Teaching English in ChileBack to Tefl World

Have you ever considered volunteering as a TEFL teacher?  Then you should consider the beautiful and friendly country of Chile.  The Chilean Ministry-of-Education-run English Open Doors Program offers you the opportunity to work with a professional organisation which really cares about the people involved and its aims.  Read on and find out about Lucy's experience in the north of Chile…

I awoke with a jolt and realised the plane had finally began its descent into Santiago. What I saw through the window will stay with me for the rest of my life. It was 8am in Santiago. The sun had risen, glistening over us and the Andes, showering us both with its light and warmth. It is hard to describe the beauty of the Andes in their entirety, but maybe it will help to mention that I was covered in goosebumps with blood pumping quickly through my body. 

After getting to know Santiago for a week I was ready to move onto Valparasío. I had already heard a whole lot about it as a place - it sounded like a cool, slightly edgy beach city. Something I was really looking forward to after a week in a busy capital. As a city Valparaíso certainly possesses something special. Much of it is on a hill, blessing the city with breathtaking, captivating views. With a similar climate to Santiago - hot in the sun and cold everywhere else - I spent an idyllic few days exploring the city and admiring its street art, quirky streets, it’s famous port, and its neighbouring sister city, Viña del Mar. ‘Viña’, as the locals call it, is just a 15-minute bus ride, visible across the sea from Valparaiso. This is where most of the English schools are located.