I want to immerse myself in the local culture as much as possible.
Answer
One suggestion is Colombia. They have a new government English training program and they're looking for a lot of English teachers! I wrote about it a little in this article here :D
Okay, that's maybe not feasible, but there really isn't a bad place in South America, as far as I'm concerned. I taught in (and lived in, and am obsessed with) Colombia, so I'd second Richelle's recommendation because it's the best place in the world and everyone should go there. If you find a teaching placement in a smaller town where there aren't any gringos, you'll absolutely have opportunity to get immersed in the local culture -- very few people speak English outside of the cities, and Colombians are the friendliest people in the entire world.
However, there are plenty of opportunities for immersion in just about any country in South America. Overall, I would say you would want to avoid major cities and tourist hotspots, since it's easier to get by in places like Buenos Aires or Cuzco without fully engaging with local culture, since they're more international by nature. Look for programs that offer you some say in where you get placed, or that emphasize teaching placements in more rural areas, and you'll get the immersion experience you're looking for, regardless of where you are.
Bolivia and Paraguay are often overlooked by English speakers interested in teaching abroad -- they're also the two poorest countries on the continent, so there's definitely need for more teachers there, and you'd likely face less competition for job openings in one of those countries.
Answer
One suggestion is Colombia. They have a new government English training program and they're looking for a lot of English teachers! I wrote about it a little in this article here :D
https://www.gooverseas.com/blog/unexpectedly-wonderful-plac…
EVERYWHERE!
Okay, that's maybe not feasible, but there really isn't a bad place in South America, as far as I'm concerned. I taught in (and lived in, and am obsessed with) Colombia, so I'd second Richelle's recommendation because it's the best place in the world and everyone should go there. If you find a teaching placement in a smaller town where there aren't any gringos, you'll absolutely have opportunity to get immersed in the local culture -- very few people speak English outside of the cities, and Colombians are the friendliest people in the entire world.
However, there are plenty of opportunities for immersion in just about any country in South America. Overall, I would say you would want to avoid major cities and tourist hotspots, since it's easier to get by in places like Buenos Aires or Cuzco without fully engaging with local culture, since they're more international by nature. Look for programs that offer you some say in where you get placed, or that emphasize teaching placements in more rural areas, and you'll get the immersion experience you're looking for, regardless of where you are.
Bolivia and Paraguay are often overlooked by English speakers interested in teaching abroad -- they're also the two poorest countries on the continent, so there's definitely need for more teachers there, and you'd likely face less competition for job openings in one of those countries.