Job Discussion Forums

[BooshGirl]

Hey everyone,

I am keen to try English teaching in Colombia, I have a CELTA, a degree etc etc. I'd really like to teach somewhere on the coast, for example Cartegena, but is this unrealistic? Does any one have any experience teaching here or know of any language schools? (I can only find a couple online....)

Failing that, what other places along the coast would be worth a shot? Barranquilla? Santa Marta? I've read such conflicting opinions of each!

And do language schools generally accept that teachers will work illegally on a tourist visa like in Brazil? From what i've read work visas seem quite hard to acquire in Colombia, especially from over seas so i'm confused as to how the visa situation works.

Any advice/ info/ personal experiences would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

[windowlicker]

You can probably get a job working illegally in any of the major coastal cities. However, it's difficult to recommend any of the cities on the coast. The coast is nice, but most of the cities there aren't. The walled city in Cartagena is spectacular, but the rest of the city is pretty miserable. It has okay beaches, but nothing special. I don't have anything particularly good to say about either Barranquilla or Santa Marta. For the right kind of person Valledupar is cool, but it's also 4 hours from the beach if that's what you're really looking for. I also think any foreign woman who has lived on the coast of Colombia would probably tell you to reconsider and try the interior of the country instead.

[BooshGirl]

Thanks for you advice, it's much appreciated.

Do you say that about foreign women because of crime/ hassle from men in coastal cities?

Do you think Colombia is safe for a woman travelling alone in general?

My plan originally was to teach in Brazil, but i've been put off recently after meeting a guy from Rio who warned me it was not a good city for a lone female, because of muggings, drink spiking etc.

[spanglish]

You sound a bit naive and inexperienced. If some random person has managed to convince you to write off one of the most important cities in Latin America because you'll get your drink spiked...really - there are any number of worst case scenarios that could happen in Latin America. What's important is that you learn the language, make friends with trustworthy people and learn the local situation and circumstances bit by bit. Have you spent any time in the developing world?

The coast is a very sexist place. Men tend to be quite forward and obsessive and women (particularly foreign looking women) can be subject to lots of harassment. This can include everything from being yelled at in the street to being followed by some idiot. Having said that, I wouldn't say the coast is a no go, but you do have to learn how to manage the situation and for women it seems that it can be quite difficult.

Probably the only places on the coast that would get you a work visa and pay you a nice wage would be the better high schools. I'm not sure I would recommend that route though, unless you have a lot of talent and or training for working with rambunctious and very difficult kids and teenagers.

It sounds like you want to teach somewhere close to the water...maybe you should look into Ecuador?

[windowlicker]

[BooshGirl]

I'm not writing Brazil off, i'm still planning to visit. It's the cost as much as anything else that's made me reconsider living and working there...! I think more naive would be to head in without doing research and to ignore all advice given by locals!

I have been all over asia, but i understand the culture in these countries is completely different to latin america. As a foreign tourist everyone was very respectful and i didn't experience any discrimination.

That is interesting what you say about the coast, i will definitely bare this in mind. I have 3 years experience teaching GCSE in inner city london, so i'm sure the behaviour in the high schools wouldn't bee too much of a problem. But i imagine the set up in terms of contracts in high schools is a lot more formal than language schools? And i'm looking to work only for around 9 months, rather than a year or more.

Anyway, thank you again for your input. It's certainly provided some food for thought.

[Cruiser]

..don't know if Santander grabs you, but I picked up some good intel from a guy I met in a cafe near the Extranjeria on 100th, the one where everyone has lunch after getting their visa extended. PM me for details...

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[JonnyBravo]

Plus you'll confidently enter your new coastal home thinking you get to practice your Spanish knowledge and then be dismayed to realize the language they speak there hardly resembles Spanish...

Seriously I keeeed, but all those things written above are pretty darn accurate from what I saw and experienced as well.