Teaching English in Costa Rica

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How to Begin Teaching in Costa Rica

Tropical rainforests and active volcanoes

Compared with some of its neighbours in Latin America, Costa Rica is a relatively small country. However, this does not mean that the EFL teacher should overlook some of the country’s main highlights. As with its neighbours, Costa Rica boasts beautiful nature and a wide variety of geographical features. The visitor to Costa Rica can easily cross the country to experience the Pacific or the beaches of the Caribbean. It has tropical rainforests, active volcanoes and is home to some of the most beautiful and colourful animals on Earth; the toucan is a native to Costa Rica. Interestingly, Costa Rica, despite its size, holds claim to 6% of the Earth’s biodiversity.

On another note, Costa Rica also should not be overlooked due to the fact that it is the most peaceful and stable of all Central American countries, both in terms of politics and economy. It has an impressive and efficient infrastructure, which makes it a great place to live as well as a great base to explore other corners of Central and Latin America. Costa Rica neighbours Nicaragua in the north, and Panama in the south east. Coupled with the friendly and laid-back attitude of its residents, Costa Rica is well worth considering as a job option. The official language of Costa Rica is Spanish.

 

Teaching Opportunities

The stability of Costa Rica also means that it has an impressive educational system. The population has a high educational level and seeks English as a way to improve their career opportunities. In order to teach in Costa Rica, applicants generally need to have a 4-year bachelor’s degree in any subject. If you are applying directly from the UK or for private language institutes, then you will also need to have a Level 5 TEFL certificate.

Having said this, many companies prefer to hire people who are in the country. It seems that if you are willing to make the flight to Costa Rica, you will be rewarded with a job. Teachers can show up on the doorstep of prospective schools and request a face-to-face interview.

If you are planning to work in the private sector, then hiring happens all year round. However, if you are considering applying for schools or universities, the recruitment season is slightly different. The main school changeover is in December, when the school year is finishing and again in January when the school year begins. This means that schools begin looking for teachers from October to December for January hiring. Most employers are reluctant to pay for a work visa until you have completed a year with them.

Teaching Requirements

  • Degree Requirement
    Not required
  • Typical Contract Length
    6 - 12 months
  • Peak Hiring Seasons
    October - December
  • Visa Info
    Tourist visa
  • Typical Students
    Business professionals, children
  • Average Monthly Cost of Living in Local Currency
    440,000 - 640,000 CRC
  • Average Monthly Salary in Local Currency
    480,000 - 800,259 CRC

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