WorldTeach - Volunteer Teaching in Costa Rica - Past Programs

World Teach Costa Rica was an amazing experience. The program had a very thorough orientation. I always felt I was in good hands with the in country support. I highly recommend the program to friends.

At the recommendation of a professor, I participated in World Teach Costa Rica after graduating from college. From the initial interview process to the pre-trip materials to the month-long orientation to the support I received in-country to the friendships I've made with both fellow volunteers and Costa Ricans I met, it was an outstanding and life-changing experience. Because WTCR is in mostly rural communities, you get a richer cultural and linguistic immersion than other programs. (We all spoke fluent Spanish by the end, even those who started with no Spanish at all.) The fees seem steep but are well worth-it. My host family was wonderful; I was comfortable and well-fed. When ill, I had access to excellent medical care and insurance. An in-country supervisor was always a phone call away. Although I can proudly say that WT volunteers are there to teach and make a difference and become part of their communities, not be on an extended vacation, the program afforded ample time to travel and explore CR's legendary parks and beaches. I came back from CR a more confident, world-conscious person, and like many of my fellow volunteers, I've repeatedly traveled back to visit the place I consider my second home. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!!

I participated in WorldTeach's yearlong Costa Rica program over 10 years ago, yet I find that the experiences I had are still relevant to me now. Not only did I learn Spanish and gain great teaching experience, I also gained crosscultural understanding that has served me well in a variety of jobs. I also gained friends--fellow volunteers as well as my host family--with whom I'm still in touch.

During my year in Costa Rica, I taught in two small elementary schools in a rural Costa Rican village. Each day I prepared lessons and taught 3-6 English classes for 1st through 6th graders. Though teaching is a lot of work, I had plenty of time for reading, getting to know the little town and my neighbors, and exploring Costa Rica on weekends and during school vacations. I'd happily recommend the program to anyone who loves working with kids and is open to new experiences. My year of teaching in Costa Rica was not always easy, but it was incredibly valuable to me.

WorldTeach provided me with a lot of firsts: my first extended trip abroad (beyond a third grade family vacation), my first time in a developing country, my first stay with a host family, my first time teaching in a classroom, my first time entirely immersed in a Spanish-speaking culture. Even one of these, let alone the combination, could have been overwhelming or terrifying. Instead, through the efforts of the U.S. office and especially the field staff in Costa Rica, the elements of my volunteer experience formed a cohesive, unforgettable summer.

With a positive and "ready for anything" (yet prepared) state of mind, it became possible to appreciate and love so much more, while materially possessing so much less. During orientation, my co-volunteers, field staff and I realized some previously undiscovered teaching skills, attempted to memorize games and songs, and above all gained a loving, strong and supportive group of friends. A week later, alone in a rural village seemingly accessible only by motorcycles and ATVs, my own abilities and new-found state of mind were tested.

In the community, at home, and in school, I was forced to choose whether I or not I would say "yes." I had already said "yes" to teaching from 8 am until 1 pm, five days a week, but the greatest impact occurred when I was able to say "yes" outside the classroom. With this word, I discovered a love of delicious Costa Rican food (arroz con pollo! gallo pinto! fruit picked from the trees on the walk home with my students!), and made great memories in $10/night hostels and on five hour bus adventures. I swept the floor and hung the laundry out to dry with my host mom, running outside to collect clothes when the afternoon rain started to fall. I watched my students fawn over the camera I had brought into the community, and let them improve my soccer skills and laugh when I slipped on the moss-covered rocks at the river.

Right now, I may not physically be a part of the "pura vida," or even be able to recollect precisely what I did to fill each day in that tiny village outside of San Isidro del General. I do, however, have a group of friends who are always willing to nostalgically reminisce, and the knowledge that each of my small daily journeys in Costa Rica has undoubtedly shaped who I am today. I can credit WorldTeach with confirming my love of travel and exploration. This journey began with the simple realization that if you want to try something new, you can (no matter how crazy it sounds to your "grounded" friends and family). I would encourage anyone who is even minimally drawn to this program, to make the jump and say "yes."

I volunteered with WorldTeach in 2008 and couldn't be happier with my choice to do so. I was placed in a tiny town of about 200 people on the Pacific coast. I had 30 students in my school, spread across 1st - 6th grades. I met with each grade for 40 minutes each day that there was school (supposed to be 5 days a week, but canceled often because of meetings and rain). I lived with a host family of a mom, dad, 13 year old host brother, and 2 year old host nephew. I ate my meals at home and had my own bedroom with a bed, dresser, fan, and small table.

Although I was teaching, I learned many things. I learned to eat rice and beans for three meals a day for an entire year, to laugh at my blunders in Spanish, to keep small children's attention in a foreign language, to make delicious breads at the local bakery with a family who has been baking for over 50 years, to make beautiful jewelry made out of locally found seeds and shells, and to live a little bit slower.

Don't get me wrong - there were definitely challenging moments. Moments where I couldn't handle being bitten by another bug, moments where I wanted the weather to be cool enough to snuggle under a warm blanket and drink hot chocolate (instead of instantly sweating from the moment after I finished my cold shower), moments that I had no idea what to do in the classroom to reign in the sugared and caffeinated energy of my students, and moments when I could no longer smile and swallow all the town gossip.

However, the things that I learned, and the connections that I made, far outweigh those (now insignificant) challenging moments. Four years later I still keep in touch with my host family, friends, and students. I am bilingual and use my cross-cultural skills in my work everyday. In addition to the connections I made in my community, I made friendships with my fellow volunteers as we battled many of the same challenges in distinct small towns throughout Costa Rica. Each of our experiences was unique - different families, different sized classes, different climates, etc - but we were all thread together just the same.

I found the staff support, in-country as well as in the US, to be friendly, very knowledgeable, and flexible. The training was excellent and I always felt safe. I couldn't have asked for more out of my year teaching and learned far more than I taught.

I rated two things slightly lower, "Fun" and "Facilities" but I'd like to explain why below.

Fun - I think "Fun" depends on your interpretation. My weekends were filled with Bingo games, soccer matches, and long quiet walks. There were no movie theaters, malls, or shopping of any kind. Some people may not find small town life fun, but I loved it.

Facilities - Also depends on your interpretation. They ended up working out just fine, but were definitely not your average American classroom. I taught in the cafeteria with one long table, one tiny whiteboard, and with only the materials I could invent from construction paper, index cards, contact paper, scissors, and a sometimes-working-copy-machine. Another challenge indeed, but it gave me the opportunity to really learn how to be resourceful.

In short, really great experience, where I saw the impact my work was doing (my students use English in the developed tourism industry north of their community), and which has brought me to where I am today.

I can't say enough good things about this program. The staff were so helpful and caring. They picked out the best (and safest) home-stays with equally caring parents and siblings. I loved my placement, my kids, and my family. All helped me to have a great experience in not only teaching but in improving my Spanish as well. I really felt like a part of the El Paraiso community, and I still keep in touch with them today.

I would recommend this program to everyone!

WorldTeach also offers year-long volunteer positions in public elementary schools throughout rural Costa Rica. I lived with a local family in a very remote town and taught daily English classes in the town's elementary school. Despite being an obvious stranger to the area, over the course of the year I became part of my rural town’s close-knit community as I held meaningful conversations and formed lasting friendships with Costa Ricans.

I received excellent support from WorldTeach staff throughout my year-long experience. Plus, WorldTeach is affiliated with the reputable Harvard University Center for International Development, helping to make your experience look great on a resume. I highly recommend volunteering with WorldTeach in Costa Rica.