teaching in colombia

la campiña says on Feb 23, 2008, 21:33:

first of all hi, to stay for any lengh of time here you need some kind of visa, Bogota probably offers the most opportunnities and best wages however 6 months on a tourist visa is the least youll get, a TEFL certificate helps massively,

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goin_south says on Feb 23, 2008, 21:41:

most?

'what does it mean, when one of you (colombians) tell another: YOU WERE NOT/ARE NOT. 'COLOMBIAN ENOUGH'?? jejeje..a mixture, I think, of stupidity mixed with a false sense of arrogance.. How 'colombian' do you have to be? to be 'colombian enough

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goin_south says on Feb 23, 2008, 21:41:

or, least?

'what does it mean, when one of you (colombians) tell another: YOU WERE NOT/ARE NOT. 'COLOMBIAN ENOUGH'?? jejeje..a mixture, I think, of stupidity mixed with a false sense of arrogance.. How 'colombian' do you have to be? to be 'colombian enough

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arthur brode says on Feb 24, 2008, 05:53:

you shouldnt have a problem finding a job teaching english in Bogota.i have been offered jobs here in Cali teaching english and i dont have any Certifications/Degree.but you are going to need a Visa to stay in the country after your 6 months expire.

http://www.calirentals.net/

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raquel23 says on Feb 24, 2008, 06:19:

Can i apply for the visa while im in colombia during the 6 months? And about how long does it take to get it approved and which visa would i need? Thank you

Raquel

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yummyj says on Feb 24, 2008, 07:33:

teach with no certificate and the ONLY qulaification you have is speaking (not knowing HOW to teach) the language?

Why not become a car mechanic? You know how to drive so you should be able to teach mechanics, right?

Get a certificate so the students will actually learn something from someone who knows what they're doing.

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arthur brode says on Feb 24, 2008, 07:35:

getting married to a Colombian would probably be the easiest route for you to go

http://www.calirentals.net/

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arthur brode says on Feb 24, 2008, 08:03:

the fact is that i can step into several english institutes here in Cali and have a job by the end of the week.and i dont have a diploma/certificate.native english speakers are in demand.

http://www.calirentals.net/

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guacharaca says on Feb 24, 2008, 08:31:

Raquel. Since you are a US citizen, you can get a student visa for free (other nationals have to pay). Register for some school that will give you 10 hours of Spanish a week and teach under the table the rest of the time. I did obtain a TEFL certificate at one time and I was surprised that, other than one on one conversations, there is a lot more to teaching English than just being a native speaker.

Colombianos: Las armas os han dado independencia, las leyes os daran libertad. (Santander)

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mranderson says on Feb 24, 2008, 11:41:

If you're a native speaker and a high school graduate then it's not that hard to learn basic grammar and basic teaching methology once you arrive in colombia. I've been teaching for a year without any certificate or degree and never once have I had to teach advance english grammar. What for?

When I first arrived here I observed other english classes and befriended some english teachers. I then just copied their methology. Give yourself 4-6 months(about a semester) to learn how to teach before you start making a normal wage if you don't have experience.

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Alma del Norte says on Feb 24, 2008, 11:45:

You can work "black" on a tourist visa, teaching english. You will receive a small amount of training. You can expect COP 20,000 per hour on an, "as and when required", basis. A simple search on this site will get you the information you need.

La vida es una rutina

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yummyj says on Feb 24, 2008, 12:14:

Everyone says they are intelligent and have a good sense of humour. We all know that this is not true.

You THINK you know basic grammar and how to teach it. That doesn't mean that you really can. Get certified and get a clue as to how to teach. It will help you AND your students who think you know what you are talking about - not that you THINK you know what you are talking about.

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vicshere says on Feb 24, 2008, 12:20:

When you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bullshit

listo

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mranderson says on Feb 24, 2008, 12:35:

According to yummyj's logic you can't do something unless you have a piece of paper that says you can do it. Right or wrong?

I'm not against certification. You'll get a better job with it and you'll learn about teaching as well. But you can also learn on the job. I don't have a certificate. I want to be certified but don't have the money to do it at this moment. I suppose I am clueless.

At the end of my classes my students thank me and shake my hand. I guess they are thanking me for wasting their time :)

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vicshere says on Feb 24, 2008, 12:51:

hey MrA the same with me....I have students who go to the office and ask for my classes....guess I am doing something right....I just finished my first advanced class...it was cool...they were teaching me some grammar..but didn't let on that I didn't know hehehhee.....where I think I win over many Colombia teachers is ...everyday English, phrasal verbs, idioms, and slang...especially in the advance....even the advanced students want the next and finial level with me.....

listo

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yummyj says on Feb 24, 2008, 17:01:

hey anderson, would you trust a mechanic without a piece of paper? How about a doctor?

Just because you can speak it, does mean you can teach it. Just because you THINK you can teach it, doesn't mean you actually can.

ALL students thank their teacher. They simply don't know that they are getting spam instead of Prime Rib. Of they thank you for the spam.

I am not saying that you cannot teach, or don't know your stuff (now). I have never seen you teach. I am just saying that these people that think they can teach English simply because they can speak it are WRONG. Yes, they are WRONG. A good teacher would know this.

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mranderson says on Feb 24, 2008, 18:49:

Would I trust a mechanic without a piece of paper? Depends. A doctor? I doubt it.

In colombia you get what you pay for. I wouldn't have a problem learning spanish from a native speaker who was uncertified and inexperienced. As long as the person had material, had interesting classes, and was cheap. Let me stress CHEAP.

Without certification you won't get a good job at a university or well known institute. But those places are generally much more expensive and the students will expect certified teachers.

There are a lot of cheap institutes who employ colombian teachers with bad english skills. A lot of colombian teachers use very little english in the classroom. So why not a native speaker who is uncertified and inexperienced?

In the institute I work at I have seen students start teaching after 2 years of study. Most of these students who turn to teachers cannot speak very well. I have also seen tourists come in and work for a couple months. Most of them completely inexperienced. Some are good and others not so good but either way it's good conversation practice for the students. Most of these guys who don't have experience only get replacement classes.

When I first started I didn't have any experience at all. I only did substitutions and for a few hours everyday I would observe other classes. I learned some teaching methologies and how to explain things. When the director noticed this he started giving me my own classes.

I agree that just because someone can speak english doesn't mean they can teach it but everyone starts out somewhere and you can learn how to teach english. A certificate is the best way to go but the OP's question was is there opportunity to work without it. The answer is yes of course there is. Just don't expect to be paid well :)

By the way, do you know of any good certification programs in medellin?

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travelgoddess says on Feb 24, 2008, 19:36:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewforum.php?f=55&sid=6be518db1cfa0d54f...

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slguy says on Feb 24, 2008, 20:02:

yummy is either a teacher being territorial- or just a troll-like creature.

I know a number of people throughout latin america who are making a decent living teaching english, without being trained for it.

I raced sports cars for years, did everything on my cars from body repairs to rebuilding engines- and I have no training. It ain't rocket science. Neither is teaching your native tongue, if you've got some brains rattling around up there....

Before you throw me out, make sure I pay my bar tab

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Robert Jorge says on Feb 24, 2008, 21:35:

I know what yummy is getting at though, and appreciate his or her sensitivity. My dad was an electrical engineer. I mean, he went to Cal State for 4 years and got an engineering degree. He used to get irritated when some kids would send him resume's, claiming to be "electrical engineers", and they had gone to a trade school for 9 months after getting their GED. (Nothing wrong with that) But it aint' the same. Yummy is talking about the same thing I imagine. Yummy probably is a professional teacher, spent 4 or 5 years in a real university, and another 2 for his masters. He is probably a little irritated that people try and act like they really know what they are doing teaching in a formal setting, when they have no educational training or experience.

Now, with that said, that doesn't mean an untrained, native English speaker doesn't have value and can't teach. But, they are not nearly as qualified as an accredited university educated teacher would be. And they thus shouldn't expect or command the same pay. And their students should be fully aware that they are being taught by a native English speaker with NO formal teaching training, education, or experience.

--"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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slguy says on Feb 24, 2008, 22:22:

no arguments from me, RJ. Wonder how much premium a master's commands in an english teaching job in colombia?

Before you throw me out, make sure I pay my bar tab

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Robert Jorge says on Feb 24, 2008, 22:24:

Probably nada

--"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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vicshere says on Feb 25, 2008, 05:06:

actually as a native teacher I gets paid 30% more than an accredited Colombian English teacher...supply and demand....many many Colombian English teachers and very few native English teachers....say 60/2 and the pay would be the same if the English teacher is accredited or not...the only difference is I can't teach curriculum courses...which I really don't care to anyway...those classes are way too much work compared to the extension courses

listo

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Bill Turley says on Feb 25, 2008, 08:53:

After reading these post I felt to need to contribute. Those who don't know me I am a retired educator living in rural Colombia. In the US I was a Science and Computer teacher. I studiously avoided all English classes I could. In Colombia by a series of coincidents I became an "English Expert" I do have a a Master's Degree in Education and nearly a PhD but not in English. I got a job working for a company which had a contract with MEN to provide training for Colombian District Teachers (Public School Teachers) this led to being named Director of theNational Center for Bilingual Education, which led to a position as Bilingual Coordinator for a "Bilingual School" who really wanted to become Bilingual in fact. My next bump was the be the Rector of an International School. The first job was a success primarily because I was a TEACHER, if you can teach it doesn't manner so much what the subject matter is. I have picked up the grammer I needed on my own. If anyone wants to contact me on this topic feel free to do so.

Mr. Bill Somondoco

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vicshere says on Feb 25, 2008, 09:00:

Somondoco is that your last name? is that polish background?

listo

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guacharaca says on Feb 25, 2008, 17:57:

Hey Bill. I used to work with many Science and Anthropology Professors at Uni and you certainly have that Professor look. I mean that in a good way.

Colombianos: Las armas os han dado independencia, las leyes os daran libertad. (Santander)

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manINred says on Feb 25, 2008, 18:26:

I agree with Bill. I am actually a decent teacher, learned and honed the skill, and it is hard, that much I learned in learning to teach.

Just because you can do something doesn't mean you can teach it. Only arrogance would make you think otherwise.

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gringoloid says on Feb 26, 2008, 05:23:

Alright, I'm going to jump in on this............even though english teachers can be more vicious than believers in the 911 Commission.

Doesn't enthusiasm play a role? I recently went to an english school in Bogota where they are using me to do voice overs on some CDs. I sat in on a class and it was the most amazing educational experience in my life. This teacher was from England and uses a method where the students are speaking very good english after three months.

I taught my spanish teacher to use this method on me, so I can learn spanish faster.

I feel personality has a lot to do with teaching..............like sales..................I was a salesman all my life, but I would have had the same success without the MBA.

Right now I have 4 students who I teach english for free..........it breaks up the monotony of arguing with you bums all day on PBH.....................they seem to learning quite well and keep asking for more lessons.

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nine inch nails says on Feb 27, 2008, 12:59:

Dear Mr. Bill,

I wanna go teach Calculus or Differential Equations, maybe even Engineering Mechanics in Colombia. Is there a demand for that?

Thanks,
NIN

get down, get down. are you afraid of the boogie monster?

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