Job Discussion Forums

jprimm · Joined: 03 Aug 2007 Posts: 91

Does anyone know about this school? I have heard great things about it and they are looking for a couple of teacher in Liberia to start in a week.

drjhoss · Joined: 03 Jan 2008 Posts: 5

John,

I tried emailing you on the email address you gave me, but it came back as an incorrect address? Can you email me at [email protected]? I'm looking for other options in Costa Rica, it seems the Teocali offer might fall through. They want teachers physically there. I was hoping you might have some advice for me. If you don't have time, I understand.

Thanks!
Josh ([email protected])
ps. I'm the guy you talked to on msn messenger on Friday

Kimmer · Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Posts: 5 Location: Atlanta, Georgia

I just got offered a job at Academia Teocali but ended up taking a job near Quepos instead. The school is absolutely fantastic and the people there are really nice and helpful. I had trouble getting consistent contact with them before I got there, but once I got there they did everything they could to help me. The program there is very highly rated, definitely the best in Guanacaste and one of the best in the country. The best way to get in touch with them is to call the number on the website, but you have to speak Spanish with the people in the office. Dona Ana is the lady who will interview and help you with the process and she speaks fluent English. I know they need a teacher for 2nd and 3rd grade and a teacher for the advanced highschool students. Planing sessions start monday for the classes, but school doesnt start until Feb 1st. Feel free to message me if you need anything else.

Buenas suerte and Pura Vida

Kimmer · Joined: 03 Oct 2007 Posts: 5 Location: Atlanta, Georgia

And if you end up calling. Tell Dona Ana that Kimberly sent you.

OleLarssen · Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Posts: 337

jprimm · Joined: 03 Aug 2007 Posts: 91

Ole is right...I took a job at this school and was told that I was going to be teaching English to honors students. I ended up teaching 5th and 6 th graders English as well as world literature, science and geography. It kicked my butt as I was totally unprepared or qualified for it and got fired after 3 months. The people in the school are good people but I was not qualified nor did they make clear what they wanted.

OleLarssen · Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Posts: 337

How was the pay and working hours, jprimm?

jprimm · Joined: 03 Aug 2007 Posts: 91

The pay at the school was very fair...I think around 750 dollars a month and the hours were also good. I just was not qualified for the job. Unless you have a degree in education, class room experience and are bilingual..you and in for hard go...

OleLarssen · Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Posts: 337

Bilingual, no. So you can't run the show in English only? I don't have a degree in education but enough practice as a teacher to deal with something like that (I think...).

jprimm · Joined: 03 Aug 2007 Posts: 91

Being fluent in Spanish really makes a difference as the principals and administrators do not really speak English. The one teacher who does a great job from the US speaks both.

teebar · Joined: 13 May 2008 Posts: 4 Location: New York, NY

Hi all...I've been in contact with Academia Teocali recently. I'm hoping to get a job with them but it sounds like they're not looking for teachers until January, which is ok since I'm still here in the U.S. I'm curious, what is Liberia like (in comparison to San Jose? which i thought didn't have much character)? Also, what were the students like?

augrad · Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 15

I sent a resume over the weekend and was contacted via email this morning by this school. I am a B.S. level teacher in Florida and am wondering about this school. The lady who emailed me (Ana de Estrada) told me "Our English teacher positions are full time, structured programs designed by grade just as in any regular school which must meet academic goals each year."

Should I expect it to be similar to the schools I am used to here in FL?

Any info/advice anyone can give me would be greatly appreciated. I would love to hear from some of you who posted back in May if you took a position there, i.e., what has your experience been like, what is the cost of living (is it hard to live on your salary?), etc.

I am fluent in Spanish.

Thanks!