Job Discussion Forums

yankeechemist · Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 50

I was going to come to CRthis past July tolook for teaching opportunities and then my father became ill. Assuming he is better by spring, I am considering coming in June for a TEFL course.

1)Which ones do you recommend?
2)I will be 49 by that time, is that ok

OleLarssen · Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Posts: 337

Age makes no difference. I don't know about the TEFL courses, I took mine in Quepos but apparently the quality of that school has crashed. There's a bunch of people reading these forums who recently took their TEFL/CELTAs, I suggest you ask them. You could check out Instituto Britannico, they offer the only CELTA around as far as I know.

aeb123$ · Joined: 12 Mar 2009 Posts: 11 Location: Indiana

OleLarrsen - I have a B.S. and Teaching License in Elementary Ed. and I'm currently completing a TESOL certificate course (graduate level classes and a practicum) at an American university. I am wanting to start teaching ESL early in 2010.

I've read one needs to go to CR in person to look for ESL jobs.....is this true? When would the best time to come down there - Jan., Feb. or March? Are there decent jobs available? I would like to work with children in a school setting but college age at a university or adults would be fine, too. I'm just a little leery of quitting my current job to go down there and not have any luck finding a job. I do have some savings to help hold me over - but not much.......any advice would be appreciated!
Thanks.

OleLarssen · Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Posts: 337

You can arrange interviews from the US but generally it's much better to be here in person - much faster, too. Getting a job for you will be no problem (in the private English schools). You could try talking to one of the private schools here (Washington, Country Day Inn) if you want to teach kids, but there are some private English schools that have children's classes. Jan and Feb are public school holidays so all of Costa Rica slows down a lot at that time. Late Feb-March will be no problem. You could also contact schools before they close down (mid-December) to arrange interviews, I suppose.

If you want an ESL job you're normally looking at a month or two at least, depending on the school and yourself, before you have a full schedule (which will net you anywhere from $400 to $900 depending on the school). Basically any school here would hire a person with your qualifications instantly, as far as I know.

aeb123$ · Joined: 12 Mar 2009 Posts: 11 Location: Indiana

OleLarrsen - thanks for the info. Do you really think age doesn't make a difference in CR? I'm in my mid-50's......

OleLarssen · Joined: 26 Apr 2006 Posts: 337

I've never considered it before you brought it up, my immediate answer would be no - I've met several mature men and women living and teaching here. It's hard to say. I don't think so is the best answer I can honestly give you.

jacobfrank · Joined: 30 Aug 2009 Posts: 17 Location: Wenzhou, China

I'm 54+ and have been teaching here in C.R. since the spring. Before that I taught in Mexico and plan to move on to So. America in a few months. I really don't believe age is an issue here the way it is in Asia.