Post: #26

Teaching English is bar none the easiest way to live in another country temporarily. Even the basic preparations can be made in the country you want to live in. It's not really meant to be long-term. Once you are where you want to be, it is much easier to find something more to your liking, since you are at least already in the country.

I personally got sick of teaching after about two years, but mostly due to administrators and paperwork. The teaching itself can definitely be rewarding, but I always found that the ever-growing amount of tasks I got assigned unrelated to teaching and grading tended to make the job much less enjoyable than it could have been. It definitely was cool to see students making progress, or to carefully plan and execute a well-done lesson that the students enjoyed, but those little victories came sandwiched between a lot of unnecessary BS: pushing back constantly against schedule changes, endless amounts of documentation, employer threats, new time-consuming responsibilities assigned at the owner's whim, etc. Employer-employee relations in Colombian educational institutions can feel a bit feudal at times, and I've definitely stiffened my backbone up a bit in standing up to my bosses when they were being unreasonable, but what I dealt with was nothing compared to the reaming that other Colombian teachers seem to get from the bosses on a regular basis.

Bottom line, unless you really think you'll love teaching, it's gonna wear you down over time. But it is perfect for getting out of dodge in a hurry, and figuring the rest out later on.

Post: #27

Ajiaco,

What are you doing now if you are no longer teaching and how did you come across it?

Post: #28

(06-23-2011 05:11 PM)Ajiaco Wrote:  Teaching English is bar none the easiest way to live in another country temporarily. Even the basic preparations can be made in the country you want to live in. It's not really meant to be long-term. Once you are where you want to be, it is much easier to find something more to your liking, since you are at least already in the country.

I personally got sick of teaching after about two years, but mostly due to administrators and paperwork. The teaching itself can definitely be rewarding, but I always found that the ever-growing amount of tasks I got assigned unrelated to teaching and grading tended to make the job much less enjoyable than it could have been. It definitely was cool to see students making progress, or to carefully plan and execute a well-done lesson that the students enjoyed, but those little victories came sandwiched between a lot of unnecessary BS: pushing back constantly against schedule changes, endless amounts of documentation, employer threats, new time-consuming responsibilities assigned at the owner's whim, etc. Employer-employee relations in Colombian educational institutions can feel a bit feudal at times, and I've definitely stiffened my backbone up a bit in standing up to my bosses when they were being unreasonable, but what I dealt with was nothing compared to the reaming that other Colombian teachers seem to get from the bosses on a regular basis.

Bottom line, unless you really think you'll love teaching, it's gonna wear you down over time. But it is perfect for getting out of dodge in a hurry, and figuring the rest out later on.

yep, average tesl teacher last 1.5 years

Post: #29

Translating, came across it in the newspaper job listings here. Sent my resume in English. It is much more chill than managing 20 rugrats at once. That being said, I learned a lot about Colombia and about myself through being a teacher. Still, glad that phase of my life is behind me.

Post: #30

Aijaco,

Are they providing you with a work visa?

Post: #31

Yes indeed. Year-long contract. It's a multinational company.

Post: #32

Ajaco,
Interesting to see how you went from teaching english to doing translation. Do you have a degree or experience in translation? Did your employers ask anything in that regard or just the fact that you were there physically and able to speak Spanish decently enough to get the job? Also, is the pay better doing translation? Curious to know. Thanks for giving from the field real life experience of teaching/translation.

Post: #33

Hey VP,

To answer your questions, I have no degree in translation. I had some experience reading, writing, speaking, and interacting with the Spanish language, but absolutely no professional credentials before obtaining this job. I was here, and I spoke Spanish, and even more importantly, I spoke English as a native, which is crucial for translations from Spanish to English that are actually aimed at a North American audience. Pay is about the same as working in a bilingual school, and better than an institute. I am on a salary though, working at a company and doing their in-house translation, so it may be different for someone working at a translation mill and getting paid by the word.

Post: #34

Good stuff Ajiaco. How long you've been in Colombia? How is the talent around you? Does the fact that you work and live there gets you an easier access to higher quality of girls there who normally wouldn't get involved with the 1 weeker traveler?

Post: #35

Hmm, good questions. I have been here about 3 years. Talent is everywhere, it's eye-popping sometimes, although to be honest I have yet to find a city in Colombia that doesn't have tons of cute chicks. With the working and living here compared to the traveler breezing through, it's hard to say. I have seen guys only here for a week or two do reasonably well, and I have also had girls perk up noticeably when they find out I live and work here, so I guess it's a wash. I like a lot of things here apart from the girls, which is very important for living anywhere, and it's almost impossible to be bored in Bogota. I would say that girls here are a little more uptight and guarded than in other parts of the country, but also smarter and more aware of the world that exists outside Colombia. It's easier to meet girls that have different interests here too, i.e. indie rock, art, ethnic food, etc. I know some guys working in smaller cities where your options are much more limited in terms of lifestyle, and hot girls or no, that would probably make me bored really quick.

Post: #36

I think I should definitely give the English teaching a bash, who knows I actually might enjoy it. Can't be any less enjoyable than my current job and if I go to a country I actually have an interest in then it has to be better than home, I have nothing good to say aobut this place.

Post: #37

i'm halfway through my TEFL certification now. CELTA was more appearing but my six months are up in mid October so I opted for the path of least resistance, given that I can get a 120 hour TEFL in about half the time, from my apartment. I also picked up the TKT book because I'm told you can study it, take the test, then have that certification. I hope to be done with TEFL in a week and then start handing out my CV and looking for a visa first, good paying job second. I'll update as I uncover stuff for anybody looking to go a similar route in 2011/2012.

Post: #38

Good shit Rinestone!

Are you in Colombia right now?

Which cities are you gonna be focusing on?

Post: #39

I'm in Colombia now. I've been living in Bogota for 4 months, with one month back stateside after my first 90 day stint. I've only visited Bogota, Medellin, Villa de Levya, & Cartagena. It's Bogota or Medellin for me, for sure. I really like Bogota and think it's underrated but after visiting Medellin twice now.......it may be calling me. Tough call.

Post: #40

I heard its hard to find ESL jobs in Medellin....

Post: #41

that's what i'm told too- you have to get lucky. having said that, i bumped into a guy who got a decent teaching gig in medellin with nothing more then a TKT. probably the exception that proves to rule. I'm fine with staying in Bogota though- I could go either way to tell you the truth. Still dying to visit Baranquilla and Santa Marta though. Given my familiarity with Bogota and supposedly more available jobs, I may be better off starting here and then looking to transfer if I want.

My biggest concern is getting a visa anywhere before mid- October. I hope I have enough time, I don't want to have to go the 'special' lawyer route!!!

Post: #42

Dude Barranquilla is off the chain! Im def gonna see about getting a job there.

Post: #43

every colombian I talk to, bad-mouths Baranquilla to no end.......and every Gringo raves about it. Not that it's the be all, end all, but based on my cupid experience and ROI, I have nothing but good things to say......and I've never been. Looking forward to it though!!!

Post: #44

Your right about that. Colombians bad mouth the shit out of Quilla.

For a Gringo that likes to party and hot women quilla is hard to beat esp when you factor in the small number of gringos that come through or live in the city

Post: #45

done and done. so the city isn't aesthetically pleasing??? what a tragedy with santa marta and cartagena nearby. I think it's worth it, can't wait to check it out.

Post: #46

(08-16-2011 09:02 PM)rinestone Wrote:  done and done. so the city isn't aesthetically pleasing??? what a tragedy with santa marta and cartagena nearby. I think it's worth it, can't wait to check it out.

the city is a shithole with bad weather. Nice people, lots of nightlife options.

Post: #47

shithole? sounds extreme but i'm still hoping the pros outweigh the cons. the whole city, or just parts? after all, it is a city

Post: #48

Alto Prado (sp?) Zona certainly isnt a shithole. The the pro's FAR outweigh the con's.

Id live in Quilla all day over Cartagena.

Post: #49

landed a teaching gig, thanks to all for their help. not much else i can add without being redundant on this thread so i'll note the only things that haven't already been written in this thread.

- while i'm sure it's exponentially easier to get a job after having CELTA, TEFL, TKT, etc., you do NOT have to have certification to land a gig
- if you get a visa and you leave your job or are let go, the person who got you your visa CAN have it revoked
- split shifts suck and the novelty of the transmilenio has officially worn off after 3 days.
- If you consider the amount of money you make in terms of a percentage of your cost of living, the pay in colombia is excellent. for example, by US standards teaching for $10-$15/hour is dogshit pay, HOWEVER when you consider that 15 hours per week can yield you 3X your rent, the pay is outstanding. Most people work 40-50 hours per week to triple their rent. the ratio as a component of cost of living is more significant the the dollars or pesos.

Post: #50

for the guy who wrote about teaching in ecuador, while i wouldn't tell you to forget about getting certified, it is NOT at all a requirement in colombia and i assume not in ecuador as well. i don't have one, and neither do a couple of friends i have who teach english here.

not knowing spanish (well) is irrelevant. they look for native english speakers because the classes are about immersion. not necessary at all.

the way i've heard certification ranked is CELTA, TEFL, and TKT, etc..

as someone else said, it all depends on your motivation. i.e., are you just hunting down a visa, looking to be good, etc..