Job Discussion Forums

[laurelb007]

Hello to all the great people who post in this forum! This is an awesome place to share ideas and I'm happy to be posting my first topic here.

My husband and I just returned from a trip to Colombia (he's Colombian) and we're considering going back there to live for a little while. I'm interested in teaching English in Medell�n, but I'm confused by some of the information I've read from different sources. As I understand it now, you often do not need a certificate to teach at the Colombo Americano, but you do need a work visa. I will not have trouble getting a visa because of my husband's citizenship. I'm not in a position to seek out a certificate program before I go as I have a full-time job right now.

Can anyone offer me advice on the Colombo and their experience? What about other opportunities in Medell�n? Is it easy to find private lesson opportunities?

Thank you in advance for any help. Once I'm there, I'll be sure to return the favor!

[DianaMa]

Hi Laurel,

There are good job opps and it should be a little easier for you since your husband will know the city quite well. If you want to make a living the simple answer is you should look for work at a school, however the academic year has already started (they go from jan to november at most school) gut it never hurts to submit a few resumes. If you just want some mad money you might enjoy working at language schools or institutes like the colombo americano, the language center at EAFIT university, Lexicom etc.

Private lessons are easy to find, but you'll have to be very diligent as most private sts aren't the most commited. You can advertise in El colombiano, or post ads in the Exito del Polblado etc.

cheers
Diana

[Justin Trullinger]

Hi there,

I've only been in Medell�n briefly, but did a bit of job research. (Cause you just never know.)

Sounded like Colombo Americano was paying the peso equivalent of $500-$600 US, and people working there seemed happy.

Dianama- is this only mad money? I don't know the local economy all that well, but it seemed cheapish to me. The salary at Colombo was more than my friends there (a youngish couple, one child) seemed to be earning together. Maybe you could provide an approximate scale of earnings in various types of places? Or some idea what making a living means to you?

I've known several people who have lived for some time in Medellin, working at the language institutes.

Regards,
Justin

[lozwich]

Obviously I don't know about Medellin, but that's a bit on the low side compared with what people get in Bogota. How many hours a week was it for?

[DianaMa]

well to make a living my rent expenses should be 40% of my income or less, that's just a number I picked up while at the university. I lived in Belen sector la mota in a really nice apartment so I was very happy, rent in this area is about 600 000 pesos colombianos.

I worked at a private school full time and at Eafit very very part time (8 hours a week, tues and thurs, and saturday mornings) the rate there is about 24000 an hour.

Yes this is on the low side compared to other markets but it all depends on howmany hours you are available to work, how many hours you get, etc. Living expenses here are fairly low, my weekly grocery bill (no meat) was 75 000 colombian pesos, bus fair is about 1000 and metro is about 1500, movies about 8000 going out for a night on the town was about $40 000 (I'm a very light drinker )
I liked working at the school because I got great benefits (health care, pension fund, unemployment insurence) and its kinda my deal, I'm not much into working at institutes and that's probably why I can't be more helpful in this department. I did get a chance to travel around the country, teachers get ample vacation time.

What the colombo is paying would just under $1500000 pesos, its a bit light but if her husband is working then this would be a good income, plus laurel can always give private lessons for about $30000 an hour.

cheers
Diana