Home / Colombia / Bogotà

Bogotá is an exciting and South American city. The capital of Colombia, it is located in the heart of the Andes at 2,640 meters. It is one of the highest capitals in the world and is home to Colombians from all parts of the country. Bogotá is the energetic centre of a number of different Colombian cultures as well as other countries from South America.

Bogotá always has something interesting to see or do in the city. Whether it’s experiencing the local culture in the old downtown area, or exploring the country’s beautiful landscapes and wildlife. There are a number of quality restaurants, clubs, cafes and bars to enjoy in Bogotá as wells as old houses, churches and convents, which date back several hundred years. There are also numerous parks where you can find a variety of interesting local events happening such as concerts, plays, film screenings and much more.

The La Candelaria area of Bogotá has several attractions to interest visitors including Calle del Embudo, which is a cobblestoned road lined with beautifully decorated walls covered in brightly colored street art. The road runs into Plaza del Chorro de Quevedo where the Spanish conquistador Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada is believed to have established the city in 1538. The Botero Museum, Colón Theater and Gold Museum are just a few more of the attractions in La Candelaria. For some exciting nightlife, Zona Rosa is the place to be with plenty of nightclubs, pubs and cafés to entertain.

There is a vibrant expat and English teacher community in Bogotá with a plethora of events and happenings for expats and English speakers, or English language learners routinely taking place. These events are great opportunity to make new friends while you are in Bogotá.

When you study with us in Bogotá, you could be qualified and teaching English in one of the most fascinating parts of Latin America in as little as four weeks. Our excellent training will make sure that you earn the skills needed to successfully teach English as a foreign language anywhere in the world.

The Colombia Ministry of Foreign Affairs can take up to 30 days to answer visa applications, and sometimes additional documents are requested which extends the response time. They can take three to four weeks to deal with the extra documents, which means you should allow up to two months for a Colombia visa application.

The School

Our Bogotá TEFL training centre is located close to the city’s business and financial district. During lunch time, you will find the streets bursting with life as people rush to their favorite “menu del día” place. There are many different amenities in the area surrounding the training center restaurants, malls, technology centers, parks, and cafes.

The school is kitted out with all you could need throughout the course and our trainers are some of the best in the business who will do all they can to help you get the most out of your time with us. They will instruct you in a number of topics including teaching methodologies, classroom management, English grammar, lesson planning and more.

Accommodation

Course accommodation is not included in the fees, but we do offer an option with our guesthouse partner. This option consists of a furnished room in a guesthouse with large common areas. Services available include Wi-Fi, weekly room cleaning, private or shared bathroom and laundry services. We would be able to make the arrangements for you should you wish to take up the guesthouse option.

Please note that you are not obligated to book your accommodation with us and are free to make your own arrangements. We will of course be only too happy to provide advice in finding something suitable.

Course dates

Course fees

The total price is divided into: deposit and balance.

The deposit may be paid via a) credit card b) Paypal c) wire transfer d) Western Union.

The balance of the course fee must be paid by cash, PayPal or bank transfer directly to the training center on the first day of the course.

Accomodation Fees

The accommodation fees are not part of the course price and you are free to choose whichever accommodation option you prefer.

If you choose to use our accommodation, it should be paid for either by cash, PayPal or bank transfer directly to the school at the start of the course.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I make my deposit and final payment?

  Expand
  
  

  The $600 deposit can be paid either by credit card or via bank transfer.

  For the final payment, there are a couple more options:

  • Bank transfer
  • Cash on arrival - you can make the payment at the center upon your arrival in COP (Colombian Pesos) based on the exchange rate of the date.
  • Credit Card - you can use your credit card to pay for both your deposit and your final payment.
  • Paypal - if you decide to go for this option, let us know and we’ll guide through the process.

• What does the program look like?

  Expand
  
  

  The class size can be anywhere from 6 to 12 TEFL participants. We keep our groups small so that you can get all the help and support necessary for a new teacher from the trainer. You will be sharing the program with international participants: both natives from English speaking countries and non-native speakers with a proficient level of English.

  
  

• What is a normal day like for a TEFL candidate?

  Expand
  
  

  Class time generally runs from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You will have a one-hour lunch break, and two shorter breaks: mid-morning and afternoon. The first half of the course is focused on providing candidates with the theoretical aspects of teaching, while the second part will be more practical, and candidates will be teaching and preparing lessons with the support of the teacher trainer.

  
  

• Who are the students for the teaching practice?

  Expand
  
  

  Our classes are of around 8 to 15 Colombian students. As they are not paying for this course, you can be sure the students in your group are here because they are passionate about learning English. Colombians are warm, enthusiastic and competitive, so you will have lots of fun in your teaching practice!

  
  

• What is the program accommodation like?

  Expand
  
  

  Accommodation is not included in the price of the TEFL course, but we do offer an accommodation option with our guesthouse partner. This option consists of a furnished room in a guesthouse with large common areas. Once your place on the course has been confirmed we will send you further information on the accommodation options available.

  
  

• What is the TEFL job market in Colombia like? Will I have trouble getting a job?

  Expand
  
  

  The TEFL market is alive and well here in Colombia, but as with most countries, it depends on where you choose to live. Bogotá being the largest city in the country, it has ample amount of job opportunities. However, smaller towns will not be able to provide you with the wealth of opportunities larger cities will.

  
  

• When do I need to start looking for work in Colombia? Where do I start?

  Expand
  
  

  Upon completion of your course, or even slightly beforehand we would recommend you begin your application processes with as many employers as you like. If you are on a tourist visa, you will have 90 days in the country before needing to leave, so beginning the process early will be to your benefit.

  
  

• What will you do to help me secure employment?

  Expand
  
  

  We provide an orientation session on how to start your job hunt towards the end of your course. We cannot guarantee that you will find a position; however, we will do all we can to help you with your job search.

  
  

• What is the average salary like for a teacher?

  Expand
  
  

  In Colombia, the average monthly salary for an ESL teacher is somewhere between $700-1,000 depending on your contract, hours, and employer. Bear in mind that the cost of living in Colombia tends to be lower than other places like the US, Europe, or Asia.

  
  

• What is a typical teaching position like?

  Expand
  
  

  A typical teaching position in Colombia looks like one of two options, teaching children, or adults. Teaching English to children happens mostly in what is known as a colegio, or elementary school. Teaching English to adults normally takes place through different English institutions, many times geared towards business.

  For the most part, both options are either Monday through Friday, or Monday through Saturday.

  
  

• Can I return to my own country and teach with my certificate?

  Expand
  
  

  What country you are from, and if English is considered one of its official languages, will determine whether or not you can return home and teach English solely with your TEFL certificate.

  
  

• What are the average housing and living expenses in Colombia?

  Expand
  
  

  Depending on your particular lifestyle, you could end up spending anywhere from $350-1,000/ month on housing and living expenses. It more or less all depends on the area of town that you choose to reside in. If you choose to live closer to your job, you could end up paying a little more in rent, but you would pay less in public transportation, because you have the availability to walk, etc.

  
  

• What travel documents do I need to bring for Colombia?

  Expand
  
  

  All visitors to Colombia are required to carry a passport valid for at least six months after their arrival date. The documents you may need to enter Colombia depend on your country of origin. Please contact your nearest Colombian Embassy for more information.*

  * As this information is subject to change at any time, we advise you to contact your local consulate for current travel regulations prior to planning your trip. For more information on obtaining visas please check with your local Colombia consulate or embassy.

  
  

• What’s the climate like? What kind of clothing will I need to bring?

  Expand
  
  

  There are two distinct types of climates in Colombia (rain and less rain).

  Colombia consists of mostly tropical climates interrupted by the Andes Mountains which are high in elevation, ultimately producing cooler climates. Basically, anywhere you go in the country that is not high in elevation will be very warm.

  • Bogotá is normally between 7-18 degrees Celsius (45-65 degrees Fahrenheit).
  • Medellín is normally between 23-30 degrees Celsius (75-85 degrees Fahrenheit).
  • Cartagena/Santa Marta/Cali is normally between 29-37 degrees Celsius (85-100 degrees Fahrenheit).