Am I In Heaven? - Teach English In Costa Rica

Costa Rica is an island paradise full of sandy beaches and lush tropical forests. Once you go there, you may get sucked in and never want to leave. The friendly people, the laid back lifestyle and the cultural experience are all good reasons to stay. It may seem too good to be true, but to teach English in Costa Rica is totally possible. Just about anybody can do it!

How To Land A Job

The best, and as far as I know ONLY, way to get a job in Costa Rica is to go in person. Trying to land a job from home just won’t do it. Head down there at the end of the year to get settled, and start your job search in January. That’s the best time to be in the lush, tropical climate anyway, right? Take your resume and whatever references and certificates you have.

Speaking of certificates, you don’t really need any. Costa Rica is a country where a regular college degree, fluent English and a big smile will still land you the job. The important thing is to interview with lots of people and follow up on them. The school year starts in January, so that’s when everybody’s looking for teachers.

The Importance Of Looking Sharp

Costa Rica is a laid back island with beautiful, white beaches. You can just cruise into your interview in your beach clothes with a pina colada in your hand and a smile on your face and your interviewer will hire you on the spot — NOT! Don’t get the wrong idea about Costa Rica!

In Costa Rica, just like most Latin American countries, appearance is very important. You may not have any experience or qualifications, but at the very least you must look good. This means wear a suit, look professional and distinguish yourself from all the vacationers. Your potential employer isn’t on spring break. Remember that this is an interview for a teaching job!

Where Do You Want To Live?

Costa Rica offers lots of variety in its teaching situations. You can be in the rainforest teaching little kids the basics of English, or you can be in the hubbub of San Jose teaching businessmen and living in the city. While the pay in the city is much better, many prefer the more rural locations. There, you have more of a chance to interact with the local culture, and life is laid back and slow paced.

No Habla Espanol?

Don’t be afraid to head off to Costa Rica if you can’t speak any Spanish. Many teachers who go there don’t speak Spanish at first, but it’s not too hard to pick up. Even the most linguistically challenged can get to the point where they can get understand everybody and get where they need to go with a little study and practice. While teachers who head to Japan or Korea find that they have a terrible time trying to learn the language, most teachers in Costa Rica pick it up pretty quickly.

Probably the only downside to teaching in Costa Rica is that the money’s not so good. Even if you have a high paying job in the city, your pay will be more than enough to provide you with extra traveling or party money, but once you head back home the money won’t be worth much. But, who goes there for the money anyway? In Costa Rica, there’s so much more to life.