How to Teach English in Costa Rica

With its beautiful weather, Costa Rica is a popular destination for teachers of English as a second language (ESL) who want to live abroad. The requirements for teaching at a Costa Rican English school are relaxed--you'll need a bachelor's degree to get a visa, but your degree can be in any subject, and you don't need any special ESL certification. However, many employers will want to meet you before hiring you, so you may have to take a chance and visit without a job. Once you get a job, though, you simply have to wait for the government to process your visa.

Instructions

1. Take an ESL certification course. You do not need ESL certification to work at a school in Costa Rica. However, the English schools there do not usually offer a significant training program, so without some ESL training, you may feel lost. Even a short ESL certification course will give you the confidence you need to teach English. One popular course is the Cambridge Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA). A full-time course will take about four to five weeks, and you'll find teaching locations throughout the United States. You can find other ESL certificates through online courses. Search "ESL Certification" on the Internet for a list of available programs.

2. Search for jobs at ESL-specific job sites. The best way to find a job in Costa Rica from your home country is to look at websites that cater toward working abroad. Dave's ESL Cafe (see Resources) is an excellent site for finding teaching positions in Costa Rica. Apply for these jobs or just use the site to find out which schools are hiring.

3. Visit Costa Rica on a tourist visa. A tourist visa will allow you to travel within the country, but it will not allow you to work. When you're in the country, employers have the opportunity to meet you and see whether you are the type of teacher they are looking for. The Costa Rican school year runs from January to December, so the best time to go to look for a job is just before or after the beginning of the year.

4. Drop your resume off at local English schools. If you know what city you want to live in, search the Internet for schools in that city by typing "English school XYZ" (where XYZ represents the city's name) into an Internet search engine. Ask for advice from other English teachers living in Costa Rica, either in person or online at Dave's ESL Cafe. Dress professionally to make a good impression when you are touring schools.

5. Fill out the visa paperwork. Once a company has hired you, they'll support your visa. Getting a visa to work in Costa Rica requires a letter from the employer. You'll also have to submit your passport, an employment temporary residence permit application, two passport-size photos, your college degree and a certified copy of all the pages of your passport. Your employer will help you to prepare this application and gather all the necessary items. You may need to leave and re-enter the country while the government prepares your visa.

References

• Transitions Abroad: Teaching English in Costa Rica
• Costa Rica: Business Visas/TRPs

Resources

• Dave's ESL Cafe: Costa Rican Forum