Leverage your native English-speaking skills for the benefit of others with an international career teaching English as a foreign language! The demand for TEFL teachers is an all-time high as nearly 2 billion people worldwide are learning English. This means there are literally thousands of employment opportunities for English teachers, even those without prior teaching experience.
Latin America is a great place to launch your English teaching career, or even prep for it. There are 33 countries in this region, from South America to Central America and Mexico, and including some islands of the Caribbean. As the “New World,” whose people shared the experience of conquest and colonization by the Spaniards and Portuguese starting in the 15th century, it’s also one of the most interesting regions on the planet. In addition to Latin American culture – both high culture (literature and high art) and popular culture (music, folk art, and dance) – Latin America is enriched by the Africans who survived the Transatlantic slave trade, bringing with them influences in music, cuisine, and religion. It’s also a fusion of Asian cultures, due to immigration and indentured laborers who arrived late in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Spanish is the primary language spoken throughout Latin America, with Portuguese spoken in Brazil, and French in parts of the Caribbean and French Guiana, but English is highly sought after by those entering the workforce. In fact, it’s vitally important that people all across the world have access to quality English education.
When you complete a TEFL certification program in Latin America, you’ll be able to teach English to learners of all ages and skill levels even if you don’t have any prior experience as a teacher. More importantly, TEFL certification opens up new job opportunities and paid internships globally.
Take a look at some of the top TEFL and teach abroad opportunities you can sign up for in Latin America!
Robin Van Auken · Writer
Robin is a researcher, writer, and a registered professional archaeologist, a skillset she uses every day as a cultural communication specialist with Hands-on Heritage. Her projects connect communities with an emphasis on interpretation and education and conserve cultural and environmental legacies.