TEFL Certification in Chile
Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) in Chile can be the adventure of a lifetime, but it’s hard to get started. How can you build the skills you need to design and teach your own lessons? Or learn the ropes in a new city? Or find a job?
With more than two decades of experience in Chile, BridgeTEFL’s got the answers. In fact, we designed our month-long, Santiago-based International Diploma in English Language Teaching (IDELT™) program to cover all the bases.
We don’t just offer comprehensive, internationally accredited training to prepare you to teach English as a foreign language; we can also pick you up from the airport, help you find housing, strengthen your Spanish skills, and even connect you to a broad network of jobs once you graduate.
Located in Chile’s capital of Santiago—a sophisticated global city with culture and nature galore—Bridge’s IDELT™ program will help you build a foundation for success in a city hungry for English-language instruction. So take the plunge—you’ll build professional skills and lifelong memories as you immerse yourself in a new and vibrant culture.
What makes Santiago unique?
Wedged between the shores of the Pacific and the towering peaks of the Andes, and stretching from the icy tip of Patagonia to the spectacular highland deserts of the North, Chile is one of the world’s most geographically unique countries. The charm of this unusual geography is on full display in Santiago. Elaborate hilltop parks dot the city, keeping hikers and nature lovers busy. The snow-capped Andes can be seen from just about everywhere in the city, and world-class skiing is just a few minutes away.
And if snow isn’t your style, never fear—sand is also close at hand. Viña del Mar, one of the Southern Cone’s most famous beach resorts, and Valparaíso, a bohemian seaside city with unparalleled Pacific vistas, are only 100km away. So pack your skis and your sunblock—Chile and its unparalleled diversity await!
TEFL Certification in Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Host Institution: Bridge| Term: | Start Date: | Duration: | Deadline: | Price: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Short-term | Monthly | 4 weeks | One month prior to the program start date | $1995 |
Accommodations for Duration of Program:
Add-Ons
Academics
Course Hours: 140
Language of Instruction: English
IDELT™ Certification:
The International Diploma in English Language Teaching (IDELT™) is a rigorous and internationally accredited measure of your skill as a teacher of English as a foreign language. Bridge’s IDELT™ program has been approved by ACCET (Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training) and has been recommended for credit at over 1,500 colleges and universities.
In this 140-hour course, you’ll learn to teach reading, writing, speaking, and listening to learners of English, and you’ll also focus on key competencies like grammar and pronunciation. In addition, you’ll hone your pedagogy and build valuable skills like lesson planning and classroom management. This comprehensive preparation will boost your confidence and your employability, empowering you to teach English in Chile and around the globe.
The Classroom Experience:
Combining intensive study with teacher observation and at least six hours of teaching practice with real language learners, IDELT™ utilizes a wide range of media and the latest techniques to create a varied and personalized learning environment. You’ll have fun and learn a lot, but you’ll also have to work hard.
Exercises will include preparing sample lesson plans, teaching your own practice classes, and completing five written assignments. Though you’ll need to make a strong effort, your dedication will pay off immediately. At the end of the course, you’ll have mastered a new set of in-demand skills, and you’ll have a lot to show for it—including a detailed final portfolio and an in-depth evaluation that you can include with your resume as you apply for jobs.
Admission Requirements:
- Be at least 20 years of age. (18- and 19-year-old applicants admitted at the center’s discretion)
- Have a standard of educational attainment similar to what colleges and universities require
- Have native or near-native competence in spoken and written English. Non-native speakers are required to complete an oral interview before enrolling. They must be able to communicate in English with few or no mistakes (roughly equivalent to a score in the range of 6.5-9 on the IELTS, 79-120 on the TOEFL iBT, or 213-300 on the computer-based TOEFL)
- No prior teaching experience is required
Facilities
Founded in 1990, Bridge’s Santiago TEFL training center is our flagship South American facility. It sports 17 air-conditioned classrooms, plus fax, phone, and internet access. It’s located amid the dramatic highrises and tree-lined streets of elegant Providencia, with plenty of shopping and dining options. Plus, one of the city’s nightlife meccas, Suecia, is just five minutes away, and the highly efficient Metro is even closer!
Once you’re on the Metro, all of Santiago is yours to explore. Chile’s capital and largest city, Santiago is a South American hotspot for culture and nature. New museums like the Museum of Pre-Colombian Arts and the just-opened Museum of Memory (dedicated to telling the story of Augusto Pinochet’s brutal dictatorship) have brought the city global attention. Outdoor opportunities abound, with hiking and dramatic views on nearby Cerro San Cristobal and world-class trekking and skiing in the nearby Andes.
And though the city’s known as a center of international business—and has the skyscrapers and multinationals to prove it—don’t be fooled its prim appearance. As you’ll figure out while chilling in an underground student bar or dancing until sunrise at a massive rave, Santiaguinos most certainly know how to have a good time!
TEFL Jobs in Santiago
Buoyed by decades of economic growth, Chile has made a dramatic push to expand English-language education across the country. Its innovative English Opens Doors program places native speakers in classrooms across Chile, bringing English to thousands of students.
English skills are also in high demand among businesspeople and professionals in search of new opportunities, especially in and around the capital of Santiago. As an English teacher in the city, you will most likely teach adults in individual or small group classes.
With your IDELT™ certification in hand, you shouldn’t have any problem finding a job. Bridge’s decades of experience have given us a strong network of contacts among recruiters at the best-reputed language institutes in Santiago, all of whom have firsthand knowledge of the skills and training that set Bridge IDELT™-certified teachers apart.
As part of its commitment to you, Bridge’s job liaisons will connect you to choice institutes from among our contacts. And if in the future you decide to move to another part of the world, Bridge’s international presence means that you’ll have a friend—and a network—in dozens of countries across the globe.
Accommodations & Meals
Host Family
Many students prefer to live with a host family because it’s a great way to get to know local Chileans and to learn about Santiago and its culture. You’ll have a private bedroom and either a private or a shared bathroom. You’ll also receive your own key to the house and you’ll be free to come and go as you please. Your host family will provide breakfast and dinner every day. Beyond the food, you’ll likely find that these daily meals are a great opportunity to learn from your hosts and practice your Spanish.
Shared Apartment
If you’d prefer a bit more independence, you may wish to stay in an apartment shared with other students and local residents. Living in a shared apartment, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about Chilean culture while maintaining more autonomy than you would in a host family’s home. You’ll have your own bedroom and house key, but you’ll likely share a bathroom and kitchen. Meals are not included.
Hostel
Students seeking a more economical alternative may wish to stay in a local hostel. There are a number of hostels convenient to Bridge’s Santiago training center. Breakfast is included; lunch and dinner are not, but kitchen facilities are available.
Cultural Activities & Excursions
Santiago is a city rich in cultural attractions, and Bridge will make sure you catch all the best of them. Each week, you’ll be invited to participate in a variety of organized activities with your Bridge peers. Some of the most popular are guided tours of notable local spots led by Bridge’s knowledgeable staff. Destinations include:
La Chascona
Pablo Neruda’s Santiago residence is a showcase for what could politely be described as the Nobel Prize-winning poet’s “unique” decorative taste. The portraits of two-headed women and gigantic knotty tree trunks holding up the living room ceiling are almost eccentric enough to distract you from the spectacular view of Santiago from the balcony just beyond.
Moneda Palace
Once the home of Chile’s presidents, La Moneda is now most famous as the place where President Salvador Allende died during Pinochet’s 1973 coup. The palace has recently been transformed into a museum and cultural center, making it an excellent place for us to learn about Chile’s complicated past.
Museum of Pre-Colombian Art
On our visit to Chile’s renowned Museum of Pre-Colombian Art, we’ll view highlights from the museum’s world-class collection of artifacts from throughout the Americas as we come to better understand the peoples and cultures native to Latin America.
Pueblito de Artisanos Los Dominicos
Wandering the tree-lined sidewalks of this picturesque artists’ colony located just outside the city, it’s hard to believe that Los Dominicos is accessible by subway. We’ll check out cozy restaurants, live artists’ demonstrations, and many, many galleries as we relax on an afternoon excursion to Los Dominicos.
What's Included?
Individual Needs Analysis
At Bridge, we take the time to determine your specific needs in order to create a study abroad program that is right for you.
Program Customization
Once we understand your needs, we work with you to recommend or help customize a program that addresses your unique circumstances.
Pre-Departure Advising
Once you have chosen your program, we work with you to prepare for your trip, covering everything from passports and packing lists to culture shock and other tips.
BridgeVirtual Language Lessons
As part of your program fee, you will receive three free BridgeVirtual language sessions for your use prior to your arrival on-site! Each session lasts 2 hours and includes both pre- and post-class online activities, as well as private, face-to-face time with a certified native speaking teacher.
Tuition
Your program fee will cover the cost of one-week of intensive language instruction and 140 hours (4 weeks) of TEFL training.
In-Country Emergency Support
During your time abroad, you will always have access to a local Bridge staff member in case of emergency. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
On-Site Orientation
Once in country, you will go through a comprehensive orientation covering topics such as health and safety, local transportation, and other helpful tips.
Cultural Activities
All of our programs include a cultural focus, allowing students to experience local workshops, lectures, and excursions during their time in the host country.
IDELT Diploma
Upon completion of the course, you will receive the International Diploma of English Language Training (IDELT), which has been recommended for credit at over 1,500 colleges and universities.
Re-Entry Support Materials
Because we know that sometimes students have difficulty readjusting to life back at home after such a transformative experience abroad, we provide you with materials to support you in becoming re-acclimated during your return home.
Follow-up Advising
We will contact you after your return home to help you reflect on your time abroad and offer advice on how to best utilize these experiences in the future.
OTHER POSSIBLE INCLUSIONS
BridgeAbroad’s unique menu pricing system allows you to choose which program elements you’d like to include in your overall program price, and which you prefer to take care of on your own as part of your personal budget. Additional BridgeAbroad program services include:
- Housing and Meals: Bridge recommends staying with a local host family in order to increase your exposure to the local language and culture, but you may also choose to stay in a local hostel or shared apartment. Host families generally provide half board, hostels provide breakfast, and apartments are self-catered.
- Additional BridgeVirtual online language learning courses
- Airport Reception & Transfer
- Additional Cultural Workshops & Excursions
- Emergency Travel Insurance
- Cell Phones and Calling Cards
- ISIC – International Student Identification Card
Combine Programs!
Bridge’s IDELT™ program can help you build a foundation for an exceptional year—or career—teaching English abroad. If you’re planning to live and work in Chile, why not combine your IDELT™ with an intensive month spent improving your Spanish language skills?
No matter your current proficiency level, Bridge’s Intensive Spanish Language program will use innovate techniques and full immersion to take your communication abilities to the next level. Check out Intensive Spanish Language – Santiago for more details.
