Teaching English in Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is a vibrant and cosmopolitan place to teach English. Finding work teaching English in Buenos Aires is not as easy as it is in many Asian countries, for instance, and the wages in relation to the cost of living are generally lower as well. There are also a fair number of well qualified teachers in the area, so competition can be stiff. That being said, it is still possible to find work in this exciting city.

How to Find a Job Teaching English in Buenos Aires

It’s best if you have a TEFL or equivalent certificate from a well recognized institution. Be prepared to spend some weeks, potentially, looking for work, so it’s good to have some financial reserves to fall back on. When looking for work, be sure to present yourself in as professional and conservative a manner as possible. It will improve your chances of finding work if you look when you are actually staying in the city. A time efficient way to prospect is to contact as many schools advertising online as you can. Call them first to introduce yourself and send them a resume with a recent photo of yourself. If they don’t need anyone at the time, follow up a couple of weeks later. They may have picked up a new contract and need new teachers in the interim. Network with as many people as you can, especially in the English speaking community. They may very well work as teachers or have friends who do and can alert you to job openings. If you are willing to make a commitment to teaching for a year, an employer will feel better taking you on. Looking for work in February boosts your chances of securing a position, because classes generally start in March.

If you are offered a job with just a few hours a week initially, consider taking it. It’s a way to get your foot in the door, and the school may be wanting to check out your performance before offering you a full schedule. Make sure that you are aware of the current pay rates and that the job offer meets them. If they are offering you less, it’s probably a sign that they are not a very professional school. Also be aware of whether they are going to reimburse you for travel time.

Types of Jobs Teaching English in Buenos Aires

There are a few different types of work to be had in Buenos Aires. There are dozens of language institutes here. At this type of job, you work on their premises teaching groups or individuals. The better schools will provide you with materials and a set curriculum. Nevertheless, it’s wise to bring materials with you, such as books, ideas for activities or a laptop to access the wealth of teaching resources on the internet.

Private companies offer lessons off their premises mostly to businesses. Again, you could be teaching individuals or groups here, and the variety of settings and types of people will vary widely, keeping things interesting. The downside is the amount of traveling you have to do to get to lessons.

Private lessons offer the advantage of higher pay and greater flexibility with work hours. However, you will still have to travel more, find your own students, prepare all your own lessons, and face the likely possibility, given the culture, that there will be no shows or last minute cancellations. When this happens, you have no financial recourse.

With enough preparation and footwork, you can do well teaching English in Buenos Aires. Good luck and have fun!