Uruguay
is a great country for the adventurous. The level of demand for native speakers
in Uruguay is moderately high and the crime rate is one of the lowest in Latin
America. Unfortunately, TEFL
salaries are relatively low and despite low living
costs you certainly won’t be able to save much, if at all. As in most Latin
American countries the students
are lively and sociable and therefore a pleasure to teach. Employers
at some language centres can be unreliable and have unreasonable demands such
as the common one that you are effectively ‘on call’ from 8am to 8pm or
similar. You are rarely
paid for travelling from one location or class to another
and this can take up a significant chunk of your daily schedule. If you are
experienced and hard-working then you may be lucky to find one of the few
well-paid positions, such as those at bilingual schools.
For the majority, however, TEFL
in Uruguay is a fun experience for a short period of time
but only rarely a serious long-term career option.
|
Type of Institution
|
Typical salary
(USD/month)
|
Typical hours
|
Typical annual
leave
|
|
Language centres
|
500 – 1,000
|
Various split
shifts and evenings and weekends
|
2 weeks plus
national holidays
|
|
International
schools and universities
|
2,500 upwards
|
9am – 4pm Monday to
Friday plus some weekend work
|
10 weeks plus
national holidays
|
Main
places for jobs
Montevideo.
Typical
requirements
Degree,
TEFL
preferred, local interview preferred.
Tips
1.
A TEFL certificate
is not strictly necessary, but you will find that if you have one you are
eligible for better jobs and better pay. You’ll also be a more confident
teacher.
2.
Given the low salaries, you may need to supplement your income with extra, private one-to-one
tuition. Contacts are essential and found via word of
mouth and through local adverts and websites. Bear in mind that punctuality is
less important in Uruguay than in the West so it is quite common for students to
turn up late!
3.
American and
Canadian teachers may be at a slight advantage. Teachers with Spanish
language skills will find settling in a lot easier.
Red
tape
Your
employer is responsible
for obtaining your work permit. However, in
reality, many work illegally. Despite the flexibility this allows, this is not
recommended for obvious reasons. Most teachers
arrive on a tourist visa which can be converted into a work visa
without having to leave the country.
Cost
of living
The
cost of living is low but you will probably have to share accommodation with another teacher
to begin with. Transport is especially cheap and efficient in Montevideo.
Tax
and salary information
You
should expect to be paid on a
monthly basis. Make sure you actually have a contract
or else you may have problems when it comes to payday.
References
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