Teaching English in Colombia

Teachers' advice / Colombia

Colombia is divided into various different cultural regions. We have the coast region on the Atlantic. We have the Eje Cafetero (the coffee axis), the bogota area (the capital), the Llanos area (the prairie, cowboys) and the santanderes area (near the venezuelan border). There is also the Narino area which is near Ecuador (mainly american natives).

The coast area is very, very nice. Think Caribbean islands. The people there are, like in the rest of colombia, very nice and warm. They all want you to try new food and insist on it. They like to treat you everytime you go out with them. They are, mostly, heavy drinkers and would stop working if there is a carnival going on. The whole city would stop working. The banks do not open between 12 to 2 pm on regular basis.

There is work for ESL teachers in this area. There are some very nice bilingual High schools mainly for rich kids. Everything is very cheap if you are getting paid in dollars. But if they pay you in pesos, then things are a little bit more expensive. It is, however, difficult to find a school that would agree to pay teachers in dollars.

The water is good but there is a problem with common colds. So if you travel to this area you need to get all of your shots.

So if you are game for good scuba diving, palm trees, salsa music and hot weather... The Colombian coast is for you. I would say Cartagena is great, Santa Marta is nice and Barranquilla is OK.

The Coffee axis is beautiful. No ocean there though. But gorgeous mountains and beautiful people. Most of the main cities have cold climates. But I mean the coldest say... a spring day in Washington DC.

Medellin is the best. Great bilingual schools, very warm people. The "paisas" (say: pie-sads, not an insult) are famous for being entrepenours, smart and driven. No problems there except the usual problems you find in a big cosmopolitan.

Bogota is cold. I mean that. Big big city. Lots and lots of money. A lot of opportunities but it rains most of the year and the people are not as warm. And it is HUGE. 7 million people give or take another million. Nice if you like big cities. The foreigner community is very big. From all over the world. There are some seriously fine schools there. I mean, private schools that charge 1500 dollars a month tuitions to the students. Teachers get good money there. CARS CARS CARS, BUSES BUSES BUSES. You know the deal. But it is well organized and it is cool. Not my thing but that's just me.

Santander is nice. It is like the south of the USA. Take away the chewing tobacco and there you have it. No racism though. They don't know of that sort of thing. Colombia is a race meltin pot where nobody knows differences of color. Bucaramanga, where I live, is nice. Perfect size so that you still can find anything you might need but without the hassle of a big city. It is not too far from the caribbean coast which is a plus. River rafting, parapente and cave exploration is the thing here.

Narino is OK if you like the "machu pitchu" deal with american indians and all that. The guerillas are reduced to these areas so, I would inquire a bit before taking a job in that area.

Things are much better now but, please, PLEASE, do not tell anyone how much money you dad makes or your rich aunt or anything like that, the communist guerrillas are reduced to almost nothing now but there are still some around. Play low and enjoy one of the most beautiful countries in the world. I mean it.
German Morales, 19/02/07
Colombia has many cities, like Bogota, Medellin, Cali. The whole year we have nice warm weather in Medellin, Cali, Pereira, Armenia. People are very friendly, we have nice restaurants, hotels, museums, especially in Bogota which is a big city with 7 million people. Our level of universities is good and we have some very good ones. The political and economical situation of the country is much better than some years ago. We still have security problems, especially in some rural areas and towns but if you take care of yourself and don't go by certain roads you can manage the situation.

You can find private schools that are very interested in EFL teachers but you need a TESOL or EFL certificate and a bachelor degree to get a good salary and benefits.

We have a beautiful country with mountains, two coasts and around the year very good climate, we are very friendly and we have a good hospitality."
Anonymous, 24/02/07
Teach English in Colombia: Grappling with Grammar, Gold, Guns, and Guayaba
Larry M Lynch

Americans avoid Colombia for good reasons. A virtual civil war has been waged for nearly 40 years. Rates of crime and violence are among the world's highest. And then there's the "drug problem." Why would anyone consider coming here to teach English?

"I came because a friend who was working in Cali liked it here and recommended it," says Glenn Yates, a teacher now in his second year at a bilingual school. Tired of Canada's frigid winters, he fled to a land of year-round warm weather and an even warmer welcome.

Colin Jacobs, weary of gloomy days and drizzle, found his way to teaching English in Cali from his native England more than 20 years ago and hasn't left since. "I don't think I could live in London again," he says. "After adjusting to the near-perfect weather, the food, and the easy-going lifestyle here, I'm not really keen to go back. I'm spoiled for life."

So am I. Hundreds of varieties of flowers perfume the air, even in winter. Pantries abound with exotic fruits like Guayaba and Carambolo. The year-long growing season allows papayas to reach nearly the size of watermelons; mangoes can weigh up to two pounds each. Colombia's strong, black coffee, considered the world's richest, is served everywhere.

But Is It Safe?

There are problems, yes, but not of "run-screaming-to-the-hills" intensity. Most conflicts occur in the countryside. While this can make inter-city travel risky at times, residents inside major cities like Bogota, Cali, and Medellin feel little impact and live quite normally. Adjusting to power failures, phone or water outages, and rainy season flooding is more of a nuisance than life-threatening. Larger cities are reasonably well policed and usually safe, if you're careful.

Drugs? Most illicit production is for export, so, except for warring drug factions in the coca-growing areas, there's not much everyday impact. During major holidays the government steps up military patrols of principal highways and vacation resort areas to insure protection and safer travel for vacationers.

Quality of Life

Cali, with two million residents, is known as the "Salsa capital of the world," rivaling Cuba. The two largest shopping malls house multi-cinema complexes featuring first-run U.S. films in English with Spanish subtitles. English publications are readily available at bookstores and newsstands. Material in English can be borrowed free from the Universidad Santiago de Cali and for a $3 annual fee from the Centro Cultural Colombo Americano. The Municipal Theatre, Tertulia Arts Complex, and Jorge Isaacs Theatre offer regular productions in Spanish. Ethnic restaurants specializing in Latin American and Mediterranean cuisines continually tempt Caleño palettes. Holiday celebrations take place year-round. Check them out online at www.holiday festival.com/ Colombia.html. You will never be bored in Cali.

Jobs

Native-speaking English teachers are scarce here. Salaries reflect the high demand. Most teaching positions require an applicant to be a native speaker of English and have a university degree. A teaching certificate and some experience are a definite plus. Work is available at bilingual colegios, language institutes, and universities. Sending out a dozen or so resumes in English should land you half that number of interviews, culminating in several on-the-spot job offers.

No hablas español? Interviews are typically in English, but as a working resident you'll likely want to pick up more than just tourist Spanish. The Universidad Santiago de Cali and the Pontifica Universitaria Javeriana have Spanish programs for foreigners. Berlitz (www.berlitz.com) has offices in Cali with Spanish classes. A private tutor is fairly easy to come by. "It hasn't been a problem to find someone to help me when I need something done in Spanish," said Glen Yates, who, with his limited Spanish, has found Colombians to be very friendly and sociable.

So, don't worry needlessly about the news reports. Call, write, or email the schools and institutes to get a feel for their needs and requirements. Check out the web sites. Assemble your diplomas, certificates, and reference letters. Don't forget to collect materials like maps, postcards, flyers, magazines, and memorabilia from your hometown. These will be invaluable for your conversations with students.

Prof Larry M. Lynch is a bi-lingual copywriter, expert author and photographer specializing in business, travel, food and education-related writing in South America. His work has appeared in Transitions Abroad, South American Explorer, Escape From America, Mexico News and Brazil magazines. He teaches at a university in Cali, Colombia. To get original, exclusive articles and content for your newsletter, blog or website contact him for a no-obligation quote and current rates. For free information on the 5-week online course "Develop a Specialty and Get Published on the Web for Fun, Fame or Fortune" e-mail your request to: lynchlarrym@gmail.com
Prof. Larry Lynch has been a friend of mine for many years and a trusted member of the teaching profession. As a Canadian I cannot thank enough the fellow members of the world community for the welcome and trust the people of Colombia have shown me. I have taken the best from fellow teachers and students combine them into a recipe for long life, great friends and most of all a rewarding experience to live my life by. If anyone is seeking an experience, look south to a country that has recived a bad rap, great people, good friends but most of all, a special place to share life. Respectfully, to all who came before.
Glenn Yates, 25/11/09

Teaching English in Colombia

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