WorldTeach - Volunteer Teaching in Colombia - (past program)

Why did you decide to teach abroad with WorldTeach in Colombia?

Laura: I developed an interest in South America after graduating from a fairly international University where a majority of my close friends were Latino. One of those friends went back to live in Bogota and didn't have to say much to convince me to come. Colombia has a sad yet intriguing history that has changed in recent years allowing travelers...and volunteer English professors...to discover what a beautiful country Colombia is.

What made this teach abroad experience unique and special?

Laura: I developed a very strong bond with the host family I lived with, which happened to be huge. Both parents have 7 siblings each all with families of their own. The door was always open and people were always coming in and out. I had to give numbers to all of the cousins at first because I struggled to remember their names.

Also, I lived in a smaller town just North of Bogota with only one other volunteer. We were the first foreign English Professors at this University. The students had no idea what to expect at first and were scared, especially of me, because I didn't speak any Spanish when I arrived. I had to work hard to earn their approval, but was able to create a bond with them when they realized that besides being their English professor, I was also struggling to learn Spanish. It was also fun to talk to them during office hours when they would come sometimes for homework help, but mostly to talk about future travel plans, ask me questions about my life or discuss their most recent break-up in English.

How has this experience impacted your future? (Personally, professionally, academically, etc.)

Laura: Personally, I had a massive fear of public speaking, which I still have, but am now much better at dealing with it because when you are a teacher, you have no choice but to do it everyday! Professionally, I improved my awareness and resourcefulness when it comes to intercultural communication which is especially important if I want to continue working within an International field. Academically, I now have a CELTA allowing me to teach English in Europe next year which I would not have considered doing without completing my WorldTeach year.

What is one piece of advice you would offer someone considering teaching abroad in Colombia?

Laura: The educational culture here is much different. The work ethic within the University I worked at was quite shocking to me at first. A fair amount of my students did not seem to consider cheating or plagiarizing entire documents to be a punishable offense. When my students didn't complete their homework, they would always shift the blame onto something else and it was hard to instill within them that to learn English, one has to study outside of class. I think that across the board, other teachers experienced similar situations. Attitudes towards education here are a bit more relaxed and that's something you have to get used to. However, its worth trying to instill some good values in your own students without expecting to change the entire system.

Also, things tend to go wrong more here, like the internet not working, photo copiers and projectors malfunctioning, your classroom being occupied by another class...but as you get used to this, you become better at improvisation and don't stress too much about anything. However, adjusting back to work environment where this does not happen might prove to be challenging.

What makes teaching in Colombia with WorldTeach so special and unique?

Jessica: Colombia is an incredibly diverse and vibrant country, and it consistently ranks as one of the happiest countries in the world. The vast environmental, geographic, and cultural diversity of the country allows us to have an equally varied program for our volunteers. We teach in large cities like Bogota, which sits high in the Andes Mountains, to Barranquilla, which swelters on the Caribbean coast. We also teach in smaller towns and cities in the coffee region, and on the Caribbean and Pacific coasts. Our placement types vary by city, allowing WorldTeach Colombia volunteers to teach in elementary schools, high schools, universities or community centers.

Did YOU teach abroad?! If so, where and what inspired you to go?

Jessica: I taught abroad twice. First, I worked with a grassroots non-profit teaching English to indigenous children in rural Venezuela. More recently, I served as a WorldTeach volunteer in Colombia. I was inspired by my sense of service, passion for education and development, and seemingly endless need to explore, travel, and live abroad.

What should teachers know about the classroom and workplace culture in Colombia (e.g. student-teacher relations, staff relations, etc.)?

Jessica: Teaching within the Colombian school system has its challenges and rewards. Many volunteers work as co-teachers alongside Colombian teachers in elementary and high school classrooms. This is an incredibly beneficial setup for the students as it combines a certified Colombian teacher with a trained native speaker. This can create a work culture in which the volunteer becomes part of the school’s family.

In university placements, volunteers lead their own classes. This allows for the volunteers to be part of the team of dedicated educators, working closely with post-secondary students to offer them the skills and knowledge to find jobs in the growing Colombian economy. Generally speaking, students, teachers and staff have very tight-knit relationships with one another and volunteers who are open, flexible, and personable will easily become a part of their school team.

What can you tell us about the current state of education in Colombia? How do you see this changing in the next 10 years?

Jessica: Education in Colombia is rapidly undergoing many changes. The goal of the country is to become bilingual by 2025. As such, bilingual education is receiving much needed attention and support. One of the major challenges to Colombia's ability to achieve this goal is the low level of English not only amongst students, but amongst teachers of English. Commonly quoted statistics say that less than 10% of English teachers speak a passing level of English. During the next 10 years, we anticipate that our role will include continuing to work with students as well as teachers to create sustainable English language programs with our partner schools.

What is one piece of advice you would offer someone considering teaching abroad in Colombia?

Jessica: Get rid of the word "expectation" from your vocabulary! Of course, we highly recommend doing research, watching movies, eating Colombian food, and talking to Colombians in order to prepare for what will come. However, the reality on the ground will always be different from anything you could foresee and expectations will only limit your experience here!