Search

ELT Times Search
  • The worst ELT interview questions… and how to answer them March 12, 2012
    Some friends of Naturegirl123 were talking about interview questions that they got. Here are some difficult ones to answer and suggested answers. What religion are you?/ Are you X religion? This could be a legit question if you’re applying to a religious school. If you have the same religion as the school, simply say […]
  • Invoice factoring as a way of financing your language school March 12, 2012
    You’re looking into alternative ways to keep the finances in order in your burgeoning language school. Why not consider invoice factoring? Please don’t think of invoice factoring as a loan because it’s actually something quite different to that: it is more correctly defined as the acquisition of a financial asset. What does that mean? […]
  • Language Classes… Heat Up Careers! March 9, 2012
    Whether you love the snow or can’t wait until the warmer days of spring, this is a time of year when we all start to get a little stir-crazy, suggests Charlotte Evans. Winter was fun back in December but now the cold temperatures and extra layers of clothing are starting to feel a bit […]
  • Learning and Communicative Strategies March 6, 2012
    Introduction Communicative strategies are systematic techniques employed by a speaker to express his meaning when faced with some difficulty and the difficulty here refers to the speaker’s inadequate command of the language used in the interaction (Faerch & Kasper, 1983:16). On the other hand, the term learning strategies has been defined as “the higher- […]
  • Optimizing Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) March 6, 2012
    Technology transforms virtually all human pursuits, notes Michael G. Hines. In the field of education, the use of audiovisual aids, computers, and telecommunication devices has radically altered classroom dynamics. For ESL and TFL practitioners, the possibilities being opened up by technology are highly promising, with the currently accepted practices alread […]
  • Selling textbooks after you’ve finished using them? Here’s some advice February 28, 2012
    These days, being a student is in many ways more demanding than ever. In other ways, though, those attending university have never had it better. The advent of the internet has brought a wealth of information to the modern learner’s fingertips. The advent of sites like Wikipedia has made conducting research and building up […]
  • Want to employ the best teachers? Test them! February 22, 2012
    Are you looking for new teachers? Make sure you do into the process with a clear strategy for how you ensure you end up with the best candidate. Employee assessment tests are extremely important in enabling you as a recruiter of teachers to be able to make measured and well-informed decisions about the type […]
  • Online learning: Do you have the right personality? February 13, 2012
    Research has shown that online learning is better suited to people who are verbally oriented, rather than those who have visual or kinesthetic skills. For this reason, notes Jonathan Ginsburg, whether or not a student is successful in an e-learning course can depend considerably on their personality and their learning type. Before taking an […]
  • Alternative careers: Operations management February 13, 2012
    Tired of the hoi polloi of everyday life as a language teacher? Why not train to become an operations manager instead? An mba in healthcare management is an absolutely indispensable industry qualification which enables those who take it to hone their decision making abilities. The importance of a healthcare mba In today’s bloodthirsty world, […]
  • Can we use dreams to teach English? January 11, 2012
    Dogme ELT is rooted in the experiences of the learner and what they bring with them to the classroom. Our unconscious mind regularly sends us communication in the form of dreams: it is an advantage to understand the meaning of these messages. As our subconscious sends us only constructive information about our existence, it […]

Enjoy The Tropical Lifestyle When Teaching English In Costa Rica

By Michelle Simmons

In Costa Rica, the skill of speaking English is an excellent way to advance in a career. As Costa Rica interacts more and more with the Western world in terms of business communication, knowing how to speak English is becoming a priority among businessmen and students alike.

If you’re interested in teaching English in Costa Rica, you can pretty much rest assured that you’ll have an intriguing and enlightening experience. The following tips are designed to help you locate and land a job.

How do I know if I’m qualified?

Costa Rica, unlike many countries, does not require native English-speaking teachers to be certified in TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) or TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages). In general, those interested in teaching in Costa Rica need only have a Bachelor’s degree, in any subject, from a four-year college.

The one exception to this is if you are planning on searching for and landing a job while still in your home country. Without the benefit of meeting you in person and interviewing you, many Costa Rican schools prefer their teachers to be certified. In this case, you should attend a certification program. Most colleges offer TEFL certification courses that last about a month.

The skills you learn from TEFL certification, regardless of whether or not they help you land a job, will be invaluable in a classroom setting, particularly if you’ve never taught before. If you can, get yourself certified before you begin your job hunt.

Should I head to Costa Rica to find a job?

The answer to this question is generally yes, if possible. The fact is that not many Costa Rican schools will hire you from overseas- and, as stated above, the requirements placed upon you may be stricter if they do so. If it all possible, you should plan a trip to Costa Rica for the sole purpose of job searching.

The good news is that many Costa Rican schools and businesses will hire you immediately if you interview in person. The effort involved in traveling to Costa Rica for these interviews shows that you are dedicated to teaching English, and also gives you a chance to make a good impression and display your English skills on the spot.

Where should I begin my job search in Costa Rica?

The real question here is when. If you’re interested in teaching English in Costa Rica, you should be familiar with the fact that the school year runs from January to December. The majority of schools will not be hiring in the middle of the year; on the other hand, as December rolls around and current teachers change jobs and put in resignations, the roster will begin to open up. The best time to begin your job search is the last few months of the year- October, November, and December.

Keep in mind that if your preference is to teach somewhere other than a typical school or college, then the time of the year won’t necessarily matter. Many large Costa Rican companies are hiring English teachers at any given time. If you’re looking for this type of job, your best bet is to seek out connections wherever you can find them. Many Costa Rican newspapers have classified ads that offer information on available English teaching jobs.

Regardless of what type of job you choose or how you go about landing it, you’re likely to fall in love with Costa Rica. It’s considered a comfortable, laid-back country with wonderful weather and friendly people. Chances are good you’ll spend much of your free time exploring the countryside and learning about the culture of which you’re a part. Teaching English in Costa Rica can be a true learning experience!

About the Author

Michelle Simmons is a contributing editor for ESLemployment, the leading job and resource site for the English Teaching Industry. Interested in receiving hundreds of English Teaching jobs listings weekly for free? To learn more visit English Teaching Jobs.

VN:F [1.9.15_1155]
Rating: 0.0/10 (0 votes cast)
VN:F [1.9.15_1155]
Rating: 0 (from 0 votes)
Sphere: Related Content

Share

Leave a Reply

  

  

  

You can use these HTML tags

<a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

Get Adobe Flash playerPlugin by wpburn.com wordpress themes