• Share your passion in teaching English to people from impoverished backgrounds
• Work with rural schools and help shape the futures of the students
• Live with a local family and explore day-to-day Costa Rican life
• Connect with nature’s best in Costa Rica in your downtime

Volunteer in Costa Rica and have the opportunity to soak in the gorgeous Costa Rican sun at pristine beaches while improving the lives of the young! The economy in Costa Rica is progressing well compared to other Latin American countries. In the face of this accelerating development, there are those who have yet to get on the bandwagon, and are living their lives in poverty and neglect. Families living in poverty cannot afford to send their children to decent schools that employ trained staff. As a result the children are not able to have the adequate skills and education necessary to secure seats in good colleges. Teach English in Costa Rica, and help to mould the futures of those from resource-poor schools while practicing your Spanish in the abundantly lush country.

Please note that the schools in Costa Rica are closed for 2 weeks in July and in December to January. Volunteers in July will teach in school’s extra classes, while the project will remain closed in December and January.

Volunteers’ Responsibilities

As a volunteer teaching English in Costa Rica, you will be teaching 3 to 5 hours a day, 5 days a week. Depending on your individual interests and skills, and on the needs of the local staff, your daily activities involve, but are not limited to:

• Teaching basic English to the students
• Teaching other subjects such as Math, Science, Physical Education, or other subjects of interest
• Helping students to improve their Basic English and conversational skills
• Assisting the fulltime local teacher with class duties
• Work alongside the local teachers on curriculum development
• Assisting school administrations with daily tasks
• Tutor the students and help with their homework

How You Can Make a Difference

Our volunteers will mostly teach children from poor families. The schools they attend lack the resources to hire well-trained, qualified and experienced teachers. English has become essential for Costa Rican children because it opens up more trade, tourism and migration opportunities. The ability to read and write well in English can make the huge difference in securing a decent job. Teach English in Costa Rica, and help to make sure the students have a brighter future ahead of them. At the same time, take in the mesmerizing natural surroundings at Costa Rica, famous for its biodiversity.

Skills and Qualifications

There are no specific qualifications needed to join our volunteer English teaching in Costa Rica project beyond a fluency in English and a preferred basic/intermediate fluency in Spanish. If you cannot speak Spanish, we recommend enrolling in our Spanish language program. Volunteer teachers should have strong English fluency, both written and verbal, although no previous teaching experience is required. Volunteers should have a love for teaching, English and conversation. Volunteers should also be enthusiastic, reliable, flexible, patient and strive to be good role models for the children. Volunteers must also respect the locals and the host organizations, along with their rules and projects.

Project Location

The project is located in Puntarenas. Puntarenas is a port city and a major tourist area in Costa Rica. It boasts a coastline full of unspoiled islands, pristine beaches, and beautiful natural landscapes. At the peninsula, stunning natural beach areas such as Tambor, Santa Teresa and Montezuma can be found. This area also hosts the Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve, San Lucan, Chira, Tortuga and Coco Islands. The Monteverde area, located north of Puntarenas, has both national and international significance because of its conservation efforts and the laidback lifestyles which revolve around nature. The primary attraction is the Monteverde Biological Reserve, although there are many other attractions such as mesmerizing nature sites, picturesque trails, hanging bridges, as well as butterfly and frog exhibits.