Colombia is home to beautiful and diverse landscapes... from archaeological ruins and cobble-stoned streets to Andean peaks…. from the Amazon jungle to the Caribbean coast. In addition to the aesthetic charm of this country, Colombia is filled with beautiful people, culture, food, music, dancing, and hospitality.

The people and government of Colombia have worked hard (and successfully so) to improve and build upon the country’s public image, and now their attention is placed on becoming the most educated and bilingual country in South America by 2025. This huge initiative (supported by the Colombian government and Colombian NGOs) was launched in 2013. Now, both the Ministry of Education in Colombia and Colombia’s National Training Service (SENA) are welcoming hundreds of paid English-speaking teachers to help teach or co-teach thousands of students throughout Colombia.

In 2012, only 25% of Colombian English teachers tested at a B2 level or higher (according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages in English), while another 25% tested A1 or lower. Thus, teaching is a wonderful opportunity to give back to at-need communities, provides an affordable way for participants to travel and live in Colombia, and offers a valuable work experience that will strengthen anyone’s resume or grad school application!

English-speaking participants will teach about 20-25 hours per week, plus an additional 15-20 hours  per week of classroom prep, grading, office hours, and staff meetings. Placements with the Ministry of Education are opportunities for teachers to co-teach with a local Colombian teacher in the public schools from 9th to 12th grade. Student ages average 15 to 18 years old. Another popular placement opportunity is to be the lead classroom teacher at one of SENA’s free vocational training centers, to underserved adults. SENA provides social and technical development for Colombian workers in a wide variety of fields. Student ages typically range from 16 to 30 years old.

Programs (like API Teach, as shown in the photos attached) offer teachers with a great list of benefits, including: guaranteed placement, monthly stipend of CP$1,500,000 per month (~US$630), all-inclusive 3 weeks orientation with shared housing and meals, first month of shared housing at your placement city, a completion bonus per semester starting at CP$500,000, a one-way domestic transfer from Bogota, after the orientation, to the host city placement, airport pickup and transfer to the orientation hotel in Bogota, and your host city; national Colombia health insurance, and the work visa, national ID, and local bank account required to legally work in Colombia. Classroom experience and/or education knowledge are preferred, but not required. Knowledge of Spanish is helpful, but not a necessity to teach in the classroom.

Learn more: www.apiabroad.com

Emlyn Lee has traveled to more than 80 countries in six continents promoting international cooperation and understanding. She has created and led teach, volunteer, work, and group travel programs around the globe and loves finding new ways to embrace different cultures. She's the Managing Director of Teach/Volunteer/Work Programs, VP of Outreach at API Study Abroad.

All photos courtesy and copyright API Abroad