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Cruiser
Joined: 26 Nov 2010 Posts: 39
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Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 9:00 pm Post subject: Bogota - tops in my book! |
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I still prefer Bogota to just about anywhere else in Col. but not for obvious reasons. Growing up in a mid sized city I tend to gravitate towards larger ones, where I can get whatever I want whenever I want it. The climate ain't great, and it takes forever to get across it, but I just can't seem to move my ass out of it. Anybody else agree? |
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currentaffairs
Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 828
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Posted: Fri May 22, 2015 10:30 pm Post subject: |
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I think Bogota is a bit of a pit. The English teachers I knew all seemed to be rushing across town all the time doing piecemeal work. Okay, if you are at an international school it would be better. But, as a city........................ |
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Cruiser
Joined: 26 Nov 2010 Posts: 39
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Posted: Sun May 24, 2015 6:07 pm Post subject: |
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currentaffairs wrote: |
I think Bogota is a bit of a pit........................ |
I'm thinking of moving to Barranquilla actually. Plenty of action there ...
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currentaffairs
Joined: 22 Aug 2012 Posts: 828
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Posted: Sun May 24, 2015 6:56 pm Post subject: |
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I liked Cali. But, for overall living conditions, I think Medellin and Cartagena would take some beating. |
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leretif9
Joined: 24 Mar 2013 Posts: 152
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Posted: Wed Jun 03, 2015 10:56 pm Post subject: |
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I am in Bogota now. I am not contradicting you, but I am curious to hear in more detail what you like about Bogota. |
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esl_prof
Joined: 30 Nov 2013 Posts: 2006 Location: peyi kote solèy frèt
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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2015 12:34 am Post subject: |
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leretif9 wrote: |
I am in Bogota now. I am not contradicting you, but I am curious to hear in more detail what you like about Bogota. |
Wow! You finally made it. How's the job search going, Leretif? |
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AGoodStory
Joined: 26 Feb 2010 Posts: 738
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Posted: Thu Jun 04, 2015 4:10 pm Post subject: |
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esl_prof wrote: |
leretif9 wrote: |
I am in Bogota now. I am not contradicting you, but I am curious to hear in more detail what you like about Bogota. |
Wow! You finally made it. How's the job search going, Leretif? |
Yes, please tell all!
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Cruiser
Joined: 26 Nov 2010 Posts: 39
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Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 12:42 am Post subject: |
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I'm all ears as well !!
I like that it's a big city with unlimited opportunities. Endless variety, good transit system, lots of fun folks. Not as friendly as the rest of Colombia, admittedly. I just like these vast S. American cities, I spend hours just roaming them. I liked Santiago for that too ... |
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PittsburghSound
Joined: 27 Aug 2014 Posts: 103 Location: Colombia
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Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2015 6:56 pm Post subject: |
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Even if Bogota isn't the "best" city in Colombia, wouldn't it be the most ideal location for a teacher new to Colombia and ESL as a whole?
I'm betting that coastal areas such as Cali would be more of a culture shock if you've never been to Latin America before. But then again, if that's what you're after, then I guess that's not a relevant question.
I really doubt there are many jobs in places like Medellin and Cali, especially for newbies. Might be better to go to Bogota, get some experience for a year, improve your Spanish if it's not already good, and then branch out. Just my opinion though. I may take this very route when I begin my ESL career next year. |
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spanglish
Joined: 21 May 2009 Posts: 742 Location: working on that
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Posted: Fri Aug 14, 2015 8:33 pm Post subject: |
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Cruiser wrote: |
I'm all ears as well !!
I like that it's a big city with unlimited opportunities. Endless variety, good transit system, lots of fun folks. Not as friendly as the rest of Colombia, admittedly. I just like these vast S. American cities, I spend hours just roaming them. I liked Santiago for that too ... |
I mostly agree with this. I had plenty of quibbles with Bogota, but found it to be the only acceptable place for long-term residence in Colombia. Lots of interesting counter-culture stuff going on there made it interesting as well. Also, plenty of fun places around that are close enough for weekend trips. |
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General Disarray
Joined: 23 Jun 2010 Posts: 58 Location: Kent
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Posted: Mon Aug 17, 2015 3:54 pm Post subject: |
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I was couchsurfing through Colombia last year, stayed at a Colombian girls place;
The 2nd day, an Irish guy in his 30s moved in with his Colombian girlfriend he met in London.
He said after signing on at a recruitment agency he got a job at a local catholic school earning 3million pesos a month. He had never taught English before, had no qualifications and couldn't speak Spanish. I am led to believe that this is quite a good deal?!?
Jammy git, I had a great time in Colombia, I wouldn't be able to handle living in Cartegena though, the humidity was too much for me, I sweat enough as it is, that place....argh
I would love to live in Medellin though, had a great raw feel to the city.
San Gil was my favourite place but I imagine there's not much work there, funny story when I was there. In a bar, I bumped into an English teacher who I worked with 4 years previously on a summer camp in England. Small world!!!
Only travelled through Colombia, I've often thought about importing some of the fruit though to England to start up a juice business. I enjoyed having those fruit juices on a daily basis, nothing in Europe comes close. |
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PittsburghSound
Joined: 27 Aug 2014 Posts: 103 Location: Colombia
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Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2015 6:55 pm Post subject: |
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Looking at the cost of living in Bogota, I think 3 mil pesos per month could afford you a very respectable middle class lifestyle. You could rent a room in a nice apartment (shared place) in Chapinero for 600,000-750,000 pesos per month. There are lots of good restaurants and bars in that area as well.
But yes, my question would be how common is it for a newbie to find a job making 3 mil per month? I've been told not to accept less than 2.5 mil per month or 25,000 pesos per hour of teaching if I decide to go to Bogota to teach English.
What's it like on the ground though? |
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spanglish
Joined: 21 May 2009 Posts: 742 Location: working on that
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Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2015 12:23 am Post subject: |
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PittsburghSound wrote: |
Looking at the cost of living in Bogota, I think 3 mil pesos per month could afford you a very respectable middle class lifestyle. You could rent a room in a nice apartment (shared place) in Chapinero for 600,000-750,000 pesos per month. There are lots of good restaurants and bars in that area as well.
But yes, my question would be how common is it for a newbie to find a job making 3 mil per month? I've been told not to accept less than 2.5 mil per month or 25,000 pesos per hour of teaching if I decide to go to Bogota to teach English.
What's it like on the ground though? |
With a CELTA, a degree, and some looking around, I'd expect you to get from 1.5 to as much as 2.5 million in a first job. In time, you might be able to bump that up a bit with privates. It took me over three years of very quality experience, Spanish fluency, the above qualifications, and a serious commitment to professional development to land something that paid over 3 million, and at the time I knew people with significantly better qualifications and experience who were still making around 2.5 (think DELTA-qualified/academic management).
Dave's job board currently has three openings in Colombia for minimally qualified/experienced teachers - one pays 1.5 million, another pays 2 million, and another pays 1.5 million with room and partial board. |
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PittsburghSound
Joined: 27 Aug 2014 Posts: 103 Location: Colombia
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Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2015 11:18 am Post subject: |
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Ok I see.
Here's an interesting thought. Would it be seen as overbearing if someone were to politely ask to teach one class for free so that the management/students could see your teaching skills first hand rather than assume you can't teach since you're not "qualified" ?Not just in Colombia, but anywhere.
Manager: Do you have a CELTA?
Person: No, I do not. But if it's not too much to ask, could I please try an audition class? I could teach one free class so that you will see what I can do. What do you think?
I think it might be worth a shot. At the very least it would help you come across and confident. |
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iggyiggy
Joined: 16 Jul 2015 Posts: 5 Location: DF
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 4:56 am Post subject: |
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so how far does 1.5 mil go in bogota these days? what would you recommend as a minimum amount to be making per month to have a reasonable lifestyle? im not trying to be carlos slim. |
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