Teach English in Buenos Aires

Excerpt: Amazing weather, ample opportunities and a deeply ingrained appreciation for English – what more could you ask for than a teaching experience of a lifetime in Buenos Aires?

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If you're looking for a capital city that has it all, then Buenos Aires, Argentina's vibrant capital, will not disappoint. The Buenos Aires metropolitan area is gargantuan, containing a third of Argentina's population alone. With 202 square kilometres to explore, a unique history, and a seemingly endless supply of enthusiastic students, it's a wonder why there aren't more TEFL teachers in Buenos Aires.

Argentina has a high standard of English, owing to a range of current and historical factors, and there's plenty of demand for teaching English in Argentina. That's just as well because Buenos Aires has plenty to entice English teachers. The "Paris of South America" has gorgeous Latin architecture that compares with major European cities, vibrant nightlife, incredible wines, and a climate that compares favourably with winters in the UK, mainland Europe, or eastern North America.

Let’s look at teaching English in Buenos Aires. Where are the best English teaching positions? What's the average salary for teachers working in Buenos Aires' schools, what kind of visa do you need, and do you need to speak Spanish? Time to see what teaching English as a foreign language in Buenos Aires is all about.

Buenos Aires: An overview

Teaching English in Buenos Aires: an overview

Argentina has high levels of English proficiency. According to EF’s English Proficiency Index, Argentina ranks 28th of 113 nations worldwide for English ability. That compares well with top TEFL destinations, yet Buenos Aires isn’t often considered among the premiere destinations for TEFL teaching. Your guess is as good as ours as to why that is; if you’re looking for the most vibrant major cities for teaching English in Latin America, Buenos Aires delivers and then some.

How big is Buenos Aires, exactly? The total population is around 15.6 million, meaning plenty of prospective students across the city. These students include everyone, from young children to business professionals, who require English tutoring for various reasons.

Understanding English proficiency in Buenos Aires

Why is English proficiency so high in Argentina, and why does it remain so important? History provides essential context. Welsh, Irish, English and Scottish immigration accounts for great interest and proficiency in English. Across the country, the influence of the British Isles can be seen in the number of bilingual schools, which began to sprout up in the early to mid-19th century. These are especially prevalent in Buenos Aires, though there are plenty of amazing public schools where you can have a fantastic teaching experience.

So, for TEFL teachers, this means loads of students, specific bilingual schools, English teaching jobs, and great interest in English more widely in Buenos Aires. What more could a TEFL certificate holder ask for when they look to teach English abroad?

Business English

Well, there’s a little more good news for English teachers: Business English is absolutely massive in Buenos Aires. According to job listings and advice from TEFL discussions on Reddit, Business English is an industry unto itself, with aspiring and current business professionals looking to expand their economic opportunities.

Requirements for teaching English in Buenos Aires

With all those job opportunities, a long-held culture of English teaching in Argentina, and a massive population in Buenos Aires, you’re probably wondering what the requirements to teach are for this South American metropolis. So, here’s what you need to teach abroad in the capital of Argentina:

Degree

Many employers like a bachelor's degree, but it’s not always obligatory. It can vary wildly - depending on the employer, you’ll either be explicitly asked for a teaching degree, any kind of degree, or you can teach English with no degree at all. Generally speaking, full-time positions in schools offering better salaries - private schools and international schools in particular - will usually ask for a degree.

TEFL certification

TEFL certification is a must. Being a certified teacher is absolutely crucial. You’ll need at least 120 hours of TEFL certification, and as previously stated, English for Business is important in Buenos Aires, so we’d recommend Advanced TEFL Certification in Business English to give you some edge over the competition.

It's also worth considering a TEFL course in English for Academic Purposes or for Teaching Young Learners, given the types of students looking to learn English more fluently.

Native-level English fluency

Fluency in English is a must, and roles exist for native and non-native speakers. You should find work as long as you can demonstrate fluency with an IELTS, TOEFL, or degree from an English-speaking institution.

Teaching experience

Can you find teaching jobs in Buenos Aires without experience? Potentially, but it’s more difficult. While South America is generally more lenient regarding degrees, employers typically insist on at least a year of teaching experience. It depends on the employer, but as far as we can tell, most job openings prioritise previous teaching experience.

Knowledge of Spanish is also helpful if you want to teach abroad in Buenos Aires! Most teachers can pick up Argentinian Spanish relatively quickly while they teach English in Argentina, but it's useful to have some phrases prepared before you head over.

Visa

If you want a work visa, you need to be offered a permanent teaching job. You must provide a valid passport, criminal record, proof of agreed residence and income. You’ll be responsible for half of the administrative work, while your employer will sort the rest of your visa application. There’ll be a document signed by both yourself and your employer in which the responsibilities of your job, employer registration details, salary and other important details will be listed.

If you're successful, a temporary residence permit is granted for one year, renewable annually. In Latin America, English teachers commonly move from country to country after 90 days while teaching abroad. However, finding a solid work offer is a far safer option before heading out to teach English in Argentina. It'll sound obvious, but avoiding visa issues will make your experience in Argentina a bit more fun!

For an Argentinian work visa, you need to provide:

A signed employment contract from the Argentinian employer, including the hiring company's registration number. This contract must be legalised and notarised.
A certificate of your criminal record (or lack thereof) issued by police authorities in your home country.
Copies of your degree and TEFL certifications.

Download our teaching English in Latin America guide

Job opportunities in Buenos Aires

So, where are all the teaching jobs in Buenos Aires? Let’s take a look at where some of the best opportunities are to teach English in Argentina's capital city!

Bilingual schools
Private language schools
State schools/private schools
Private Tutoring

Bilingual schools

As we mentioned previously, bilingual schools are everywhere. Due to the large presence of British and Irish immigrants in Argentina from the early 19th century onwards, the English language is heavily ingrained in Argentine culture, even if the main language is Spanish. One of the legacies of this is bilingual education. The terms "international schools" and "bilingual schools" are commonly used interchangeably in Argentina.

English teachers are needed to continue this tradition. Whether you’re a native or non-native English speaker, you'll need at least a bachelor's degree, though preferably a master's, and you’ll certainly need TEFL certification to be taken on. A TEFL teacher can expect excellent facilities and a generous monthly salary.

Private language schools

With many looking to get ahead in business and English representing socio-economic opportunities, it’s common for adults in Buenos Aires to take English classes after work or on the weekends. This is where you fit in.

Many private language schools in Buenos Aires are looking for qualified teachers to cater to the considerable demand. Completing at least a 120-hour TEFL course is essential, though completing an advanced TEFL course in Business English will help significantly.

State schools/private schools

English has long been in the school curriculum in Buenos Aires, even at monolingual schools, so there are opportunities for English teachers within the state or private education system. In terms of requirements for English teachers, private schools and state schools don't differ too much. Usually, English teachers need to have at least a bachelor’s, a TEFL certificate, at least two years of teaching experience and, if possible, a solid, demonstrable understanding of Spanish.

Private tutoring

Online and online tutoring are great ways to supplement your income. Your two main audiences for this are children who study at bilingual schools (and don’t have any English speakers in their families) and adults who need lessons tailored to their careers.

You can't rely on private tutoring to teach English in Argentina and get a work visa. You'll need a job offer from a recognised employer. However, once you've got a visa and found permanent work, private tutoring is an excellent addition to your routine.

Salary and benefits

Over recent times, the economy of Argentina has gone through some problems. At one stage, it had the world’s highest rate of inflation.

This has spooked employers a little bit, with good reason. However, our research shows that if you teach English in Buenos Aires, you can earn an average of ARS $712,554 (£600 / $773) per month. Certainly, this is the norm for jobs in state or private language schools, while teachers in international schools can usually earn more.

Private tutoring is popular. Usually, you can charge between $12 - $20 USD / £9.61 - £16 per hour for private classes. Teachers don't usually receive many added benefits, but they can generally expect help to find accommodation when they move over to teach. This can come in the form of practical help, like sourcing a range of apartments, financial assistance, or actually providing accommodation.

For more information on the salary and cost of living in Buenos Aires, consult these tables:

Country	Avg. monthly salary	Degree required	Start of term	Teaching experience	Housing & flights included	Suitable for non-native English speakers	Age restrictions
Teach in Argentina	716,601 ARS £604 GBP $778 USD		March	Preferred			None

Restaurants	USD	GBP	EUR
Inexpensive restaurant meal
Domestic beer (0.5 litre)
Regular cappuccino
Water (0.33 litre)
Markets	USD	GBP	EUR
Regular milk (1 litre)
Loaf of white bread
Regular eggs (1 dozen)
Apples (1 kg)
Transportation	USD	GBP	EUR
One-way ticket (local transport)
Monthly pass (regular price)
Taxi start (normal tariff)
Gasoline (1 litre)
Utilities	USD	GBP	EUR
Electricity, heating, cooling, water, and garbage (for a regular apartment)
Regular prepaid monthly mobile tariff with 10GB+ data
Internet (60 Mbps, unlimited data, cable/ADSL)
Clothing and shoes	USD	GBP	EUR
Pair of jeans (Levis 501 or something similar)
Summer dress in a chain store
Nike running shoes (mid-range)
Men's leather business shoes

Teaching environment and challenges

Generally speaking, teachers and students get along well in Buenos Aires. Teacher feedback has shown a healthy respect between students and teachers, while the number of teachers reporting stress from their jobs is relatively low.

However, due to the economic inequality around the country and a recent clampdown on public spending, the standards in education across Buenos Aires can vary wildly. A challenge for any TEFL teacher who works in a state school will be adjusting to a low budget for materials - chances are, you’ll need to bring in some of your own activities, worksheets and other forms of media.

The expectations are high in fee-paying schools like international or traditional private schools. Some of the most elite schools in the country are based in Buenos Aires, so if you can land a job in independent education, you should be ready for demanding students and parents. The facilities are usually excellent, and you'll be well compensated for teaching English at a fee-paying school.

Steps to get started

What should English teachers prepare for before teaching in Argentina's biggest city, Buenos Aires?

Consider start-up costs: Employers won’t typically offer a raft of benefits, and salaries are pretty low compared to other popular TEFL destinations. If you can save up to mitigate start-up costs, it’s well worth doing.
Spanish: Having some basic Spanish vocabulary will definitely help you find teaching jobs across Argentina, especially in Buenos Aires.

Research: learn about the culture and traditions of Argentina before heading over. Also, maybe it’s because it’s in the Southern Hemisphere that people moving to Argentina don’t realise it can get really cold. The winters are no joke!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How much do English teachers make in Buenos Aires?

Teaching English in Buenos Aires commands an average salary of about ARS $712,554 (£600 / $773) per month.

Q. Are English teachers in demand in Buenos Aires?

English is taught in schools across Buenos Aires and Argentina, and there is significant demand among all age groups.

Q. Do I need to speak Spanish to teach English in Buenos Aires?

While you don’t need to be fluent in Spanish to teach English in Buenos Aires, proficiency in the language greatly helps.