TESOL Certifications in Manuel Antonio | Costa Rica

Due to the stunning natural beauty of costa Rica, and the comparative ease of being able to find teaching jobs here and in the surrounding area, Manuel Antonio is a fantastic place to take your tesol course and begin your teaching career.

For a number of reasons, Costa Rica is becoming a hugely popular location for tourists and travelers. The low cost of living, a stable democratic political situation, friendly locals and all year round warm climate, combine to create this attraction. On top of this is a stunning, natural landscape that includes tropical rainforests, beautiful beaches, an array of flora and fauna and amazing volcanoes. Visitors from far and wide are testament to the many things that make Cost Rica what it is.

Located on the awe inspiring Pacific coast, Manuel Antonio can boast exotic, green rainforest lining the mountains above and beautiful beaches, which are some of the most beautiful on the entire Pacific coast, leading to the warm ocean. Nature lovers will not fail to appreciate one of Central America’s most beautiful national parks, with its amazing views and diversity of exotic plant and animal species. Here you will see numerous varieties of monkeys, sloths and tropical birds, as well as stunning wild orchids and countless more types of plants and flowers. For those who want more than the views on offer, Manuel Antonio has a whole host of activities. These include white-water rafting, zip lining, tours to the mangroves and coffee plantations, world class waves to surf and visits to the turtle reserve. You will also be able to experience the nearby sister city of Quepos, with its authentic, traditional Costa Rican feel. A short journey will bring you to the city and its wide array of shopping facilities, bars and restaurants serving both international and local cuisine.

Even though our TESOL course is intensive, we have carefully structured the timetable to ensure you have ample opportunity to discover the region and its magnificent surroundings.

The School

TEFL Training Centre

The ITTT training centre is located in the beautiful Manuel Antonio area, in the town of Quepos, right next to the Manuel Antonio beach. The building has nine classrooms, including the TEFL room. The classrooms are open spaces so do not need air conditioning. The TEFL room and the Orientation room have air conditioning.

Inside the building, there are three apartments (available to trainees on a first-come, first-served basis), a large kitchen with a snack bar and free tea and coffee. The institute has a swimming pool. We recommend that each student bring their own pool towel, but we can also provide one at the institute if needed. There are five bathrooms, two downstairs with access for disabled students, and three upstairs. Three of the bathrooms have showers so that trainees can shower if they come from the beach or before/after the pool. The TEFL school building also has a coworking space, in case someone needs it to work.

15 minutes by bus from the public beach of Manuel Antonio, the TEFL training centre building is a five-minute walk from the marina, one or two minutes from the bus station, and there are a couple of pizza restaurants within 15 meters. The building has covered parking with a gate, along with 24/7 security.

Accommodation

Our range of accommodation options for trainees on our Costa Rica TESOL course include, home stay, private apartments, hotels and hostels. To arrange home stay accommodation our center in Costa Rica needs to be notified in advance. They will then arrange accommodation with a local family in Quepos. Here you will have a private bedroom in a family home and breakfast and dinner provided for the length of your stay. This option is ideal for those wanting to brush up on their Spanish and to get a true taste of authentic Costa Rican culture. Please note that home stays need to be secured at least one month in advance of your course start date.

Our other options include private apartments, hotels and hostels from our list of recommended providers. Once you have confirmed your place on the course we will send you an accommodation preference form to help you decide the best choice for your requirements.

As accommodation availability is on a first-come, first-served basis, we ask that you let us know your preferences as soon as possible so that we can make the necessary arrangements.

Course dates

Course fees

 

Accomodation Fees

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Frequently Asked Questions

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• What are my payment options?

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  Course deposits must be paid to our administrative center. Credit/debit card payments are the fastest and cheapest way to pay, but we also accept payments via Western Union, PayPal and bank transfer. While there are no deadlines for a deposit, courses can fill up quickly and your seat will only be reserved after the deposit has been paid.

  Once you make your deposit, you will receive an email with an informational packet that provides detailed information about the course and Costa Rica itself.

  The balance of your course fees is payable in cash, by credit/debit card or via PayPal. The balance is due before your course begins. Once you have been in touch with the Costa Rica center and have made your accommodation and course package selections, an invoice will be emailed to you with additional payment instructions.

  Please read through the welcome information that will be sent to you from the Costa Rica center carefully so you are aware of what materials you will need to bring with you and what services may or may not be available at our overseas center.

• What are my accommodation options?

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  We recommend that students stay with a local family during their time in Costa Rica. Home stay accommodation is designed to give trainees a cultural and family atmosphere which will enhance their stay in Costa Rica. Students will be given a private room in a local family's house and receive delicious traditional meals for breakfast and dinner each day. All families have been chosen for their warmth and interest in hosting foreign students and are located within a 5-10 minute bus ride of the TEFL school. The cost of this option is US$ 700.

  Our second accommodation option is a private apartment which can be rented at a cost of US$ 795.

  Course accommodation is available starting two days before the first day of the course through to the day after the last day of the course. If you choose to arrive before or stay after the course, you may do so based on availability and at an extra cost of US$ 33 per night.

  Students may also choose to find their own accommodation within the Quepos/Manuel Antonio area.

• What travel documents will I need for costa rica?

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  Visitors to Costa Rica from the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and the European Union nations can enter the country without a visa. All visitors to Costa Rica are required to carry a passport valid for at least six months after their arrival date and can remain in the country for 90 days.*

  * As this information is subject to change at any time, we advise you to contact your local consulate for current travel regulations prior to planning your trip. For more information on obtaining visas please check with your local Costa Rican consulate or embassy.

• What is the course schedule?

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  The course is full time over four weeks. Depending on the month you choose, the course either runs from a Monday to a Friday, or from a Wednesday to a Tuesday. The first two weeks are comprised of six hours of classroom work each day, with two 15 minute breaks and one hour for lunch. The final two weeks are spent on lesson planning and teaching practice. On the first day of your course you should arrive for orientation at 9:00 AM. At this time you will be given a detailed course timetable. In addition, there will be a graduation party on the last day of the course, so if possible you should make your departure arrangements from Manuel Antonio accordingly.

• What can I expect during teaching practice?

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  We invite local Costa Rican students for your teaching practice. Costa Rican students are very keen and enthusiastic and because we don’t charge them to attend, all students come to classes purely because they want to!

• Who usually attends the course?

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  Typically we have around 5-15 trainees. If course numbers exceed 18, the trainees are divided into two classes that are taught simultaneously. Most of the participants are American, British, Canadian, or Australian, although we do accept non-native speakers of English who have a high proficiency in the language.

• Is there a dress code?

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  During trainees’ lessons, casual attire is allowed. Costa Rica can get rather hot so this means sandals, shorts, t-shirts and other loose fitting clothing, cotton attire is best. During teaching practice, you will need to dress in trousers/skirts and closed-toe shoes. Men need collared shirts, while women need to wear conservative tops that will cover their shoulders. Men also need to shave or keep facial hair neatly trimmed. No visible tattoos or facial piercings are allowed while teaching local students.

• What should I bring for course studies?

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  Please be sure to arrive on the first day of the course with a notebook and a pen. We strongly recommend you also bring a laptop as we have Wi-Fi at the training center.

• What documents do I need for finding employment after the course?

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  Of course, you will need your passport. When you secure work you may also be asked to provide copies of your birth certificate, college degrees and transcripts. You might also consider obtaining an international driving permit if you want to drive in Costa Rica.

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