Manuel Antonio – Back to Nature

 

Introduction

 

Manuel Antonio is an small oceanside village with plenty of great places to stay – from extravagant luxury condos to cozy hideaway hotels tucked into nature. Famous for its national park, this tiny yet bustling town is located off Costa Rica’s central Pacific coast just a stone’s throw away from Quepos which is famous for sportfishing. The region is a treasure for biodiversity, attracting nature buffs, eco-travelers and adventure-seekers alike. Better yet, if you visit, you can soak up white sand and perfect waters. Without a doubt, Manuel Antonio lies within one of the country’s most celebrated spots.​

 

Training Center

 

Courses run at our training centre in Manuel Antonio that overlooks the blue waters of the Pacific coast. Participants work, study, and travel amidst the natural beauty of the rainforest and ocean views that only Costa Rica can offer! It’s a fast and easy escape to the beach, which is just minutes away via bus or on foot.

Our training centres are designed to be friendly, open places. We have large common areas, gardens, patios, and terraces. There are flat-screen TVs where you can catch the news or watch the football game, computer labs, free WiFi, and a great snack bar where the coffee and tea are always free.

Every classroom is equipped with comfortable chairs, extra-large whiteboards, audio, and WiFi. Our team is on-call 24/7 to ensure your safety and to make sure you have a great experience!

Once you enrol, we’ll send you monthly activities calendar, which includes free salsa dance classes, cooking lessons, cultural events, and things going on around town.

 

The 4-Week TEFL Course

 

Our 4-week TEFL course is fully accredited and certified to meet international standards. The training involves up to 6 hours of observed teaching practice and 120 hours of classroom instruction. You will acquire all the practical skills you will need to teach English as a foreign language in any country around the world. Classes run Monday to Friday, 9-4pm. Weekends are free to explore the local area but you will have homework assignments.

In the final week of the course, TEFL participants take over a live English class with real, non-native students and teach 60-minute lessons for 5 days; during these lessons you are observed and critiqued by your TEFL Trainer. The practical teaching module also includes 3 additional mini-lessons (20 minutes each), where you’re observed by your TEFL Trainer and receive feedback. The TEFL course also includes 6 hours observing experienced ESL teachers leading their classes.

Bring your laptop or iPad as you will need it to research and prepare your lessons. 

 

Accommodation

 

Housing assistance is available either in shared housing, independent living, in local hotels/hostels or with local families. Once your place has been confirmed on the TEFL course we can assist you with booking your accommodation.

 

Getting Here and Visas

 

Airport pickup and transfer is included in the Advanced package. We recommend you arrive in Costa Rica at least 2 days prior to the course start date. Students should arrive on a tourist visa.

 

Prospects for Teachers

 

As one of the wealthiest countries in Central America, Costa Rica is sometimes called the Switzerland of the region and there are plenty of private language academies in San José and the country as a whole.

It is government policy to teach English in primary school which has greatly increased the demand  for English teachers. State schools can not afford to import expat teachers, but they are willing to accept an offer of voluntary assistance.

Unless you are very well qualified or have met your prospective employer before, you are unlikely to be offered a contract until you are actually in the country.

The concept of ‘job vacancy’ is very fluid in many Latin American language institutes and if you are willing to work for local teaching wages, you should be able to create your own job almost anywhere.

There is a thriving market for private English lessons in most Latin American cities as English is considered an important skill to possess for many Latin American people.

 

Conditions of Work

 

The school year runs from March 1st to December 1st. Temporary 6 month renewable work visas are issued to teachers working for established employers. One of the perks of teaching in Costa Rica is the liveliness and enthusiasm of the pupils.