TEACH ENGLISH IN GUATEMALA

Everything you need to know to get a job teaching English in Guatemala.

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About Teaching English in Guatemala

In order to teach English in Guatemala, you will need a TEFL certificate. A 4-year college degree is preferred but not required. Native English proficiency is also expected to find a TEFL job. The average salary for an English teacher in Guatemala is about $500 - $600 USD per month.

Boasting stunning natural beauty and a rich cultural heritage that includes some of the finest pre-Columbian monuments in Latin America, Guatemala is a small country in Central America bordered by Mexico, Belize, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast. Guatemala is not as large of a job market for teaching English as neighbors like Costa Rica, but there are certainly opportunities.

English teachers in Guatemala typically find work in February through March and again in July and August. Instructors are expected to interview in person in Guatemala and are also responsible for airfare and housing. 

Three English teachers in Guatemala a group of English teachers in Guatemala with the ITA flag

A solid hourly wage and a low cost of living enable English teachers to live a comfortable lifestyle. Schools typically offer around 20 to 25 hours of work per week, leaving plenty of time to travel and explore. Most English teaching jobs are found in Guatemala City.

How to Teach English in Guatemala: Requirements

TEFL Certification for Guatemala

A TEFL certification is required to teach English in Guatemala. You do not need prior teaching experience, but earning your TEFL certification will provide you with the training and qualification you do need to get hired. 

English teachers in Guatemala typically interview in person. Therefore, it is most common for students to take one of our TEFL course options listed below.

Native English-Speaking Proficiency

You do not need to be a native English speaker to teach English in Guatemala, however, you will be expected to be fluent in English and speak at a native level to be considered for teaching jobs. Citizenship from the USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa is typically preferred but not always required.

Degree Requirement for Guatemala

While a bachelor's degree is not required to secure a job in Guatemala, it still can be strongly preferred by employers. If you do not have a degree, you should be prepared for a more competitive job search.

How to Find English Teaching Jobs in Guatemala

TEFL Jobs in Guatemala

The most common teaching jobs in Guatemala consist of:

TEFL Guatemala: Hiring & Visa

English teachers in Guatemala can expect to find jobs between February-March and again in July-August. Teachers typically get hired in-person in Guatemala during these peak hiring months.

Teachers typically teach on a tourist visa in Guatemala. The process is extremely simple, as you just show up at the airport in Guatemala and you get 90 days upon entry. You can apply for additional 90 days while in-country, and then you will need to border hop for any remaining time you plan to stay past those 180 days. 

Working as an English Teacher in Guatemala: Hours

English language schools in Guatemala offer approximately 20 to 25 hours of classroom work per week plus additional hours for prep time. This allows for plenty of time to travel and explore. 

Teaching Guatemalan Students

It is most common that your students will be adults and business professionals. 

Teaching English in Guatemala Salary & Cost of Living

Start-up Costs

Start-up costs will range from $1,000 - $1,200 USD. These are expenses you will incur from your arrival in Guatemala until you receive your first paycheck and may include things like rent, apartment supplies, transport, groceries, getting your new local cell phone number set up, etc. 

English Teacher Salary in Guatemala

A solid hourly wage enables teachers the opportunity to live a comfortable lifestyle while in Guatemala. English teachers in Guatemala can expect to make $500 - $600 USD per month. It is common for teachers in Guatemala to also teach English online to supplement their income.

There are no flight or housing benefits/stipends provided so you will need to remember to account for accommodation or temporary housing for your first few weeks in your start-up costs until you find an apartment to rent. 

Cost of Living & Savings

The cost of living typically ranges between $500-$600 USD per month.

English teachers in Guatemala can expect to break even month over month. This means you can cover your rent and bills, support yourself, live comfortably, and enjoy your life abroad to the fullest, but you shouldn't expect to save money at the end of the month. If you are hustling and taking on private tutoring lessons and/or teaching English online in addition to your regular teaching schedule, you may increase your ability to save.

 

What Does Teaching in Guatemala Look Like?

Check out our blog to read stories from our alumni teaching English in Guatemala and Latin America.

Want more? We've got you covered! Visit our Video Library to watch day-in-the-life videos from our alumni and get a glimpse into what your life as an English teacher in Guatemala & Latin America could look like!

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Teaching English in Guatemala FAQs

How do I become an English teacher in Guatemala?

To teach English in Guatemala, make sure you understand what is and is not required:

Required:

  • A TEFL certification
  • Understanding of the types of English teaching jobs that are available
  • Savings for start-up costs

Not Required:

  • A four-year college degree is not required to secure a job in Uruguay, however, it is still strongly preferred by employers. If you do not have a degree, you should be prepared for a more competitive job search.
  • You do not need to be a native English speaker, but you will be expected to be fluent in English and speak at a native level to be considered for teaching jobs. Citizenship from the USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa is typically preferred but not always required.

How much do English teachers make in Guatemala?

English teachers in Guatemala can expect to make $500 - $600 USD per month. It is common to also teach English online to supplement your income.

With the cost of living being low in Guatemala, you can expect to break even month over month. This means you can cover your rent and bills, support yourself, live comfortably, and enjoy your life abroad to the fullest, but you shouldn't expect to save money at the end of the month.

What type of visa do I need to teach English in Guatemala?

The majority of teachers will just work in Guatemala on a tourist visa, especially if they are working in a private language school. Teachers do not need to obtain a tourist visa in advance as a 90 stamp is put in the passport upon arrival in Guatemala. Teachers can also file for an additional 90-day extension in Guatemala. After this, teachers will need to cross the border every 90 days to renew their tourist visa.

Recommended TEFL Courses for Teaching English in Guatemala

Part-Time Online TEFL Course

What's included 👇

  • 170-Hour Online Certification
  • 11 Weeks Part-Time
  • OFQUAL Level 5 Accreditation from TQUK
  • Live Office Hours with Your Instructor & Peer-Participation with Classmates
  • Lifetime Job Search Guidance
  • 20-Hours Live Practice Teaching

Intensive Online TEFL Course

What's included 👇

  • 4 Weeks Full-Time (40+ hours per week) - required class time typically 6-8 hours daily
  • OFQUAL Level 5 Accreditation from TQUK
  • Live Office Hours with Your Instructor & Peer-Participation with Classmates
  • Lifetime Job Search Guidance
  • 10-Hours Live Practice Teaching (Virtual) built into the course
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Reviews From ITA Students Who Now Experience TEFL in Guatemala

Adria Baebler

Teaches English in Uruguay

Adria Baebler

JUST GO! If you want the opportunity to live overseas and travel, teaching abroad is a great career that lets you do both. I always tell people to “travel while you’re young,” because traveling only gets harder the older you get. Teach overseas now while you don’t have the commitments of a full-time job to hold you back… you won’t regret it!

Angelina Ajdukovic

Taught English in Guatemala

Angelina Ajdukovic

My course was absolutely fantastic! It was intense, definitely, but worth every late night spent lesson planning. As an ITA student, you are going to develop a solid understanding of grammar as well as teaching methodology. But don't worry! The instructors easily turn dull grammar points into engaging lessons and activities, then teach you how to the same for your future classes.

Tehmina Brohi

Teaches English in Mexico

Tehmina Brohi

I worked really hard to save money before I left home so I was able to work only 15 hours a week. I was paid enough to live comfortably and used my savings to travel around a bit. I worked mainly for a language school and was able to pick up some private clients here and there with some networking.