Job Discussion Forums

[yfeem]

I apologise if most of the information I am asking has already been answered in other threads, I have searched and read a lot on these boards but I haven't found enough information relating to my specific circumstances.

I'll start with why I am posting. My girlfriend lives in Costa Rica (San Jose) and I want to go and live out there with her. This is the reason I am interested in teaching English rather than having a burning desire to become a teacher (I have looked at call centres and other types of work but teaching seems to have the best chances for finding a job). Having said that, I have had my heart set on living abroad for a while and this could be the perfect thing to ensure I don't have to come back to the UK, even if I choose to go to Asia (I have a strong interest here as well).

I don't have any teaching experience or qualifications, and I don't have a degree (although I have a few qualifications in further/higher education including some Open University at degree level). This is my main area of concern because I keep reading that a BA is very important. I am willing to take a CELTA course in CR but this is going to be a large lump of the savings I will have.

I was thinking of taking the 120 hour i-to-i combined course but have decided against that after researching on this forum.

I'm just wondering what realistic chances I have of finding a job without a degree, with and without the CELTA qualification. I wasn't really taught grammar at school so I'm not very confident about teaching without a qualification but I am willing to do my homework if it meant not taking the CELTA.

And is being an English speaker from the UK a disadvantage compared to being from USA? I have heard that the Costa Ricans find the English accent difficult to understand.

Also, some slightly unrelated questions some of you may be able to help with (or maybe not but I could do with throwing some ideas out there). I think I'm going to have about �3,500 - �4,500 to take with me, �1,000 i would like to reserve for needing to get somewhere else and roughly �1,000 if I do the CELTA course. That leaves me with about �2,000. Is this an unrealistic amount to try and set myself up with in CR? I will be able to live at my girlfriend's house (as long as we stay together!) without needing to pay rent/bills for a while so i think my only real expense would be food (and ciggies) but I am a little worried of spending all my savings looking for a job and then being stuck there.

Any advice at all from expats would be very welcome, I am starting to go out of my mind worrying about all the considerations.

[jprimm]

I would suggest that you need a degree as well as a certification, as that is what it will probably take for you to get a decent job teaching English here in Costa Rica. Presently there are a lot of very qualified people looking for work. You would have a better chance working for a call center making 4 to 5 dollars an hour. Good Luck!