Teach 22 hours per week in exchange for room, board, full Spanish language training tuition, a stipend, insurance, visa fee and some other incentives as an ESL, Science, Biology, Maths or Secondary/Primary/Pre-School teacher in the metropolitan and other areas of San Jose.

ABOUT US

Educational Exchanges IESA, the leading private teacher agency in Costa Rica, serves a chain of local private and public universities, English language schools, private academic K-12 schools, as well as state operated English language schools, covering a total student population of over 1 million students of English as a second language.

Our office acts as a liaison between the teacher and the host school.

THE SETTING

Costa Rica, a tropical country of 51,100 sq. Kms. and 4M inhabitants is settled in Central America with a year-round temperature that ranges approximately between 68º and 85º F. It is considered to be the first economy in Central America, and the first democracy in Latin America. The country is secure and there is no standing army. It attracts more than 1.5M foreign tourists every year, mostly from North America and Europe. This influx of foreign monetary resources forms the centerpiece of Costa Rica's economy.

This country has demonstrated a serious commitment to education over the past 50 years; it boasts a 96% literacy rate and has recently implemented new educational schemes designed to extend opportunities for English and French language learning to all secondary and most primary schools from both, the public and private sectors.

THE HOST SCHOOL

There is a great variety of host schools where you may be placed ranging from K-12 bilingual schools to universities, or private English language schools. Placement at a particular school depends on their requirements and your education, background, etc. All of them are renowned schools.

THE ASSIGNMENT

You will teach approximately 22-24 hours a week on a 6-month to one year contract. Positions are numerous and available year-round.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

IESA teachers:

-Teach classes in their own language/area.
-Plan daily classes on their own or with the assistance of other peer teachers.
-Attend an orientation and civilization course.
-Attend an ESL training program at the host school.
-Attend study classes for Spanish language training (optional).
-Become involved in the lives of Tico (Costa Rican) families.

THE BENEFITS

When you are assigned to a specific school, you are entitled to the following benefits:

-Room and board with a host family including 21 meals per week. We will make all the necessary arrangements for this purpose.
-School lunches when classes are in session, depending on the host school.
-A small monthly stipend for personal expenses.
-Full Spanish language training tuition.
-Full health, medical and life insurance.
-ESL training course.
-Orientation and civilization course.
-Visa sponsorship with all expenses paid.
-Free access to the school's internet/library services, when available.
-Teaching materials.
-Airport pick-up.
-Letters of reference.
-35 day vacation period throughout the year.
-Additionally, in your spare time you may tutor on your own; private tutorships pay about $10-$12 per hour and we will provide guidance for this purpose.

REQUIREMENTS

You must be:

-A Bachelor's Degree in the area of your interst, English, Literature or ESL. IF you have a minimum of 2 years of higher education in any area combined with substantial experience in the pertinent field, your application is welcome, too.
-Interested in languages and education.
-At least 19 years of age.

COSTS TO PARTICPATE

You will be responsible for:

-Round-trip airfare between your home country and Costa Rica.
-A placement fee of $350 which is due when you are notified in written by us about the placement and you are ready to travel.
-A minimum of $35 per month for personal expenses, in addition to the stipend we pay.

ABOUT THE VISA

You will enter Costa Rica as a tourist with a valid passport from your country of citizenship and are authorized to stay 30 days under this status. In the meantime, IESA will make all the paperwork to obtain a Temporary Stay Permit for a 6-month to one year period which is valid for volunteering purposes only.

The Immigration Service of Costa Rica stipulates that you cannot work on a remunerated basis in this country unless you are a Costa Rican citizen or permanent resident. Many employers encourage their employees to enter the country as a tourist, remain working for three months, leave the country for 48 hours, and then reenter the country to keep on working again; please be advised that this is illegal and you are subject to deportation if arrested by the immigration agents, in accordance with Law No. 7033 of the Act of Immigration of Costa Rica.

We, at IESA will make all the necessary arrangements and payments in order to obtain your Temporary Stay Permit. We will indicate you timely what documents you will need to bring to Costa Rica before your trip to apply for the permit.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES

For immediate consideration, please email us your resume with dates including a passport size picture of yourself scanned on the upper right side of your resume, as well as a cover letter. Please do not attach big pictures, copies of your diplomas, or any other documents not requested here which would make it too difficult to download the document, or too heavy.

Once we receive your resume, we will contact you by e-mail to confirm receipt and will send additional information materials and instructions to start the process.

Any other inquiries about our program should be requested to:

The Executive Director
Educational Exchanges IESA
P.O. Box 383
San Antonio de Belen
Heredia 4005
Costa Rica
Tel. 506-265-0569
E-mail: iesa_cr@racsa.co.cr