| Can You Really Teach English as a Foreign Language | | | | Certify Before You Go |
| in Colombia? I get e-mails on a regular basis inquiring | | | | If you can arrange to get your TEFL certification in the |
| about opportunities for teaching English as a foreign | | | | USA before summer, you'd be able to work as soon |
| language in one of the world's most beautiful, | | | | as you get here since the schools would be contacted |
| dangerous and notorious countries. Opportunities for | | | | by you or your certifying institution when you |
| native English-speaking teachers abound in Colombia. | | | | successfully complete your CELTA or TEFL |
| Salaries are good to excellent with good benefits, | | | | certificate course. The certifying institution will also |
| interesting work and plenty of time, up to nearly four | | | | provide you with letters of reference and an invaluable |
| months per year, to travel, see and enjoy the country. | | | | list of referrals to further smooth your way into your |
| Just be careful, for goodness sake, and keep the | | | | first EFL teaching position. |
| following points in mind. | | | | Because of this I recommend doing the course, if |
| The Problem | | | | possible, in the USA, Canada or the UK. An intensive |
| The principal problem for most new wannabe English | | | | 5-week course can be taken almost any month of the |
| teachers is lack of TESOL certification. It's becoming | | | | year in schools in San Francisco, Boston or numerous |
| an ongoing requirement for Colombian EFL teachers | | | | other locations. Check locally too for something that |
| too, but as a foreigner, none of the dozens of places I | | | | might be available in or near your area. Don't do an |
| could recommend would take you without at least a | | | | online TEFL certificate program if you can possibly |
| TEFL or CELTA certificate. | | | | avoid it. Also, doing the course in the US, Canada or |
| Without a teaching or education degree or TESOL | | | | UK will allow you to assemble a good package of |
| certification, not only in Colombia, but literally scores of | | | | English-language materials to take with you when you |
| other desirable countries and locations simply will not | | | | leave the country. More will be said about this aspect |
| offer you a position. | | | | in the article, "Creating an English as a Foreign |
| CELTA / TEFL in Colombia | | | | Language Teaching CARE Package". |
| The British Council in Colombia has a CELTA course. | | | | Information is available for the British Council CELTA in |
| It's given only once per year though, during the summer | | | | Bogota online at: |
| and only in Bogotá. You'd likely not be able to | | | | Particulars can be found online for ISSO TEFL courses |
| work until the Fall but you must leave the country to | | | | at: or |
| apply for a work visa and things might get even more | | | | I hope this helps those of you who are considering |
| complicated from there. ISSO also runs a TEFL cert | | | | teaching English as a foreign language in Colombia. |
| course several times a year, but it may lack the | | | | Please let me know if there's anything else I can do for |
| worldwide acceptance and appeal of an England or | | | | you. |
| USA-based course. | | | | |