United States
US
Volunteer teachers needed in Colombia 2026!
Join a global community of over 200,000 TEFL teachers working throughout the world! Enrol me!
Come teach, explore, and live Colombia with us
Colombia > Ibagué
Volunteer
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SalaryVolunteer
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Degree RequiredNo
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RecruiterConnections, English Institute
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DescriptionFor over 13 years, Connections English Institute has welcomed volunteers from around the world to teach English in Colombia while experiencing authentic Latin culture. Our 2026 program offers a unique blend of teaching, travel, language learning, and professional development. It is perfect for graduates, professionals, and adventurous educators seeking a life-changing cultural exchange.
Your teaching experience
- Before you enter the classroom, you’ll participate in our Teaching Training Week, a practical, short course inspired by TEFL methodology. You’ll learn how to plan lessons, manage classes, and use our TalkBack method, all to ensure a confident start.
- After training, you’ll teach 10 hours per week (Monday – Friday, 4 hours per day).
- You’ll receive continuous guidance and feedback from our academic coordinator. Each volunteer becomes part of a supportive, international team working toward the same goal — helping students grow through English and cultural exchange.
Living in Ibagué
- Ibagué is the capital of Tolima, located three hours from Bogotá. Known as the Musical City of Colombia, it’s surrounded by mountains, waterfalls, and coffee landscapes. It’s safe, friendly, and full of cultural events and outdoor adventures.
- Volunteers stay in a comfortable three-story house with private bedrooms, a terrace with hammocks, a shared kitchen, laundry area, and Wi-Fi.
Weekend Adventures and Cultural Immersion
- Your weekends are for exploration. We organize free outdoor activities like hiking the Combeima Canyon, rappelling at Chicalá Waterfalls, horseback riding in Juntas, and rock climbing in Payandé. Transportation is included, and you’ll be guided by locals who love sharing their culture.
- Volunteers will have the opportunity to have free dancing lessons on the University of Tolima, 5mins uber from the institute. There will be a chance to socialize with the students´ university and make friends.
Spanish Lessons
Learn Spanish while you volunteer! Our qualified teachers provide personalized Spanish classes three times per week, one hour each. You’ll learn practical vocabulary, slang, and cultural expressions you can use every day. These personalized lessons are designed to help you use Spanish in real-life situations and immerse yourself in Colombian culture.
Program fee
The small fee helps us support the volunteer stay: $295 USD for the 4
weeks. $75 USD for each additional week.
The program fee covers:
- Teaching training
- Accommodation and one meal per day
- Spanish classes
- Â All weekend excursions (with transport)
- Airport pickup
- 24/7 local support and supervision
- Certificate of Participation
- Â Salsa and tropical music Lessons
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Benefits-Training Week before you start teaching — learn lesson planning, classroom management, and the TalkBack teaching method
• Small, interactive groups (average 7 students) so you can build real connections
• Free accommodation and one daily meal
• Spanish classes three times per week to help you immerse in local life
• Salsa Lessons - A cultural dance experience
• Weekend adventures included — hiking, horseback riding, rappelling, rock climbing, and more
• Official Teaching Certificate of Participation upon completion — recognize your training, hours, and impact
• 24/7 local support and airport pickup — we take care of the details so you can focus on the experience -
Requirements- We welcome: Native or fluent English speakers (18+)
- Passionate travelers who want to make a difference. No teaching certificate required—just energy and commitment! -
Date Posted29th January 2026
Accreditation & Quality Assurance
The TEFL Academy was the world’s first TEFL course provider to receive official recognition from government regulated awarding bodies in both the USA and UK. This means when you graduate you’ll hold a globally recognised Level 3 (120hr) Certificate or Level 5 (168hr) Diploma, meaning you can find work anywhere and apply for jobs immediately.
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