Top English teaching jobs in Uruguay

Teaching in Uruguay

Options for teaching in Uruguay

Teachers in Uruguay will find the majority of teaching jobs in the capital city of Montevideo, which is also the country’s major education hub and home to Uruguay’s only public university.

teaching in uruguay

Salary and benefits while teaching in Uruguay

Teaching Benefit Type Teaching Benefit Details
Yearly Salary $500 – 1,000 USD/month for public language school teachers, $2,500+ USD/month for teachers at international schools.
Working Hours Language schools operate on a 4 hour school day Monday – Friday, either in the morning or afternoon. The average work week for teachers in Uruguay totals 20 – 25 hours on average.
Relocation Allowance Not provided.
Vacation

– Mid-December to mid-March, these dates may vary slightly for private schools.

– One week for Semana de Turismo (Holy week) in April

– Two weeks in July

– 1 week in September

Health Insurance Work permits granted to teachers in Uruguay allows them to access the public healthcare system.
Contract Duration One year.

Teach in Uruguay

Teaching in Uruguay – Hiring

The school year in Uruguay runs from mid-March to mid-December, although private schools may operate on a slightly different schedule. Peak hiring times are from February to March and July to August. It is common for secondary interviews to be conducted in person in Uruguay.

Qualifications to teach in Uruguay

In Uruguay, public school is mandatory and free for children up to age 17. This high attendance rate can sometimes mean large class sizes and a greater demand for high-quality teachers, especially teachers who are native English speakers.

Having a Bachelor’s degree is not a requirement to teach English in Uruguay, but a relevant ESL teaching qualification is strongly recommended for English-teaching jobs in Uruguay. The University of Toronto’s TEFL Online certificate can equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to land a job teaching English in Uruguay.

For candidates looking to teach in an international or third-level institution in Uruguay, an advanced degree in education may be required.

Uruguay’s education system places a huge emphasis on integrating digital literacy into the curriculum across all grade levels and subjects. Teach Away’s Digital Literacy professional development course for teachers, created in partnership with Teachers College, Columbia University, can help candidates for teaching jobs in Uruguay learn the fundamental teaching skills and knowledge needed to develop their students’ digital literacies.

Visas for teachers in Uruguay

Many schools will assist teachers in obtaining a work permit. Teachers generally arrive in Uruguay on a tourist visa, which can later be changed to a work visa. This change can be done without the teacher having to leave the country.

teach in uruguay

Living in Uruguay

As Uruguay has a relatively low cost of living, ex-pat teachers in Uruguay are able to live comfortably and experience all that the country has to offer. Uruguay has a rich and diverse culture that is a unique combination of Spanish, Italian, and South American influences.

Things to do for teachers in Uruguay

With flexible school schedules, there is lots of time for teachers to fully immerse themselves in Uruguay’s culture. The capital city of Montevideo offers all the conveniences of a modern cosmopolitan city and has a large culinary and entertainment scene. The city also boasts a distinct historic charm with cobblestone streets and unique 19th-century European architecture.

Montevideo is also right on the ocean, which is a popular destination if you are lucky enough to be there during the summer months to experience surfing and its ocean-side lifestyle.

Punta del Este, Uruguay’s most famous tourist destination, is a small peninsula that is home to the country’s most prestigious beachside resort.

The coastal area west of Montevideo is also full of shops, restaurants, and outdoor entertainment, such as biking, horseback riding, windsurfing, music festivals, and much more!

living in uruguay

Experience teaching in Uruguay

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Uruguay at a glance

Country information

Capital: Montevideo

Language: Spanish

Population: 3.4 million

Currency: Uruguayan Peso (UYU)

Government: Presidential representative democratic republic

Major religion: Roman Catholic

Climate: Subtropical

Quick facts

Uruguay was named after the Uruguay River, which means “river of the painted birds” in the Guarani language.

Uruguay’s literacy rate is 98%, one of the highest in the world.

Uruguay is the first country to provide every child in its school system with a free laptop and wifi. This program was implemented in 2009, working with the One Laptop Per Child non-profit organization.

The President of Uruguay from 2010 to 2015, José “Pepe” Mujica, donated almost all of his income to charity.

Uruguay is the least corrupt country in South America and was named The Economist’s Country of the Year in 2013.

The population of cows in Uruguay is four times greater than the country’s human population -12 million compared to 3 million.

The Chivito is Uruguay’s most popular sandwich and unofficial national dish, consisting of steak on bread with cheese, bacon, tomatoes, lettuce and roasted red peppers.