Teaching English in Bogota, Colombia
Report submitted on 24 January, 2021 by Marvin
Teaching English in Bogota, Colombia:
How can teachers find teaching jobs in Bogota, Colombia?
I teach at a German school, that has open vacancies visible on German websites and their own homepage.
Generally, I would say, that it’s most easy to search online.
The main English teaching jobs available are:
Full time English language school positions, part time English language school positions, teaching at kindergartens / pre-schools, teaching at private international schools, teaching at community centers, etc., private teaching (not through a school, agency, etc.).
What are the minimum teaching requirements?
I don’t know how it is with international schools, but here you have to be a native German speaker (German school), and you need a teaching certificate.
What teaching requirements would you recommend?
At least a bachelor of education and teaching certificate.
What are the levels of payment?
Monthly salary with 0-2 years of experience in primary school is about 2,000 Euro.
How many teaching days a week is normal?
5 days per week.
How many face-to-face teaching hours a week is normal?
Approximately 26 hours in primary school hours per week.
What is the normal arrangement for holidays?
2 weeks Easter break, 8 weeks in summer, 2 weeks in fall, 3 weeks in winter.
What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Medellin, Colombia to teach English?
Nobody speaks English in Colombia. Within 1 year I have met a hand full of Colombians that know some English.
The children also don’t see the necessity of learning it. It is very tough to teach in the private sector because kids are extremely spoiled and not very motivated.
What are the positive aspects of teaching English in Bogota, Colombia?
The salary.
What are the negative aspects for teaching English in Bogota, Colombia?
Schools are not organised.
Living in Bogota, Colombia:
Are there any visa or other legal requirements to live in Colombia?
You need to apply for a visa. To get that you need to get a lot of material from your future employer (contract, and many, many other certificates). But the employer will provide everything.
What is the cost of living like in Colombia?
Accommodation: about 700$ for a very spacious apartment (100m2) with lots of extra facilities like swimming hall, sauna, gym, billiards, table tennis, cinema room….
Daily necessities: Approx. 10$
Partying: depending on the club between 20-50$
What are the usual accommodation arrangements and how can you find accommodation?
Walk around and call the numbers you see on windows. you might need extra security provided by your employer.
Other than teaching, what positive aspects are there for living in Bogota, Colombia?
The standard of living is incredibly high. you can easily rent a beautiful apartment, go out 10 times a month and still save half your salary.
Other than teaching, what negative aspects are there for living in Bogota, Colombia?
Nothing is well organized, and neither is the traffic. Also, pollution is extreme. Children/Adults are not that interculturally aware.
What advice would you give to someone considering coming to Bogota, Colombia?
Bring time!
What things do you miss most (other than family and friends) from your home country?
The feeling of security, no matter where I am at what time.
What do you think you will miss most when (or if) you leave Colombia?
The wonderful weather and biodiversity.
What things would you recommend to new teachers in your area to bring with them from their home country?
You can get everything in Bogota.
About Me and My Work:
My Name: Marvin
Nationality: German
Students I’ve taught in Colombia: Elementary (6-12 years).
Where I teach: Colegio Andino in Bogota. Working here for 1 year.
My school facilities: Very good – we have every technological tool you can imagine, and enough resources to buy if we need something new (private school).
Do you teach English in Colombia?
Tell us about your experiences – click here to submit your report about teaching English in Colombia.
