Antigua, Guatemala
4 week TEFL Course
- Fully accredited
- 15 hours practical teaching and observation
More info
Deposit Refund Guarantee
We're confident in the quality of our training: If you complete the course and don't pass, we'll refund your deposit.
Fully accredited
Fully accredited TEFL certification recognised worldwide, exceeding international standards.
What's included?
4 week, 150 hour course
9 hours of teaching practice
6 hours observing experienced teachers
Pre-course support, including visa advice
Expert tuition from certified vocational trainers
Lifetime job support
Accommodation assistance
Job placement guarantee *
- Save $100 with our December offer
Lifetime job support (in addition to the partner centre job support)
Deposit refund guarantee
FREE add-on Grammar Course
FREE lesson plan subscription
FREE starter pack of resources
Guatemala is one of the most beautiful and culturally rich countries in Latin America. Its well-developed economy means there is always a high demand for English teachers. This makes Guatemala an ideal destination to start your TEFL career, while enjoying the beauty and adventure that the country has to offer.
Whether you decide to stay in Guatemala or not, our accredited, 4-week TEFL course qualifies you for thousands of English teaching jobs worldwide, and comes with expert job support.
The course
This is a full-time, intensive course, involving a commitment of time and work. Most trainees find the course immensely rewarding and attest to an enormous sense of achievement when they complete it. Please read What can I expect? and our FAQ below to learn more about what’s involved.The training centre
The training centre is just a couple of minutes’ walk from the central plaza, with everything you need within easy reach. It has a beautiful central garden and rooftop terrace, with views of Volcán de Agua.Class size
The average number of students on the course is 4-10. Courses tend to get fully booked up to three months before the start of the course.Schedule
The course runs for 150 hours over 4 weeks. You can expect to be in class, or observing, planning and teaching lessons for 7-8 hours a day, Monday to Friday. The practical component of 15+ hours of teaching practice and observations is spread over the 4 weeks. There is also 20-30 hours of required reading, and written assignments to be done outside of the classroom hours. Please see What can I expect? for more detail about the “day to day” of the course.Antigua is known as the “Jewel of Central America”. It’s a captivating blend of colonial heritage and natural beauty. 1500 metres above sea level in the central highlands, the whole city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with well-preserved Spanish colonial architecture and ruins, set against the backdrop of stunning volcanoes, clearly visible from the streets and rooftops.
The heart of Antigua is the Central Plaza (just a few minutes’ walk from our training centre) with open markets, locals in traditional dress and frequent cultural events.
You can spend your free days walking the cobblestone streets and enjoying Guatemala’s renowned coffee and a warm, cloth-wrapped tortilla. Or hike the volcanoes and mountain trails. Or hop on a chicken bus for an authentic tavelling experience. Then enjoy the vibrant nightlife that the city has to offer – you’ll find a whole range of friendly bars, rooftop cafes, clubs, live music and dance, mostly around the Arco de Santa Catalina and near the Central Plaza.
Beyond the city, Guatemala, which literally means the “land of many trees”, has an extraordinarily rich biodiversity and breathtaking landscapes to explore, from Pacific and Caribbean beaches to volcanic lakes and ancient Mayan ruins.
Guatemala is friendly and welcoming, and you’ll be touched by the warmth and hospitality of its people. If you stay to teach here after your TEFL course, you’ll find it a home away from home.
What can I expect?
Before the course
Once you’ve enrolled and paid your deposit, we’ll get in touch with our partner centre, who will look at your application before confirming your place on the course.
(If for any reason we or the partner centre are unable to offer you a place on the course, you’ll receive a full refund of your deposit payment.)
The School of TEFL team and partner centre will keep in close contact with you until the course starts, providing information and advice about visas and documentation, arranging your accommodation and other practicalities, and answering any questions you have.
You’ll pay the balance payment directly to our partner centre approximately 60 days before the course starts. (If you enrol closer to the start date though, that’s no problem).
Our partner centre will meet you at the airport (or bus station) and take you to your accommodation. Then your TEFL trainer will see you on the first morning of the course, ready to start!
Day to day on the course
Theory
During the 4 weeks of the course you’ll gain a solid foundation in the principles of successful English language teaching. You’ll have input sessions for 7-8 hours a day, Monday to Friday. The typical schedule is: Class from 9am-1pm, lunch break from 1pm-2pm, class from 2pm-4/5pm. These sessions cover a range of topics: You’ll learn about the language itself, teaching skills and techniques, classroom management strategies and much more, giving you a strong grasp of the theory behind Teaching English as a Second Language. You’ll also be expected to complete 20-30 hours of required reading.Practice
Practical teaching is the heart of the TEFL course, and you’ll leave the course with invaluable hands-on experience. You’ll give lessons both to your peer group and to real English learners, observed by your trainer. You’ll start with teaching mini-lessons in the first week and continue throughout the course, building up to taking over a live English class with real, non-native students in week 4, where you’ll teach 60-minute lessons each day. You’ll have plenty of feedback, guidance and coaching from your trainer throughout this process, allowing you to reflect on your teaching, increase your self-awareness and improve your techniques.In addition to this, there are various short workshops where you’ll be able to practice specific teaching techniques and strategies. You’ll also have the opportunity to observe 6 hours of real classes by experienced teachers. In total, you will have 15 hours of practical teaching and observation during the course.
Coursework and assessment
In addition to the practical component, you’ll be completing coursework and assessments throughout the four weeks. This includes two focused written assignments. You’ll also be assessed on your overall progress and growth as a teacher during the course.The assessment process is designed to prepare you for real-life teaching scenarios you’ll encounter when you start paid employment.
You can expect to spend some time outside of the classroom on assignments, observations and planning your lessons. Throughout the course you’ll be challenged and encouraged to think creatively and analytically, both during input sessions and with your teaching practice and assignments! By the end of the course, you’ll have the knowledge, skills, and practical experience you need to confidently pursue a career in English language teaching.
What will I learn?
You’ll learn everything you need to start teaching English: skills and methodology, how to manage a class, teaching theory and much more. Here’s a summary of the main areas you’ll cover on the course:
- Language awareness (learning about how the language works, including grammar and phonology)
- Lesson planning and lesson structure
- Approaches to learning and teaching
- Critical teaching techniques
- How to teach grammar and vocabulary
- How to teach speaking and writing
- How to teach reading and listening
- Classroom management
- Teaching English with games
- Teaching group classes
- Teaching one-to-one
- Testing and assessment of learners
- Preparing learners for English language tests
- How to find and develop materials and resources
- Job-finding skills and strategies
Accommodation
There are a number of accommodation options:
Host Family
Most participants stay with a pre-approved Guatemalan family in the Antigua area. Our families live 10-25 minutes walking or by bus from the training centre. You can choose a shared or private room. For shared rooms, you are placed with 1-3 other people of the same gender and age group. Breakfast and dinner are included seven days a week. You’ll have a key to the house and are free to come and go as you please, but you must respect the routine and house rules of the family.Student Residence (subject to availability)
Student residence rooms are within a 10-minute walk of the training centre. They can be shared or private, with breakfast and dinner included seven days a week. For shared rooms, you are placed with other people of the same gender.Apartment
Apartments are within a 10-25 minute walk or bus/taxi ride from the training centre. They are private (not shared), fully furnished including linens, towels, kitchen utensils and Wifi. Please note that meals are not included with apartments.Hostel / Hotel
Hostel and hotel rooms are within a 10-25 minute walk or bus/taxi ride from the training centre. Hotel rooms are private; hostel rooms can be shared or private. For shared rooms, you are placed with other people of the same gender. Please note that breakfast is included with hostel and hotel rooms, but not other meals. Most hostels have a kitchen.Typical accommodation costs for 4 weeks *
Host family – Shared room: $625
Host family – Private room: $740
Student residence – Shared room: $760
Student residence – Private room: $950
Apartment: $795
Hostel – Shared room: $480
Hostel – Private room: $840
Hotel: $2295* Prices are representative and may vary slightly.
A bus ride to the training centre will typically cost around $1. Taxis are more expensive. We recommend budgeting about $5 per day for transport.
Whichever accommodation option you choose, you’ll receive detailed instructions on how to get from your accommodation to the training centre on the first day!
After the course
What can I do with my TEFL certificate from School of TEFL in Guatemala?
The School of TEFL course trains you to teach in Guatemala or anywhere in the world. If you decide to stay in Guatemala, you’ll find high demand for English teachers, partly due to the rapidly growing tourism industry. The low cost of living enables you to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle on a teacher’s salary.
Our partner centre’s job support includes a specialist job-finding workshop in week 2 of the course, CV preparation, and introduction to their Latin American contacts and network of recruitment partners. They also hire two to three of their TEFL graduates each month to work at their language institute in Antigua (the same location as your TEFL training centre), working Monday to Friday with weekends free.
Where can I teach?
You’ll find job opportunities in Antigua, Xela (Quetzaltenango) and the capital, Guatemala City, in both private language institutes and public schools, working with all age groups. Private institutes hire year-round, whereas public schools follow the school year, recruiting mainly in January and February. You’ll find Guatemalan students keen to learn and relaxed, making it a great country to teach as a newly qualified teacher.
If you decide to leave Guatemala, there is quite literally a whole world of possibilities open to you, with teaching jobs in just about every country on every continent.
Again, the School of TEFL team and the specialist staff at our partner centre will provide you with advice and support, and we take this commitment to you very seriously. We’ll help you create a CV tailored to the job market’s requirements and work with you to explore prospects with language schools and other potential employers.
Requirements
Minimum 18 years of age.
Proficient in all aspects of English.
Secondary education to pre-university level and able to complete an intensive university-level course.
Clear understanding of professional conduct, punctuality, cultural sensitivity and the ability to get along with others.
Upcoming dates
Dates | Spaces | Deposit | Enrol |
---|---|---|---|
Enrol now, choose dates later | $418 $318 | Enrol | |
20th Jan - 14th Feb 2025 | Limited | $418 $318 | Enrol |
17th Feb - 14th Mar 2025 | Limited | $418 $318 | Enrol |
19th Mar - 15th Apr 2025 | Available | $418 $318 | Enrol |
21st Apr - 16th May 2025 | Available | $418 $318 | Enrol |
19th May - 13th Jun 2024 | Available | $418 $318 | Enrol |
18th Jun - 15th Jul 2025 | Available | $418 $318 | Enrol |
21st Jul – 15th Aug 2025 | Available | $418 $318 | Enrol |
20th Aug – 16th Sep 2025 | Available | $418 $318 | Enrol |
22nd Sep – 17th Oct 2025 | Available | $418 $318 | Enrol |
22nd Oct – 18th Nov 2025 | Available | $418 $318 | Enrol |
24th Nov – 19th Dec 2025 | Available | $418 $318 | Enrol |
FAQ about the course and Guatemala
Course FAQ
Who is the course accredited by?
Our course is accredited by the Ministry of Education in Guatemala.
How much does the course cost?
The course costs $1395 USD. You’ll pay a deposit of $418 when you enrol and the balance directly to the partner centre approximately 60 days before the start of the course.
Please note:
These prices may be lower if you see an offer listed on our site or have a discount code.What's included in the course price?
Included in the price of the course are:
– 4 week, 150 hour course
– 10 hours of teaching practice
– 5 hours observing experienced teachers
– Pre-course support, including visa advice
– Expert tuition from certified vocational trainers
– Lifetime job support
– Accommodation assistance
– Job placement guarantee (See How does the job placement guarantee work” below)
– Deposit refund guarantee
– Add-on Grammar Course
– Lesson plan subscription
– Starter pack of resourcesHow easy/difficult is the course?
This is an intensive, university-level course that requires dedication and hard work! It’s not a ‘shortcut’ TEFL course. However, with your commitment, you’ll emerge from it well-prepared and highly motivated to start your teaching journey.
Will I teach actual students on the course?
Yes, you’ll teach actual local ESL students for 5 or 6 hours. These students will be in small groups or individuals.
How will I be assessed?
You’ll be assessed on your practical teaching and complete two focused written assignments and a final portfolio. You’ll also be assessed on your overall progress and growth as a teacher during the course. You’ll receive detailed feedback and coaching from your trainers throughout the course.
Who is the course suitable for?
The course is suitable for motivated individuals of all ages and backgrounds who want to teach English in Guatemala, around the world or online.
How early should I book?
The course tends to get fully booked up to two or three months in advance, so it’s best to book as early as you can.
How many other people will be on the course with me?
There is an average of 4-10 trainees on each course.
What should I bring/wear for the course?
A laptop for lesson planning is required. You can dress casually and comfortably for your TEFL input sessions. For mini-lessons, and practical teaching in week 4, you’ll need to dress professionally (smart trousers, skirts, shirts or blouses, and smart shoes). Our partner centre will send you a recommended packing list prior to the course.
Do I need to do anything to prepare for the course?
We would recommend taking our add-on Grammar Course (free when you enrol). You’ll learn grammar on the course, but this will give you a head start.
Our partner centre has two required texts for the course: How to Teach English (New Edition) by Jeremy Harmer, and Understanding & Using English Grammar (5th Edition) by Betty Schrampfer Azar. These will be available to you digitally at no cost. You can also purchase print versions yourself or through our partner centre. If you purchase them through our partner centre, you’ll receive them on arrival.
Other good options (though not required) to familiarise with some of the terms and concepts before starting the course are Learning Teaching by Jim Scrivener and The Practice of English Language Teaching by Jeremy Harmer.
Do I need to speak Spanish to take the course?
No – TEFL courses show you how to teach without needing to know the language of your students. If you go on to teach in an English speaking country, you’ll probably have classes of mixed nationality/first language, so using the students’ first language isn’t an option anyway!
What kind of job help and support is provided?
Our partner centre provides lifetime job assistance. During the course you’ll have a job-finding workshop, and you’ll receive help and guidance with preparing your CV and introductions to the partner centre’s Latin American contacts and network of recruitment partners. Our partner centre also hires two to three of their TEFL graduates each month to work at their language institute in Antigua.
In addition to the job help provided by the partner centre, School of TEFL provides lifetime job guidance and support. Before, during and after the course we’re on hand with expert advice on preparing your CV, applying for jobs, succeeding at interviews and building your TEFL career, for as long as you need us, and we take this commitment to you very seriously. To access this support, all you need to do is send us an email or give us a call at any time, and we’ll give you one-on-one, personalised support.
What else can the partner centre help with / provide?
Our partner centre will meet you at Guatemala City airport and take you to your accommodation in Antigua. You’ll receive full details about airport pickup prior to the course. If you are arriving overland, the partner centre team will also organise pickup and transportation.
Our partner centre and their on-site travel partner can also advise you on activities in and around Antigua (cultural events, tours and treks..) and further afield (volcano exploration, Mayan visits, coffee farm tours…), buying a local SIM card and more.
How does the job placement guarantee work?
If you meet the following requirements our partner centre in Guatemala has a teaching position waiting for you:
– Native English speaker or native proficiency (C2 CEFR)
– Bachelor’s degree
– Pass-Good or Pass-Excellent on the TEFL Course
– Flexible with location, including online positions
Guatemala FAQ and practicalities
What are the requirements to teach English in Guatemala?
To teach English in Guatemala you'll need:
- a TEFL certification (strongly preferred by employers)
- to be a native English speaker, or a non-native speaker with a native levelDo I need a degree to teach English in Guatemala?
A Bachelor's degree is preferred by employers but is not a strict requirement.
What type of visa do I need to teach English in Guatemala?
Most nationalities don't require a visa to enter the country, and you'll automatically receive an entry stamp at immigration valid for 90 days. For some nationalities a visa IS required - please see our visas page for more information. Your passport needs to be valid for 6 months from your entry date into Guatemala.
At immigration, you should state "tourism" as the purpose of your trip. If you state "study", you may have to pay for a special visa, which is not necessary, as our TEFL course falls under the category of Educational Tourism.
You can extend your stay beyond 90 days by making a short trip to Mexico or Belize, which are easily accessible, and then returning to Guatemala.
If you work in Guatemala after the course, your employer will help you with the work visa process - this will depend on the length of your contract and the benefits provided.What paperwork do I need to bring to teach English in Guatemala?
You'll need:
- a passport valid for 6 months after your entry date into GuatemalaCan non-native English speakers teach English in Guatemala?
Yes, it is possible to teach in Guatemala as a non-native speaker.
What is the hiring period for teaching English in Guatemala?
Private language institutes recruit year-round. Public schools recruit mainly in January and February.
What are the typical working conditions when teaching English in Guatemala?
In private language institutes, you'll typically teach 20-30 hours per week, and you'll need to commit to a contract of between 3 and 6 months or more. In public schools you'll work 30-35 hours per week, with a commitment of a year. At language institutes you may teach business and tourism professionals, university students, kids and teenagers. Guatemalan students are typically eager to learn and easy-going.
What types of teaching jobs are available in Guatemala, and where are they?
You'll find job opportunities in Antigua, Xela (Quetzaltenango) and the capital, Guatemala City, in both private language institutes and public schools, working with all age groups. Private institutes hire year-round, whereas public schools follow the school year, recruiting mainly in January and February.
Is accommodation provided with teaching jobs in Guatemala?
This depends on the employer, and is normally stated (or negotiated) during the interview process for jobs.
How much will I earn teaching English in Guatemala?
An average teacher salary is between $450 and $550 per month, depending on the school and the location. You can supplement income with private tutoring.
What is the cost of living like in Antigua / Guatemala?
The average cost of living is between $350 and $450 per month.
Our support for Plan International UK
We believe everyone should have access to the education and future opportunities they need to thrive. That's why for every TEFL course we sell in 2024, we're donating £5 to Plan International UK via Work for Good.