ABOUT US
Intercambios Educativos (IESA) for its acronym in Spanish is an international teacher agency based in Costa Rica that promotes goodwill educational and intercultural relationships between the nations of the world by fostering linkages through teacher recruitment in a diversity of settings.

Our Motto: “Cooperating actively towards the education of the peoples” aptly describes our schools, our teachers, our students.

THE PROGRAM
IESA’s Teaching Program in Costa Rica (TPCR) offers its participants a unique opportunity to learn about a new culture and gain invaluable experience in the field of education. Our program will permit you to teach at a Costa Rican host school while you learn or improve your Spanish language skills.

THE SETTING
Costa Rica, a tropical country of 51,100 sq. Kms. And 4M inhabitants is settled in Central America. It is considered to be the first economy of Central America, and the first democracy in Latin America. There is no standing army. The country 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 the private sectors.

THE HOST SCHOOL
At your host school you will be able to relate to other peer educators who teach ESL at lower or higher levels. With the warmth and friendliness that typifies Ticos (Costa Ricans), your school colleagues will provide an enriching insight into the Costa Rican civilization and Spanish language, and you will become an integral part of the teaching staff. This will permit you to be immersed in the Latin culture, learn a new language and make contacts and friends in the teaching arena, as well.

Assignments take place at renowned semi-private schools in Costa Rica, in the field of ESL. Placement at a particular school depends on your education, background and host school’s requirements.

Assignments are scheduled for a full school year (twelve months), or part of it (six months). Positions are numerous and applications are welcome on a rolling basis.

The teaching hours are usually scheduled for 15 lessons per week.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES:
IESA teachers:

•Attend an orientation and civilization course sponsored by IESA.
•Attend a teacher training program at the host school or at IESA. If the participant has teaching experience, some host schools may waive this requirement.
•Teach classes in their own language, or;
•Co-direct language classes with a foreign or Costa Rican colleague.
•Plan daily classes with the guidance of other teachers, or by themselves.
•Attend study classes for Spanish language training (optional).
•Coordinate and direct language conversation clubs.
•Participate in extra-curricular activities at the host school they serve.
•Become involved in the life of a Tico host family.

WHAT IS PROVIDED BY IESA AND THE HOST SCHOOL?
When a teacher is recruited at a host school s/he is entitled to the following incentives:
•A monthly salary.
•Free teaching materials from the host school.
•Room and board with a Tico host family in a private room including 21 meals per week. IESA will make all the necessary arrangements for this purpose.
•Free school lunches while classes are in session, depending on the host school.
•Full health, medical and life insurance paid by IESA
•Spanish language training at a cost (optional).
•A free orientation and civilization course at IESA before the assignment starts.
•Airport pick-up and transportation to your host family’s residence at no cost.
•A free teacher training course sponsored by the host school.
•Free access to the school’s internet/library services when available.
•Visa Sponsorship, including all work permit fees paid by IESA.
•25 to 35-day vacation period per year.
•Support and guidance from IESA throughout the assignment.
•Letters of reference from IESA and the host school at the end of the assignment.

ROOM AND BOARD
IESA will make all the necessary arrangements for housing and meals with a host family prior to your arrival in Costa Rica near the area you will teach. This service includes accommodation in a private room plus 21 meals per week. When a couple is invited together, IESA will make arrangements to find an apartment for them; otherwise, they will be placed together with a host family. Please note that both members must be working for a IESA host school in order to qualify for this benefit.

A member of your host family, or a IESA representative will pick you at the airport to take you to your host family’s residence at no cost.

REQUIREMENTS TO PARTICIPATE:
In order to qualify, you must:

•Be interested in learning about the Costa Rican civilization.
•Be interested in languages and education.
•For ESL positions you must have certification in TESOL, TEFL, TESL, DELTA, CELTA, etc. and/or a Bachelor’s Degree in ESL, English, Literature or Linguistics. However, if you possess a minimum of two years of higher education in any area combined with substantial experience in ESL (one year or more), you application is welcome, as well.

COSTS TO PARTICIPATE:

You are responsible for:

•Round-trip airfare between you home country and Costa Rica.
•Room and board.
•A program fee payable to IESA which is due when a position has been secured and you are notified in written by us about the placement.
•Personal expenses.

Please note that IESA covers part of your expenses while in Costa Rica as explained in the section “What is provided by IESA and the host school.”

ABOUT THE VISA:

All teachers enter the country with a valid passport from their country of citizenship. U.S. and Canadian citizens and most residents of Latin American and European countries do not require a consular visa to enter Costa Rica. Citizens of other countries should contact IESA or their nearest Costa Rican consulate to inquire about this particular issue. When you enter Costa Rica, you will be authorized to stay in the country on a tourist status. You may start your assignment under this status as far as a Temporary Stay Permit application is filed with the Immigration Service by IESA and the host school. Once you are here, IESA will make all the paperwork to apply for the permit . Please note that you will not travel to Costa Rica until a position has been secured with a host school. After that, we will send instructions to you for travel arrangements.

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, or you are employed by a state enterprise; all IESA’s positions are sponsored by state enterprises. 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 re-enter the country to keep on working again, please be advised that this is illegal and you are subject to deportation 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 in order to apply for your permit.

APPLICATION PROCEDURES:

For immediate consideration in the TPCR, 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. Do not send money; when you are notified about the placement, we will give you instructions for payment of the placement fee.

Any other inquiries about our program should be requested to:

Intercambios Educativos
P.O. Box 383
San Antonio de Belen
Heredia 4005
Costa Rica
Tel.: 506-265-0569
E-mail: Intercambios@racsa.co.cr

>Please Quote ESLemployment When Applying<