Learn Spanish and help teaching English in the authentic town of El Llano, Colombia

Detalhes

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  Descrição

  We are a family-driven rural lodging and language community in Acacías, Meta. We, Stig (30, Norway) and, Johana (31, Colombia) met six years ago, and we shared the same dreams for the future. We were both working for multinational companies back then, but we had desires of doing something different. We worked hard and saved money to do something with a greater purpose.
  
  The way life allowed us to do this was by creating a place where everyone feels comfortable as they are and where economic, cultural, and social limits do not exist. So everyone with the right motivation to learn and teach has a place with us!
  
  ***Our mission:
  
  - Provide FREE and LOW-COST English education to local students of all ages.
  - Be the best place to stay, learn and grow and make a network of places like us all around Colombia
  
  This is a SOCIAL BUSINESS consisting of a language school, a restaurant, and a lodging, and we are looking for flexible people willing to help us teach the English language and culture. It is an opportunity exclusively for people who want to learn and practice their Spanish while being immersed in Colombian culture.
  
  We need volunteers interested in joining our project, primarily centered around teaching English. Volunteers will engage in organizing small gatherings, excursions, and events to facilitate language exchange and provide insights into Colombian culture. While teaching experience is not mandatory, prior experience with people is essential. We offer a brief teacher training, sharing our methodology. Proficient English speakers eager to learn teaching techniques are encouraged to apply.
  
  - You will share a dorm room with 2 other volunteers (a room with a private bathroom)
  Volunteering will be 15 hours per week or more if we have other projects or if you have special skills
  - A minimum stay of 4 and a half weeks is required.
  
  - In order to sponsor the local people and their English classes (Not everyone receives free classes, but many do and others pay a very affordable price for the classes) we ask for a voluntary donation in exchange of Language Classes (5USD per class) (you can chose to not take classes)
  
  SCHEDULE OF ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE
  
  Volunteers should ideally arrive on a Wednesday and leave on a Saturday. Your first two days will be teacher training and introduction, you then start teaching the following week. (We are very flexible with this)
  
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  LOCATION/AREA
  
  Acacias is a typical Colombian “pueblo”. It is a popular vacation spot for some Colombians (especially people from Bogota), because of its warm weather, many rivers, and exotic nature. Also, it's quite new for tourists from outside of Colombia. Local tourists come here to enjoy clean air, hike in the mountains, or enjoy family time by the river. If you enjoy short access to a small town and nature, this is the place for you!
  
  Acacías is a warm and welcoming place. We have great weather ( 20 to 30 celsium all year round, a bit humid and rainy in the rainy season) and an inclusive community. It’s a place where people feel comfortable as they are.
  
  You will stay at the school/hostel (the same place but separated areas) which is located just outside on a short walk to Acacias, surrounded by nature (so bugs shouldn´t bother you) and immersed in the family. The place has a restaurant where you can eat with a discount or alternatively, you can use the shared kitchen to prepare your own meals.
  
  We are in the “llanero" region, near the foot of the Andes mountains. From here and east, it’s mostly plain fields until the Amazon region. Because of its wet and warm weather, Acacias has a lot of “fincas” (farms) and “vaqueros” (Colombian Cowboys), and they’re really friendly and inclusive people, especially with tourists. Welcome to the real Colombia! A place where time is not too important, where you wake up when the sun rises and feel tired soon after sunset.
  
  ***Nearby Amenities:
  
  2 minutes walk to the river
  5 minutes walk to cafes, wifi, Tiendas, snooker, and karaoke bars
  15 minutes walk to the bus station
  15 minutes walk to the fruit market
  20 minutes walk from the center - ATMs, central park, restaurants, pharmacies, etc.
  
  This area of Colombia has had many struggles over the years. 20 years ago Meta was a conflicted area, called the "red zone" and nobody visited, but now is a peaceful area however the people from this area are still facing economic problems. Much of the region is less developed socially and economically and in terms of tourism than the rest of the country.
  
  ***What is in it for you?
  
  - free accommodation
  - use of the pool, common areas, and shared kitchen
  - discount at the restaurant
  - Spanish classes for a good price, thereby sponsoring one local student
  - being able to immerse in real Colombian life and practice your Spanish

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  Tipos de ajuda e oportunidades de aprendizado

  Trabalho beneficente

  Projetos artísticos

  Prática de idiomas

  Ajuda em projetos ambientais

  Ensino

  Jardinagem

  Cuidar de animais

  Cuidar de crianças/atividades criativas

  Criar/cozinhar refeições caseiras

  Hotelaria/turismo

  Ajuda com computadores/internet
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  Oportunidades de intercâmbio cultural e aprendizado

  This is an opportunity for people looking for a good place to settle down for a while and learn Spanish. Locals and foreigners can meet and learn languages, culture and more. The English level in the region and in the town of Acacias is very low, so it’s the perfect place to practice your Spanish, and to teach English.
  
  The locals here are incredibly warm, welcoming and kind people. People here will go out of their way to invite you to their house for lunch, on a hike on the weekend or to have a beer with them and their friends. The culture of the region, and of Colombia means that family and friends are at the centre of all free time.
  
  Besides the other volunteers, this is a foreigner-free area, our work team is usually around 5-7 volunteers at a time and these will be the only people you can speak English with, other than that you will have to brush up on your Spanish! The locals are not used to foreigners, and they are always fascinated by us foreigners. If you are open to it, they will gladly share their lives with you, and get to know more about you. Every month here we have fond farewells between the volunteers and locals who have become great friends!
  
  The area around Acacias, while relatively untouched by tourists as yet, is thriving with natural beauty. Just 10 minutes drive towards the mountains, you will find spectacular hikes ending in magnificent waterfalls, and with any luck you´ll see wild birds, animals and much more along the way! Everyday is an unknown adventure here. There are also a few well respected tour companies who take people on great days out too, rafting, horseback riding and climbing.
  
  In our English Academy, we have students from 10 to 60 years old, most at basic levels, but some are coming up through B1 and B2. The only requirement we have for our local students is for them to be willing and motivated to learn English. That is why we have this place, only people wanting to learn languages, explore cultures and learn about the world can participate!

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  Projetos que envolvem crianças

  Este projeto pode envolver crianças. Para mais informações, veja aqui nossas diretrizes e dicas.

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  Ajuda

  We have lodging on the same property as we run our English and Spanish program, so we are fully booked mostly during high season, which is usually in December, Holy week in March, June, and October when there is a big festival in town. The school is open most of the year, but we stop classes for 2 weeks after the 1st semester that ends at the end of June and during the Christmas season, from December 15th until January 15th more or less. The guesthouse together with the paid language classes allows this project to thrive.
  
  Your work will depend on your skills and the length of your stay. We ask that volunteers COMMIT TO A MINIMUM OF 4.5 WEEKS to avoid too much turnover and disruption to the English classes.
  
  They will be a mixture of:
  
  - Teaching English
  - Social Media / Marketing
  - Projects (if you have a special skill we need)
  - Cleaning and maintenance
  - Plan and execute Social Events
  
  You’ll be doing a lot of different tasks, depending on ongoing projects and season. We usually need help within different fields, so if you have experience or expertise within; construction, landscaping, plumbing, architecture, recycling, teaching, marketing, etc. please don’t hesitate to contact us. We are looking for outgoing and friendly people who can help us grow.
  
  You don't need to be a teacher (but experience working with people, teaching, etc., and having strong social skills will help), we are building a method to follow, and we will offer an induction to give you tips and info on how to teach English. We are currently working on future lesson plans and we're always trying to update our material. You need to be a friendly and outgoing traveler, who speaks fluent English and wants to spend some time in a typical Colombian town, with nature and warm weather. This opportunity is for those interested in nature, learning Spanish and sharing knowledge.
  
  Qualities we’re looking for:
  
  1) Teaching skills or Desire to learn how to teach
  2) Native or very good English skills
  3) People who can follow directions
  4) Responsible People who can clean after themselves
  5) Strong social and communication skills

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  Idiomas

  Idiomas
  Inglês: Fluente
  Espanhol: Fluente
  Norwegian: Fluente

  Este anfitrião oferece intercâmbio de idiomas
  Este anfitrião indicou que tem interesse em compartilhar seu idioma ou em aprender um novo.
  Entre em contato com ele para obter mais informações.
  
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  Acomodação

  You will stay in one of the volunteer dorms on the second floor of the guesthouse. You will be sharing a room with up to 2 other volunteers in comfortable dorms with fans and a private bathroom. We have an equipped outdoor kitchen for you to use.
  
  Guesthouse Facilities:
  - Swimming pool
  - Chapel
  - Common Areas
  - Laundry Service ( once a week)
  - Dorm Style Rooms
  - WiFi
  - Outdoor Kitchen
  - Bar and restaurant

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  Algo mais...

  IMPORTANT INFO ABOUT BUDGET $$$
  
  Other expenses you may have should be very low but mostly will depend on you... like partying and doing eco-tourism in town (which is fun and cheap compared to bigger cities in Colombia).
  
  We provide Spanish Classes here, where the money goes to a local student learning English at our Social Project, again the cost to attend our English School is low so that our students can afford to LEARN or attend FREE and the level of our Spanish teachers are excellent, native speakers, for whatever level you are on arrival!

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  Mais alguns detalhes

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    Acesso à internet

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    Acesso à internet limitado

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    Temos mascotes

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    Somos fumantes

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    Pode hospedar famílias

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  Pode hospedar nômades digitais

  We have 2 private and confortable meeting rooms , our internet works quite well, recently got Starlink and it has work ok for nomads who do not need to download many programs and stuff. keep in account is a rural area, so is not the best and faster internet, so if you need a very reliable internet there are some co-works in town with very affordable prices you can use.

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  Espaço para estacionar campervans

  Este anfitrião pode fornecer espaço para vans.

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  Pode aceitar animais

  Este anfitrião está aberto a aceitar viajantes com animais de estimação.

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  Quantos Workawayers pode acomodar?

  Mais de 2

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