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Location
  • Chile
Length
4 - 12 weeks
Classroom Audience
Adults Early Childhood Middle School
Financial Support
General grants/scholarships
Health & Safety
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Program Details

Qualifications
  • Spanish language experience (1 year)
  • Be a Native English Speaker
  • Be a citizen of the EU, USA, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa or Canada
  • Must be a high school graduate – college students and graduates preferred
  • Must have the ability to prepare a private tutoring lesson plan
Job Type
Tutoring
Classroom Audience
Adults Early Childhood Middle School
Housing
Host Family
Weekly Classroom Hours
15
Age Min.
18

Pricing

Salary / Benefits
Teach in a Homestay travelers live with a local host family during the program. You will receive your host family’s contact information prior to departure. Aside from the 15 hour per week teaching commitment, the rest of the time is yours to explore the language, culture and history of Chile. While this is a volunteer teaching position, tutoring English on this homestay program is a way to connect with a local family while living and exploring Chile. This is also a unique opportunity to gain international work experience as a language tutor.

Price Details
What’s Included:
- Host family search, screening, background check and placement process
- Single-room accommodation with carefully screened host family
- Three home-cooked meals a day for duration of program*
- Local office support in Chile
- 1 day orientation in Santiago, Chile at the start of the program
- Pre-departure orientation with Greenheart Travel
- Comprehensive medical insurance
- English as a Second Language Teaching Resources
- Culture & Etiquette Guidebook
What's Included
Accommodation Meals
Jul 22, 2019
Jan 30, 2020
Wish List
17 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Greenheart Travel’s Teach English in a Homestay program gives you the opportunity to teach conversational English for 15 hours a week to your host family, while practicing your Spanish and exploring the area during your free time.

While this is a volunteer, unpaid teaching placement, this program is designed for deep cultural immersion and language exchange. This program is ideal for adults hoping to gain experience in teaching English, teachers planning to travel during their summer break, or travelers seeking to experience full cultural immersion while teaching English abroad.

Program dates:
Start dates are twice a month, with applications due at least 8 weeks prior to desired departure date.

Program Fee:
1, 2 or 3 month program: $1,410

This program is currently not being promoted on Go Overseas by its provider. Check with Greenheart for the most up-to-date information regarding the status of this program.

Video and Photos

tutor English in Chile with Greenheart Travel
live with a host family in chile
Explore Chile as a homestay teacher
teach in a homestay in Chile
Enjoy the culture in Chile

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Diversity & Inclusion

BIPOC Support

We appreciate that everyone has a unique worldview and value everyone regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender or gender identity, ability, military status, religion, sexual orientation or political view. We are committed to building relationships and ensuring everyone we encounter feels welcomed, respected, and accepted. Greenheart is committed to helping anyone find the best program fit and will go the extra mile to make sure our participants feel safe and supported wherever they end up.

LGBTQIA+ Support

Greenheart Travel welcomes travelers identifying as LGTBQ+, and is committed to helping you find the best program for you. We can provide information on the cultural norms of our destination countries and are prepared to advise you on the best programs based on your needs and interests.
While most of our programs could be a good fit, we also know that certain cultures and countries are more accepting of and prepared to host LGBTQ+ people than others. We are committed to working with LGBTQ+ people to determine which experiences may be the right fit for them. Please reach out if you want to discuss which of our programs might fit you best ahead of applying at travelabroad@greenheart.org or set up a phone call with us here.
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Neurodivergent Support

Greenheart works with partners who have varying levels of what is considered "good mental health". While we cannot change their eligibility conditions, we will work with participants to the best of our abilities in order to get them the program placement they want. We encourage you to discuss your specific situation with us directly, before securing these documents.

Accessibility Support

Greenheart Travel welcomes students of varying ability to explore their study abroad options! While resources and support differ from country to country, Greenheart Travel staff work with individual students as needed to find program options that will set students up for success.

Impact

Sustainability

We believe in supporting our travelers to make a positive impact in their communities. The Greenheart Club provides Greenheart Grant funding to alumni projects all over the world.
As the leading eco-friendly exchange organization, we are passionate about helping travelers explore the globe while respecting the environment and cultural heritage of the destinations they explore.
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Ethical Impact

Greenheart Travel is a branch of Greenheart International, a Chicago-based organization that connects people and planet to create global leaders through personal development, volunteer service, environmentalism, fair trade, and cultural exchange. We provide resources, grants, and experiences to those who want to immerse themselves in another culture and leave it better than when they arrived. Through volunteering, creating relationships and more.
Learn More

Program Highlights

  • Single-room accommodation with carefully screened host family
  • 15 hours per week tutoring; the rest of the time is yours to travel and explore!
  • 1, 2 or 3 month placements
  • 1 day orientation in Santiago, Chile at the start of the program
  • Tutoring placements throughout the country

Current Teaching Jobs

View the latest teaching job postings by Greenheart.

Program Reviews

5.00 Rating
based on 4 reviews
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  • Benefits 5
  • Support 5
  • Fun 5
  • Facilities 4.75
  • Safety 4.75
Showing 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
Default avatar
David
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Chile 2019

Jan 30, 2020

Overall, the Greenheart organization and its staff were easy to work with as was their local partner, Experiment Chile. The application process was smooth and efficient. I especially liked how they made all the arrangements to get me from the airport when I arrived to my host family. The first day of orientation was a nice bonus. My host family was kind and generous. During my time in Chile, the country was undergoing the most significant turmoil in the last 30 years. I was a bit surprised that neither Greenheart nor Experiment Chile checked in with me to see how things were going. For me, as an older, seasoned traveler, this was not a big issues. However, for a younger person that hasn't traveled much, this situation may have been disconcerting. Overall, my experience was very positive and I would recommend the Greenheart Homestay and Teach English program.

46 people found this review helpful.
Helpful
Default avatar
Fallon
25
United States
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My home away from home

Jun 25, 2019

As soon as I stepped off the plane in Santiago, I could immediately tell that I was going to like Chile, and once I met my host family in person, I knew I was going to love Chile. I could not have been matched with a better host family. This was my first time traveling alone, so I did experience a little bit of homesickness for the first few days, but my host family loved me like I have been apart of their family my whole life.

My teaching experience was unique in that we did not really have formal lessons. Instead, my host family preferred to learn solely through conversation and everyday routines and activities. I primarily lived with and taught a 71 year old lady, Sonia, who is absolutely precious. On weekends, we stayed with her daughter and grandchildren. While I was teaching Sonia English, she taught me how to knit and make sopaipillas.

My host family loved showing me around their country, and I was able to do a little bit of exploring on my own. The Chilean landscape is absolutely incredible. We visited the mountains and the beach, and it took about two hours to get to each location. I wish that I had spent more time in the country to be able to visit the north and south of Chile. I guess I will just have to go back!

The month I spent there flew by! When it was time for me to leave my new Chilean family, we all cried, but thankfully, technology allows us to stay in touch.

I couldn't recommend Greenheart Travel or this specific program enough. Everyone I spoke with along the way was incredibly helpful and encouraging. This has been an absolutely amazing experience!

36 people found this review helpful.
Helpful
Fallon Russell visits Embalse El Yeso
Fallon Russell visits the Andes
Fallon Russell visits Viña Del Mar
Read my full story
Niamh
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My Chile homestay experience

Apr 9, 2018

Before going to Chile, I had studied abroad and lived with a host family; however, that experience did not compare to the complete cultural immersion of the greenheart program. Pre-departure, the greenheart staff were all very accommodating and informative, making me feel completely prepared for my time abroad. Upon arrival, I received more support from the in-country partner agency. I would definitely say the best party of my experience was my host family. They were just as excited to teach me about their culture and integrate me into their life with family and friends as they were about learning the english language. My host placement was located in a very small town which allowed me to feel part of their community and learn a lot about the Chilean culture. I was also able to take day and weekend trips during my time in Chile to see some of the larger, popular cities. Although my host family would sometimes treat me as actual family and be protective, I never had any concern regarding safety. I would highly recommend this program to any traveler hoping to gain an understanding of another country's culture, build a relationship while also getting the experience of teaching to a non-native english speaker.

52 people found this review helpful.
Helpful
Horcón
Pastel de choclo
Pisco Elqui
Puente
Travel!
Joanna
27
Female
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best Decision Ever!!!

Apr 3, 2018

My experience with this program was amazing! I loved every second of my life in Chile! I loved getting to know my host family, and watch their English improve more and more each day! I loved learning about their culture, and teaching them about mine! I loved getting to see another culture in action (while being completely submersed in it). The bond I formed with my host family during this program is the one thing I will never forget about this experience!

My experience with this program changed my view on the world because it made me more aware of the world around me and how many things we take for granted each day (that other people barely even have access to).
This experience also helped me strengthen my Spanish skills and my teaching skills; which are two things I now know I definitely want to use in the future.

I would definitely recommend this program to anyone just looking to travel and make new friends abroad, while making a difference in such a simple, yet very important, way.
Teaching English abroad is one of the best decisions I've ever made!

42 people found this review helpful.
Helpful
Salto del Laja
Valparaiso

Questions & Answers

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Fallon Russel

Program
Teach English in a Homestay in Chile for 1, 2 or 3 Months
Fallon Russel

Why did you choose this program?

I absolutely love my minor, Teaching English as a Second Language, and I wanted to get some experience within this field over the summer. So I began looking at different programs and came across Greenheart Travel's Homestay program. After some research, I knew that it was the program for me. The dates are flexible, the staff is great, and the price is very reasonable, and there are many destination options. I wanted to travel to a Spanish speaking country to improve my own second language skills, so I traveled to Chile!

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

The Greenheart staff is awesome! Allison and Connor were the two people I interacted with, and they are both incredibly encouraging and helpful! They helped me along through the application and pre-departure process and relayed the contact information for my host family and my local organization. I was responsible for booking my own flight and communicating my flight itinerary with my Greenheart representative.

Once I arrived in my host country, I was in contact with my local organization, Experiment Chile, a partner of Greenheart Travel. Travel from the airport was arranged for me, but I had to plan my own transportation back to the airport. My transportation from the airport dropped me off with Claudio, my local travel representative. Claudio led my orientation, gave me a brief tour of the city, and took me to my host family!

No one is going to hold your hand and do everything for you, because this program is about providing people with the tools they need to successfully travel on their own, but with that being said, Allison, Connor, and Claudio were always extremely helpful in providing me with information and answering any questions along the way.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

BE FLEXIBLE. You can always prepare, and you should always prepare, but be prepared to throw your plan out the window and roll with the punches. At some point in time, something will not go as planned, and that's okay. Be flexible, make changes to your plans if needed, and always keep a positive attitude. Also, ask questions! If you need help, ask for it. If you're curious about anything in your host country, always be respectful, but ask lots of questions and have conversations with people you meet. Be prepared to answer questions about your lifestyle and culture as well!

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

My experience was unique in that I didn't really teach formal lessons. My main learner and host mom decided to learn English late in her life just for fun. She didn't really want or need to have formal lessons, so all teaching was through conversation and everyday routines. My host mother is extremely active in her community, so we went to gymnastics, yoga, and choir many times per week. We also took the dogs for a walk each day, visited neighbors, and went to the market at the end of the street. I also learned to knit and made a scarf for my host mother!

The culture in Chile is very family oriented, so on weekends, we stayed with my host mother's daughter and grandchildren who are close to my age. My family loved showing me around the place they call home, so we visited many of their favorite places, I also traveled into the city a couple of times on my own. My time in Chile was very laid back, which was super fitting for my personality, but of course, every experience will be different.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

This was my second time traveling internationally, but it was my first time traveling alone, so I was a little worried about navigating everything alone. Also, my Spanish knowledge at the time was pretty basic, so I was very concerned about the language barrier. Traveling alone turned out not to be a big deal for me. I didn't rush (except for that one time I had to run through the Toronto airport), I read signs carefully, and I asked for directions if I needed to. Everyone in Chile is extremely kind and helpful, and the public transportation is easy to figure out, so my traveling fears disappeared pretty quickly.

As far as the language barrier went, there were a few challenging times, but I was able to communicate with my host family just fine. If there was an issue with words, we used hand signals or pictures to communicate. Also, as time went on, my family learned more English, and I was able to understand a bit more Spanish.

What happens if you get homesick?

I learned that being homesick is totally natural and okay. I have traveled a lot, but this was my first experience being completely alone, so the first few days were weird for me. I was absolutely loving my host family, but I missed familiar sounds, faces, and places. Journaling helped me a lot. I journaled every day, and it made me feel so much better just being able to get my thoughts out of my head. It was sometimes exhausting hearing a different language all the time and not being able to communicate all of my thoughts and feelings to people around me.

Also, don't spend all of your time in a new country on your phone talking to people from home, but you should contact your friends and family at home to let them know how you're doing and ask about home. Sometimes, just hearing a familiar voice will make your day. Time eases homesickness as well. Being in a completely unfamiliar place was hard for a few days, but after a while, the people and places in Chile became like a second family and another home. By the end of my stay, I didn't want to say goodbye.

Location

Location:
Chile
Currency:
Chilian Peso
Weather:
Jan-Mar
84 F / 41 F
Apr-Jun
73 F / 30 F
Jul-Sep
66 F / 30 F
Oct-Dec
82 F / 37 F
Airports:
Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International
( SCL )
El Tepual Airport
( PMC )
El Loa Airport
( CJC )

If you are interested in seeing a desert that some have compared to Mars, skiing in the middle of summer, and star-gazing without pollution, Chile might just be your perfect destination. Try colorful Valparaiso, bustling Santiago, or the beautiful Patagonia region.

About Greenheart

Greenheart Travel is a 501(c)3 non-profit, mission-driven organization based in Chicago, USA. We are passionate about providing immersive cultural experiences for teenagers and adults in countries all over the world. We believe in the power of travel; a power that broadens perspective and turns strangers into family. It’s this belief that motivates...

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