Introduction

A Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) qualification will open doors to you globally and it is a great way to see the world. Take the chance to earn your certificate in a jungle paradise setting, a fantastic start to teaching in Costa Rica! This accredited course is offered by a local non-profit organisation, which provides free English classes for local adult learners and pupils in Costa Rican elementary schools that cannot afford to hire full-time English teachers. By earning your certificate in the community you will not only gain a valuable skill but you will also help create a brighter future for local school children and adults looking to learn English.

The methodology of this course promotes an innovative training philosophy that focuses on hands-on experience. As you go through your training you will get plenty of classroom confidence by teaching more than 60 hours in nearby elementary and high schools as well as by teaching adult learners in the area.

Once you have completed the course, you will be given assistance in finding the perfect placement. Graduates of this program are currently teaching around the world! Whilst we cannot 100% guarantee a paid placement after completion of the training, it is very likely we will be able to place you either in Costa Rica, or in one of the many other schools we work with in Latin America and the USA.

Training

The program will prepare you to teach listening, speaking, reading, writing and grammar while using only English in the classroom. You will master the art of teaching English by completing the following learning modules:

Module 1- Second Language Acquisition
Module 2-The Specialized Brain
Module 3- Language Aptitude and Motivation
Module 4- Learning Styles and Multiple Intelligences
Module 5- The Four Skills
Module 6- Instructional Methodologies
Module 7- Lesson Planning
Module 8- Classroom Management
Module 9- What If ____?
Module 10- Practice Teaching and Feedback

You will have the chance to apply your new skills in your practice teaching sessions with real ESL students in local schools, preparing you for your new life as an English teacher abroad!

The benefits of this novel TEFL location becomes apparent after you have finished training for the day and return to the Lodge to relax in the hammocks facing stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. If you are looking for a more adrenaline-filled pastime, join the Surf School for an exhilarating surf lesson, zip over the lush forest on the Canopy tour, go for a horseback riding tour along the beaches or check out the world beneath the surface on a Scuba diving course

Working

The School Placement:

Upon completion of the training course, we will do everything we can to find you a paid placement at one of the many private and public schools that we work with throughout Costa Rica. Schools are always looking for English teachers (as well as other subjects) and it is very likely we will be able to place you either in Costa Rica or further afield. However we cannot 100% guarantee a placement as it depends entirely upon the requirements of the school and whether you are suitable to them. Full assistance will however be provided throughout the entire process.

November and December are the best times to secure jobs in the school system, for the school year in Costa Rica ends in December and begins in late January. While most schools are finishing the year in November, this is when known openings for the upcoming school year became available. Meaning, you have a better chance of being hired during November and December, but won't start working until the end of January. There is also a break in July, when many positions also become available. There are year-round opportunities in institutions and organizations that offer classes year-round all the time.

The Schools:

Schools are usually large, with between 1,000 and 5,000 students. The schools are a mixture of private schools and government schools.

• Schools offer many after-school activities for students
• Class sizes will vary and may be up to 50 students
• Schools generally have good equipment and resources, even though English resources are limited.
• Buildings are generally modern
• Recreation facilities are generally of a high standard
• Foreign teachers are not always common in schools

There are two semesters in each academic year. Each term is approximately 5 months in duration

Travel & Accom.

During your training you will be staying in shared rooms at the Lodge, overlooking the Pacific Ocean close to a small and isolated beach. The Lodge is about a 10 minutes walk to the centre of town. Rooms are simple, spacious and stylish. There is a maid service once a week and rooms come equipped with linens, pillows and towels. Private rooms are available for an additional fee.

During your paid placement, you will be given full assistance in finding a nearby apartment to rent, within walking distance of the school. There are many affordable options available for food and accommodation in Costa Rica.

Requirements

• Min age 18
• Minimum 2 months commitment (training and classroom experience) unless you already have in-class TEFL certification, no maximum stay
• Native speaker or equivalent English ability
• CRB Police Check to work with children
• Full travel & medical insurance
• The participant should be willing to teach minimum 20 hours a week of English
• Willing to dress and behave properly
• Necessary vaccination, flights & visas (premium support available)

Add ons

TEFL & Surf School:

Surfing is a great way to spend time in the sun and familiarize yourself with the beautiful beaches along the Nicoya Peninsula. You can learn at our Surf School and daily Surf Safaris for all levels of surfers. Daily two-hour surf lessons take place in front of the house, a perfect beach break located in the middle of a surfing paradise. In addition, we travel and search for the best waves around the peninsula on the Surf Safaris. Students learn how to read waves, balance on the board, and paddle effectively. Surf with ISA Certified instructors who are bilingual locals who have a minimum of two years teaching experience, in addition to being active in national and international surf competitions. To ensure a safe and engaging learning environment, each surf class has a maximum of three students per instructor. When in Costa Rica you really have to get on a surfboard! This add-on includes three surf lessons each week, and each lesson includes surfboard rental, rash guard and two hours of personalized instruction. SURF'S UP!
TEFL & SURF SCHOOL:
Month 1: +$480
Months 1&2: +$960

TEFL & Spanish Immersion:

With us, you will learn to speak formal and colloquial Spanish from native speakers while earning your TEFL degree in a picturesque coastal town. This Spanish Immersion school offers two-hour classes, Monday through Friday for those wishing to gain a solid foundation in Spanish language. Each lesson is led by native Costa Rican Spanish-speaking instructors, and class sizes are kept at a maximum of five people in order to enhance learning and dialogue. Students are placed in appropriate beginner, intermediate, or advanced-level classes based on preliminary placement exams.

All Spanish teachers effectively combine conversational Spanish skills with formal grammar. This ensures students’ mastery of speaking a foreign language in diverse settings and situations. Individual students’ goals and learning objectives are taken into account as lessons are personalized to guarantee success and enjoyment. This experience is ideal for TEFL trainees, for it allows you to experience first-hand both sides of the learning process - the language teacher and the language learner.
TEFL & SPANISH
Month 1: +$420
Months 1&2: +$840

TEFL, SURF & SPANISH:

This is the dream trip! During your two month TEFL program you can combine Spanish classes and Surf School for the ultimate Costa Rican experience. You will have three Surf School lessons each week and Spanish classes Monday - Friday. You will be happily busy learning the TEFL methods of language instruction while, at the same time, being immersed in Spanish language study. In addition, you will be having some fun and releasing any lingering stress in the water on a surfboard during your down time. All levels of surfers are welcome to join! Each surf lesson includes surfboard rental, rash guard and two hours of personalized instruction and your Spanish course workbook.
Month 1: +$850
Months 1&2: +$1600

Costs

$3,200 USD / £2,600** GBP Project Fee for 8 weeks.
Additional training months cost $600 USD / £395 GBP.

If you already have TEFL certification, than it is possible to accept you for 1 month classroom experience for the discounted price of $2800. Check with us when applying.

* 20% deposit ($640) required to confirm your place. The balance will be due 4 weeks prior to your departure.
** Currency conversions are approximate.
*** All payments incur a 5% bank transfer fee

Salary

$800 - $1000 USD per month depending upon experience. Living costs (food & drinks)  are approximately $15 per day ($400-$550 per month depending upon your tastes and how much you go out on weekends).

What's included

Project Fee includes 4 weeks training (including accommodation and access to shared kitchen), + 4 weeks classroom experience at a nearby school, cultural immersion, TEFL qualification & certificate, airport pickup, in-country support and full assistance in finding paid placement upon completion of the training.

Private accommodation options are available at an additional $500 USD per month.

What's Not included

Food, flights, insurance, visa  and vaccinations. Full assistance will be provided in getting all these arranged if you choose our Premium Support.

You will have access to a shared kitchen during training, and can buy food from the nearby shops and cook together with the other students.

Placement Support Package

For your trip, we will help you organise and plan everything you will need from start to finish. Our coordinators know each project & country like the back of their hand, and will be able to offer personalised advice to ensure your trip is well-planned & executed to perfection.

This includes one-to-one assistance planning and booking; 

• Pre-departure Support - Flights, Visas, Vaccinations, Insurance, Essential Items and anything else you will need before you set off.
• Ongoing In-country Support - whilst you are on the project you can Contact us at any time with any questions or concerns and we will do whatever we can to help.
• 24/7 Emergency Support - a phone number that you or your family can ring at any time, night or day in case of emergency.

Our Placement Support Package costs £349 / $449 / €425 per person, and can be purchased once you are ready to confirm your place.