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WorldTeach - Volunteer Teaching in Costa Rica - Past Programs

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Location

Costa Rica

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Program Details

Teaching Practicum

No

Job Placement

No

Pricing

Starting Price

3000

Last Updated: Sep 20, 2017

Last Reviewed: Jun 14, 2018

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About Program

WorldTeach's volunteer program in Costa Rica, established in 1989, is their oldest continuously running program. Volunteers work with WorldTeach and the Ministry of Public Education (MEP) to provide Costa Rican students the opportunity to learn English. Volunteers teach in rural elementary schools as well as in the only two public bilingual elementary schools in the country. In rural areas, the students wouldn't otherwise have the opportunity to learn English in school even though it is an official school subject. At the bilingual elementary schools, volunteers make an impact by working with local English teachers to provide integrated instruction to students who live in areas economically fueled by tourism, and thus where there is a high demand for English language skills. Volunteers have the option of serving for an entire academic year or for a summer.

Yearlong program: January through mid-December
Summer program: late May / early June through mid-August

This program is no longer offered. View more programs from WorldTeach.

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Program Reviews

4.82 Rating

based on 39 reviews

Rating Spread Teach TEFL

5 rating 87.18%
4 rating 7.69%
3 rating 5.13%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Benefits 4.95
Support 4.95
Fun 4.8
Facilities 4.85
Safety 4.9

Instruction 4.65
Support 4.65
Value 4.75
Academic Rigor 4
Job Assistance 3.75

Showing 17 - 24 of 39 reviews

The Costa Rica World Teach program is an amazing program in an amazing country. Everyone is so friendly and World Teach is so supportive all year long. It is definitely an experience to remember and I recommend it!

What would you improve about this program?

I actually wouldn't change anything with the program. The school system in Costa Rica was a little difficult to deal with with the support of World Teach, I was able to continue on without any problems.

Although it has been a long time, my year in Costa Rica teaching children, living with a family & bonding with fellow volunteers is an experience I will always be grateful for. Thank you, WorldTeach!

I had a terrific experience with World Teach in Costa Rica. The process that began with the application and ended with my completion of the program was relatively smooth. The World Teach staff did an excellent job with orientation so I felt prepared when I arrived at my site. They also did a good job of matching me with a site that I really enjoyed. I cannot say enough good things about the Field Director. She was organized, helpful, compassionate, and did her best to give us the support that we needed. World Teach provided us with top notch health insurance that made all in-country health care cheap to free. I highly recommend this program.

What would you improve about this program?

My only area for improvement would be a lower cost to participate. Many people would love to volunteer as a teacher in a developing country, but it is very difficult for most people - particularly those a year or two out of college - to afford (by self-funding or fundraising) several thousand dollars to work as a volunteer.

If you are looking for something different, want teaching experience, and to learn Spanish, then you should definitely go to Costa Rica. It is safe and the people are very friendly. You won't have time to travel a lot, so expect to stay in your community. You have to put yourself out there and not be afraid to speak Spanish and do things, otherwise, you will be bored. As long as you are going because you want to teach and see what it is like to live in a different culture, than the Costa Rica program is great! If you do the summer program than it goes by fast!

What would you improve about this program?

I would have liked more time off to see the country.

My WorldTeach experience was unexpectedly rewarding. I had a wonderful, supportive director at the school where I was assigned, and we remain in communication. The training and experience I received prior to and during my teaching year proved immensely helpful, enabling me to participant in Costa Rican education in a meaningful way for many years. The challenges of the Costa Rican educational system were well met by the WorldTeach support system, and the teamwork on all levels across cultures was always based in good will. My world was opened and expanded, my life enriched, and I love knowing that I am doing the same for my students.

What would you improve about this program?

Many of the things that I felt needed addressing at the time have been done. World Teach responds and grows as necessary, most admirably.

I taught 1st - 6th grade, Monday through Friday, in a Costa Rican village of about 100 people. I lived with a host family. It was absolutely amazing in every way! WorldTeach did a great job of helping things along the way so it was smooth sailing for the volunteers. You won't have to worry about hardly anything but your teaching, which is how it should be!
The most difficult part of this experience, for me, was my personal lack of Spanish knowledge. I knew just enough to eek by, but when you are COMPLETELY immersed (living with a Spanish-speaking family, working in a Spanish-speaking school, navigating a Spanish-speaking community), it can get frustrating when you're not able to communicate like you'd like to (or worse if people either underestimate or overestimate your Spanish ability...equally frustrating!)
However, this was also the most rewarding part! I absolutely love my family, my school, my students, my community...all of it. They have wrapped their arms around me and considered me a part of the community not a visitor, even though I am only here for 3 months!
It seems like a short time, and sometimes it will be short, but you have no clue what an impact you can have on their lives and they on yours!
I am an ELL teacher back in the States (though much different), but if I accomplished nothing more than giving the student's a positive view of the English language and the community a positive outlook on "gringas", I will have considered my experience a success. Luckily, my students have learned more than that! :)

What would you improve about this program?

Everything was, seriously, almost perfect, but the current field director is less than desirable. However, the past field directors have been incredible, the summer coordinator is amazing, and it is the current field director's last year with the program!

This was the most impactful experience of my life and has shaped how I view the world, its people, and my role on it. Keep an open mind, practice cross-cultural competency and get ready to leave your heart with the Ticos.

What would you improve about this program?

Offer more extentions.

Wonderful program. I was a teaching volunteer in Costa Rica for 1 year and it was exactly what I was looking for--a peace corps-like teaching program but without the bureaucracy. The application process was efficient and I was able to ship out very quickly. After a few weeks of training, I was placed in a village school where the need for a teacher was clear. It was a challenging and rewarding experience. Note - Most volunteers on this program are placed to live with host families, but some (including me) were in private housing. My village had a small house where all of the teachers lived (5 of us), because the Costan Rican teachers were not from the village either. Only downside is that there was an out-of-pocket cost.

What would you improve about this program?

See above.

Questions & Answers

How do you apply?

Hi Candace, You can start applying here--- http://www.worldteach.org/site/c.buLRIbNOIbJ2G/b.6150583/k.1365/Apply_to_WorldTeach_Volunteer_Programs.htm

By Mallory Meiser on November 6, 2015

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

I want to preface this by saying that I was never the best student. In high school, many of my friends and I could easily do well in classes simply by attending, paying attention, and doing well on the tests. I never truly developed study skills, time management skills, or even great reading/writing processes because I could, fairly easily, bang out my assignments and get good grades.

When I got to college (UMass Amherst), it was a slap in the face—not to mention a “party” school. After a disappointing first semester, I spent the rest of my time working to better my academic self. By senior year, I was taking Honors classes, intensive language training, and working in my university’s Writing Center as I pursued my degree in English.

All of this was great, and I knew I wanted to pursue grad school, but I also felt that the past 4 years had been so selfish: it was all about me; it was all about finding the work-social balance for myself. How could I use these skills to give back (before becoming even more self-absorbed in grad school)?

I was developing teaching skills through tutoring and knew that was a path I’d like to take. I had a decent base of Spanish language training, so it made sense to look for a volunteer opportunity that could mesh these 2 interests. I started by googling opportunities to teach abroad and came across World Teach, which didn’t have the 2-year commitment of the Peace Corps and had other attractive qualities like in-country training and support. I read everything on their website and considered the program cost (I believe it was around $4900 at the time), and I put together my materials to apply.

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

World Teach started assisting me before I was even accepted! Part of the application process included an interview with a former WT volunteer, and the time spent in her home talking about the joys and challenges of teaching abroad really helped with my mindset and expectations! Also, before leaving, all of the volunteers in my cohort were in touch via email. I made 2 friends before even leaving – one ended up with the same teaching assignment as me, and the other was “my person” and still a friend to this day!

WT assisted with everything – from visas, setting up bank accounts, and placing us with host families. They provided a month-long training session that had time for language, culture, and teaching. They also provided in-country support (field directors), so if there were ever any issues, you had a direct contact that could physically be there within a day.

The only things I really organized on my own were the major flights – the first to Miami where I met up with the group, and we all flew to CR together; the flight home was at our own discretion as well as the transportation for in-service meetings (a cheap bus ticket).

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What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

One piece of advice I’d give someone going on this program would be to pay attention to the training material on culture shock/the culture curve. Each person is going to have their moments of “this is wonderful, how could I ever leave?!” and “this sucks, why did I sign up for this?” Understanding how this works and what you need to take care of yourself when the inevitable low moments rise is a great learning experience, and knowing that it will all eventually even out is a great comfort!

In my placement, I saw poverty and racism and the issues tourism can bring when your culture has certain values. I also experienced crime in a way I’d been much sheltered from before. It’s not all sunshine and roses, even though that’s all you’ll see at first. Any company is going to highlight the good things, which does and should outweigh the bad, but just be prepared for the challenges.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

On an average day, my work schedule would be to eat breakfast with my host family, teach in the morning, go home to eat lunch, and sometimes teach in the afternoon. There was A LOT of downtime! This was filled mostly with going to the beach every day. Eventually we made friends who we’d meet up with.

There was also a Spanish-language school nearby, so I exchanged English lessons with the teachers for Spanish lessons, which helped with things like proper grammar that can be hard to pick up when speaking. I spent a lot of time playing with a first-grader (my host sister) and was lucky to live in a town with options for nightlife and such. I read and journaled for “me time” and traveled a bit around the country. The nice thing about my placement was that it is a vacation spot, so there were always opportunities for visitors!

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

I had never lived farther than an hour from home. While I had traveled, I’d never been immersed somewhere like this before, and, in 2008, things like WiFi and smartphones simply weren’t prevalent in CR. My biggest fear was that I’d be missing and missing out on so much at home – family, friends, and a year’s worth of happenings.

At 22, I can see how those fears could be present, but when I got home... things were pretty much the same! It’s a whole year, but it’s also just a year. This program worked especially well because you left after New Year’s and came home before Christmas, so there was plenty of time pre/post to catch up. The older you get, the more you realize how fast a year goes by!

How does a long-term traveling abroad experience impact your life/career today?

Like myself, the majority of the volunteers from my cohort do not have careers in elementary education, nor did they come in with intentions to have this type of career even though that was the teaching assignment for this program. I felt that I wanted to pursue a PhD and didn’t really see how this experience would be applicable, but it didn’t really matter for reasons I’ve already stated.

The skills you learn from living (and teaching) abroad are applicable to so many career paths. And if you can’t see/don’t care about the connections to your work, I genuinely believe these types of experiences will make you a better person!

My experience abroad not only gave me something to write about in my grad school applications, but it gave me diverse ways of looking at the world. It gave me inspiration for working with multilingual students and students who are feeling their own culture shock at the university.

The hard work of being an “immigrant” to a new country, having to learn the language, learning how to manage a classroom and work with people from different cultural backgrounds all impact the professor I am today even though I don’t specifically/explicitly teach or research things related to my year abroad.

Moreover, the relationships you build – whether with your family, community members, or fellow volunteers – will forever impact you. I’ve only been back to CR once, and my familia tica visited the U.S. once, but I know I have a “home” there, and I can’t wait to go back. My Spanish skills are now rusty at best, but sign me up for some rice and beans, salsa dancing, and pura vida :)

Casie Czapski

2011 Alum

Morgan Patkos

Staff Interviews

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

Flynn Doran

Program

WorldTeach - Volunteer Teaching in Costa Rica - Past Programs

Flynn Doran was a Spanish and History major at Carthage College where she graduated in May 2009. Traveling has always been a strong force in Flynn’s life and she spent a year abroad in Cadiz, Spain while in college. After college, it was inevitable that she would go abroad again and therefore became a WorldTeach Costa Rica volunteer in 2010. She moved to Chicago after leaving Costa Rica and began a Master’s program in Cultural and Educational Policies Studies at Loyola University Chicago and in the final stages of its completion. She began working as the WorldTeach Costa Rica Field Director in August 2012 and is enjoying La Pura Vida more than ever.

Teach English in Costa Rica with WorldTeach

What makes teaching in Costa Rica with WorldTeach so special and unique?

Flynn: Teaching in Costa Rica is special in many ways. One thing that is special is our type of placements. Volunteers are placed in rural communities and rural Costa Rica is like no other place in the world. There is a strong culture of farming, family, drinking coffee, and spending time with other community members. This makes the teaching experience fun and always interesting. Another way that teaching with the WorldTeach program is unique is the curriculum that volunteers use in the classroom. The Ministry of Public Education has an English Curriculum, which our volunteers follow. However, there is a certain level of autonomy in terms of the classrooms and teaching methodology. This provides teachers a good structure but also allows them freedom to explore different topics and techniques in the classroom. What also makes teaching in Costa Rica special are the students. They are so eager to learn and are very loving. This is not to say that there aren’t behavioral problems, however, the students genuinely appreciate English class and their teachers.

Did you teach abroad? If so, where and what inspired you to go?

Flynn: I volunteered with the WorldTeach Costa Rica program before coming back on as the Field Director. I was inspired to go teach abroad first and foremost to provide English education in an unreached area. The notion of being able to provide an entire community with exposure to English was very exciting. Besides being able to provide this knowledge to my students and community, I was also inspired to go for the experience. I did not have a background in education, but had always been interested in education and wanted to give teaching a try. A third inspiration was the cultural exchange. Since it is an abroad experience, that aspect of cultural exchange was exhilarating for me.

What should teachers know about the classroom and workplace culture in Costa Rica?

Flynn: The workplace culture in rural Costa Rica is very relaxed. The school staff is generally very close and views each other as friends. Depending on the school size and amount of staff, there are a lot of staff interactions. There is a lot of joking and chitchatting that goes on, which keeps the environment fun and light-hearted.

The classroom culture is taken seriously but relaxed. Students are expected to behave in class. However, rules are not always well laid out and followed through so students can, at times, get pretty rowdy. But, in the end, the students are sweet, welcoming, and excited to have someone from a different culture come and teach them so they are very receptive. The classes given by WorldTeach volunteers are generally more interactive than other classes so students often times prefer English class.

What can you tell us about the current state of education in Costa Rica? How do you see this changing in the next 10 years?

Flynn: Education has always played a huge role in Costa Rica. The first president of Costa Rica was an educator and felt that a solid, compulsory public education was key to democracy. The government has always made education a priority, however, as with any education system, there are still areas for improvement. In Costa Rica, the focus has been on improving retention rates, decreasing dropout rates, and increasing attendance levels.

Another focus for the Costa Rican education system is English education. English has been a core class in elementary classrooms since 1997 and English language instruction in schools is helping the Costa Rican government achieve its goal of having a bilingual populace by 2017. Also, since tourism is the biggest industry in Costa Rica the knowledge of English is necessary for employment and well-being. WorldTeach volunteers help immensely in obtaining this goal since we teach under-served students in schools where there are no local English teachers and thus exposure to English would not occur without our presence.

What is one piece of advice you would offer someone considering teaching abroad in Costa Rica?

Flynn: Be open, patient, reflective, and understanding. With these qualities and a good sense of humor, you can handle anything that comes your way while living “la pura vida”.

Location

Location:

Costa Rica

Currency:

Costa Rican Colón

Weather:

Jan-Mar

83 F / 67 F

Apr-Jun

85 F / 69 F

Jul-Sep

85 F / 69 F

Oct-Dec

83 F / 67 F

Airports:

Juan Santamaría International Airport

( SJO )

Limón International Airport

( LIO )

Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport

( LIR )

A pioneer of ecotourism, Costa Rica draws many tourists to its extensive series of national parks and other protected areas. Costa Rica began reversing deforestation in the 1990s, and they are moving towards using only renewable energy. Head to the cloud forest, relax on the beautiful beaches, or visit a coffee farm.

About WorldTeach

Thank you for your interest in our organization. Recognizing that the world of global volunteerism has shifted considerably, our Board of Directors has decided to take a pause in order to think strategically about the future of the organization and to re-calibrate as necessary and feasible. WorldTeach was founded in 1986 by a group of Harvard...