Job Discussion Forums

Senor Alex · Joined: 16 Dec 2010 Posts: 3

Hello, I am trying to find a job teaching English in Costa Rica in the next two months and I was wondering where people have had the most positive experiences. I want to learn Spanish while I am there, so I would like to take some free Spanish courses through whatever school I work at. I also have little experience teaching so I would prefer a school that organizes the class/curriculum for me so I do not have to do all the planning. If you can include any information about hours/schedules and the pay provided that would be great. Thank you for any information you can offer, have a good day. -Alex

TeresaLopez · Joined: 18 Apr 2010 Posts: 601 Location: Mexico City

Do you have any formal training, or do you just think that because you can speak English you can teach it?

Senor Alex · Joined: 16 Dec 2010 Posts: 3

I went through a TESOL training program, I have a minor in education, and recently I observed and taught an ESL adult a class a bit. I'm hoping to find a 6 month contract in Costa Rica teaching adults, so it would have to be a school that doesn't require extensive teaching experience.

elliott22212 · Joined: 06 Jan 2011 Posts: 11

Try George Theiss and Robert Holloway at English2go. In my time with them, they were VERY helpful, and if you are honest and hardworking with them, they will return the favor.

Dawn Needham at Prolanguage is also someone I would recommend working with.

I know a lot of people who have had god experiences with Deb at IESA as well.

The fact is that teaching in CR is not exactly pleasant. You often have to get up early, work late and take LOOOOOOOONG bus rides to get to class. That being said, the students are usually wonderful, the weather is perfect and the weekend trips can't be beat. If you can deal with the sacrifices, it's definitely worth it.

If there's one thing I can tell you it's just to always be honest with your clients and employers. They understand what CR is all about, just be straight with them and usually people will understand.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

jprimm · Joined: 03 Aug 2007 Posts: 91

I have worked for English 2 Go, Whitimore English, inlingua and Pro language and they were and are all excellent schools. They paid on time and were very fair in their scheduling. Anyone of them would be good, imho..

Senor Alex · Joined: 16 Dec 2010 Posts: 3

Thank you for the responses. I contacted those schools and will likely interview with IESA and hopefully some of the others. Whittemore requests 2 years of experience teaching English, but I think the other schools are more lenient on experience. I am hoping to find a position with on-site classes maybe 4 days a week (15-20 hours or so) so I can also travel. Hopefully, this comes together otherwise I may look into work as an individual tutor or even at a call center.

pivoman · Joined: 01 Aug 2010 Posts: 1

ltroshinsky · Joined: 17 May 2011 Posts: 40 Location: Maryland

anyone heard of golden valley school (primary school) in Heredia? if so, good things, bad things?

thanks.

Chiller · Joined: 19 Feb 2008 Posts: 12 Location: Washington

I had a great experience at Intercultura in Heredia. The students are great but the English dept. chair has changed since I was there.