TEFL jobs in Bolivia
A complete guide for TEFL teachers on teaching English in Bolivia
Overview
The Bolivian economy has been growing steadily over the last few years. This has meant a reduction in poverty and workers seeing the minimum wage doubled over a 10-year period. It has also seen an increase in demand for English teachers in Bolivia. Unfortunately, even with the improvements, Bolivia is a very developing country, and there is a reluctance to try and learn English as well as Spanish because, for most of them, the native languages will be indigenous. Although Bolivia may not be a natural tourist destination, there is still plenty of beauty in the country. It does have unique natural surroundings and a variety of wildlife, and educating yourself in the indigenous cultures is fascinating. You will find the locals friendly and welcoming, and if you are working at a private school or language school, you will find most of your students wanting to improve their language skills for travel and education in other countries.
In this guide, you will find all the information you need if you are considering teaching English in Bolivia, including how to find work, where to live, the cost of living and getting your Visa.
Types of teaching jobs
Private Schools
There are quite a few private schools in Bolivia, including Santa Cruz, Cochabamba, and La Paz. In order to qualify to work at one of these private schools, you will need to be a licensed teacher, and you will also have the opportunity to teach other subjects while you are there.
Volunteering
There are plenty of opportunities for volunteer teachers of English in Bolivia. Many different organisations have set up programs, most of which will provide you with food and accommodation in return for your teaching skills; however, there are some projects that charge teachers to join.
Language Schools
It is most likely that you will find work in a language school, but they are not the highest-paid language schools in the world; however, you can still have some great experiences living and working as an English teacher in Bolivia.
Private Tutoring
Many teachers also offer private language lessons, and although these do not pay brilliantly, they can certainly help top up your income. In addition, if you can find somewhere to live that has a good Internet connection, which is a really tricky thing to do in Bolivia, you can also teach English online, and your students can come from all over the world, which means you will be paid better.
Living costs
The cost of living in Bolivia is very low, which is one of the reasons why the wages do not seem to be that high. It is all relative, and that means your living expenses will also be quite cheap. Bolivia is one of the cheapest countries found in South America and 83% cheaper than most countries around the world. The advice is always to live like a local because anything that is imported will be much more expensive. For example, a local meal tends to cost the same as just getting an imported cappuccino. Eating out is particularly cheap, so if your accommodation is not furnished when you arrive, you need to weigh up the cost of purchasing cooking equipment against the ease and low cost of dining out. it is a wonderful culture to be able to immerse yourself in there is so much colour and tradition found in the local dress, and there is plenty to see and do if you are interested in getting out and about. This also doesn’t have to cost any money as there are amazing archaeological sites, caves, ruins, and nature reserves to take up your time. in every city, you will also find the most amazing street markets which sell so many different things. Although we can’t claim that Bolivia has world-famous cuisine, there are plenty of local dishes that are simply delicious. The local menu features quinoa dishes, stuffed potato balls, and spicy pasties, as well as the most exquisite Bolivian chocolate.
In order to provide the most accurate cost of living figures, we use numbeo.com, the world’s largest cost of living database, updated regularly.
Key facts
Language: Spanish
Population: 12.6 Million
Currency: Boliviano (BOB)
Capital: Sucre
TEFL job demand: High
Our TEFL rating: 3.5
Popular locations for TEFL jobs
La Paz, Santa CruzCochabamba, El Alto, and Oruro
The average salary for EFL teachers
The basic monthly salary for a full-time English teacher in Bolivia will be around 3,000–6,200 BOB (€380-€1200) per month or 27-76 BOB (€3-€10) per hour, usually at the lower end of that scale.
TEFL qualification requirements
A 120-hour TEFL qualification is required or preferred for most positions
Prerequisite university degree
No, but a BA is preferred
Term times
Feb-Sept, Sept-Dec
Teaching programmes
Bilingual Schools, Private Language Schools, Freelance, Volunteering
Age restrictions
None
Previous teaching experience
Necessary for the best-paid jobs, but many don’t require prior experience
Key Points
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The basic monthly salary for a full-time English teacher in Bolivia will be around 3,000–6,200 BOB (€380-€1200) per month or 27-76 BOB (€3-€10) per hour, usually at the lower end of that scale.
The cost of living in Bolivia is very low, which is one of the reasons why the wages do not seem to be that high. It is all relative, and that means your living expenses will also be quite cheap.
You do not need to have a bachelor’s degree to teach English in Bolivia, but of course, many employers will prefer it. You will be required to have a 120-hour TEFL certification for all but some voluntary positions.