Expert: Garrett Fifer - 11/5/2009

Question
Dear Garrett,

I am actually living in Japan but plan on relocating in Bogota to work as a language teacher from January 2010. I have the dual citizenship French/British, but hold a British passport.

Do I need a visa to work in Colombia? Can I get a working visa even before getting a job?

I would also like to know what are my teaching possibilities in Bogota. I speak both English and French fluently, and can also teach German and Japanese to a good level. I have the Qualified Teacher Status in Britain but I don't have the TEFL that all the language schools seem to ask for! Also, I only begin to learn Spanish.

I am aware you may not be able to answer me on the job possibilities, but if by any chance you did, I would appreciate if you could give me directions on where to search.
Should I get a job before coming to Colombia, or is it easier to find one once there?

I am sorry for all the questions I just threw at you, and I understand if you can't answer them. I really appreciate your time.

Warm regards,

                   Scott

Answer
I met a few people in Bogota that tried to teach English to fund their stay and they hung out for a while, but didn't quite make enough. I think about $1000/mo was what they got paid to work at a boy's school. You should have no problem getting a job with your qualifications once you get there, but it might be difficult to find the right job to pay what you'd require.

There are several language schools within sight of the Transmilenio station at Las Aguas in the Centro. There are places that offer French and English.

You will need a work visa in most cases to be legal. Some places can help you obtain that, though I don't know the procedure.

I had made an excel sheet of some schools I found when I was there to explore the idea myself, but never talked to any of them. The formatting may be off but I've pasted in here for you.
              
Learn English International   Cr. 4 #18-27 Las Aguas   283-3330 or 286-8633   X   www.learnenglish.edu.co   
Instituto Electronico de Idiomas   Centro   230-1688 or 257-2922      http://www.institutoelectronico.com   
ABC Open   Centro   212-3845         
Academia AngloColombian   Cl. 52 #17-23   487-4940 or 248-2726         anglocolombia@yahoo.es
ACD Absolut Language   Cr. 10 #54a-19 Chapinero   211-4479      www.absolutlanguage.edu.co   
Alianza Colombia Inglesa   Cr. 28 #50-29   210-0862 or 574-5951      www.alianzacolomboinglesa.com   
Berlitz   Av. Caracas No. 38-08   285-9830 or 285-2488      www.berlitz.com.co   
  Av. (Cl.)26 No. 69A-51 L.A 102   416-1988         
Centro Colombo Americano   Cl. 19 #2-49   344-3880 or 334-7640   X      
Universidad La Gran Colombia   Cr. 6 No. 13-12   327-6999 or 286-8200   X   www.ulagrancolombia.edu.co   
Springfield Instituto Digital de Idiomas   Cr. 13 #45A-31   323-0289 or 323-0291         
International House Bogota   Cl. 10 #4-09 Candelaria   336-4747   X   www.ihbogota.com    info@ihbogota.com
The Lincoln English Center   Cl. 49 #9-37   288-0360 or 287-4341      www.centrodeingles.lincoln.com   
Wall Street Institute   Cl. 14 #6-25 Torre 1 P. 10   346-0566   x   www.wsi.edu.co   info@wsi.edu.co


Good luck.