Working In Bogota For People Like Me

Sam Salmon says on May 8, 2004, 20:53:

"At this point, i think teach "At this point, i think teaching is all about passion and not about qualification. Wonder if you all agree with me?"

I'm sure many here would agree with you.

Also as to the racial angle Colombia isn't Japan-few care about the colour of your skin/where you were born.

The details of who to contact/where to apply have been posted here in the past and a thorough search will give you the details.

You might want to reconsider an occasionally cold and at times lugubrious mountain city like Bogotá for a friendlier and more temperate place like Medellin.

BTW-how's your Spanish?





' a la orden!'

' a la orden!'

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Pete in Bogota says on May 9, 2004, 00:17:

Colombian preferencial races I have seen a systematic or cultural type of racism in Colombia. Many or I might saw most times to get a good job in Colombia it doesn't matter so much how much you know, but who you know. Other big differences are the ways women dress in Colombia. Most of the women are forced to wear mini-skirts.

There are prefencial races in Colombia even if you want to ignor them. A forneigner can see this.
1.) The whiter the better. In Colombia the "high class" are from European decent and whiter with blondish hair and blue or hazle eyes.

2.) Then the mulatos the brown
3.) The blacks

These are steriotypes I have seen from many points of view.

I have been offered many jobs in Colombia not because I am qualified, but rather because I am the right race American. They really like American English teachers even if they don't have a degree just for being American.

If your first language is not English you will have to probably show a degree. But the best way to get a job in Colombia seems to apply in person to the English schools. There are tons of English schools in Colombia I know you could find one it all depends on how much you want to make and where you work.

The asians are really respected for their dedication in Colombia, most the Colombians are impressed by their dedication.

You will have to sheap English well and be able to comuncate in Spanish.

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Christinalkc says on May 9, 2004, 08:21:

Thanks Hiya Sam,

Thanks for replying to my message... oh well, I guess my spanish is at zero level at the moment but i will take beginner classes next month to prepare myself. talking about that, i do have a little idea of the most commonly used words in colombia but i rather not "announced" them here .. kidding.

I have checked the schools listed on the site days ago but mostly listed are schools in cali and medellin. I prefer working in bogota to start with. If you do have any recommendation, please do let me know.

Though i come from a tropical country, i prefer to live in a place where the temperature is cooler like Melbourne, where i am based now. I have no idea why if u ask me for the reason :) hear from u soon.

chao, christina

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Christinalkc says on May 9, 2004, 08:38:

Quite a positive one.. Hey Pete,

Okay, so you suggest that i should go to bogota to search for the schools and apply there rather than sending applications through internet or post? okay then i have another question in my head... what if i travel to bogota on a tourist visa and i've been offered a job, do i need to go back to my country to apply for a working permit and return back to colombia or i could just apply in colombia without having to travel back home?

I don't demand much by looking at the sort of qualification and background i am holding now. Of course the truth is i would like to make as much as i can but that's not the main concern. As long as i have enough to support my rent, my expenses and such would do fine for me.

I prefer working in bogota and i heard that it is easier to get a teaching job there compared to other cities such as medellin or cali. and also i thought it would be better for me to start in the capital city. u reckon?

u were sayin having a degree should be able to get me a teaching position, is there anything else that i need to prove?

I am sorry if i have too many questions here but i just really need to get this all out so i can plan my next step. by the way, i don't know any spanish, not even for basic communication. u mentioned that i need to be able to communicate in spanish. okay, which level of spanish are we talking about?

Thanks Pete!!

Chao,
Christina

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Christinalkc says on May 9, 2004, 08:45:

Unfortunately...no :( Hey tinto,

Thanks a lot for that option you have offered which was really good. Well, though i am a chinese malaysian, i have been speaking english all my life. I went to the government school where we only learn malay and english. I can speak cantonese and a little bit of mandarin but i can't read or write them.

sometimes i wished i should have taken chinese lessons but just that my interest is not there. But anyhow, i prefer learning spanish... which is one of the reason i wanna go to colombia...

chao, christina

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Christinalkc says on May 9, 2004, 09:09:

Interesting Tinto :) Hey again Tinto,

U almost got that spelling right though :)... Kuala Lumpur. I haven't been back to my country for more than 18 months so I am not quite informed on the latest development happening there. Anyhow, your idea was brilliant but i don't think i would stand a chance at all for some reasons. I don't have any idea about the palm oil industry, what's more joining the technical delegation. If they are talking about tobacco industry, then i would consider it. And moreover, my primary objective to travel all the way to colombia is to teach and learn. I hope u still have more ideas coming in and i really appreciate that... hear from you soon..

chao again :)
christina

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ColombiaBoard says on May 9, 2004, 09:16:

a job for you in Medellin If you´re interested in teaching english at a good institute in Medellin click on:
http://www.colomboworld.com/TeacherApplication.htm
Here´s a little secret that may surprise you, the director of the institute´s library is malaysian.

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Christinalkc says on May 9, 2004, 09:17:

No kidding!! Now this is interesting... thanks for that... i am checkin it now!

chao,
christina

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Christinalkc says on May 9, 2004, 18:24:

Any other institution ? Thanks for the link you have provided me but it is in medellin. Anyhow, i have sent them an email expressing my interest. By the way, do you have any other links of institution based in bogota?

Muchas gracias,
Christina

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Sam Salmon says on May 9, 2004, 22:37:

Christina-that's CIAO which i Christina-that's CIAO which in Italian means see ya later

Chao is Manu's last name ;)







' a la orden!'

' a la orden!'

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Christinalkc says on May 9, 2004, 23:08:

Chao Yo sam,

nice to hear from you again...... well, i noticed lotsa colombian ppl i know use chao a lot to say bye..... don't u use it?

"chao" :)
christina

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sebasenbogotá says on May 10, 2004, 04:59:

yes In fact we Colombians and spanish speakers say chao, though a lot of people writes in the Italian version (ciao), I don't know why.
We also say suerte ! (luck!) or nos vemos! (see you later!)

Suerte ! Sebas

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Pete in Bogota says on May 10, 2004, 13:31:

Re: Quite a positive one Hey Christina,

Firstly don't worry about the quiestions going to another country to visit or teach is exciting and scary at the same time we all had TON I mean TONS of questions our first time in Colombia.

Now I speak of experience on it is who you know not what you know. I was offered the position of a professor in a university teaching a cultural class only because a guy liked me and I was not even in an interview, but at a fiends house and she wanted the job, so of coarse I didn't take it.

Most English teachers do ok deoends if you teach in a university or a technical English school. At the university I was offered $600 a month in US DOLLARS AROUND 1,500,000 a month an exelent salary for a Colombian but not for an American and the fact Im not big on teaching.

At some of the English schools you don't need permission to work. You only need documents in large companies or universities and then if you need them and they want you they will do all the paperwork. (This was part of my offer)

Many people work without documents or permission to work in Colombia and I don't know how what are the fines if you are caught. I doubt anyone would care. In Colombia you have to make more than I can't remember it is always changing like 1,500,000 a month to pay taxes anyway and this is one heck of a salary for a person without a degree, no even for people with degrees. In Colombia there are many people who can't find jobs and they have good grades from good universities. But for the foreigners the rules change at least this is what I've seen. They bend over backwards for us and especially teaching they like foreighers. Of coarse this is from the point of view of an American. I don't know many asians that want to tach in Colombia and don't speak spanish.

About the Spanish level you will need. The most important thing is to understand. You will have to speak a little spanish because even in many English Schools not everyone speaks spanish. It is important you understand to make sure no one is taking advantage of you. Rent in bogota for a 3 bedroom apartment is like 380,000 or like 150 plus water, gas, and phone.

About the qualifications. I walk into the door and many times they ask me if I want to teach and sometimes I just came to see a friend that studies there. The concept of foreigners if it is true or not is that an native speaker is 100 times better than a Colombia teacher and it gives prestigue to the institution they then say at an instutite we have 2 or 3 full time American or Foreign teachers. Since there are not many tourists in Colombia this makes the school seem better if they can say "we convinced foreigners to teach there because we are a good institute".


Yyes it is better you satay in Bogota. For many reasons one if for security. Yyou need to know spanish for sure if you leave the capital to go to the countryside.

You dont have to prove anything really if you have a degree or have taken those classes by an institute that certify you to teach english, but if they like you and you speak English well it is the best way to get a jon. The problem Colombia is a third world country and not all the institutes have web pages or are able to receive applications via internet.

There are so many things I am returning to Colombia in July if you are ther look me up and Id be glad to orient you.

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sebasenbogotá says on May 10, 2004, 16:25:

3 bedroom 380.000? Hey Pete can you just tell me where in Bogota do you get a 3 bedroom apt for that amount of money in Bogota? It seems rather cheap for what I have heard.

Thanks.

Suerte ! Sebas

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Pete in Bogota says on May 10, 2004, 17:00:

RE: 3 Bedroom 380,000 Hello sebas_cafe,

So are you from Pereira those pics are nice? I love la zona cafeteria Colombia has so much natural beauty.

Well it all depends on where you want to stay. Do you want to live in an apartment with carpet and luxuries like normal life in the US or a decent apartment with tial floors. Now the apartments that go for 380,000 have the basics hot water, gas/electric stove/oven, a small living room, dining room and 3 bedrooms.

I prefer to pay $150 (380,000) and live ok but not in the super luxurous places where you are isolated from la gente y todo.
I was living in Bogota a month ago and I paid 380,000 a month plus water, gas, electricity, and phone. I lived in El Centro about 2 blocks doen from Los Andes. I also have friends that pay 350,000 and 395,000 that live in other parts one in Modelia and the other in Kennedy (Casa Blanca) There are many places it just all depends what you want to be close too.

Other cheap short term place you can stay are in studio hotels I stayed in one 2 block away from Los Andes it cost me 450,000 a month the hotel is called Hotel Bogota Inter.

If you tell em where you want to live or clse to what then I can tell you a fair price but 350,000 is a fair price and especially in you are going to star in El Centro.

See ya,

Pete

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Jersey Girl says on May 10, 2004, 17:14:

Demand for Foreigners Hey there, Pete!

I visited Bogota a month or so ago and interviewed at a couple English learning centers. The result was a job offer (when I was back in the US) for a position that was just opened at their headquarters in Bogota. I accepted the offer, but they seem slow in getting the visa paperwork together. And they were aware that I would need a working visa. They seem kind of unfamiliar with the visa process, even though they told me that the company has a quota of 10 foreigners and have only 1/2 filled the quota. I'm kind of surprised that they are dragging on this. Any thoughts?

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Pete in Bogota says on May 10, 2004, 17:23:

RE: Demand for Foreigners YEP Jersey Girl,

Your right. In Colombia many times they love to promise the worlds and cant follow up on thier promises. It is not so much that but it is a third world country and things are slow.

I was studying at Los Andes a month ago and will go for another year at the end of July. I have to nag everyone to do everything for me. It is a pain. In the US if you go to an office an they say they will do something for you it gets done, but unfortunately that is not always the case in Colombia. If I dont call and nag a person to send me some documents I will never get done. If you email they may see it but because you cant express urgency as strongly in words as you can talking oe in person many times it goes in their TO-DO pile.

Are they going to get you the visa? Many centers just pay you without a work visa.

Bug them. Bug them. Bug them. Or inniciate the process your self, but eventually you will need their support.

Hope it helps,

Pete

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Jersey Girl says on May 10, 2004, 17:31:

Demand for Foreigners Hey Pete :)

Yeah, I know. I'm going to call this guy tomorrow. If you follow South Park at all, then you will probably appreciate my Underpants Knomes analogy:

1. Find Foreigners
2. ?
3. Profit!

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Pete in Bogota says on May 10, 2004, 17:37:

Funny. Wish you luck. Like they say its a jungle out there.

Go get them and enjoy. Colombia is awesome

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Roncita says on May 13, 2004, 08:07:

visa situation Christina,

I'm British and I lived in Medellin for 2 years. Although I didn't teach English in a school (I gave private English classes, and taught academic writing in the University there), I can tell you a bit about getting a work visa. Even though it was 2 years ago now when I applied for mine, I had to leave the country to get it. I even went to the place in Bogota in person to apply for it, and they told me I had to go to the Colombian consulate in Ecuador or Venezuela, but that I couldn't change my visa (I was on a student visa) in Colombia. And the university wouldn't give me a job, although they wanted to employ me, without a visa. It was a Catch 22 situation cos while I didn't have a job I couldn't afford to leave the country to change my visa! In the end I had to wait 3 months till i went home to London for Christmas, and I changed it then and it was fine.

I don't know how fussy schools are but based on my experience, I would say it's better to try and get a job fixed up first if you possibly can, while you are still in Australia, and get the work visa while you're still there. Battling bureacracy in Colombia, like anywhere else, isn't much of a laugh.

Re living in Bogota, although I never lived there, and I preferred Medellin because of its climate, as a first move I would probably recommend Bogota as there are loads more foreigners there, and it has a lot more going on than the other cities, culturally and job-wise. There are definitely more opportunties there. I found it really hard to meet other foreigners in Medellin when I first moved there in 2001, although I heard that there are many more now.

I can personally recommend the Centro Colombo-Americano in Medellin however. They employ foreign teachers, especially Americans, and they can sort out your work visa, accommodation and everything for you before you leave Australia. It has a good English language library, bookshop and shows good films in its cinema. I didn't work there, but I killed many hours in the library catching up on my gossip from the US magazine selection!

You will need Spanish, even if it's just basic. It will improve! You can always do a Spanish class at a university in Bogota. I studied Spanish for foreigners at a private university in Medellin when I first went there.

Whatever you decide to do, good luck and enjoy. Colombia is a great country, even though I didn't always fully appreciate it when I was there!

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Christinalkc says on May 14, 2004, 00:01:

wonderful... Okay guys,

Thanks a lot for your comments and recommendations... it helps heaps. I guess what i would do is to fly to colombia sometime in august and try my luck there first. at the meantime, i am applying for jobs in bogota and also establishing some contacts with some local people. a friend of mine in colombia said i could stand a chance getting any other jobs apart from teaching as my qualification and skills are quite vass. anyways, juz keep the comments coming and i really appreciate that!

chao,
christina

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rca_rodrigo says on May 15, 2004, 19:24:

Peter Van Dijck Hey please Peter Van Dijck:
Make a forum page about working here for foreing people and other for
colombians trying to get a job outside.
I will be the BEST way to find something real, insted of the job searching

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Christinalkc says on May 19, 2004, 05:00:

Money money money Okay,

Before I go to Bogota, i need to know something... i'll be travelling there basically without much of $$. therefore, do i need to prove that I have sufficient amount of money that i can support myself and things like that to the immigration, like what happened in australia? in order to enter australia, one must prove that he has sufficient amount of funds for self-support during his stay in australia such as $1000 per month...pls advice.. thanks.

chao,
christina

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Pete in Bogota says on May 21, 2004, 03:08:

I had no income requirements I'm not sure, but I never had any problems like that. They all seemed concerned I would take too much money into Colombia. They asked me if I was bringing I think more than 10,000 dollars into Colombia. This also might be because I am American and the requirements are different. Like we don't need a visa to stay in Colombia for 90 days. etc.

But it is a BAD BAD IDEA to go to Colombia if you have no money. It is awesome and I love it, but if you don't have enough money like an emergency fund it can be dangerous. Make sure you have money to support yourself and extra for emergencies.


Pete

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mlawless says on May 22, 2004, 05:13:

Desperate to live and work in Bogota or Medellin 22/5/04

To whom it may concern,

I am writing this letter in the hope that you can inform me of any job vacancies or possibilities in the year 2005, as I am eager to work and live in Bogota.
.
I am currently employed in South Australia in a catholic primary school named St. Martin’s School, where I am teaching a year 6/7 class on a permanent basis. This is my third year at this school.

I am 37 years of age, single, catholic, and have been teaching for 14/15 years in both Primary and Secondary schools. I have a Bachelor of Education – Secondary (physical education) and also obtained a Major in History. I have taught extensively in both Primary and Secondary Schools from Reception /Year 1 to Year 12, and taught virtually all subject areas, as is indicated on my resume. I also spent 5 years working in London in Primary schools from 1996 to 2000 which I absolutely loved.

I am currently studying Spanish Part time, and have been doing so for just over a year. I have travelled quite extensively in South America, having visited Venezuela, Peru, Chile, Brazil, and Colombia. It is on a recent trip to Colombia, that I fell in love with the city of Bogota, where the friendliness of the people, and the beautiful scenery captivated me. I was in Bogota for 2 weeks over the busy Christmas period and was unfortunately too busy to arrange anything in terms of an interview, or tour of a school.

After 15 years teaching in Australia and abroad, and with my flexible nature and adaptability to any challenge, that given the opportunity to work in Colombia, I believe that I would be an asset to any school, and I sincerely hope that with this letter and accompanying resume and qualifications, that new windows of opportunity are opened in the near future.

I hope to hear from you soon either by correspondence on e mail, or by telephone. My e mail address is : whereslawless at hotmail.com
My telephone number is: 0061 88 3522 360

Thankyou for your assistance in this matter, and I hope that you consider my experience, commitment to the profession, and willingness to work in an International School.

I have many questions I wish to ask, but before doing so, would appreciate if you spend time analysing my teaching qualifications and experience.

Yours sincerely,
Michael Lawless

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Christinalkc says on May 23, 2004, 09:20:

Contact Details.. Ok guys..

I guess it would be really wonderful if u guys could leave me with ur contact details in bogota so at least i have some trustful ppl to look up to when i get there.... this came when a colombian classmate of mine told me to becareful of cheaters and stuff like that, especially that i am an asian with this limited spanish..... thanks heaps!!

chao, christina

p/s: mail me at christinalkc at yahoo.com.au

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