Teaching English in Colombia

jorgegdiaz (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jan 23, 2008, 05:09:

Vitae says on Jan 23, 2008, 05:57:

Right now I'm still in the US, but I would like to see about moving down to Colombia after March.

"The most wasted of all days is one in which we haven't laughed." -e.e. Cummings

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Vitae says on Jan 23, 2008, 06:00:

PS What about the TESOL Certification, any thoughts? Thanks.

"The most wasted of all days is one in which we haven't laughed." -e.e. Cummings

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jorgegdiaz (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jan 23, 2008, 06:30:

ColombiaBoard says on Jan 23, 2008, 06:54:

From what I´ve heard CELTA is the way to go.

Another thing, get your work visa before you go to Colombia. Don´t believe anybody who says that they´ll help you once you´re there. You´re supposed to arrive in the country with a work visa.

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jorgegdiaz (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jan 23, 2008, 07:31:

eltoro says on Jan 23, 2008, 09:29:

If you're coming to Bogota... pm me.

I know a place that will hire you. I landed a job teaching English and I have NO EXPERIENCE and no TEFL/CELTA. I now teach Business English to several businessmen at their workplace. Without the certificate(s) you most likely wouldn't teach Basic English and teach all the rules( do you know the difference between past simple, past continuous and present simple?), but lots of people here are past all that and just want conversation or to help to get thru advanced business/technical reading. I have one student that is the regional manager at a major advertising agency that pays me to come to his office and just have conversations with him in English! He pays me to talk to him! Gotta love it. The pay is 30 COL for an hour 1/2. So... don't plan on getting rich. It's spending money for me and a great way to meet people.

The place where I'm working will accept you if you're American and will give you the paperwork you'll need to receive a work Visa with all the requirements mentioned by jorgegdiaz.

Good luck!

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jorgegdiaz (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jan 23, 2008, 09:45:

exquisite says on Jan 23, 2008, 11:00:

Do you guys have any idea what the chances of a non-native English speaker are?:))) I am a Bulgarian with a bachelor's degree in Applied Linguistics but I suspect that any native speaker might be prefered by Colombian schools. :(( I went to Colombia on a holiday about two years ago and fell in love with the country, I would love to go again for a longer period of time but not being 'native' makes it all more complicated.

gaby

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ColombiaBoard says on Jan 23, 2008, 11:06:

My advice was based on many reports of backpackers and other native english speakers who think that getting a JOB at a SCHOOL is piece of cake. Of course you can offer private classes you won't be making much money, barely enough to survive.

If you want to teach at a school and have a legal job then you need to get your work visa. If you apply at a private school your salary will be rather good.

Some "schools" will make you offers but you'll be working illegally and then when you complain they will threaten you with a call to the immigration service.

Gaby, you can teach if your level is good and you have CELTA.

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jorgegdiaz (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jan 23, 2008, 12:00:

monoingles says on Jan 23, 2008, 12:26:

So what is the average wage you can expect teaching English privately, teaching for an English school and teaching for a private school? Say per hour to make it easier!!!

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MaFe says on Jan 23, 2008, 16:04:

I am interested in doing this in Cali....anyone knows how I should approach this?

"All human actions have one or more of these seven causes: chance, nature, compulsions, habit, reason, passion, desire. "-Aristotle

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Vitae says on Jan 23, 2008, 21:26:

JORGEDIAZ,

Mi espanol esta asi asi ahorita, pero estoy practicando todos los dias.

As for the work Visa, do I just contact the Colombian consulate in Los Estados Unidos and begin the paper work? Any idea how long this takes to process?

COLOMBIABOARD,

I looked a the British Council's CELTA page(

"The most wasted of all days is one in which we haven't laughed." -e.e. Cummings

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Vitae says on Jan 23, 2008, 21:27:

I guess I got cut off there.

I looked at the British Council's CELTA page (http://www.britishcouncil.org/colombia-english-teach-english-professio...) and they seem to be prestigious and rigorous enough! Anyone know where to put a CELTA certification to use? Thanks all!

"The most wasted of all days is one in which we haven't laughed." -e.e. Cummings

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jorgegdiaz (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jan 24, 2008, 04:20:

Go to the closest consulate and (google the closest to you) and get your degree and transcripts apostilled, certified (not sure which one is first), with those things

www.consuladodecolombiany.com NYC
www.colhouston.org/ (hot and muggy Houston)
www.consulcolombia.us/ Windy city

Wade your way in this page and you`ll find the exact requirements.
http://www.gobiernoenlinea.gov.co/tramite.aspx?traID=204
But first, you`ll need to find a job, of course...

Democratic party or Republican party is fine......as long as theres a party!!!!!!!

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eltoro says on Jan 25, 2008, 10:43:

If you want to teach for an English Language SCHOOL, where the SCHOOL provides you students and you're ok making $30mil an hour 1/2 teaching as many hours as you can handle AND you're native American or British AND want a Work Visa AFTER you get here.... do what I mentioned. I'm doing just that and have no CELTA or TEFL. Obviously, if you HAVE those... you can work ANYWHERE. BUT... you don't NEED it.

Good luck.

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