Where to Find Work in Colombia for English Speakers
Jessica Wilkins Caribbean beaches, lost cities, the Amazon, the Andes...all these places are waiting and ready for you to explore while you teach English in Colombia! The number of available English teaching jobs in Colombia means you can decide whether you want to wake up to a Caribbean beach on your doorstep, the smell of freshly-roasted coffee, or the hustle and bustle of Colombia’s up-and-coming-cities.
Teaching English in Colombia is for the adventurous at heart!
Working ESL jobs in Colombia also means you will soon be acquainted with cógela suave, which is all about taking life easy and making the most of your friendships. Not only that, Colombia has everything! Forests, beaches, mountains, relaxed cities, and bustling cosmopolitans. You can finally live in your dream city when you teach English in Colombia.
Why teach English in Colombia?
There are not many countries in the world where people truly enjoy life. But in Colombia, life is for living. When you start teaching English in Colombia, you will quickly learn that the magic trick to achieving this is cógela suave. You will be teaching English in Colombia, and they will be teaching you to take it easy!
What else do you need to know before jetting off? In Colombia, friendliness is the most important thing in life. Your days will be spent having thought-provoking conversations, spending extra time with others, and appreciating how amazing life is.
Colombia is the fastest-growing market in South America too, meaning there are lots of well-paid ESL jobs for you. It’s a great country for you to brush up on your Spanish skills and finally get to a level where you can dream in Spanish. Meanwhile, you and your new friends can easily explore South America from your base teaching English in Colombia.
There are plenty of English teaching jobs in Colombia (hiring now!), and although other countries may pay more, Colombia will pay with money and life experience. During your time teaching in Colombia, you can visit Salt Cathedrals, pristine rainforests, Caribbean beaches, and historic cities, all the while having constant uplifting music tickling your ears.
Where should I teach English in Colombia?
1. Medellin
These hills are alive with the sound of awesome ESL jobs.
The city of eternal spring has an average temperature of 72.5 °F (22.5 °C) making it a popular base for many expats and people teaching English in Colombia. It is also one of the more affordable cities in Colombia, meaning your hard-earned wages will go further when you are tasting the local cuisine and/or perfecting your salsa.
Surrounded by hills, you’ll find stunning views and a magical atmosphere wherever you look in Medellin. There’s a reason why many expats come to this city and then never leave!
2. Cali
This city should be known as the city of eternal sunshine. Cali has one of the smallest expat communities and fewer locals speak English, but what this means is that your Spanish will get better quicker, you will find that everyone wants to be your friend!
Plus, there is a huge demand for English teachers. With one of the fastest-growing economies in Colombia, this city is going places, and opportunities for ESL jobs in Colombia are booming. Come and work in Cali before the secret of its greatness gets out.
3. Bogota
The capital of Colombia has numerous job opportunities, making it a great first base when finding ESL jobs in Colombia. With numerous restaurants and a thriving nightlife scene, you will never be without somewhere to meet up with your new friends (and sing along to Maluma).
During the day, you can explore and learn about Colombian history in Bogota’s outstanding museums, locate the street art telling a new story through the city, or relax with Colombian friends in one of the many parks.
The Bogata airport connects you to the rest of Latin America, meaning there are no excuses to not spend a weekend every once in a while exploring Inca ruins, or trekking through the Amazon.
4. Cartagena
Vibrant and lively, you’ll always feel energized in Cartagena!
If you want to have a Caribbean beach on your doorstep, but still live in a city, then Cartagena is the answer. Cartagena is one of the oldest cities in Latin America, and due to this, the city has a very different vibe from other Colombian cities.
Cartagena has its own fusion cuisine, unique festivals, and plenty of English teaching jobs. You can spend your free time from work on the beach, sampling the numerous water sports, or exploring one of the nearby islands.
5. Barranquilla
Joe Arroyo crooned En Barranquilla Me Quedo (In Barranquilla I Stay) for a reason. There are not many cities where you can pick mangoes straight from the tree. Barranquilla’s Caribbean vibes can be found in its music, food, and carnival — something UNESCO described as “a masterpiece of humanity’s oral and intangible heritage”.
With little pollution, cheap prices, and few expats, this city is a great base for someone teaching English in Colombia who wants to learn Spanish quickly and stay healthy.
6. Santa Marta
Teaching English in Santa means you can have mountains and beaches on your doorstep, (oh, and a lost city or two…). Santa Marta is an extremely affordable city, you will have plenty left over to enjoy diving the local ship wrecks, or hiking the National Park at the weekend. There is an international airport only a short ride away, so you can also spend weekends exploring other gems in Colombia, or further afield.
7. Manizales
Coffee and English teaching jobs in Colombia just go hand in hand, don’t they?
This one is big enough to be a city, but small enough to still feel like a town. Manizales not only will help you finally find the balance you need in your life, it will help you live your life! You have all the facilities you need in a city (without the traffic jams), and you have a volcano and glacier to explore right on your doorstep.
And don’t forget the coffee! Manizales is in the middle of the coffee region, so you can have a locally-grown cup of coffee before you start work each day.
8. Tunja
Feel like you’re a student again in Tunja, a university city not too far from Bogota, but with a lot less pollution, lower living costs, and a great care-free attitude! The high density of students in Tunja means there is lots going on, lots to see, and lots of places to be.
It also means there are lots of students wanting to perfect their English skills and needing you to be their teacher or tutor. Days off can be spent exploring some of the least-visited, but most interesting, pueblos in Colombia...or hiking the local cloud forest to discover waterfalls!
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ESL jobs in Colombia are waiting!
Make some money, gain new skills, and enjoy life when you teach English in Colombia!
If you dream of moving to Latin America, and want to perfect your Spanish and/or salsa skills, then Colombia is the perfect base for you. Not only do the locals have a learner-friendly accent, they are also extremely supportive and willing to practice over a cup of coffee.
When you move to Colombia to teach English, you will meet amazing people and visit unique places, and cógela suave will become your new life motto. There is a reason Colombians are so happy!
So if you are ready to pack your bags and change your life, explore your options for English teaching jobs in Colombia below!
