Details
Demand
Good
Busiest
Jan-Dec
All Year
Currency
$
Colombian Pesos (COP)
Contract
3-12 months
Normally
Taxes
Acceptable
- Summary
- Demand is lower than in other Latin American countries, but because many people are scared off by the country’s reputation, there isn’t much competition for jobs. However, the schools tend to prefer a North American accent.
- Main TEFL regions
- Medellín, Bogotá, Cali
- Types of teaching
- Private language schools: General English, Business English, TOEFL
In-company: General English, One-to-one & Group Business English
Primary & secondary bi-lingual schools: General English, English for Young Learners
Private tuition: General English, English for Specific Purposes
Universities: General English, English for Specific Purposes - Accommodation
- Well-qualified teachers who work in universities will usually get an accommodation allowance, but most teachers will have to find their own apartment, starting at about 350,000 Pesos for a shared place.
- Flight reimbursement
- Unlikely
- Salary
- Smaller language institutes offer hourly rates that equate to 800,000 Pesos per month (US$350), bigger schools pay between 1,200,000 and 2,200,000 Pesos (US$520-900), while private tuition and university jobs pay even more.
- Taxes
- Income tax rates vary between 0.29% for the poorest to 38.5% for the very highest earners
- Cost of living
- The cost of living is low in Colombia, with a beer in a bar costing US$1, and a cheap meal in local eatery just a couple of dollars
- Potential to save money
- Colombia isn’t a great country for saving, but if you earn more than US$700 per month, and you keep your costs to a minimum, you should be able to start saving.
- How much TEFL training is recommended?
- Although there’s not much competition for jobs, it’ll be very hard to get work without a TEFL certificate, especially as it’s required to get a work visa. i-to-i has a range of courses that will stand you in good stead.
- Common teaching conditions
- Most teachers spend between 20 and 25 hours in the classroom each week, but most classes are early in the morning and late in the evening, so you’ll have a big gap in the middle of the day
Be aware…
Colombia has a reputation for being dangerous, so be aware of who’s around at all times, and keep an eye on your belongings.
Don’t let all these warnings about safety stop you from enjoying the country! It’s a beautiful place that’s well worth exploring.
