Guide to Teaching English in Bolivia
Thousands of tourists flow to this country every year and the tourism industry is now a major employer in the country. Because of this local people are now very keen to learn English and every year more language schools are opening which hire international teachers. This is one of the easiest countries in South America to find a teaching job.
Requirements for Teaching English in Bolivia
Most language schools do not require you to have a BA/BS degree but some will want you to have a TESOL or TEFL certification. You could choose to take an online course in Bolivia, view our TEFL courses in South America or get trained before departing. We highly recommend you learn Spanish in Bolivia too, this will improve your chances of gaining employment.
Best Time to Get a Teaching Job in Bolivia
You can find employment all year round, the best times tend to be during February / March and July / August.
Where to Get a Teaching Job in Bolivia
Most TEFL jobs in Bolivia can eb found in the larger cities like La Paz, Sucre, Cochabamba, El Alto, Oruro and Santa Cruz. English language schools hire international teachers, usually most students are busines professionals.
Hiring Process
You are best searching out jobs locally once in Bolivia, not many are advertised online.
Working Week
Most language schools will employ you to teach around 20-30 hours of classroom lessons per week. Add extra time for lesson preparation.
Cost of Living
Bolivia is an extremly cheap country to live and work, we estimate your outgoings will be around £200 - £350 (US$400 - $600) (2,000 - 4,000 BOB) per month.
Salary for Teaching in Bolivia
You can play a key role in devloping this country by training the population to either learn or improve their English language skills. Don't expect to get paid a fortune, wages here are very low compared to other destinations you can teach English in South America, but you will get the experience of a lifetime. You can also make more money by giving private lessons. You can expect to paid an average monthly pay of around £250 - £400 (US$350 - $600) (1,750 - 4,000 BOB). Most employers will expect you to cover your flights and accommodation.
What to Do in Your Spare Time
Bolivia shares borders with Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina and Chile and you will get lots of free time to explore this region in your spare time. You can also relax, or make friends with other international teachers.
Bolivia TEFL Reviews & Testimonials
Have you ever been to work as a teacher in Bolivia? Would you like to share your experience? Get in touch with us.
"There is one of the oldest universities in the city in Sucre with the long name The Royal and Pontificial Major University of Saint Francis Xavier of Chuquisaca (Universidad Mayor, Real y Pontificia de San Francisco Xavier de Chuquisaca or USFX). It has lots of faculties, including the faculty of languages. So I called at the faculty which is located at Nicolaz Ortiz street and asked if they needed my help at English classes, and they happily welcomed me. According to the programme, they have practice and theory. So practice was where I stepped in. Teachers follow the textbook, which I was also encouraged to follow from time to time. But in general I was given carte blanche in teaching. I really enjoyed the experience and would recommend to anyone to do something similar" - Irina Yugai
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