Join our pre-school and primary school alternative curriculum project in Bogota, Colombia

Details

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  Description

  My name is Laura, I am running a pre-school and primary school in Bogota, Colombia.
  I love to travel but found myself taking on this exciting project. I want to offer a better and more conscious education to children.
  I love to walk in the mountains (which are easily accessed from the city), practice yoga and meditation. I also love to work with the children in the school.
  
  The schools were founded over thirty years ago and we are now changing the curriculum to encompass more creativity, positive experience and free play.

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  Types of help and learning opportunities

  Art Projects

  Language practice

  Teaching

  Gardening

  Babysitting and creative play
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  Cultural exchange and learning opportunities

  Bogota is a very unique place. There is opportunity to meet many different people and hear many stories. The history of Colombia is full of bloodshed but now is a time for positive change, where the youth protest and campaign for the future they want to create. There is a strong DIY culture here from building extensions on your house to starting your own activist groups. This could be an opportunity to be included in many different activities through out the city and beyond.
  
  Colombia was colonized by the Spanish who brought with them Catholicism. Colombia gained independence but still practices Catholicism. There are many churches and holidays for the various saints. Some of these holidays include events that can be very interesting and beautiful to see.
  
  If you are interested in teaching English but do not have experience this could be a great opportunity for you to learn about your self as a professional teacher/English teacher and receive guidance and help along the way as well as a reference at the end.
  If you have some experience in teaching but never had the opportunity to explore your own methods of teaching English in a relaxed and creative atmosphere, this could be ideal for you.
  
  You will have access to the school after working hours. This gives you the space to engage in projects or hobbies of your own. You could spend time on artistic endeavours or start your own adult English classes to experience running your own business and make some extra cash to explore the country even more!
  
  Spanish is spoken by the students, teachers and locals. If you are looking to learn Spanish you will immersed in practice.
  
  Fresh fruit and vegetables pour into the city everyday. There is also opportunity to try tasty snacks from each region of Colombia, the coast bringing a fishy form of the usual suspects like the empanada.

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  Projects involving children

  This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.

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  Help

  The idea of having a foreign teacher with us is to encourage English language in our school and of course have an intercultural exchange between you and our community of teachers, parents and children.
  We want the children to speak to their teachers in English as much as they can. We give them tools every day for them to use every day.
  
  On one side, we would like you to help us to talk to our children in English and support the lead Teacher with the children (playing with them, crafts, decoration, projets...) and on the other side to lead the morning routine and circle times (playing games, singing, story telling..)
  
  We guide you to teach and we support you to manage the children during the times you lead.
  You would be free to craft your lessons with guidance should you need it.
  Here we like to be creative so there is opportunity to create your own activities.. We use music, dance, paint, drawing, sculpture, yoga, cooking and anything else we feel would enhance our students learning and experience at the school.
  
  The classes are small with 6-12 pre-school children in a class to 10-15 primary school children in a class.
  The school is open from Monday to Friday. So you have a lot of free time in the afternoons and all day on the weekends and holidays (we have many in Colombia)!

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  Languages spoken

  English: Fluent
  Spanish: Fluent
  French: Fluent
  Portuguese: Fluent

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  Accommodation

  The accommodation is nearby the school. You will have a private bedroom with bathroom. The kitchen is fully equiped. The school is located in a nice area with view to the mountain, there are parks and shops and public transportation near by.
  We provide loundry and wifi.

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  What else ...

  The mountains offer many hours of hiking trails, with different vegetation, there are pine forests brought by the Spanish, the native trees and on the top some very strange vegetation.
  There are many sporting activities available, and also many free yoga classes in the parks.
  Leaving Bogota and descending down the mountain the climate becomes very hot and tropical. There are waterfalls to cool down in and can be enjoyed over the weekend. We have some longer holidays during the school year and this would be a good opportunity to explore some of the other places Colombia has to offer whether it's the amazon region, snow capped mountains and hot springs, Caribbean golden sands and islands or whale watching in the pacific. There is also good surf on the Caribbean and pacific coast.

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  A little more information

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    Internet access

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    Limited internet access

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    We have pets

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    We are smokers

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    Can host families

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  How many Workawayers can stay?

  More than two

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  Hours expected

  Maximum 25 hours a week. All weekends and holidays free all day!

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