INTESOL Nicaragua

Why choose INTESOL Nicaragua?

Our experienced teachers will guide you through the four week intensive course, ensuring you gain the necessary skills to become a successful EFL/ESL teacher. Partnership with a language school gives you the opportunity to practice techniques as you learn - plus receive immediate feedback. After course completion, we'll help you find paid or volunteer work through our vast network of contacts here in Nicaragua.

Study for your internationally recognized TEFL/TESOL certificate in the safe and friendly city of Granada, Nicaragua. During the course we'll make sure you have plenty of opportunity to explore Granada's beautiful colonial architecture, colorful market and abundant bars and restaurants.

As part of INTESOL Worldwide, our course is accredited and certified by the well-respected UK-based ALAP. Your certificate will be accepted and valued by ELT employers around the world.

Website

www.intesolnicaragua.com

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Reviews

I was an ESOL teacher for around 10 years in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Among my students were ordinary young students, once even to a group of native
physicians (medical terminology) and employees of two different hotels. All this part-time,
because I was attending medical school at the same time. Besides my B.S. in Biology, I've been granted a D.D. degree (Divinity) here in USA, from a local school in Georgia. I took 2 years of french during my B.S. degree. I can read some french and speak a little of it. I'm fully fluent in English & Spanish. I can read & speak somewhat more Portuguese than French. Of my prior jobs here in USA, I worked as a bilingual Substance Abuse Counselor in 3 states: D.C., VA & MD for 8 years. During my B.S. degree I took 6 educational courses & 6 in Psychology: 2 Generals and one in Social, Applied, Developmental and Educational. I've never been in jail in my life!
in Education, one in english composition & another in Speech workshop.

What was your funniest moment?

When I had to give an ESOL course to a group of kindergarden kids. It was also so
exciting! This was while I was an ESOL teacher in an ESOL school in Santo Domingo,
Dominican Republic. None of the other teachers of the school wanted to take the class,
but I did.

I gained so much through this course, professionally and personally. The staff are the best i believe you can find in any program, extremely knowledgeable personable and helpful people who also support you in exploring and enjoy beautiful Granada and Nicaragua. Also, the facilities are beautiful and spacious with mutliple indoor and outdoor classrooms and work areas and Paul really encourages you to feel at home at his school. The coursework was rigorous but Paul gives you as much help as you need so if you use his help anybody can be successful in this course. In addition, my homestay experience was amazing and i highly recommend it to anybody doing this course!

What would you improve about this program?

Nothing I can think of, really well done program.

Although very challenging, this course gave me everything I needed and more to become a successful TEFL certified teacher. What I really loved about this program included the teaching observations, the six teaching practices, and the regular feedback from the instructors, the teachers in the school, and the other students. The experience was made even better since it was taught in an English school, so we had access to all the necessary learning materials and ideas so that we were self-assured about teaching from day one.

In addition, you have a truly unique experience as you learn in the center of Granada, Nicaragua. Not only do you have a chance to learn how to teach, but you have all of the resources to improve your Spanish speaking level. I went from novice to conversational in the span of just a few weeks. The instructors plan weekly outings in and around Granada (Laguna de Apoyo, Las Isletas, San Juan del Sur, etc) so that you have a chance to experience the beautiful nature of Nicaragua as well as a chance to interact with the lovely locals.

This was worth the time and money, and if you have the means, I highly recommend this rewarding course!

Sunset at the famous bay in San Juan del Sur

The course was intense but very rewarding. You have to plan six lessons during the course and then you will get to teach them in front of students of the English language. Paul was always there to support you and help you out. He also planned a few nice trips on the weekends (Laguna de Apoyo, kayaking through the islets, pacific beach). The other teachers at the school are also very nice. I'm glad I did this course with Paul and his team because I feel prepared to be an English teacher now and had lots of fun.

Although the course fairly involved, it was extremely rewarding. I learnt a lot from it, and definitely felt equipped to start teaching. Paul offered a lot of help, and genuinely cared about your success on the course, and also during the teaching practices. The school is a great place. Very relaxing, with 4 beautiful cats. Paul was a great host! We went on a lot of fun day trips to beautiful places. I couldn't of chosen a better place to get my TEFL teaching qualification.

What would you improve about this program?

I can't think of anything at this point.

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Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

What is your favorite travel memory?

My favorite travel memory has to be the first time I visited Nicaragua with my cousin and a friend in 2014. I found myself in the beautiful city of Granada - it was like stepping into a different world - a world full of unfamiliar sights, smells and noises. I loved the lively and friendly atmosphere, the music, the food. Nicaragua was awe inspiring. I spent a few days in San Juan Del Sur exploring the town and the surrounding beaches - sunsets on this coast are possibly the best I have seen in the world! I also spent a few days on the beautiful island of Ometepe - a place to reconnect with nature, hike a volcano and cool off under a waterfall. Finally, back to Granada where the markets, nightlife and architecture are some of the best I have experienced in Central America - a real must!

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

Since joining INTESOL Nicaragua I have learnt a great deal about working as part of a team. I have learnt to work with local people and other expats to make a successful school which helps people begin their career as English teachers whilst experiencing life in Nicaragua. I have developed my tutoring skills as well as my interpersonal skills and communication skills (in both English and Spanish!). I have also become more adventurous since attending various activities and weekend excursions with students - I am now not afraid to zip-line through the jungle, surf the Pacific or scuba dive off the Caribbean coast!

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What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

My favourite story from one of our INTESOL Nicaragua students was a recent one - a student from Australia attended our course and passed with flying colours. Once qualified, instead of returning to Brisbane as she had planned, with the help of INTESOL Nicaragua staff, she found a job in Nicaragua working in a primary school with some of the poorest local children in Granada. She worked for 3 months as a TEFL teacher gaining invaluable teaching experience whilst getting to know the locals and truly becoming part of the community. She later told me that the TEFL course and subsequent qualification had changed her life and that it was an experience she would never ever forget. Great feedback for us here at INTESOL Nicaragua!

Which destination is most underrated? Conversely, which is most overrated?

The most underrated destination I would say are some of the villages surrounding Granada - "Los Pueblos Blancos". One of these villages, Catarina, provides fantastic views of the Laguna De Apoyo. The villages are renowned for their arts and crafts including handcrafted and hand-painted ceramics, homemade sweets and wooden furniture. These villages are also known for their "curanderos" or folk healers. A visit to these villages, just 30 minutes from Granada, is well worth a day trip whether you venture out alone on a 'chicken bus' to explore or take a guided tour of the region - you won't regret it!

Overrated in my opinion has to the town of San Juan Del Sur - its fun for a boozy night and is a great base for reaching the surrounding beaches such as Playa Hermosa and Playa Maderas, but the town itself is not pretty or an example of Latin American culture that I would recommend.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

I felt particularly proud to be part of the INTESOL Nicaragua team when we welcomed our first students to Granada. It was a great experience to be part of these students' first steps towards becoming qualified TEFL teachers. Furthermore, I had the privilege of showing these students the best that Granada and the surrounding areas have to offer. Welcoming new fresh faces to Granada and to our school will never lose its excitement for me - its something I will always enjoy. To tutor someone to become a knowledgeable and confident TEFL teacher is a challenge but great fun and getting to know each student is really great too. We welcome students from all over the world and so it is always interesting to meet our new students when they arrive off the plane.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

I think the people who are part of a company are the most important factor in making it successful. At INTESOL Nicaragua, all the staff work really closely together, we are a tight group who support each other every day to help make the school successful. From admin to tutors and drivers to directors, everyone is key to the success of the company, everyone is important and everyone is treated as equal. In this way, we are all invested to achieve the same goal and continue growing the school.

What unique qualities does your company possess?

INTESOL Nicaragua is a great and unique company - we are a small company and so we all know each other very well. We are unique in that we were all friends before we opened our school and so we all already shared a passion for Granada, a passion for Nicaragua and a passion for teaching. This well-established bond allowed us to work together honestly and creatively to build a school we are proud of. It is a school that prides itself in providing quality tuition and support to our students every step of the way as they study to become qualified English teachers.