Teaching ESL in Costa Rica

Peak ESL Hiring Season in Costa Rica
How to Find Jobs Teaching English in Costa Rica
Chain Schools in Costa Rica
Additional ESL Resources
Tips for ESL Teachers in Costa Rica
Teaching Requirements for ESL Teachers in Costa Rica
Embassy and Consulate Information for Costa Rica

Peak ESL Hiring Season in Costa Rica

The Costa Rican school year begins in February and goes through until December, at which time students enjoy a two-month holiday. They are given a two-week semester break in July. Peak hiring is generally between September and December. Teaching positions are available through public and private schools, language schools, universities and colleges, and through private tutoring. Language schools typically hire year-round.

Public and Private School System

The Costa Rican government places a high priority on education and has poured its energy and resources into this sector of society in a significant way. As a result of this, and ongoing reforms, its literacy rate is now over 97%.

While literacy has been a main focus in the education system, resources for anything beyond this is lacking. Public schools in Costa Rica are generally quite poor and lack necessities by North American standards. Books are in short supply and finding a computer in a classroom would be highly unusual.

Private schools vary in quality. Some have a solid reputation and follow the International Baccalaureate (IB) program, while others follow the National Baccalaureate program.

Private Language Schools

Private language schools provide supplementary education for students who require additional tutoring. Classes are offered during after-school hours and at other convenient times. As private language schools do not follow the semester system of conventional schools, teachers are hired year round. Most positions are available in the Central Valley region.

Teaching Business English is in demand in Costa Rica as in other parts of Latin America. As in most other Latin American countries, applying in person is a definite advantage. Many Costa Rican newspapers, some of which can be viewed online, have classified ads for English teaching positions.

Universities and Colleges

Public universities in Costa Rica conduct their classes in Spanish, while some smaller private universities offer classes in English. Tuition for public universities is quite low and scholarships are available, albeit competitive. Tuition for private universities, compared to their public counterparts is quite high.

Private Tutoring

ESL teachers who choose to do private tutoring can expect to earn approximately 10,000 - 18,000 CRC per session, which is higher than most school teaching positions. Provided that it is not a breach of contract, gaining contacts through one’s primary place of employment, for example, a school or company that hires in-house English language instructors, is a great way to build a tutoring clientele.

How to Find Jobs Teaching English in Costa Rica

There are many resources available to ESL teachers searching for teaching positions abroad, including:

• Oxford Seminars' English Language Schools Directory
• ESL Jobs
• Dave’s ESL Cafe
• TEFL.com
• ESL Employment
• The Chronicle of Higher Education

Graduates of Oxford Seminars receive our Job Placement Service with exclusive access to established schools and recruiters around the world.

Chain Schools in Costa Rica

• Berlitz Costa Rica
  With more than 470 centres in over 70 countries, Berlitz is a well-established English language training company. Berlitz offers one-on-one tutoring as well as small and large group instruction.
• English First Costa Rica
  English First has language learning centers in 50 countries around the world and is located in the nation’s capital.

Jobs Teaching English in the Summer in Costa Rica

ESL teachers who are interested in teaching during the summer in Costa Rica will find that the North American summer does not coincide with the summer months in Costa Rica, February through December. As such, seeking a teaching position during North American summer would be to arrive in the middle of the school year in Costa Rica, for which there are short-term teaching opportunities. The most likely way to find teaching positions during these months would be to contact volunteer agencies and refer to job boards for applicable positions. Private tutoring is also an option during the summer months.

Additional ESL Resources to Help Teach English in Costa Rica

There is an abundance of ESL resources for teachers to help teach English as a Second Language on the Internet. Examples are listed below.

• Oxford Seminars' ESL Teaching Resources
• BBC Skillswise
• About.com - ESL Teaching Resources
• Classic Reader
• TeAchnology
• Discovery Education
• Songs For Teaching
• Genki English
• ESL Base
• Breaking News English

Tips for ESL Teachers in Costa Rica 

• Learn some basic Spanish phrases before you go to Costa Rica and plan to continue learning once there.
• Ensure you always carry identification. A photocopy of the relevant pages of one’s passport is sufficient.
• In light of the laid-back, time-flexible way of life in Costa Rica, one should be prepared for slow line ups in stores, supermarkets, etc. Having a pocket phrase-book handy to study the language while waiting may help to alleviate the anxiety caused by waiting.
• Bargaining in the markets is not a usual practice.
• Putting one’s thumb between the middle and index finger when making a fist is considered obscene.
• Adopt an adventurous attitude and experience the cuisine, culture, and sites of Costa Rica.
• Consider getting an international driver’s licence in your home country.
• Petty thieves are always on the lookout to take advantage of foreigners. Teachers should take care to watch their wallets and cell phones.
• While most water is potable, it is still prudent to purchase bottled water or boil water before consumption.
• Ensure fruits and vegetables are washed well before consumption.
• Many brand-name toiletries and medicines can be found in Costa Rica; however, if you are not open to trying new brands, you may want to consider taking a supply of your favourite cosmetics and essential items.
• Sit-down restaurants generally add an automatic 10% to the bill. A 250 CRC per bag tip is standard for baggage handlers. As well, a 250 CRC tip is appreciated by parking attendants or maids. Tipping taxi drivers is not common practice.
• If ever in a traffic accident, those involved must wait for the police and insurance agent to come to the site. Violation of this could result in loss of insurance coverage.
• Voltage in Costa Rica is 100V/ 60Hz with standard 2-prong (3-prong if ground required) plugs, the same as those used in North America.

Teaching Requirements for ESL Teachers in Costa Rica

The requirements and guidelines below are listed for ESL teacher applicants to Costa Rica who are citizens of: Canada, United States, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa.

Minimum Requirements to Apply for Teaching Positions in Costa Rica:

• Oxford Seminars TESOL/TESL/TEFL Certificate
• Bachelor's Degree
• Native English speaker

Types of Applicable Visas:

• For Those Entering as Tourists: A Tourist Visa is not required for citizens of Canada, United States, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa. Citizens from these countries can enter (upon approval of Immigration Officer) for a maximum stay of up to 90 days. While illegal, many teachers choose to work in Costa Rica without a visa, leaving the country every three months in order to gain entry for an additional 90-day period.
• Temporary Residence Permit (TRP): Designed for those, including ESL teachers, who wish to work in Costa Rica. This permit takes approximately 90-180 days to process. Once this temporary permit is obtained, a work visa is required. This takes an additional 30-60 days. While this is a lengthy and difficult process, it is required for obtaining a legal work permit.
• Spousal Visa: Designed for those married to a Costa Rican citizen and living in Costa Rica. This visa can be used to teach English, providing the necessary requirements are met.

Important Visa Information:

• As work visas are difficult to obtain, some schools are willing to hire teachers who enter without a visa. While this is very common, deportation is a potential consequence.
• Documents required for obtaining a work permit must be authenticated and legalized. It is important to refer to the Costa Rican embassy/consulate in one’s home country to discover specific process for authentication/legalization of documents.
• Application for work visas must be made while in Costa Rica.
• Visas will only be granted if there is sufficient time remaining on the applicant’s passport. This should be confirmed by  a local embassy/consulate.

Standard Process for Obtaining Documentation to Work Legally in Costa Rica:

• The applicant secures a contract with a legitimate school.
• The teacher enters Costa Rica with all necessary documentation (see below).
• The school assists the teacher in applying for a work permit.
• The teacher applies for a Temporary Residence Permit (TRP).
• Once the temporary permit is obtained, the teacher applies for a work permit.

Standard Required Documents for Visas:
(Important to check with local embassy/consulate as variations in requirements sometimes occur)

• A valid passport with at least six months remaining after travel dates.
• Completed visa application.
• Passport photos – as recent as six months.
• Academic degree(s).
• Original birth certificate.
• Employment contract with letter of invitation.
• Other documents at the discretion of Immigration (check with local embassy/consulate for current requirements).

Embassy Information for Costa Rica

Canadian Embassy Office in Costa Rica

Embassy of Canada, San José
Behind the “Contraloría” in the
Oficentro Ejecutivo La Sabana
Building 5, Third floor
San José, Costa Rica
PO Box: 351-1007, Centro Colón
San José, Costa Rica
Phone: + (506) 2242-4400
Fax: + (506) 2242-4410
Email: sjcra@international.gc.ca
Website: http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/costa_rica/index.aspx?lang=eng
Hours of Operation: Monday – Thursday: 08:00-12:00; 12:40-16:00, Friday: 07:30-13:00

American Embassy Office in Costa Rica

Embassy of the United States, San José
Street Address: Calle 98 Via 104, Pavas,  San José, Costa Rica 
Phone: + (506) 2519-2000 
Fax: + (506) 2519-2305
Email: consularsanjose@state.gov
Website: https://cr.usembassy.gov/
Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday: 08:30-16:30

Australian Embassy Offices in Costa Rica

Address: San José, La Sabana, Oficentro Torre La Sabana, Third Floor. Costa Rica
Phone: +50647006400
Email: aushonconsul.costarica@gmail.com
Website: https://www.dfat.gov.au/about-us/our-locations/missions/Pages/australian-consulate-in-san-jose-costa-rica

British Embassy Offices in Costa Rica

Embassy of UK, San José
Address: Apartado 815-1007, Edificio Centro Colón and streets 38 and 40
Phone: + (506) 2258 2025
Fax: + (506) 2233 9938
Email: consular.costarica@fco.gov.uk  
Website: http://ukincostarica.fco.gov.uk/en/
Hours of Operation: Monday -Thursday: 08:30-12:00 and 12:30 to 16:00 / Fridays 08:00 - 13:00

Irish Embassy Offices in Costa Rica

Diplomatic representation for Ireland in Costa Rica is handled by the embassy in U.N., New York, USA: https://www.dfa.ie/

New Zealand Embassy Offices in Costa Rica

There is no diplomatic representation for New Zealand in Costa Rica

Embassy Offices Outside Costa Rica

Embassy of Costa Rica in Canada

Embassy of Costa Rica in Ottawa
350 Sparks Street, Suite 701 (Office Tower)
Ottawa, Ontario, K1R 7S8
Phone: +1 (613) 562-2855
Fax: +1 (613) 562-2582
Email: embcr-ca@rree.go.cr
Website: http://www.costaricaembassy.com/
Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday 09:00-17:00  

Embassy of Costa Rica in the United States

Embassy of Costa Rica in Washington, DC
2112 S Street, N.W.
Washington D.C 20008
Phone: +1 (202) 499-2980
Fax: +1 (202) 265-4795
Email: embcr-us@rree.go.cr
Website: http://www.costarica-embassy.org/
Hours of Operation: Monday – Friday: 09:00–17:00

Other Latin America Countries: