25 Apr 2022
SENA Teacher reviews
3.1
100% would recommend to a friend
13% positive business outlook
Reviews by job title
2 reviews
4.0
11 Nov 2017
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook
Pros
Great place to start a teaching job with little to no experience Relative freedom to tailor your own classes and implement your teaching style Good hours - usually 4 hours teaching per day. Leaves time to work a second job. High levels of respect and friendliness from colleagues and students Opportunity to learn Spanish and live in Colombia, a breathtaking experience Opportunity to move and live in almost every region of Colombia Free coffee Good training in a nice hotel Bosses young and understand when problems happen with transport, cancelled classes, cultural differences etc.
Cons
Very poor salary. Nowhere near enough to make foreign teachers commit to more than 10 month contracts High levels of unprofessionalism and, at times, shambolic management Punctuality No consequences or punishment for students' indiscipline. Poor effort and homework, for example, very common as a result Many supposed Colombian English teachers have poor English levels and are not qualified to teach Co-teacher model restricts foreign teachers' influence, and often become relegated as the reader of stories for pronunciation Poor opportunities to grow professionally No bonuses/increased salaries/incentives for extending contract another year. Salaries equal across Colombia, and do not take into account substantially higher cost of living in Bogota, Cartagena and San Andres, especially. Foreigners can get lax and unprofessional. Some don't know how to teach English, and given the job on the basis of being native speakers. English exams a complete joke. Students often given free A2 level certificates out of sympathy, when they know next to nothing