7 reasons to teach English in South America

So, you want to teach English in South America. Fan-tas-tic! Yep, there are just so many reasons why that’s a darn brilliant idea. From taste-bud-tempting foods to soaring mountain ranges to a plumped-up jobs market, you shouldn’t be disappointed when seeking a new adventure across this vast continent.

There are loads and loads of jobs

Yep, South America is ready to learn English, folks! Growing economies that are becoming serious contenders on the world stage are all over the place. From the mining powerhouse of Chile to the tourism epicenter of Peru, there’s lots more money sloshing around the Latin nations than there once was. What’s more, there’s a whopping 422 million people living and working in these parts, which means plenty of potential customers. Basically, the search for a job to teach English in South America shouldn’t be a nightmare…

Adventure is around every corner

If there’s one thing that keeps drawing travelers to South America, it’s probably the sense of adventure. Like Asia was 20 years ago, so this world of uncharted peaks and lake lands and glaciers and Tango-twirling cities is today. Folk flock from all over to hike the majestic mountains of Peru. The come to navigate the jungles of Colombia in search of coffee plantations and amazing animals. Others are beckoned by Patagonia – the wonderworld of the south, where ice fields covered in penguins meet the Antarctic Southern Ocean.

Degrees aren’t necessarily necessary

There are some countries that will demand a degree if you’re looking to teach English in South America. But there are also others that don’t really mind if you haven’t scored a BA or BSc before coming. Places like Peru, with its glorious mountains and amazing ancient Inca ruins, and Brazil, the home of the beach party, stand out from the crowd. They have schools that typically ask for a 120-hour TEFL certificate as a minimum. Argentina is also an option, because there’s no requirement to hold a college qualification to teach at private institutions there.

Your taste buds will thank you

Lime-doused ceviche, hearty empanadas, the traditional brews of yerba, potent Pisco sours, Argentinian Gaucho steaks – there’s so much on the culinary side of things that you won’t regret if you choose to teach English in South America. The flavors of this crossroads of a continent draw on the freshness of the Med, traditional European cooking, indigenous techniques used by the Inca and the Aztec, and good old farm-to-table growing. The result is something pretty special; pretty tasty.

Special things for city lovers

Bangkok might have the street food. Tokyo might have the cutting-edge tech. New York might have the skyscrapers. But there’s something truly special about the cities of South America. Take the likes of Rio de Janeiro. From Ipanema to the jungle-covered barrios behind the coast, it’s a haze of cantinas and Caipirinha stalls you’ll never forget. But then how different is, say, Cusco, the old capital of the Inca set thousands of meters up in the Andes? And what about La Paz – soaring atop the clouds in the company of volcanos?

Beaches, beaches, and more beaches

It depends where you go, but on a continent with tens of thousands of miles of coastline, you can rest assured that there’s plenty of salt spray to go around. Peru is famed as the land of the left-hand surf break. It’s got beaches laden with seabirds and some of the best waves on the planet. Colombia’s north Caribbean coast is where you can go for a fix of white-sand beaches and tropical palm trees. Brazil, meanwhile, has whole cities that spill straight down to buzzing bays laden with cocktail bars and tanning bodies.   

The climate

Last but not least, there must be a mention of the climate in South America. Because this huge mass of land ranges all the way from the Equator to the edges of the Southern Ocean, there’s no end to the variety of climactic zones you can enjoy. Take Argentina. There are balmy sub-tropical forests up north, followed by mild Pampas zones, and then mountains where it snows as much as Switzerland! Prefer the sun? Hit Brazilia for long days of surfing and lazing on the beach. Like it even hotter? Ecuador, Colombia – there are always options to chase the heat.

If you’re tempted by the prospect of heading off to teach English in South America, be sure to check out our destinations page and courses page for more information. Also, if you can think of any more reasons to add to this list, we’d sure love to hear about them in the comments below.