Teach English in Guatemala
One of the cheapest countries in Latin America to live in, with almost no dedicated guide coverage elsewhere — here’s the honest picture, from language academies to fee-based placement programmes.
No government scheme — and one of the least-covered TEFL markets in the region
Guatemala has no centralized government teaching scheme. Fulbright runs an English Teaching Assistant programme here, but it's restricted to US citizens. NGO and volunteer placement organizations (IFRE, VolunteerHQ, Global Crossroad among others) place volunteers into government schools, but these are private companies rather than government programmes, and most involve a participation fee rather than a wage.
As in Costa Rica, Maximo Nivel operates a TEFL course and fee-paying internship package in Antigua, separate from their Job Placement Guarantee route into real paid teaching roles. Many schools here, especially outside Guatemala City and Antigua, don't advertise online at all — a direct-outreach CV drop to language academies is a genuinely realistic tactic, not just a fallback.
- Fulbright ETA: US citizens only, not available to UK applicants
- Language academy roles: native or fluent English, TEFL certificate expected in practice
- Rural/NGO placements: often room-and-board or a small stipend rather than a full wage
What you can expect to earn
Guatemala is among the cheapest countries in Latin America to live in. Language academies in Guatemala City, Antigua and Xela pay modestly; bilingual K-12 and international schools pay considerably more; rural NGO-linked placements often provide only board and lodging or a token stipend. Teach Away and similar boards see a hiring push in November–December for the January school year.
| Employer type | Local currency | Approx. GBP |
|---|---|---|
| Language academy | 2,600–4,600 GTQ/mo | £250–£440 |
| Bilingual K-12 school | $600–1,000+/mo | £445–£745+ |
| International school | $1,000–1,500+/mo | £745–£1,120+ |
Where to find real openings
Which TEFL Global course fits?
With many Guatemalan academies hiring via direct outreach rather than job boards, walking in with a recognized certificate already in hand matters. Our Level 3, 120-Hour TEFL/TESOL Course (£169.50) is the standard most academies expect.
Researched July 2026 from official program pages and named recruiters where cited above. Government programs, visa rules and salary bands change — always confirm current details on the official site before applying.
FAQs about teaching in Guatemala
No — Fulbright runs an English Teaching Assistant programme here, but it’s restricted to US citizens. There’s no equivalent open route for UK applicants.
Usually not as a full wage — most NGO and volunteer placement organizations charge a participation fee and offer room-and-board or a small stipend rather than a market salary.
Direct outreach is genuinely common practice here — emailing or dropping a CV at language academies in Guatemala City, Antigua or Xela is a realistic route alongside the smaller number of listings on job boards.