tutor until you have some local experience to put on your CV/resume. You may also find that schools will only offer you a limited schedule at first so they can assess your teaching ability and commitment to the job. However, as long as you prove that you are professional and productive in the classroom, you should find that your hours, pay and overall working conditions will improve quite quickly. Particularly in Buenos Aires, you may find that the cost of living is quite high in relation to the salaries on offer. Often teachers find themselves taking on private students or even a second job in order to live a comfortable lifestyle. However, many teachers will testify that the lifestyle, culture, friendly people and the overall quality of life that Argentina has to offer more than compensates for this.