Job Discussion Forums

[rstamp1]

A friend and I are completing a TEFL online course and planning to move to Costa Rica at the end of the month and I have some questions and any advice would be appreciated. Neither of us has taught before.

1. Most schools seem to have a mandatory in person interview, but I am scared to quit my current job and move without having another job lined up. We are both college grads so should it be hard to find a position?
2. With no experience in teaching are there any specific companies you suggest we try and get hired at?
3. I have been told the majority of jobs are in San Jose, but since San Jose is rather dangerous to live in Escazu or Santa Ana because the area is nicer.
4. Are there any items that I definitely need to bring including teaching materials or is pretty much everything available down there?

5. If I plan on spending approx. $300 a month in rent and use public transportation how much money could I get by on during a month living a normal lifestyle. I have some money saved and plan to work but my main reason for moving there is to see the country .
Any other advice or suggestions would be appreciated

[OleLarssen]

1. Most schools seem to have a mandatory in person interview, but I am scared to quit my current job and move without having another job lined up. We are both college grads so should it be hard to find a position?

You will be able to find a job, but you're going to need a bit of savings for the first couple of months while you are either looking or building up your schedule.

3. I have been told the majority of jobs are in San Jose, but since San Jose is rather dangerous to live in Escazu or Santa Ana because the area is nicer.

There are two San Joses. One is San Jose the part of the city, which is AKA downtown. That's probably not what you are talking about. San Jose the municipality, or general area = 2.something million people in total and incorporates Escazu, Santa Ana, Heredia, Alajuela etc etc. So when it's said that it's easy to find jobs in San Jose they are actually referring to the metropolitan area in the southeast end of the Valle Central. Escazu is fine, lots of gringos in certain parts of it though, same with Santa Ana. I would suggest that unless you are planning to buy a car or other transportation, that you come here and live somewhere temporarily while looking for a job, then you find a place close to work.

4. Are there any items that I definitely need to bring including teaching materials or is pretty much everything available down there?

Everything is available down here. What you need most is an open mind to deal with a level of efficiency and speed that you are probably not used to, and some savings to help tide you over.

[treasurechess]

5. If I plan on spending approx. $300 a month in rent and use public transportation how much money could I get by on during a month living a normal lifestyle. I have some money saved and plan to work but my main reason for moving there is to see the country .
Any other advice or suggestions would be appreciated

5. Since OleLarssen replied to your other questions, I will do no. 5.

Your main expenditures will be for the securtiy deposit, food, transportation, and hotels if you are travelling. I would budget at least $200 more monthly. The money you get from working if you are teaching English will not be that much and it will take time to get jobs.

[OleLarssen]

Ohh I didn't even see no. 5. Just get a room in a shared apartment or house for like $150-200 and you can spend the rest travelling. :)

[nomad22]

[quote="OleLarssen]What you need most is an open mind to deal with a level of efficiency and speed that you are probably not used to, and some savings to help tide you over.[/quote]

really i cant imagine theyre so efficient and speedy there???? i think that was a typo, right?

so CR is rather chilled and laidback. i could do with that how many hours a week would be a normal workload? is it easy enough to rack up 30 hours?

[OleLarssen]

Teaching 30 hours a week is gonna be a bit tough, but it's possible. The main problem is a lot of places have split schedules, where you work in the morning and the afternoon and not in between.

I didn't miswrite what you quoted, you just misread it. It wasn't very clearly written anyway. :) I didn't say they were MORE efficient and speedy here.

[nomad22]

thanks for the info. no, you didnt say they were "more" efficient and speedy in CR, but you implied it, as you said it wouldnt be what she/he was used to. and one can only presume that he/she isnt in a place less efficient/speedy than costa rica. do you see where im coming from?

so let's leave it at that. as you said, it wasnt written the best. btw, i see many of your posts in many different forums, are you actually in CR?

[OleLarssen]

I post in different forums? Since when? :O I think I posted like, once, in the general forums, and a couple of times in the Latin American forum.

Yes, I live and work in Costa Rica currently.