Job Discussion Forums

[teachwrite]

Hi All,

This is my first post on the Costa Rica board. I have a BS Degree in Engineering (1999), 2 years graphic design experience, and 5 years of business development experience. I taught English for 6 months in Guatemala last year and loved it. The school provided me with a letter of recommendation when I decided to return to the states to save money, to buy a laptop, and to complete a TEFL program (bridgetefl.com, 60hr, great course, IMO). I also taught basic job skills to inner city youth for a full year back in 2001 in a bad section of Long Beach, CA.

I'm strongly considering teaching English in Costa Rica this January (along with quit a few handful of others, I see).

My basic question is this: What is the best (any) way to avoid working on Saturdays, and to go to work at a single location with an actual classroom and a whiteboard? I'm okay with medium-to-low pay if that's a necessary trade-off, because I have a pretty good nest-egg saved up. Should I limit my search to language institutes for this type of work arrangement? Could someone with my backgground conceivably land a University job?

I worked for UC Berkeley's College of Engineering for over a year as a development officer (establishing scholarships, soliciting large donations, and interacting with faculty, staff, and students). Communication (in all forms) is really my strong point, and I can create a air of professionalism and confidence in almost any interview environment. I'm not trying to show-off, but rather being straightforward about who I am and what my goals are.

Thank you very much for any feedback.

Also, are the roofs mostly tin like they were in Guatemala? I can handle rain, but it was very loud on the tin roof of my apartment in Guate, and it kept waking me up at night. That, and the gunshots, and the endless barrage of fireworks; but I actually liked those sounds, being a bit of a pyromaniac as a child. Oh, the joy. =)

[solnegro]

Finding a job in C.R. is very easy. English teachers are in demand. Anyone with a TEFL or teaching experience can get a job at a language institute or University. I got hired at ULatina and InterCultura in Heredia with a TEFL Certificate and 3 months teaching experience.

Go online and do a Google search with something like "Costa Rica English Schools". You should get many hits with lists of schools. A majority of the teaching jobs are in the capital--San Jose. I hate San Jose for numerous reasons that I will not go into. Good paying jobs can only be found in San Jose unless you work for a firm that will put you up in a beach resort to teach hotel employees. As of last year when I was in S.J. $10 hourly was top pay.

You'll have no problem getting hired as an English teaching job in C.R. Good luck!

[teachwrite]

[John Hall]

Just make it clear to your prospective employers that work on Saturday is entirely out of the question. Most places that hire do not require you to sign a contract, so you are never in a position where you are forced to work at times that you do not want to work.

[teachwrite]

[OleLarssen]

Well, as far as I understand, most in-house schools (that's a retarded name that I just made up for schools with actual classrooms) generally pay less than business teaching. I know my school does, though it also offers business teaching that pays a little better. Finding schools with classrooms aside mine should be doable, but you might have to look a bit (and probably settle for a non-amazing paycheck). And what John Hall says about Saturday teaching is true. Just say no.

[teachwrite]

[OleLarssen]

I'm sorry, except for the school I work at (New Learning Academy) I don't know of any schools that have classrooms off the top of my head. Well, actually, there's two on Paseo Colon, but I can't remember their names. One is big and has a bad rep. The other is small (a block off P.C.) and has no rep that I know of. No names, sorry. :(