Teach English in
Guatemala

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Teach English in Guatemala

The central American country of Guatemala isn’t a rich country, and without much disposable income to spend on English lessons, the TEFL industry isn’t big business in Guatemala. However, as if often the case in poorer countries, there are plenty of opportunities for those who wish to volunteer as an English teacher, making it a […]

Quetzaltenango, or Xela as it is more commonly known, is considered the “educational centre” of Guatemala, and recognized as a good place to search for work as a TEFL teacher, especially if you want to avoid Guatemala City, which is richer in teaching opportunities but has a bad reputation. Xela hosts a dramatic backdrop, surrounded by no less than 10 volcanoes! The rapid growth of the population fuels demand for education and English learning, although many roles are voluntary. There are five universities and numerous language schools dotted throughout the city. If you’d rather go somewhere off the beaten track, many volunteering opportunities focus on outreaching to more remote communities, such as in the villages around Lake Atitlan .

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Key Facts

Popular locations for TEFL jobs : Guatemala City, Xela, Antigua, San Pedro, Rio Dulce, and Lake Atitlan
Average salary for EFL teachers : According to the research we have gathered from Acciontrabajo & Dave's ESL Cafe , the basic monthly salary for full-time positions is likely to be in the region of $1,500 USD (£1,205) per month. The hourly rate is $2 US to $5 US (£1.61 - £4) per hour in language schools, or up to $8.00 US (£6) per hour for private lessons.
Benefits: Employers typically offer common benefits such as accommodation, health insurance, and paid training opportunities. Flight stipends, however, are not common.
TEFL qualification requirements: A 120-hour TEFL qualification will be required for most paid positions
Prerequisite university degree: Required for some paid positions
Term times : The school year starts in the autumn
Currency : Quetzal (GTQ)
Language : Spanish
Teaching programmes : Voluntary, Private Schools, Private Tutoring, Corporate
Age restrictions: None
Previous teaching experience: Required for paid positions but not usually required for voluntary positions

Guatemala has the lowest literacy rate in Central America, so if you undertake a voluntary position teaching some of the poorest people in the country, have modest expectations when it comes to their linguistic abilities. However, middle and upper-class families who send their children to private schools will be better educated and have a more advanced ability in foreign languages. Recognising that learning English will help them have a brighter future, young people in Guatemala who have the opportunity to learn English will be eager to do so.

If you find a job at a private language school, expect long hours, which might not match your expectations when it comes to the salary. With a low cost of living, not earning much isn’t a big problem in Guatemala, and so any type of paid work should be seen as a perk, especially as such roles are hard to come by. As well as private schools, you could inquire at universities or find out if there are students in the area who would be interested in private tutoring. Roles sometimes come up for corporate positions, such as teaching English to staff at the embassy, though these positions will have fierce competition .

Requirements for teaching English in Guatemala

Country	Avg. monthly salary	Degree required	Start of term	Teaching experience	Housing & flights included	Suitable for non-native English speakers	Age restrictions
Teach in Guatemala	12,210 GTQ £1,223 GBP $1,537 USD	Preferred	January				None

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Living Costs

The cost of living in Guatemala is cheaper than in 60% of countries in Latin America and cheaper than in 74% of countries in the world, making it an appealing choice for those looking to teach English abroad. As such a cheap destination, the fact that most positions are voluntary shouldn’t put you off – most volunteering positions will provide food and accommodation, and some TEFL jobs in Guatemala include other benefits such as free Spanish lessons.

Restaurants	GTQ	USD	GBP
Inexpensive restaurant meal
Domestic beer (0.5 litre)
Regular cappuccino
Water (0.33 litre)
Markets	GTQ	USD	GBP
Regular milk (1 litre)
Loaf of white bread
Regular eggs (1 dozen)
Apples (1 kg)
Transportation	GTQ	USD	GBP
One-way ticket (local transport)
Monthly pass (regular price)
Taxi start (normal tariff)
Gasoline (1 litre)
Utilities	GTQ	USD	GBP
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	GTQ	USD	GBP
Pair of jeans (Levis 501 or something similar)
Summer dress in a chain store
Nike running shoes (mid-range)
Men's leather business shoes