A life-changing year-long program!

I participated in the WorldTeach Colombia program two years ago, and it was a marvelous experience. If you are looking for professional and personal growth, and are looking for an opportunity in which you get to be independent, but which also offers more support to those who want/need it, this is the organization for you! The 11-month program starts with a 2-week orientation in country, so by the time you finish orientation you feel confident in understanding expectations and have a better understanding of the culture, school system, and you get a crash course in teaching (because most participants do not have prior teaching experience). The program is well organized, with a coordinator in every city with placements and an overall in-country director, whom you meet with regularly. I loved living with a host family - it was the perfect way to be further immersed in Colombian culture. However, I'd recommend having at least a solid level of conversational Spanish before coming to a program like this, because it's necessary in daily life and English is not spoken by the general population. The transition to life in Colombia was rockier for those who arrived with zero Spanish. Unfortunately the Colombia program isn't offered anymore, but this was due to no fault of the program! I have friends who participated in other WorldTeach programs and had similarly great experiences. Also, getting a TEFL certificate through a program like this is totally worth the extra work. It helped me significantly in getting a similar teaching job after the program ended. WorldTeach is a great way to shift careers, or test the waters living in a new country or teaching internationally, if that is what you're interested in. If you just want a change of pace for a year, it's perfect for that, too. But don't think that it won't change you (for the better), because it absolutely will!