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Solidarity among English Teachers

In the Bogota yellow pages there are about 85 schools that teach english.
I have visited about a dozen of these schools so far. Most do not have a native speaker on staff and want one very much.
There is not in my opinion an excess of teachers but a deficit.
Such a situation should be to the advantage of the teachers, however, perhaps because we work without a work permit, or are desperate to make a few bucks to extend our travel we accept terms that are unfair.
For example, it seems normal to be hired and then expected to volunteer your time to be trained.
I am guilty of going along with these unfair practices. On monday I am doing a demonstration of my teaching methods to a real student who is paying real money to the school, but the school is not paying me.
I think that we should try to establish some norms that are atleast fair, or better still, to our advantage.
I have seen a school make this statement in its advertisement for teachers- "We do not exploit our teachers."
Surely, this can only mean that it is common for teachers to be exploited.
I do not know how many english teachers use this site. I would be glad to hear some opinions, ideas and experiences. Thank you.
Derek

By cderekbower on Aug 4, 2007, 19:59 in Visa & paperwork.

Robert Jorge says on Aug 4, 2007, 22:47:

Well, judging by the number of inquiry posts on teaching English in Colombia on this site, there has to be at least a few here that teach English. Or did in the past.

--"I believe in making the world safe for our children. But not for our children's children, because I don't think that children should be having sex." - Jack Handy

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Philly says on Aug 5, 2007, 05:38:

Hey, I do not have these problems. Why are you working without a contract? You should ask for a contract, then you will be legal to work. Once you get a contract, all you have to do is go to the consular and get a work permit. My school tries to look out for me when they can. Ex. I coach the boys and girls basketball teams without pay. I do it for the students, not for the school. Its time away from the classroom where they get to speak English. I only asked the school to pay me when we have holidays, which we have every month here. Good luck

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cderekbower says on Aug 5, 2007, 07:53:

to Philly, I am working without a contract because I have not yet found an offer of enough hours to satisfy me. Currently I work for 3 different schools. I have been promised a contract later by 2 of the schools. Ideally I will find work teaching physics or mathematics in english as that is my specialty, and should pay better.
I have come to understand that a work permit does not necessarily follow from a contract. In my case, I do not have a BEd. I have 7 yrs of teaching experience both in Canada and abroad, but I am not a certified teacher. Some say this may prevent me from getting a work permit.
Thanks for your comment.
derek

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Colleen says on Aug 5, 2007, 08:24:

Hey Derek,

I have a contract with a school and I do not have a BEd. I have my BA in history and a TESL certificate. Have you looked on the following website: http://www.uncoli.edu.co/? This website has all the international schools in Bogotá. I went on this website and sent my CV and cover letter to all the schools. I heard back from one and they sent me a contract and I got my visa. I did this from Canada, but since you are in Colombia, perhaps you could go directly to the schools. The school where I am teaching has just lost an English teacher. Maybe you could apply there. I am not sure if they are filling the position, but I would be happy to give you the contact info.

Colleen

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cderekbower says on Aug 5, 2007, 08:36:

Colleen, Thanks for the advice. I cannot read the spanish website, unfortunately. I have the addresses of int. schools from the local yellow pages however. I will be visiting schools soon. Do you think that I can expect to find hiring staff present at the schools during the summer months? Derek

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Colleen says on Aug 5, 2007, 08:56:

Hi Derek,
I believe that most schools start next week. I start teaching on August 14 and have been training all last week and will continue training this week. I think it depends on if they have a position they need to fill. I suggest applying now, since the school year starts every soon!
Colleen

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cderekbower says on Aug 5, 2007, 09:27:

sweet hearts, I agree with you in some ways, however I think it might be more appropriate to say that only on some levels the teacher has no leverage. But, in almost any situation where labour conflicts with management there is a level in which labour does has leverage. The problem to solve may then be - How do we bring the struggle into the realm where the teachers are stronger? We as teachers do not have to use this strength to be unfair to management anymore than a parent has to be unfair to his child due to greater strength.
Ultimately labour wins, I believe. derek

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Crazy4Cali says on Aug 7, 2007, 19:58:

As long as there is a surplus of labor (more teachers than posts) and/or the teachers are in a disadvantaged position (e.g. they are working without a visa or contract) then it's only natural they'll be exploited. Teaching english is not the only profession to suffer this so-called injustice. Just or unjust, you can take it or leave it. Most seem to take it (however unfair) so there you go.

cderekbower has the right idea, but I think is missing the point. Whatever you do, you need to make management think THEY are winning. I.e. what's in it for them. I'd guess that without superior strength, you need superior strategy. If you can't pitch your changes in such a way that management sees the advantage to change, they won't hear a word you're saying.

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cderekbower says on Aug 8, 2007, 10:17:

Crazy4cali,
A few yrs ago on the big island of hawaii there was a shortage of contractors and it was easy as an illegal worker to get US$25 per hour. The illegallity was not a factor. I think the same is true here.
There is a great demand for native english speakers to teach english in Bogota. There are many institutions with no native speakers on staff.
So, with teachers in short supply and the visa issue irrelevant there is fundamentally no reason to accept being exploited.
Tactics are important, but the use of deception must be avoided I think.

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Crazy4Cali says on Aug 8, 2007, 20:12:

Raising the awareness of unfair or deceptive practices is certainly a worthwhile goal. e.g. listing companies or practices to watch out for.

But part of the problem might simply be unsophisticated negotiation skills on the part of the teachers. I mean, if the company says "Will you work for $x" (regardless what $x is) and the prospective teacher says "Sure, why not? it's only for a couple of years." What's unfair?

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LA_MONA says on Aug 9, 2007, 01:24:

Did any of you guys see the post about the canadian teacher warning english teachers about an english school in Pereira, before it was deleted?

Para volar, es preciso tener resistencia. -M.Lin

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ahda007 says on Aug 9, 2007, 13:35:

What was it about LA MONA?

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Tinto (Moderator) says on Aug 9, 2007, 13:42:

Just Google for "Liceo de Campestre" - the guy is a troll of sorts. He's posted the same story on this site 50 times and on the Lonely Planet site and who knows where else.

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Tinto (Moderator) says on Aug 9, 2007, 13:44:

Edit: Google "liceo campestre" using the Google function within PBH. You'll get a lot of hits.

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LA_MONA says on Aug 9, 2007, 13:44:

Ooops thanks Tinto I was racking my brains trying to remember the name of it.

Para volar, es preciso tener resistencia. -M.Lin

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vicshere says on Aug 9, 2007, 13:45:

here in B/manga I haven't heard of anyone working for free to start especially if your a native speaker.. you do have to watch out for the schools that get you working and pay for the first couple of months then slowly as the months go by the owner can't pay the whole salary for what ever reasons...before you know it he owes you a bunch of money and its hard to leave and lose all the back pay...if possible find work for a reputable place even if its a little less money... if possible speak to the teachers who are working there and ask about the pay

listo

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Tinto (Moderator) says on Aug 9, 2007, 13:48:

If I recall, Vic enjoys reading about Jiri, Beatriz and the rest of the drug-smuggling, passport-stealing, credit-card swiping, bed-hopping crew at the Liceo Campestre every time the troll shows up again. Haha.

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vicshere says on Aug 9, 2007, 13:50:

yes i do its one of my favs

listo

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LA_MONA says on Aug 9, 2007, 13:52:

Jajajajajajaja, I must admit when I read it I was enjoying all the drama too.

Para volar, es preciso tener resistencia. -M.Lin

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Leeroy says on Aug 9, 2007, 18:36:

The guy on the Lonely Planet forum (of so much controversy) has sent me personal messages assuring me that he is legit, and asking me to go and check him out for real. I only live 20 blocks from him, I probably should. ..

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podborski says on Aug 9, 2007, 22:48:

so if this is true as you say derek: So, with teachers in short supply and the visa issue irrelevant there is fundamentally no reason to accept being exploited

then it's pretty simple no? Don't let yourself be exploited and just take another job if you don't like the one you are in.

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Miguel_Clavo says on Aug 9, 2007, 23:11:

"Such a situation should be to the advantage of the teachers, however, perhaps because we work without a work permit, or are desperate to make a few bucks to extend our travel we accept terms that are unfair."

Sorry, but no sympathy given or earned here....Hmmm, working ILLEGALLY in Colombia.....Being Taken Advantage of? Desperate to make a few bucks?..imagine what the illegals in the US are thinking? not treated fairly......sucks to be in that position, so work legally and the problem gets solved, right? Imagineeeeeeeeeee.......................

"I would rather die living life, than to live a dying life."........ Oh, and my PM is always ON. Great Bumper Sticker: "Home of the Free, Because of the Brave"

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critter says on Aug 10, 2007, 14:16:

good point, clavo! wait a minute...I just agreed with clavito??? that felt weird!! jajajaa

"Spending eternity in a bad place is a long time!"

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Miguel_Clavo says on Aug 10, 2007, 20:20:

just DONT make it a habit, Critter.....=)

"I would rather die living life, than to live a dying life."........ Oh, and my PM is always ON. Great Bumper Sticker: "Home of the Free, Because of the Brave"

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critter says on Aug 10, 2007, 20:31:

Te aseguro que nooooooo!!! jajajaja

"Spending eternity in a bad place is a long time!"

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cderekbower says on Aug 14, 2007, 08:34:

My intention with this posting is to encourage teachers of english in Bogota to not accept exploitation. It is important for potential teachers to know the situation and I think it would be good to set some standards.
I welcome suggestions of standards.

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