TEFL Job in Colombia

Date posted:2010-09-30 | Writer: Colegio Canadiense | Email: [email protected]

Colegio Canadiense in La Estrella, a small town south of Medellin, is looking for experienced native English speaking teachers. We are hiring for a variety of positions, including teachers in English EFL/ESL (Elementary, middle and high school) who are available to start in November of this year and commit through to July 2011. We offer a sensible basic salary sufficient to live on together with a bonus scheme to give you the opportunity to earn more. Base salary: $2,500,000 COP per month + bonusesREQUIREMENTS:All candidates must be certified. Priority will be given to candidates with a minimum of 2 years experience.ANNUAL COMPENSATION:Visa cost.Air transportation (including pick up and drop off from airport).Re-sign bonus.Health insurance, obligatory savings and pension plan affiliation.All teachers are affiliated to a Colombian compensation fund for traveling; entertainment and cultural exposure.50% housing - Couples: 100% housing. (Utilities not included.)(Approximate total additional value is US $ 7,500 annually.)For more employment information, please contact Mrs. Rafael Posada at the e-mail address given on the job heading, or call (+574) 279-8848 Ext. 156.OVERVIEW OF COLEGIO CANADIENSELocation:The school is located in La Estrella, a small town south of Medellin. From Envigado, it takes about half an hour to arrive to the school.Students:Colegio Canadiense is in its fifth year and has 1,056 students. School Hours:Teachers are on campus Monday - Friday from 7:30am to 4pm. Some meetings/events occur earlier or later. You are notified of these. There are occasional events on the weekends.Holidays:Due to the transition in the school calendar this information is being determined by the School Board. Teachers will have breaks during the following months*:- A break at the end of December, 2010 and beginning of January, 2011.- A week off at the end of March and beginning of April.- A break in August, 2011 to September, 2011.- A break at the end of December, 2011 and beginning of January, 2012.- Additionally Colombia has 18 national holidays throughout one year.*Exact dates will be provided as soon as they are determined. Additional holidays can be added.Learning the Language:Many of our staff and students speak English, at varying degrees of ability. However, if you do not know Spanish, or haven’t practiced it in a long time, you might want to consider taking a course before your arrival to freshen up on key phrases. “Paisa” Spanish is a bit challenging as it is spoken quickly and is full of local phraseology. We can recommend tutors to help you learn as you go.Budget:Colegio Canadiense provides above average wages. You should be able to live comfortably here on your salary, assuming a modest lifestyle. There are many downscale and upscale options for restaurants and entertainment in the greater Medellin area. Products here tend to be more expensive than in North America, especially electronics. However, services are far cheaper.Typical Expenses:% of your housing (school covers up to $500.000 COP per person) utilities (phone, electric, gas, internet, tv cable, etc.) a small % for health care & pension (taken from your paycheck) fee to cover gas for carpool or local transport a small fee for lunch and snack if you so choose (taken from paycheck) any household items beyond the basics provided extra uniforms (can be taken from your paycheck) food and household suppliesApartment Living:Your apartment should be ready upon arrival. If for some reason, all accommodations are not prepared, Colegio Canadiense will pay for alternative housing until your apartment is move-in ready.Good-to-Knows:A washing machine is standard; a dryer is not. People line-dry clothing in their laundry rooms. Few apartments come with a dishwasher. Few apartments come with an oven. You will be provided with a microwave or toaster oven, whichever you choose. A credit history is required to set up internet. We will help you with this. Bills can be paid at the local grocery store. Phone services vary. Many charge local calls by the minute. Calls from a landline to a cell phone are VERY expensive.If you don’t have a cell phone right away, it’s quite easy to pay for a few minutes of calling on the street or at a local shop.Colegio Canadiense will provide you with certain items to get you started. These items will be evaluated for their condition prior to your departure from Colombia.Transportation to School:Our staff live in a variety of neighborhoods throughout the region. Depending on where you live, you might be able to carpool with other teachers (we can help you seek out a carpool). The driver sets the payment amount. Public transportation is also an option – we can provide you with specifics. There are many options for getting around in Medellin and the surrounding areas. There are also many neighborhoods within walking distance of stores and restaurants. Driving in Colombia can be a challenge!Dress Code:You will be given 2 sets of uniforms to wear to school. One is a formal “suit” to wear on special days or when parents are coming. The other uniform is an athletic shirt and pants set. The set comes in 2 colors. Many teachers decide to purchase the alternative set as well. Sizing is hard to anticipate, so please bring from home one pair of dark blue pants and a white shirt in case you need to order/tailor a uniform.Food on Campus:You have the option of signing up for our excellent lunch meal plan. It costs about 80,000 COP per month, a terrific deal! A typical Colombian lunch includes meat, so let us know if you are vegetarian or have specific food requirements so we can accommodate. Depending on your schedule and caloric needs, you may also sign up for the snack plan.