Home / Tefl residential courses / Colombia / Bogotà

Colombia's capital Bogotá is an extremely unique city. Situated in the Andes Mountains at a height of 2,640 meters, not only is it one of the highest capitals in the world, it is also home to people from all over Colombia. Bogotá is the energetic centre of a number of different Colombian and other South American cultures.

Visitors to Bogotá are spoilt for choice when it comes to finding interesting things to do in the city. From soaking up the local culture in the cobbled streets of the old downtown area to heading off to the city’s outskirts and beyond to experience the country’s beautiful landscapes and wildlife, you will never be bored here. Bogotá has a large number of quality restaurants, clubs, cafes and bars as wells as old houses, churches and convents dating back 300 hundred years. It also has numerous parks where you can find a variety of exciting events going on such as concerts, plays, films and much more.

The La Candelaria area is home to several attractions including Calle del Embudo, which is a cobblestoned road lined with beautifully decorated walls covered in brightly colored paintings. Calle del Embudo runs into Plaza del Chorro de Quevedo where it is believed the Spanish conquistador Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada established the city in 1538. The Botero Museum, Colón Theater and Gold Museum are some of the other attractions in La Candelaria. Zona Rosa is the most tourist-heavy part of the city but is also the nightlife focal point of Bogotá where you will find nightclubs, bars and cafés.

Bogotá is home to a flourishing expat and ESL teacher group. There are numerous events for expats (Gringo Tuesday), and English speakers (Dame Tú Lengua), or individuals attempting to learn English routinely taking place. These events are great places to network and make new friends during your time in Bogotá.

By choosing our TEFL course in Bogotá, Colombia as the place to earn your certificate you could be teaching in one of the most beautiful parts of the world in as little as four weeks. Our quality training and excellent service will make sure that upon graduation, you will be well equipped to successfully teach English as a foreign language.

The Colombia Ministry of Foreign Affairs can take up to 30 days to answer visa applications, and sometimes additional documents are requested which extends the response time. They can take three to four weeks to deal with the extra documents, which means you should allow up to two months for a Colombia visa application.

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The School

Our Bogotá TEFL school is located near to the centre of the business and financial district of the city. At lunch, you'll find the streets teeming with life as people rush to their favorite “menu del día” spot. There are many attractions to enjoy within the neighborhood around the training centre including restaurants, malls, parks, and cafes.

The center is equipped with the all the facilities you will need during your course. Our TEFL instructors are experienced and well-qualified teachers who will do their best to help you excel. Our teacher trainers all have plenty of experience in teaching English as a foreign language and are eager to assist you in getting the most out of your course. On the course you will study a range of topics including teaching methodologies, classroom management, English grammar, lesson planning and more.

Accommodation

The TEFL course fees do not include accommodation, but we do provide an option with our guesthouse partner. This consists of a furnished room with private or shared bathroom. You’ll have access to large common areas, Wi-Fi, weekly room cleaning and laundry services. If you decide to take this option, we would be able to organize this for you.

You do not need to book this accommodation and you can make your own accommodation arrangements if you want to. Please feel free to let us know if you have any questions or special requests and we will try to assist you.

Course dates

2025

• 6 February 2025 - 7 March
• 28 April 2025 - 26 May
• 9 June 2025 - 8 July
• 4 August 2025 - 2 September
• 6 October 2025 - 4 November
• 18 November 2025 - 16 December

Course fees

The total price is divided into: deposit and balance.

The deposit may be paid via a) credit card b) Paypal c) wire transfer d) Western Union.

The balance of the course fee must be paid by cash, PayPal or bank transfer directly to the training center on the first day of the course.

 

Deposit
USD 600

to be paid in advance

+

Balance
USD 990

to be paid on arrival

Accomodation Fees

The accommodation fees are not part of the course price and you are free to choose whichever accommodation option you prefer.

If you choose to use our accommodation, it should be paid for either by cash, PayPal or bank transfer directly to the school at the start of the course.

Starting from
USD 750

(to be paid on arrival)

Frequently Asked Questions

• How do I make my deposit and final payment?

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  The $600 deposit can be paid either by credit card or via bank transfer.

  For the final payment, there are a couple more options:

  • Bank transfer
  • Cash on arrival - you can make the payment at the center upon your arrival in COP (Colombian Pesos) based on the exchange rate of the date.
  • Credit Card - you can use your credit card to pay for both your deposit and your final payment.
  • Paypal - if you decide to go for this option, let us know and we’ll guide through the process.

• What does the program look like?

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  The class size can be anywhere from 6 to 12 TEFL participants. We keep our groups small so that you can get all the help and support necessary for a new teacher from the trainer. You will be sharing the program with international participants: both natives from English speaking countries and non-native speakers with a proficient level of English.

  
  

• What is a normal day like for a TEFL candidate?

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  Class time generally runs from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. You will have a one-hour lunch break, and two shorter breaks: mid-morning and afternoon. The first half of the course is focused on providing candidates with the theoretical aspects of teaching, while the second part will be more practical, and candidates will be teaching and preparing lessons with the support of the teacher trainer.

  
  

• Who are the students for the teaching practice?

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  Our classes are of around 8 to 15 Colombian students. As they are not paying for this course, you can be sure the students in your group are here because they are passionate about learning English. Colombians are warm, enthusiastic and competitive, so you will have lots of fun in your teaching practice!

  
  

• What is the program accommodation like?

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  Accommodation is not included in the price of the TEFL course, but we do offer an accommodation option with our guesthouse partner. This option consists of a furnished room in a guesthouse with large common areas. Once your place on the course has been confirmed we will send you further information on the accommodation options available.

  
  

• What is the TEFL job market in Colombia like? Will I have trouble getting a job?

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  The TEFL market is alive and well here in Colombia, but as with most countries, it depends on where you choose to live. Bogotá being the largest city in the country, it has ample amount of job opportunities. However, smaller towns will not be able to provide you with the wealth of opportunities larger cities will.

  
  

• When do I need to start looking for work in Colombia? Where do I start?

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  Upon completion of your course, or even slightly beforehand we would recommend you begin your application processes with as many employers as you like. If you are on a tourist visa, you will have 90 days in the country before needing to leave, so beginning the process early will be to your benefit.

  
  

• What will you do to help me secure employment?

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  We provide an orientation session on how to start your job hunt towards the end of your course. We cannot guarantee that you will find a position; however, we will do all we can to help you with your job search.

  
  

• What is the average salary like for a teacher?

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  In Colombia, the average monthly salary for an ESL teacher is somewhere between $700-1,000 depending on your contract, hours, and employer. Bear in mind that the cost of living in Colombia tends to be lower than other places like the US, Europe, or Asia.

  
  

• What is a typical teaching position like?

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  A typical teaching position in Colombia looks like one of two options, teaching children, or adults. Teaching English to children happens mostly in what is known as a colegio, or elementary school. Teaching English to adults normally takes place through different English institutions, many times geared towards business.

  For the most part, both options are either Monday through Friday, or Monday through Saturday.

  
  

• Can I return to my own country and teach with my certificate?

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  What country you are from, and if English is considered one of its official languages, will determine whether or not you can return home and teach English solely with your TEFL certificate.

  
  

• What are the average housing and living expenses in Colombia?

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  Depending on your particular lifestyle, you could end up spending anywhere from $350-1,000/ month on housing and living expenses. It more or less all depends on the area of town that you choose to reside in. If you choose to live closer to your job, you could end up paying a little more in rent, but you would pay less in public transportation, because you have the availability to walk, etc.

  
  

• What travel documents do I need to bring for Colombia?

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  All visitors to Colombia are required to carry a passport valid for at least six months after their arrival date. The documents you may need to enter Colombia depend on your country of origin. Please contact your nearest Colombian Embassy for more information.*

  * As this information is subject to change at any time, we advise you to contact your local consulate for current travel regulations prior to planning your trip. For more information on obtaining visas please check with your local Colombia consulate or embassy.

  
  

• What’s the climate like? What kind of clothing will I need to bring?

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  There are two distinct types of climates in Colombia (rain and less rain).

  Colombia consists of mostly tropical climates interrupted by the Andes Mountains which are high in elevation, ultimately producing cooler climates. Basically, anywhere you go in the country that is not high in elevation will be very warm.

  • Bogotá is normally between 7-18 degrees Celsius (45-65 degrees Fahrenheit).
  • Medellín is normally between 23-30 degrees Celsius (75-85 degrees Fahrenheit).
  • Cartagena/Santa Marta/Cali is normally between 29-37 degrees Celsius (85-100 degrees Fahrenheit).