Post: #1

hi all,

i was in bogota for 3 months just recently, still keep an apartment there, and am headed back in about 3 weeks. after the bruins win the stanley cup tonight i was thinking that i'd like to get certified to teach english in bogota online when i'm here in the US.

does anybody have any experience/recommendations with this? i think you can get TEFL certified online, but maybe not CELTA. i know it's more ideal to do it in person, but i'd really like to hit the ground running when i get back to colombia after the fourth of july.

anybody have any suggestions as it specifically relates to online certification or how to get a gig once back in colombia (i have some links and understand that going to schools in person is best).

all help appreciated, thanks fellas

Post: #2

some follow ups i forgot:

is there any value to getting certified IN colombia?
i'm not opposed to some redundancy in teaching and payment- is there any value in getting certified online and then again in colombia, maybe with a different degree. for example, does having a tefl and a celta make me much more marketable, a little more, not at all?

Post: #3

Rinestone.

Forget the TEFL. You need to get a CELTA. It the the most recognized in Colombia and carries ALOT more weight.

Post: #4

There is a British Counsel in Bogota which offers the month long course. It will also have connections that will help u land a job.

Post: #5

Lots of institutes pay CELTA certified teachers more than other cert holders, and the best institutes won't hire non-CELTA teachers.

This is the best institute I know of that accepts non-CELTA teachers, though they prefer bilingual teachers. Starting off there you will be expected to travel alot through very distant parts of the city, but their salary is pretty good. http://www.vervebogota.com/

Though they won't help with a visa or anything, and the check they pay you with is only cashable at a bank near Centro Andino.

Post: #6

I got a TEFL in Mexico at the International Teacher Training Organization. Nobody who ever hired or interviewed me ever said, “But your TEFL isn’t a CELTA” and I worked at a bilingual high school here in Colombia in addition to an English institute. A friend of mine picked up a CELTA at International House in Bogota, and he ended up working for them afterwards, so picking up a degree here can definitely lead directly to a job. That being said, any degree mill worth its salt will explain how you should go about contacting schools, preparing your CV, etc.

I think the most important thing is, on your resume, to put exactly what the TEFL or CELTA training consisted of, i.e. how many hours of teaching it included, how much classroom learning, materials used, etc.

Also, I have met a fair amount of foreigner bums here with no idea how to teach, and somebody still pays them, so you will have no problem landing a job.

Post: #7

After a yr in Korea i might switch it up abit and teach for 6-12 months in Colombia.

Post: #8

i'm leaning towards getting my tefl online while i'm stateside and then, if necessary when in colombia i'll take a celta course. the tefl online course is pretty short money so i don't think it would be that much of a waste. from there hopefully i can either get a gig with just my tefl or suck it up and take the month long celta course. a visa is, or will be essential though.

Post: #9

Entertaining book about teaching English abroad:

English Teacher X Guide To Teaching English Abroad
http://t.co/PUR93wa

Post: #10

I haven't read the book, but that guy's blog is great: http://englishteacherx.com/

I definitely saw myself in his depressing stories a few times, and that was pretty uncomfortable.

Might make you change your mind about becoming an English teacher abroad! It's always good, however, to have a drunken cynic telling you the worst that could happen and puncturing a few cherished if foolish ideals here and there.

Post: #11

Im doing a basic TEFL course next month, just a 20hr starter course to see how I like it, figured it'll give me a taste of what the job will be like and whether I can see myself doing it or not. Might put it to use in BKK aswell if I fancy staying out ehere a bit more long term.