1.  There are a lot of programs out there - how should I pick the one that's best for me?

The general quality of TEFL (pronounced "tefful") training courses has increased over the last 10 years.  There are many good schools, some of which are part of larger bodies, while others run independently.  Unfortunately, there is no completely independent body monitoring the behavior of TEFL course providers, and, as a result, there is no one out there to prevent these organizations from ripping you off.  Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, Inc. (TESOL, found at TESOL.org), a well-known and highly respected professional organization of teachers and linguists recommends that an independent TESL or TEFL Certificate program should offer a balance of theory and practice regarding pedagogy and methodology, taught by qualified teacher educators, including a minimum of 100 instructional hours plus a supervised practice teaching component.  To expand on this, here are some things to watch for when determining which course is right for you:

• At least 110 hours of classroom instruction, studying methodologies, grammar and phonological components of English, etc.

• At least SIX hours of OBSERVED teaching practice teaching REAL students.  

• A positive local reputation (this is very important and often overlooked - contact a school in the area where the certificate is being given and ask the academic directors what they think of the program).

• Affiliation with and/or recognition by at least one professional organization dedicated to instruction such as the College of Teachers and IATEFL.  

• Job guidance that spans throughout a teacher's career.

2.  Wow, (Brand X) is offering an online/distance learning course for only $99, and it'll only take me a week to do!  Why shouldn't I sign up?

Any course that doesn't offer 100 hours of instruction and six hours of teaching practice won't be highly regarded (or in many cases even recognized) by a reputable institution.  Proper teacher training requires guidance and reflective analyses, and none of these can be done through the medium of a manual and a series of assignments, no matter how high the quality seems to be.

3.  How does this course compare to the CELTA and/or Trinity CertTESOL?

You will find many of the same aspects of CELTA and Trinity courses in the program offered by us.  The differences lie in how the course components are applied in the practice settings.  Whereas CELTA and Trinity courses put a lot of focus on methodology and assignments, we place emphasis on the practical component of the course; that is, we go out of our way to make sure that what's taught to you in the classes has immediate use in the teaching practice sessions.

One other aspect of these courses is that they sometimes require you to learn how to teach "Received Pronunciation", or the Queen's English, regardless of the accent you might have.  We at the TEFL Academy stress that it's important to take advantage of your own accent, as it's the easiest and most familiar one for you to teach.

4.  Do I need to know the language of the host country in order to teach English there?

Not at all.  In fact, any reputable school would expect you to teach your classes without using the host country's language.

5.  What are my chances for finding work after the course is finished?

Generally, most contracts start in March and again in August, though that doesn't mean that work is unavailable throughout the rest of the year.  Conditions in Santiago, for instance, are such that qualified teachers should have absolutely no problem finding work outside of the summer months (January and February), when everyone goes on vacation.

6.  What are the VISA requirements for working in Santiago?  How hard is it to get a work contract?

This all depends on the school and their VISA policy.  Most schools will offer you a working VISA if they know you plan to stay for a while and give you a work contract.  Work visas, for the most part, are not hard to find.

You will most likely enter the country on a tourist VISA, which is good for 90 days.  Afterwards, you have the option of getting it extended (for $100) or by making a trip to Mendoza, which is what a lot of people do.  Re-entering Chile will reset the tourist visa and give you another 90 days.

For more information about visas, please click here .

7.  What kind of job placement assistance do you offer?

In a nutshell, after successful completion of the course, you tell us where you want to teach and we'll do our best to get you there.  Additionally, iIf you decide that you want to work in a country other than Chile, we can help you get set up with one.  At any one time there are hundreds of teaching opportunities in Chile and perhaps 20,000 or more every month all over the world.  Schools call us on a daily basis looking for teachers!  Our job placement assistance is so strong that many times we get asked to place the graduates from our competitor's course.

8.  What about the cost of living?  How much should I pay for housing?

The economy in Chile is very dynamic and, while quite strong now, fluctuates nonetheless.  A good place to check the cost of living (as well as security indices, quality of life indicators, and a wealth of other useful information) can be found here.

9.  What if I have a question not listed here?

Email us at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it and we'll get back to you within 24 hours.