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Volunteer Abroad in Costa Rica as an English Teacher
Located between Nicaragua and Panama, Costa Rica is a relatively prosperous Central American country. The country has long been a popular destination for North Americans, but with its incredibly varied eco-systems and progressive attitudes to conservation, Costa Rica is also becoming increasingly popular as a global tourist destination. Knowledge of the English language is highly sought after in order to make the most of the opportunities this presents.
Volunteering abroad as an English teacher in Costa Rica is a fantastic way to see this beautiful Central American country and learn about its people and culture. You can gain international volunteer work experience on a Projects Abroad placement with no previous experience or TEFL qualification. Whether you want to volunteer as an English teacher on your gap year, career break or during an extended vacation, you will be valued by the local community and you will be fully supported by our local staff.
The impact you have on the lives of your students will be immediately obvious, but it is important to recognize you will also be part of a larger international volunteer network, which is striving to make a really positive contribution to the wider community.
Volunteering as a Language Teacher in Schools and Universities with Projects Abroad
Our volunteer Teaching projects in Costa Rica are mostly based in primary schools in the town of Liberia in the northwest of the country, and in the smaller town of La Cruz, located one to two hours drive from Liberia. We also have a small number of options for Teaching English in secondary schools upon request. The Liberia area is an excellent base for exploring Costa Rica. It is only a four hour bus ride from the capital of San José, one to two hours from a variety of stunning Pacific beaches, and within easy reach of several national parks, volcanoes, and hot springs.
As a Teaching volunteer you will live with a host family and many of the placements are less than 20 minutes’ walk from your accommodation, although some can be up to a 45 minute bus ride away. Depending on the school you are placed in you could be teaching children as young as 5 or as old as 18. The size of the classes may vary from as little as ten students to as many as forty. Although you will be given your own unique schedule, work generally begins at around 7am and runs until early afternoon.
Volunteers can also request to teach English at the local university. Here lessons are in the afternoons and sometimes in the early evening too. You will normally teach smaller conversation classes with students who are eager to both improve their English and find out about western culture, as well as assist the local teachers. Your schedule will be prepared with you when you arrive and will be reviewed regularly.
Projects Abroad also run our own language school in Liberia, which we encourage all Teaching volunteers to take part in. Lessons take place at a local school from 6pm to 7:30 or 8pm. The language school is open to adults 18 and up and there are also some classes arranged for 12 to 17 year olds. As well as English, volunteers can teach German in the evenings. It is sometimes possible to arrange evening classes in other languages, such as French. Many volunteers combine work at our language school with work in the primary schools in the daytime.
We can also offer French teaching in a local secondary school for volunteers who are fluent in French. Please let us know if you have any preferences when you apply.
International Volunteer Work on a Teaching Project in Costa Rica
As a volunteer in Costa Rica at one of our Teaching placements, you can provide effective, practical help with spoken and written English. For the students, the increased exposure to conversational English will enable them to advance their language skills and brighten their futures.
Your main role at the primary and secondary schools will be that of a classroom assistant during English lessons. Normally you will be supporting a teacher in a full-sized class, assisting with all aspects of the lesson, including pronunciation, conversation, and helping with written tasks. At other times, you may take small groups of students apart to give them more individual attention or to practice oral skills. If you demonstrate initiative and enthusiasm, in some cases you may have the opportunity to lead part or all of the lesson in the presence of the teacher. It is always worth talking to your supervisor about any ideas you may have for the students. If you have a passion for sports, drama, or music there may be the opportunity for you to organize some extracurricular activities as well.
Placements for math and science teaching assistants in a primary school can also be arranged. Although you do not need a certification in these subjects, you must speak advanced Spanish and have a good level of knowledge in the relevant subject.
When you arrive a member of Projects Abroad staff will take you to your school on your first working day and introduce you to the local staff and your placement supervisor (normally the Head Teacher or one of the English teachers). The local teachers always welcome new ideas and will appreciate you taking time to prepare and structure your lessons and activities. Good preparation will help to give you confidence and ensure that you and your students get the most out of your time in Costa Rica.
Projects Abroad staff will also give you support and advice and monitor your progress closely throughout your stay. We run regular workshops that you can attend to get help with ideas for useful classroom games or activities, or just to share your experiences and successes with other Teaching volunteers.
The schools in Costa Rica have their main vacations from mid-December to mid-February, with a shorter break in July. Volunteers are able to travel or enjoy the festivities with their host family over the Christmas period, then from the first week of January you will assist with a variety of special community programs. These may include extra work at the Projects Abroad language school, coaching sports, painting projects, and working with children at the care centres that are still open during the vacation period.
All volunteers on Teaching, Care, Sports, Journalism or Spanish placements in Costa Rica have the opportunity to add a 7-Day Conservation Project to the end of their main placement. For more information visit our 7-Day Costa Rica Conservation Project page.
I think I have become far more mature and well-rounded as a person. I know now how easy it is to make a difference – a presence in a classroom, an extra pair of hands, or simply using what skills you have to help – and this only adds extra incentive to do so again. Read more...