Job Discussion Forums

Michael Kennedy · Joined: 30 Sep 2007 Posts: 31

I was thinking of teaching in San Jose but decided the money was simply not worth it for me to live comfortably down there so I just got back and got a job offer doing the same thing I do up in the states (inside sales) but for half the money I make up in the U.S. but it will at least be enough to live comfortable in San Jose. I just could not live comfortably as an english teacher in Costa Rica because to even live half way decent you need at least $1300 a month. Just to live in a decent neighborhood it will run you at least $300 a month. I mean you can get places for $200 and you can eat in restaurants for $3-4 but all of these places are not nearly up to par with Western Standards. I like having a normal non-electric shower and being able to eat at Pizza Hut or KFC. I am willing to live in another country but need some of the basic modern world things if I am going to live there 2 years or more.

Extraordinary Rendition · Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 10:01 am Post subject:

You posted, so I presume you'd like some discussion. I'm curious about a couple of things. What was the going rate you found for fairly well-qualified EFL teachers, with say a CELTA and MA in TEFL and 10 years experience? And what's an electric shower? Do you mean one of those point-of-use water heaters run by electricity? I used those in Thailand and love them because the supply never runs out like it does in tank-style heaters, and it's very easy to control the temperature. What was the problem with electric showers, in your experience? Also, you seem very anxious to live in Costa Rica. I've heard good things about it from acquaintances. Can you elaborate on why you like it?

Michael Kennedy · Joined: 30 Sep 2007 Posts: 31

I am not sure about the pay for that level of experience. Not sure about Thailand but the elctric showers in Costa Rica are not that great from my expereience and from talking to a woman from Puerto Rico on the Air Plane home, she said those electric showers are flat out dangerous and many people die from them every year. I just like Costa Rica because I have been going down there since I was a little kid and have many many friends down there who are both Costa Rican and also in the EX-Pat community and also a lot of friends working down there also in the gaming industry. Costa Rica is a fun place, close to home, the people are pretty cool. That is all I can really say. I mean I speak pretty decent Spanish, so to me the culture is not that much different then any place else but of course other people have different opinions I am sure.

Extraordinary Rendition · Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 3:21 pm Post subject:

I did hear about one woman dying from an old, faultily wired point-of-use water heater in Thailand, but that was in five years. A little scary, though, a lot of electricity and water, what a mix. Thanks! Just curious.

Michael Kennedy · Joined: 30 Sep 2007 Posts: 31

Yeah but in response to pay. I would say the highest paying non-sales jobs in Costa Rica would be in writing for gaming magazines and websites. I have friends that work as writers for some of the poker and gambling magazines down there who average about 30k and for Costa Rica that goes really really far. With your qualifacations, you might be able to snag a job like that. The posting come up every now and then for these postions.

Extraordinary Rendition · Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 4:55 pm Post subject:

Thanks! Where might I watch for the posting?

Michael Kennedy · Joined: 30 Sep 2007 Posts: 31

Here is one: http://www.learn4good.com/jobs/language/english/search/job/38271/

but also the Tico Times and AM Costa Rica have lots of jobs. All you have to do is Google them. You can get jobs from managing a B&B to bartending, to being a fishing guide. There are so many other jobs in Costa Rica other then teaching. Even most of the sports books pay about $50 a day.

Extraordinary Rendition · Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 7:06 pm Post subject:

Interesting! Thanks!

deessell2 · Joined: 11 Jun 2005 Posts: 132 Location: Under the sun

I also decided not to teach there. What I did was teach English online. There is a Taiwan based company that advertises on Daves. You can make about $1000 a month. You need a good internet connection though.

ajarnlilly · Joined: 28 Dec 2006 Posts: 35 Location: Managua Nicaragua

Are you or anyone you know actually doing this...I mean teaching online and making $1000/mo?
Thanks

ajarnlilly · Joined: 28 Dec 2006 Posts: 35 Location: Managua Nicaragua

Are you or anyone you know actually doing this...I mean teaching online and making $1000/mo?
Thanks

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

I think it's like private classes, you have to build up a reputation and be prepared for lots of cancelled classes.

Daddyo · Joined: 19 Jun 2008 Posts: 89 Location: Bogota, Colombia