 TESOL jobs in Costa Rica General information As the wealthiest country in Latin America, Costa Rica, the rich coast, stands out in stark contrast to many of its neighbors. It also suffers from none of the political turmoil so characteristic of the region. It's an eco-tourist's paradise, thanks in large part to the government's desire to preserve habitats and species. It's a fabulous place to experience the tropics and since it's comprised mostly of coastline there are miles of pristine beaches and it is a heaven for those into diving, surfing in any other eco-friendly watersport. Spanish is the official language, with English now taught in primary schools, coming a close second. The population is a shade over 4 million, fitting snugly into a landmass of about 20,000 square miles. 75% of the population profess the Roman Catholic religion, with the remainder Protestant teaching. Quite unlike Europe, for those wishing to teach in a state or private school, there is not the requirement for a PGCE or an undergraduate degree. Nor is there a requirement for two years as teaching experience. Therefore, it is a great place to build up your curriculum. There are many language institutes and in the main you can expect to find yourself teaching those who work in business or tourism, less so those doing it just for fun. This needs driven market makes for sharp, well motivated students. Don't expect to find people dozing at the back of the class. Commensurately, these people are paying for the privilege and will expect a respectable, well turned out, professional teacher. Because of the huge variety of standards in education you can expect a commensurately varied student body. Some will have very little experience, however, others, privately educated, will have many years experience in studying English. Latin American students are amongst those most highly and warmly spoken of by experienced as all teachers. Visas and regulations. Temporary, 6 month. Renewable work permits are now issued to those with a contract with a registered school and institute, making Costa Rica one of the most visa friendly places in the whole of Latin America. One the one hand you may get a job through a recruitment agency and sort all of you papers out before you arrive. One the other you may turn up for in on the spot job hunt. In either case you will need copies of your educational certificates. If you intend to arrive on a tourist visa check with you Costa Rican Embassy in your country of origin as entitlements vary from country to country. Popular destinations. San Jose, the capital, attracts many travelers. The combination of modern and colonial architecture combined with the nightlife and restaurants constitute a great lure to many. On the other hand there is a vast multitude of beach resorts where you can get away from it all. Getting a job. A modicum of preparation prior to setting out will inevitably pay dividends. Think of not one country in South America but the whole continent. You may end up moving around quite a bit once you hit this part of the world. Hence it is a very good idea to contact all of the Latin American embassies in your country of origin inquiring about teaching and visas and see what you get back. You will find that you have a nice big file folder of leads and information that will vary from country of origin to country of origin. Latin American Embassy to Latin American Embassy. Like most Latin American countries jobs are mostly gained on the spot. Hence you will need a letter of introduction, in Spanish, your resume or CV translated accordingly, plus a translation of your transcripts and certificates. But there are judgment calls to be made. You don't want to use any old Spanish, Venezuelan Spanish will appear idiosyncratic and strange in Argentina. The best bet if you can is to use Castilian, Spanish as spoken in Spain. This is seen as the mother tongue, universally comprehended and carries style, weight and considerable currency throughout Latin America. Equally, Homer acquire those language skills. Latin America is not the coast of del Sol in Spain with its huge English speaking tourist industry. Do not expect English to be widely spoken or news. For all practical purposes a little bit of Spanish can go an awfully long way in determining both your employability and the quality of your experience. There are avenues which can be utilized to gain a placement prior to setting out. Most US-Tesol schools have closed ties with one or more Latin American countries. The language and training group of the British Council arranges for language assistance to be placed for one academic year, though applicants must be 20 to 30 years of age, with at least A level Spanish. The Association of American Schools and South America acts as a recruitment agent. Candidates must pay $25 to register, then the placement fee is $300, normally reimbursed by employers. South American explorers keeps lists of schools which employ English language teachers and maintains a database of volunteers. They charge $50 a year for membership with a $10 premium added to non-US members to cover the cost of postage. Amity volunteer teachers abroad are active in Latin America, offering nine-month placements. Those are also a great way into Costa Rica. Few high schools can afford to employ a native English speaker. However, many of those have placement schemes for teaching assistance and a little bit of research will yield some leads. For many, getting a job will mean knocking on doors, hence the need for those translated documents. Helped, hopefully, by a smattering of polite Spanish. Local telephone directories detail universities, schools and language institutes, etc., which are often only too willing to interview candidates. Highly qualified and more importantly, well turned out, organized and enthusiastic teachers are a short supply. If they like you, they will most certainly find some teaching for you. Hence, one of the best and most realistic propositions is to build a working life based around working some hours for a sponsoring employer, but to also be aware that revenue from privates can double a teacher's income, one should always be on the lookout for private students, whatever one's employment or visa status. The market for those wanting private tuition or conversation practice is huge and potentially very lucrative, therefore, not be neglected. Give yourself time to build a portfolio of work. This is best safeguard to both your income and employment status, the latter of which can be highly fluid with schools and language institutes. TESOL Jobs in Costa Rica Are you looking for the ideal place to take your TEFL TESOL training course? There is a place with white beaches, blue oceans and lush green jungles where you can achieve exactly that, Costa Rica. Upon completion of your course, you will be able to teach English in Costa Rica, South America or virtually anywhere else in the world. Certified teachers with real-life teaching experience, like graduates from our centers, have little trouble finding a suitable teaching position in all different parts of Costa Rica. If you want to venture off to other interesting destinations, we also offer IT professional recruitment assistance in neighboring countries such as Nicaragua and Panama, or in other fascinating destinations across South America or around the globe. In fact, anywhere where there is a strong demand for English language teachers. Enrollment on our TESOL course in Costa Rica is possible throughout the whole year, which makes our courses especially flexible for people with busy schedules. Upon completion of the course, you will be the proud owner of one of the most valuable TESOL certifications in the world of English language teaching. TESOL courses on Costa Rica's Pacific Coast There are many benefits that make Costa Rica an attractive destination for both travel and living, including its white beaches, stunning jungle with exceptional flora and fauna, an extremely welcoming population and a vibrant nightlife. If you decide to attend our training center, you will be quickly immersed into the local lifestyle and find yourself scuba diving, snorkeling or trekking around lush national parks. Should you get tired, the Costa Rican Layback Lifestyle offers you numerous opportunities to relax in cafes and bars where Latin music fills the room. Don't be afraid if the friendly locals ask you to dance or join in on a night at the Carriac Costa Rican style. Costa Rica has something for everyone and joining our program in Manuel Antonio will not leave you disappointed. Even though the town is small in size, the locals' hospitality and fascinating culture will provide many memories that you will never forget.