Job Discussion Forums

nomad girl · Joined: 14 Sep 2007 Posts: 11

I am interested in moving to Costa Rica to teach English. I do not have a toefl or other english teaching certificates, but do have a uni degree. I also have taught english in Japan, Cambodia, and Taiwan.
Is is easier to find a job with a toefl degree? Or a higher paying job?
In other countries it rarely made a difference.
Also, I have a Siberian Husky I rescued in Taiwan and brought back to Canada. It seems fairly easy to bring a dog to Costa Rica, but what about conditions living there? Finding housing? Climate?
thanks! Costa Rica looks amazing.

OleLarssen · Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Posts: 337

If you've previous experience, a TEFL degree matters squat. You can probably get a job at a university here, which are generally the highest-paying jobs (except teaching privately), but that obviously depends on more than your previous experience.

Everybody and their mothers have a dog here so I doubt you will have a problem finding a place where you can keep it with you. Climate is, er, eight months of rain and four months of wonderful-ness. Degrees in F you'll have to ask other people about. :)

nomad girl · Joined: 14 Sep 2007 Posts: 11

Thanks Ole! Do you have any suggestions or links for inquiring about university jobs? Would coming in January be better, as it is the start of the term? cheers in advance.

nomad girl · Joined: 14 Sep 2007 Posts: 11

Also... I am not too keen on big cities, although I assume that would be where the uni jobs are. Other than San Jose, which city would have more of a small town feeling? I haven't heard too many good things about San Jose...

Seibu · Joined: 29 Nov 2006 Posts: 65

Thanks for the posting this, Nomad. You and I are in the same boat (minus the dog).

Where did you teach in Cambodia and Japan? I'm arriving in January as well...sans the TOEFL certificate.

Just curious....have you looked into Panama? I'm getting the impression Costa Rica is crawling with gringos.

John Hall · Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2007 2:41 pm Post subject:

BTW, it�s TEFL, not TOEFL.

TEFL=Teaching English as a Foreign Language
TOEFL=Test of English as a Foreign Language

Wink

JAppleby · Joined: 03 Oct 2006 Posts: 32

I'm living and teaching in Heredia, and to me it has more of a small town feel. I work in the center of Heredia, and I can walk to work from my house on the outskirts of town in 20 minutes. There's plenty of stuff to do in town, and it's pretty easy to get to San Jose if you need to. There are also a few smaller towns close to Heredia if you don't mind taking the bus half an hour to get to work in downtown or wherever. Alajuela is another city that has a small town feel. I lived there when I studied here four years ago. According to my guidebook, it's bigger than Heredia, but the central downtown part is smaller, so it feels smaller to me. I think there's a few schools in Alajuela.

Good luck!

nomad girl · Joined: 14 Sep 2007 Posts: 11

Thanks for all the info! Costa Rica looks amazing.
Seibu ~ I taught in a small school (Sunshine School of English) in Tokyo. I had other work as well so it was only p/t. In Cambodia I was in Phnom Penh at A.C.E and Norodom English School. Cambodia is an incredible country, but it was awhile back and I hear now it is not the same. Too many expats! I'll have a look at Panama as well.
Can't wait for my next adventure!
I am sort of looking at Mexico as well... had anyone taught in both places?
What are the pros and cons of each?