 Overview
Ecuador is an adventure paradise! With four distinct bio-zones (Mountains, Rainforest, Pacific Coast and the Galapagos Islands) all in a short distance from each other, Ecuador has everything you could wish for.
Ecuador is sandwiched between Peru and Colombia on the west coast of Latin America . Unlike its neighbours, Ecuador is a very peaceful country. Tourists regularly comment how relaxed they feel among Ecuadorians and that they can enjoy traveling freely around the country without any sense of danger.
The TEFL market in Ecuador is very under-developed. There are few well-qualified teachers and even less that are native speakers. Language learners have a low level of understanding about what constitutes a good service. This results in many over-priced courses. Teachers tend to be concentrated in the larger towns and cities. There are few jobs in the countryside. Ecuador has a small population (13 million) which is mainly concentrated in urban areas. In rural areas the population is very widely spread out.
The two principal cities are Quito (the capital city, in the mountains) and Guayaquil (the commercial centre of the country, located on the coast). Both cities boast about 2 million inhabitants and are regional centres for English language acquisition.
Salary and hours
Well-qualified teachers (with the Cambridge CELTA or TESOL certificate) can expect to earn about $1000 per month in return for between 20 and 30 hours of work a week. Since the cost of living in Ecuador is relatively cheap this is enough to travel and live comfortably.
Type of teaching
Universities are the biggest employers of English language teachers since all university students must take English in order to graduate. The largest universities offer teachers work throughout the week, however, wages are usually low for local teachers ( $6 per hour) and teachers often work weekends to increase their wages.
Private schools (both primary and secondary) are also big employers. Well-qualified teachers can earn up to $1500 per month in private secondary schools (primary schools pay less). In both cases it pays to be recruited from abroad.
Private language institutes are very mixed. Some use international materials (InLingua, Wall Street, Berlitz, etc), while others adopt a more local approach. In general the private language institutes pay low wages ($6 per hour) but as more well qualified teachers join the market this is changing. The private language institutes teach all levels and work in the business sector as well.
Accommodation
This will be up to you. Guayaquil is more expensive than Quito . In Guayaquil , a small self-contained flat will cost between $200 and $300 a month. Amenities are low in price: water, electricity and gas will not exceed $50 per month.
Start of school year/ best time to look for work
This depends where you want to work. In the coast the school year starts in April and finishes in January. In the Sierra, the school year starts in September and finishes in June. However, you will find work with private language institutes and universities all year round. Recognised qualifications such as the Cambridge CELTA and the TESOL certificates are becoming more important.
In Guayaquil , Southern Cross Teacher Training Centre offers the Cambridge CELTA over 10 weeks and participants are offered work placements during the course, leading to offers of full-time employment after successfully completing the course.
Red Tape
If you are seriously considering Ecuador as a place to find work for more than the normal 3 month tourist pass, then you should obtain a longer 6 month tourist visa from your point of departure. This has the added advantage of being easy to swap for a work visa once you are here. In addition a translated copy of your CELTA/TESOL certificate with official stamps from the Ecuadorian Embassy/Consulate will smooth the process of obtaining a work visa in Ecuador .
FCO
Lonely Planet Guide - Ecuador
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