Destination TEFL: Paraguay

Paraguay is a landlocked country in South America sandwiched between Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. It’s notorious for its smuggling, fake good and lawlessness around Ciudad del Este. It’s not known as a TEFL Destination. Not very many adventurous English teachers decide to move down to Paraguay to teach English, but after researching this, I’m rather surprised they aren’t.

Andrea DiBenardo wrote an article for Transitions Abroad on Teaching English in Paraguay. It gives an overview of teaching in Paraguay.

Teachers looking for a comfortable environment should focus on the private sector, which caters to the small but very influential Paraguayan elite. The capital, Asuncion, provides the most job opportunities, but you can also try key cities like Encarnacion or Ciudad del Este. Private schools boast attractive, gated facilities with air-conditioning, cultural activities, stocked libraries, computer labs, and English-speaking staff. Class sizes range from one to 15 students and discipline is generally not a problem.

Nice places to work.

However, arriving with just a few hundred dollars will allow you to lead a glamorous life. Imagine renting a modern, spacious apartment with views of the city for $100 per month or paying a dollar to dine out on hearty meals of fresh vegetables and fine cuts of beef. You can indulge in luxuries a teacher’s wages usually can’t afford: therapeutic massage, visits to the salon, sessions with a personal trainer, tailor-made clothing—all for under $5.

Low cost of living….

Check out the article for a full run down on what was discovered in Paraguay.

Some other links to find out more about Paraguay:
Any ‘Guay You Want It
ESL Cafe Discussion on Paraguay