Learn about the English Opens Doors Program in Chile, a unique initiative facilitating language education and cultural exchange for teaching English in Chilean public schools.
While it is true that the vast majority of English teaching positions available overseas are with private language schools, there are a variety of really popular government-sponsored teaching programs that offer foreign instructors opportunities to teach in a public school setting. Among them is the English Opens Doors (EOD) program offered by The United Nations Development Program and the Chilean Ministry of Education for teaching English in Chile.
What is the English Opens Doors program?
The English Opens Doors Program (Programa Inglés Abre Puertas) is a Chilean initiative promoting language education. It offers opportunities for global educators to teach English, fostering cross-cultural exchange and enhancing language skills in Chilean students.
The Chilean Ministry of Education recruits volunteers to teach in public schools in exchange for a modest stipend and a homestay with a local family. The program was established in 2003 to enhance English proficiency among students from the 5th to 12th grade.
Read more: English Open Doors Program (Chilean Ministry of Education)
Highlights of the English Opens Doors Program in Chile
We’ll go into more detail below, but here are the benefits of teaching English in Chile through the English Opens Doors Program at a glance:
- Teachers get hired in advance from their home countries
- No application fees
- You receive a stipend of 100,000 CLP ($125)/month
- Free housing and meals provided
- 24 hours of English teaching and 11 hours of extra-curricular activities per week
- Teachers work in a traditional public school setting
- Teachers may get to work in a wide range of locations around the country
Since 2003, more than 2,000 English-speaking volunteers have taught English in schools in every region of Chile, including the islands of Rapa Nui, Chiloe, and more. More than 650 municipal and state-subsidized private establishments have benefited from the program.
Through EOD, native (or near-native) English-speaking instructors work as English teaching assistants in public schools throughout Chile. A usual week for a volunteer includes 24 hours of English teaching and 11 hours of extra-curricular activities. Volunteers teach in a classroom with a Chilean teacher and work with students ranging from 5th grade (10-11 years old) to 12th grade (17-18 years old).
Volunteer opportunities range from 3-6 months, or 6-12 months. Year-round teachers receive a week of paid vacation, on top of national holidays that schools observe.
Perks of Teaching English with the English Opens Doors Program
How Much Can You Earn as an English Teacher with the Opens Doors Program in Chile?
English teachers teaching with the Opens Doors Program receive a stipend of CLP 100,000 (approx. $125 USD) per month served to reimburse local transportation or other costs related to teaching.
- Housing and meals with a local host family
- Health insurance
- Pre-departure information and support
- Airport transfers to volunteer housing
- The EOD program coordinator will also assist with registering the volunteer’s visa and obtaining a Chilean I.D. card
- Round-trip transportation from Santiago to the regional placement site
- In-country support from the National Volunteer Center
- A regional English representative will be available.
"The living expenses, I would say, if you are not in Santiago, everywhere else in Chile is pretty cheap. Really, really cheap. I would say, I thought also because you got three meals from your host family already. So you don't actually have to spend more money for food."
- ITA grad Holly Vo, Teaching with the English Opens Doors Program
What are the Requirements for the English Opens Doors Program?
To be eligible for the English Opens Doors program in Chile, volunteers must:
- Have an undergraduate degree
- Be a native (or near-native) English speaker
- Be between the ages of 21-35
- Possess a TEFL Certification (typically preferred)
Note:
- Applicants older than 35 will be considered on a case-by-case basis).
- TEFL Certification is highly recommended as it will provide you with a recognized teaching qualification and the skills you need to teach English on a professional level.
Go further: Requirements for Teaching in Chile
The English Opens Doors program in Chile is one of the most popular public school programs for TEFL instructors in the world and a great way to secure a job in advance in this region. It is also an option for TEFL instructors looking to work in a more typical school setting and explore regions of Chile often ignored by the private English teaching community.
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