Teach English in Colombia
The most government-adjacent infrastructure of any Latin American market on this list, with a genuine nonprofit placement network and a national bilingualism policy behind it.
Colombia's bilingualism policy — and a genuine nonprofit placement network
Colombia has more government-adjacent infrastructure than most of its neighbours, though none of it is a direct hiring portal for overseas applicants. SENA Bilingüismo is the national vocational training body's bilingualism programme, an umbrella policy that volunteer and placement organizations plug into rather than a job board itself. Peace Corps Colombia runs an active English Co-Teacher role, and the US State Department's English Language Fellow Program places experienced TESOL professionals for 10-month terms — but both, again, are restricted to US citizens, and the Fellow programme specifically isn't an entry-level route.
For UK applicants, the more relevant name is MingaHouse Foundation / MingaTeachers, a genuinely active Colombia-specific nonprofit placement organization working with 220+ partner schools across 67 municipalities — a real, well-documented alternative to the volunteer schemes above. Note: Maximo Nivel has no presence in Colombia; don't confuse this market with their Costa Rica/Guatemala/Peru operations.
- Peace Corps / English Language Fellow: US citizens only, not available to UK applicants
- MingaTeachers and language institute roles: native or fluent English, TEFL certificate expected in practice
What you can expect to earn
Language institutes pay modestly; bilingual schools somewhat more; international schools considerably more, and corporate/private tutoring in Bogotá or Medellín can be lucrative on an hourly basis. Moderate cost of living in Colombia's major cities means decent savings potential from the bilingual-school tier upward.
| Employer type | Local currency | Approx. GBP |
|---|---|---|
| Language institute | 2.5–4M COP/mo | £470–£745 |
| Bilingual school | 3–5M COP/mo | £560–£935 |
| International school | 6–10M COP/mo | £1,120–£1,870 |
Where to find real openings
Which TEFL Global course fits?
Our Level 3, 120-Hour TEFL/TESOL Course (£169.50) is the standard most Colombian language institutes and nonprofit placement networks like MingaTeachers expect from applicants.
Researched July 2026 from official program pages and named recruiters where cited above. Government programs, visa rules and salary bands change — always confirm current details on the official site before applying.
FAQs about teaching in Colombia
It’s Colombia’s national vocational body’s bilingualism policy — an umbrella framework that placement and volunteer organizations work within, not a direct hiring portal for overseas applicants.
No — Maximo Nivel operates in Costa Rica, Guatemala and Peru, but has no presence in Colombia. MingaTeachers is the more relevant Colombia-specific placement option.
No — Peace Corps Colombia’s English Co-Teacher role, like the State Department’s English Language Fellow Program, is restricted to US citizens.