Peru

Peru is a country that fascinates and takes your breath away at seemingly every opportunity. From powerful colorful indigenous cultures to beautiful mountain views and a unique world renowned cuisine, it’s no surprise that Peru is one of the most popular destinations in Latin America for tourism. As an English teacher, although you’ll likely spend most of your time in the capital of Lima or colonial Arequipa, be sure to give yourself some time to explore the rest of the country for sites and experiences you will not want to miss! Climate & Geography Peru is an incredibly diverse country when it comes to natural beauty. Although Brazil usually gets the attention when it comes to the Amazon Rainforest, almost 60% of Peru is covered by the Amazon! The Peruvian rainforest is home to the world’s largest number of bird species and third largest number of mammals on the entire planet. The cities of Iquitos and Puerto Maldonado are great jumping off points to visit the rainforest. On a more somber note, the Peruvian Amazon has been victim to illegal logging in recent years due to its abundance of timber which not only affects the wildlife and also the habitats of various indigenous tribes, as well as contributes to global climate change. Because of its proximity to the equator, Peru has two main seasons, a wet season from December to March and a dry season from April to November. It’s important to note that the climate can vary whether you are on the coast, inland, or in the rainfo…

Each country has its own requirements and qualifications when it comes to teaching. Some require a bachelor’s degree in any field. In others, you’ll qualify with only a high school diploma and your TEFL certificate. Some countries have strict visa requirements that may disqualify you based on your citizenship or criminal background. Let’s take a look at the qualifications needed for teaching English in Peru. Education A bachelor’s degree is not required to teach in Peru, but it is preferred by employers. Those who do not have a bachelor’s degree will still have options to teach in Peru. Citizenship There are no specific citizenship requirements to teach English in Peru, though some employers might prefer to hire citizens of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa. English Fluency If you are not a citizen of one of the above countries, you will be expected to be fluent in English and speak at a native level to be considered for teaching jobs. Background Check A clean background check is not necessary to teach in Peru on a tourist visa. However, on the chance you land employment with a school willing to sponsor your work permit (this typically only applies to qualified teachers working for international schools), you will need to have a 100% clean federally-issued criminal record check in order to apply for your work visa. Keep in mind though that it is very uncommon for schools to sponsor your work permit in Peru, and most te…

The English teaching job market in Peru for TEFL certified teachers is strong and is only continuing to grow. Lima, the national capital, is home to nine million people and has blossomed into one of the largest job markets for teachers in South America. There are also various teaching opportunities in Peru’s second largest and historically significant city, Arequipa. Schools in Peru aren’t known for offering teachers flashy benefits, but a solid monthly wage of approximately 2,000 – 4,000 PEN combined with a very low cost of living allows those teaching English to live comfortably yet modestly. Teachers can expect to work around 20-30 hours per week teaching adults (and sometimes children) in private language schools, leaving plenty of time to travel and explore. Additionally, Peru is an attractive destination for teachers who are looking for short term contracts that typically range from three to six months in length. Private Language Schools Private language schools are privately-run and typically for-profit language training centers that can cater to students of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. Many school-aged students will attend private language schools to supplement their public or private school education, and adults will often attend private language schools to develop their foreign language competency and thereby advance their professional and career options. Unlike public schools or international schools, private language schools specialize solely in the teach…

Now that you’ve explored the job types available to you, it’s time to begin the application process! There are several steps to take to find a job teaching English in Peru, and we have them all outlined below. Heads up! The timelines for your job application process and for gathering documents for your visa may overlap. You’ll want to be working on both processes at roughly the same time. Be sure to check out our Peru Timeline , as well as the Applying for the Visa section for more information and to make sure you are staying on top of your visa documents while applying for teaching positions. Step 1: Prepare Your Initial Application Materials Resume & Cover Letter Your resume and cover letter are the keys to connecting with schools and beginning the application process. International employers look for specific elements in a resume that may differ from what you’re used to seeing domestically. To take a deeper dive into international resumes and cover letters, visit the Prepare section! Once you’ve updated your resume and cover letter to meet the recommended international standards, submit your draft to your Student Affairs Advisor for review. Step 2: Determine Your Preferences A major part of the teaching abroad experience is enjoying where you’ll actually be living! Do you have a preference when it comes to your daily routines and surroundings? Do you want to live in the bustling Lima? Or do you crave a picturesque, mountain town like Urubamba? Do you value having great…

Congratulations on your job offer(s)! If you’ve been offered a position from a school in Peru and you’ve followed our previous advice, you’re already off to a great start. But what’s next? Determining whether or not the offer is right for you. To help make this decision, follow the recommendations below by reviewing the basics. Whether you have one offer or several, the key elements you’ll want to take note of are: salary, working hours, vacation days, sick days, housing, airfare, insurance, and bonuses. Let’s take a closer look at what to expect with each of these elements. Review the Basics Salary & Severance Pay The average starting salary for a first-year English teacher in Peru is 2,000 – 4,000 PEN per month. Anything significantly lower or higher should make you ask a few questions. If the reason for the pay difference is obvious, like you’ll be in a rural location with a low cost of living or working longer than average hours, you may find that you’re okay with it. But don’t accept a contract that is paying you less for doing the same amount of work the average English teacher does, or one that doesn’t fit into your work-life-travel balance. Upon the successful completion of a one-year contract, some employers might offer a completion or re-signing bonus. Not all schools will offer this perk, and many schools will determine your bonus amount via a performance review. You’ll want to make sure that any bonus details are clearly stipulated in your contract before signing.…

The word “visa” tends to provoke daunting images of endless red tape and paperwork but we’re here to ease your anxiety and hopefully have you zipping through this process like a pro. Below, we’ll outline the most common visa routes for foreign English teachers in Peru, and then dive into a deeper look at the required documents for a tourist there. As is always the case with any of the visa advice we provide, please be sure to cross-check this information with your local Peruvian consulate or embassy to ensure you are getting the most up-to-date, accurate, and personalized instruction there is! Visa Types Tourist Visa What is it? Many English teachers in Peru are hired by an employer “under the table” on a tourist visa. Though this might sound like a slightly questionable practice if you’re unfamiliar with it, in Peru it’s a fairly standard routine for schools and teachers. How do you get one? For travelers from countries that require a visa, a Peruvian tourist visa must be obtained from a Peruvian consulate before arrival. For visa-exempt travelers, entry is granted at the border or airport by an immigration officer, who determines the number of days allowed. Teachers who do not need to obtain a tourist visa in advance will have a tourist visa stamped into the passport upon arrival in Peru. How long is it valid? Foreign tourists can stay a maximum of 183 days within a 365-day period. However, most nationalities are only granted up to 90 days in a 180-day period when entering …

In the days, weeks, and months leading up to your move abroad, it’s more important than ever to stay organized and ask yourself: What are the logistics I have to consider and the loose ends I have to tie up in order to thrive in my new home? Do I have to worry about taxes? What about health insurance? And what the heck do I do about a cell phone? Fear not, TEFL teacher. In this section, you’ll find the tips, resources, and wisdom to tackle these questions and more! Review the Basics Health Insurance Although in a perfect world an apple a day would keep the doctor away, in reality, even teachers get sick. Cue health insurance. Regardless of the country you end up in, you should always inquire about health insurance before accepting a position. If health insurance is indeed provided by your employer, it’s imperative that the relevant details are outlined clearly in any contract you sign. Although Peru has decentralized and universal healthcare, you may want to look into private health insurance options before traveling to Peru, and do your own research in order to determine which health insurance plan abroad might be the best fit for you, your health needs, and any dependents you might be bringing along. With so many insurance options to choose from, picking out a good provider can be daunting for some teachers. One easy hack? Check out this article about insurance options abroad, and consult the ITA Alumni Peru Group for insight on how other teachers have navigated their insur…

You have finally made it to the end of the Peru section, no small feat! Here is all of that wonderful information from the previous section laid out step-by-step and month-by-month before your intended departure date for Peru. This timeline is not only for the planners and checklist lovers (although you will love this too!). It is strongly encouraged for anyone planning a move to Peru to help keep you on track and organized as you make your way through the process. Use these timelines to nail down your plan of attack, and remember that the peak hiring seasons for English teachers in Peru are February through March and July through August. While it may be possible to move some parts of the process along quicker, follow this timeline as closely as possible. Finding a Job in Advance Please keep in mind that it can be tricky to secure a position in Peru in advance of arriving in the country. Many Peruvian employers won’t want to sponsor a foreign teacher’s costly work permit, so it’s much more common for English teachers to secure employment on the ground on a tourist visa. Nonetheless, it never hurts to try to land a position from your home country! 5-6 months before departure: Begin your research ___ List out your preferences and priorities. ___ Chat with ITA alumni, watch alumni videos and read about alumni experiences in Peru. ___ Read through ITA’s resources, watch a Student Affairs webinar . ___ Read about Peruvian culture. ___ Reach out to your Student Affairs Advisor. ___…

We rent a room in a house with a shared kitchen, 4 other teachers live here, and we pay about $278/month for rent. My husband and I received some contacts from the school of people to rent a room from. We are in a house in the old section of town - really beautiful area, very safe! The owners live upstairs and we and four other teachers live downstairs. The teachers' rooms all have private bathrooms and of course are furnished. Our rooms exit into an open air courtyard which connects to the front door of the building and the shared teacher kitchen. Because it only rains here in January-March, the courtyard is an excellent place to relax and take in the great weather. I'm not sure what happens when it rains. While a challenge to have housemates again, we really enjoy it. The owners are very nice and we have played cards and cooked breakfast with them. The other teachers are great to collaborate with and to complain about classes with! Alina R. Arequipa, Peru The old culture is still very much alive in Arequipa and Peru as a whole. You'll see lots of parades, dancing in the streets, traditional clothing, etc. The nightlife is great; there are a couple areas where there will be live music on weekends. Plenty of places to go have a drink or go dancing with friends; from smaller bars to bigger clubs. The expat community is nice, although the majority of foreigners only stay for 3-6 months. The food is great! Arequipa is known as the food capital of Peru, which itself is an up-and-…