Teaching English in Colombia

agucho says on May 24, 2004, 14:13:

Teaching Spanish I think you should call one of the School or academies here. They will help you out.

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Jefferyb says on May 24, 2004, 16:20:

Agucho, do you have any contacts there? I would like to start making contacts with the schools directly but need someone in Colombia to point me in the right direction. THANKS IN ADVANCE!

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LaGringaLatina says on Jun 25, 2004, 08:59:

any luck?? Hey, I am Kelly. I am teaching English right now in Quito, Ecuador. I was wondering if you had any luck finding a job in Cali...thats where I want to go. My contract is up here next March and I am dying to go back to Cali! I have been there 5 times! Please write back!!!

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Skippy says on Jun 26, 2004, 15:33:

My two cents I am in Medellin right now and there tons of English schools here. I am going to look for a job this week.

I would suggest to at least get a TEFL certificate. You can learn so much about our own language and how to teach it. You may be a native speaker, but that doesn't mean you can teach English. It's not fair to make the students suffer if you don't know what the hell you're talking about.

I took the TEFL, but it took me about 2 years fo constant work to feel confident enough to explain grammar rules. I am still learning and I have been teaching for about 5 years now.

Yup

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caslug says on Jun 27, 2004, 00:21:

Teaching English Can someone tell me what the average salary for an English teacher is in Bogota or Medellin? I was I Cali checking out the school and it look like the average salary was about 1.5 million peso or at 600USD/mo. Is that the average for Colombia? Seems like Mexico or Asia job pays more.

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ShazCas says on Jun 27, 2004, 05:42:

Teaching English Firstly, I agree with Shane. Teaching English is not an easy ride, like any other serious profession you need a qualification to do it. Plus, the good, well-paying schools won't employ you without one.

Secondly, Bogota pays better than Medellin and Cali, but the cost of living is higher.

Caslug, I can't answer your question about the salary as you haven't said how many hours you have to work to get 1.5 million. You will generally be paid per hour, and that will generally range from $15,000 to $40,000 per hour. I wouldn't teach for less than $25,000 per hour, but some people wouldn't accept less than $35,000. That's in Bogota, by the way, and for experienced, qualified teachers.

As for private classes, the price depends on who you're teaching. Students don't have money but businesspeople do. If you teach a group, say of five, you get a great salary charging each one $10,000 per hour, and they get a cheap class with a native speaker.

A good school will want a qualification, like I said, and they will also pay you better, and they will get you the proper visa. If you go to Colombia on a tourist visa and get a job, you will have to leave the country and come back in again to get the new visa, but it's easy, you can just pop off to Quito for a few days and have a holiday.

My best advice would be:

1. Do the TEFL.

2. Take Spanish lessons and get your CV ready.

3. Save up and go to your chosen Colombian city on a tourist visa.

4. Make a list of all the schools and pass them your CV. You should get a job within a couple of weeks at the latest, or at least that's my experience in Bogota.

5. Book your ticket to Quito or somewhere else nearby and get your new visa!

The best way to do things in Colombia is in person, and you will find it much easier and faster to get a job there if you are there. Good luck!

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Tinto (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Jun 27, 2004, 08:38:

Col pays less? That sounds reasonable. Mexico for sure and a number of the moderately developed Asian countries are richer than Colombia as measured by per capita income or per capita GDP.

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Christinalkc says on Jun 27, 2004, 22:19:

English in Asia Teaching English in Asia is also another good option but you may need to know where to go and such. South Asian countries do not really require foreign English teachers as English is being taught in public as well as private schools. Apart from that, English is quite actively spoken by the people there.

If you are still looking into Asian countries, the best would be East Asia such as China and Japan where the people there speak very minimal English. Go for it!!

Chao,
Christina

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Mitch says on Jun 28, 2004, 06:18:

12,800 pesos a hour Hi there

I've been offered a teaching job at a private university in Bucaramanga. They've offered me 12,800 pesos an hour. They will organise a work visa for me. Am I getting ripped off? I'm English and have a TEFL certificate.

Any comments would be grateful.

Michelin

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caslug says on Jun 28, 2004, 15:30:

Teaching English Thanks everyone for the info! I do plan to get my CELTA by end of this year. I wanted to take the CELTA at the British School in Bogota but they only have it once a year in June.

Once I have my CELTA, can I find jobs in Colombia with just a CELTA or should I get some experience (3-6 mos)? I actually have over 10 yrs experience as a sales trainer in the States, does this count somewhat or are school looking for English teaching experience only?

Anyone know the cost of a 1 or 2 bedroom apt in Bogota, in a nice & safe area(ie, 24 hr security, safe area to walk at night, etc.,)? I only need a 1 bedroom unit, but is 1 bedroom or suite common in Colombia or 2 bedromm are the norm?

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fieldy says on Mar 29, 2005, 00:49:

This is a very late reply, but im pretty sure Cactus run CELTA all year round.

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Bethan says on Jun 28, 2005, 05:56:

Teaching English in Bogota - what are the chances? Hello, I have a question - I would be very happy if someone can advise me! I am taking a CELTA course here in the UK and want to come to Bogota to teach. My partner's an aid-worker in Colombia and this will be our only chance to be together. I've no teaching experience but have good degrees (up to MA) in English, and good professional experience writing. Do you think it's a huge risk to come to Bogota hoping to get a job? Is there much work - enough to provide for inexperienced but qualified teachers?
Also I'm a beginner at Spanish, but I'm going to do an intensive course in advance. Is excellent Spanish necessary.
Would be glad of any comments...
Thanks, Bethan

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lpdiver says on Jun 28, 2005, 12:10:

My past research would indicate that you will have no problems. It also indicated that timimg is everything. Also you probably won't have a contract in hand prior to arriving.

Were I in your shoes I'd just go and knock on the doors.

Tony

"cook some rice!"

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Bethan says on Jun 30, 2005, 02:20:

Thanks for your reply I guess that that's exactly what I'll do! Colombia sounds like a wonderful country and I'm really excited about going there. It's also quite nerve-wracking, esp. as the info I can find on the likelihood of getting a visa seems a bit contradictory.
But I'm sure it will work!
Thanks for your comment...
Bethan

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carlos1102 says on Aug 16, 2005, 18:01:

need info i speak perfect english and spanish. i was born in colombia and want to go back to teach english in colombia. i am new to this so please help.

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DonkeyDust says on Aug 16, 2005, 18:25:

Are good TEFL courses offered in colombia? I need a university degree here in Vancouver to take a 9 month course at the local college. I didn't finish University so I am outa luck here. If there are courses does anyone have a website or email?
Thanks, William
Actually I think I prefer to take a one month tutoring course here but you never know.
I am amazed at the number of teachers with celtic and other who know very little about grammer. They don't study another language & so haven't been so involved in grammer as myself and most of you, I guess.
"Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." ( so long as it isn;t a farc doing it I guess LOL.
Life is too short for Trainspotting!

Latitudes attitudes & platitudes.

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stantheman says on Sep 1, 2005, 04:39:

Ph.D., CELTA, Experienced. Looking for University Teaching Post I'm ready to begin! Would consider teaching in a company. The main thing is . . . I want motivated students. Any leads? Hope it's OK to post my CV (below). Thanks.

Stan Moore
dreamstoshare at hotmail.com

EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES

Cambridge/RSA CELTA, International House Riviera-Maya
Ph.D., History, University of Kansas, summa cum laude
M.A., History, University of South Florida, summa cum laude
M.S., Urban and Regional Planning, Florida State University
B.A., Public Administration/Political Science, Florida Atlantic University

TEACHING EXPERIENCES

Stan Moore Group
Specialty English for Professionals
Chiang Mai, Thailand/Orlando, Florida
January 2003 - Present

English Teacher
Berlitz Escuela de Idiomas
Monterrey and Mexico City, Mexico
June 1983 to June 1985

Adjunct Professor (History)
Florida International University
Miami, Florida
September 1982 to June 1983

Instructor (History)
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
June 1978 to December 1980

FUND-RAISING EXPERIENCES

President
Stan Moore Fund-Raising Group
Santa Barbara/Cincinnati/Orlando/Asheville
January 1986 to December 2002

Providing fund-raising counsel to NGO’s worldwide. Responsible for planning, organization, and direction of major fund-raising/marketing campaigns, including: Campaign Planning Studies; recruitment, training, and direction of volunteer leadership; donor cultivation and solicitation (individuals, corporations, and foundations, $1,000,000+); public relations; recruitment/training of development personnel; board and leadership development. Served more than sixty institutions in twenty-two states and overseas, which have raised in excess of $200 million. Clients include medical, educational, religious, and social service institutions.

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DianaMa says on Sep 1, 2005, 15:27:

Can I be honest... If you are a native speaker you'll get a job no questions asked (you might have to do an interview but its usually a quicky). Why? I really don't know what it is, maybe its the Colombian need for novelty and variety. (If you don't have a workvisa get ready to work illegally).
Why am I writing something so obviously inflamitory? I'm a qualified foreign teacher and I have met some yahoos here that you wouldn't believe. It's the usual fair, late on Monday's, hung-over at work, telling students to read a book while they sleep or read the newspaper, having other teacher's pick up the slack, not showing up at meetings, etc.
Thank goodness this isn't always the case.
Working as a teacher is hard, thankless (teachers have little respect in this society) work. But if this vocation is in your heart you'll enjoy it alot, and you will learn a great deal from your students about the culture.
Teaching English in Colombia is not: a paid vacation or an oppurtunity to meet a "novia" (as some guy in another post put it)its a profession so treat it as such.
I am now stepping off my soap box.
To all you awesome teachers out there, rock on!!! To the rest of you...good luck.

Cheers
Diana
tired teacher in Medellin, teaching her own classes plus substituting in some other classes because the other teacher is "sick" again

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duncanmack says on Oct 15, 2005, 13:47:

Anyone heard of petersons in bogata? From: a_posso
To: duncanmack
Subject: Re: interested in teaching english
Date: Mon, 09/12/2005 - 17:35

Dear Duncan:

Thank you for your emails and your interest in working for us.

We are an English institution located in Bogota and we teach executives in different multinational companies.

And once you start working, you will be teaching as many hours as you can handle. We work mornings, noontime and evenings, as well as Saturdays. On Saturdays we usually work blocks of 3 hours.

We have classes beginning every week teaching executives in different multinational companies.

Remember that no experience in English Teaching is needed to work with us. We provide you with all the training and materials needed for the classes.

Please, let us know with 2 weeks in advance about the day you are planning to arrive to Bogota.

Looking forward to seeing you here at Petersons.

Best regards,

Adriana Posso Bergsneider
General Manager
Petersons
Bogota, Colombia
Tel. +57 1 3216776
Cel. +57 310 2416446
petersons at etb.net.co

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Paul Anthony says on Nov 30, 2005, 07:49:

CELTA Qualified Looking For English Teaching Work I am a British Citizen currently living in Bogotá who is looking for work teaching English.

Until last year I lived in London where I worked as a consultant for a small Business systems Analysis Consultancy. I came to Bogotá in June 2004 to visit some friends and fell in love with the place and the people.

When I got back to London I talked my colleagues into sending me to Bogotá to undertake some research for the company. The company organized a 3 year Business Visa for me and I have been working for them here ever since. Unfortunately they plan to recall me to London in February 2006. I absolutely do not want to go back permanently, because I have decided that I want to build a future for myself in Colombia.

In order to make my dream a reality I started taking Spanish lessons and now speak basic Spanish. Also in June/July of this year I took some extended leave and successfully completed the CELTA course with the British Council in Bogotá, which I really enjoyed. I have now decided to try and change my career and look for work here as an English teacher but I really don’t know how or where to begin looking.

Does anyone out there have any suggestions as to what I should do next or better still does anyone have a job? I have had some ideas of my own but they don’t seem to be getting me anywhere. I am hoping that posting this message may help to change that. All suggestions would be gratefully received.

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cadeyboy says on Jan 16, 2006, 13:19:

Teaching English in Bogota Hello there. My name is Cade Hannan
I saw your post about jobs in teaching English.

I have been an English teacher in London, UK for 4 years now. I teach at londons largest Independent School, called Callan School. www.callan.co.uk
My fiance is colombian and I travel to Bogota quite often, and I was thinking of perhaps going for several weeks per year at least, and was wondering what the possibilites of teaching English are. Could you tell me some information about your school?

Thank you very much
Cade Hannan

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caulfield2 says on Jan 16, 2006, 15:48:

One option is to go to one of the International Teaching fairs in the US. The largest is at the Univ. of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls. I think there were around 8 schools from Colombia there...one from Cartagena (Jorge Washington), two from the Barranquilla (Karl C. Parrish and Colegio Albania) area, Armenia (where I teach), Manizales (Colegio Granadino), Bucamaranga, Medellin, Cali (Bolivar) and Bogota.

I think it is the first week of February, so hurry. It is well worth it, I had over 14 interviews set up and got to meet a lot of interesting people who were either already teaching or looking to teach internationally. It is a great investment, even if you do not accept a job right away, you can make lots of contacts for down the road. I think there are around 70 international schools represented, and a lot of them pay $20-40,000 per year depending on the country. Even in Colombia, you can make a salary in the mid 20s, which is like $80-120,000 in the US, not to mention another $300-500 mil teaching a college class if you want to.

Just check for the SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Universities) accredited schools in Colombia.

You might want to check with Liceo English in Pereira, I think they have 2-3 openings as well, but it is because they have lost quite a few of their gringo-a teachers this year already, so caveat emptor.

I have a certification for secondary HS English and Social Studies, two Masters Degrees (one in Curriculum and Instruction)

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ann_e says on Jan 16, 2006, 22:49:

Re Job in Bogota, Colombia Dear Adriana,

I've read your posts and I got pretty sure excited of the idea of working parttime in your company. I got accepted as an exchange trainee of ne of the universities in Colombia and I'll be arriving Colombia this weekend. I'm gonna be teaching Economics subjects in that university from Mondays to Fridays from 8am to 5pm. I am looking into having a parttime job during nighttime and I thought of working in Peterson's as a good option since you have night classes as well as Saturday classes.Please do tell me what to submit in order to process my application.

Thank you very much and I hope to hear from you soon.


Sincerely yours,

ann

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Andrewrsn says on Jan 18, 2006, 14:32:

Teaching English in Cali I just got back from a trip to Cali to visit some friends. needless to say within a day of getting home I started searching for English teaching jobs in Cali. I have a friend there who is doing some looking but as a native he doesn't know too much about the job search. anybody have any places to email/call or any suggestions on finding a job? I have a BS from the Univ. of MN and am currently working on getting my TEFL.

thanks

Andrew

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31mona says on Jan 18, 2006, 18:25:

teaching in cali I have no teaching experience. born in the U.S. speak perfect English and Spanish. where can i check for teaching opportunities in cali. do i have to get the TEFL? I am very interested in taking an opportunity in cali. any suggestion please
thanks
diana

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GringoinBucaramanga says on Jan 19, 2006, 10:05:

good luck Unfittingly in order to get a teaching job in Colombia u got to have
A contact. In other words it’s not what u know but whom you know.
In Bucaramanga I have friends that speak perfect English has a BA
and still can’t find a teaching job.
Yet most of the teachers I have met only has a high school ed.
Why, because they know someone or have greased (pesos) someone
at the school.
This is Colombia not back woods, Ohio.

jj_jp@msn.com

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caulfield2 says on Jan 19, 2006, 11:20:

I think there´s two clearly distinct fields of teaching. Those that have a BA or less with no teaching experience or certification that want to teach ESL, and those with certification, TEFL, Master´s Degrees, etc.

If you have a current certification and especially if you have graduate degrees, you are in high demand in either universities or bi-lingual schools, where they can pay salaries ranging from high teens to low 30´s in the bigger cities. There are still opportunities to work in these bi-lingual, SACs accredited schools without certification, but usually in subjects like math or physics that an advanced degree can substitute for a teaching certificate.

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Pista79 says on Mar 23, 2006, 10:46:

HELP!! Hey Everyone,

So I've been firing off e-mails like it was my job in the last week. I have found a few websites, here and there after doing a bit of google searching. Just wondering if anyone could help in my job searching. I have a BA in Politica Studies from Queen's U in Canada, I'm taking my TESL/TEFL certificate, and have experience with private tutoring for the past year. As well I have worked extensively with ESL students in a number of different ways. Lastly I am completly bilingual, since I was born in Venezuela and family is from Uruguay.

Anyhoot, if anyone could help in finding work at a highschool, institute etc. It would be greatly appreciated. I am planning to be in Colombia by the mid-end of August if all pans out well.

Thanks in advance.

Nick

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caslug says on Mar 23, 2006, 13:06:

PISTA if you can get a work visa.. then lots of doors are open. Without work visa, you'll have much harder time. Then you'll have to apply only to school that willing/able to sponsor you, which narrows down the list. Your best is to get a regular teaching credential(ie, certified public school teacher) in CAD BEFORE you go down to COL, THEN you'll have better option and better pay than just teaching english AND those types of school that want certified school teacher will sponser your visa.

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reynaldo0419 says on Mar 24, 2006, 14:52:

Adriana This still good?

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David Pristupa says on Dec 27, 2006, 18:20:

Credential Boasting Pardon my directness but it is rather irritating when an individual
lists off their long list of credentials loudly. Those with multiple degrees should tone it down and state it in context of necessity.

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poco says on Dec 27, 2006, 18:52:

It is irritating Pardon my directness but it is rather irritating when an individual
lists off their long list of credentials loudly.

Not the listing, but the fact there are EDUCATED people in the world that will work for STARVATION wages is irritating !!!! What a joke, folks listing their “resume” looking for what I believe to be a poverty wage job.

Does anyone feel bad they are taking up a job for crappy wages and at the same time a deserving AND qualified Colombian will be un-employed?

How did you guys pay for your education? It must have been a gift and at the same time you don't care about making a decent living ??

Everyone I know that works overseas is PAID MORE than the same job pays in the U.S. Really, why should ANYONE work for LESS MONEY ? The guys I know from England, Canada and India ALL WORK for MORE MONEY. Gezzzz,, NO ONE wants to be accused of LOWERING the wages. IS THERE NO PRIDE in the teaching profession?

LISTEN UP,, they either pay MORE or they GO WITHOUT. I've never needed to work for sub-standard wages. Hell, I'd feel bad about REDUCING the pay of others.

PS:

Making a salary of 1 or 2 million a month ? I know RETIRED Colombians making LOTS more than that on their pension. If that’s all you can make I’d suggest a career change.

PS2:
Anyone know what this is ? It is VERY common in Colombia and I've NEVER seen one in the U.S.

An interesting answer to a problem.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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velo violeta says on Jan 26, 2007, 13:53:

Maybe a generator? Is it an electricity generator? You know, when there's blackouts and stuff.

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The king of Latvia says on Mar 1, 2008, 09:09:

Hello

I am a certified, native English teacher with experience who has moved to Barranquilla recently. I have a salary paid job but I am looking for some private classes too. If anyone has any information or contacts please let me know. Thank you.

All the best

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The king of Latvia says on Mar 1, 2008, 09:10:

Here is my e-mail address jayden54 at hotmail.com

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vicshere says on Mar 1, 2008, 09:49:

its an air compressor...used for spray painting..it uses an old fridge compressor

listo

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la campiña says on Mar 2, 2008, 00:03:

I can help, in cali

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