What inspired you to travel abroad?
I was inspired to go abroad when I decided to earn my TEFL certificate in Heredia, Costa Rica from the International TEFL Academy. I was drawn to Costa Rica specifically because the country has countless places of paradise to explore, and you can easily travel to the Caribbean side or the Pacific side.
There are a ton of exotic fruits to eat, the wildlife is fascinating (sloths!!!!), and I LOVE the Spanish language and exploring Spanish-speaking countries, and learning about the various cultural customs and traditions.
Cataratas de La Paz
Why did you choose Idioma Internacional?
I chose to apply for a teaching position at Idioma Internacional because they truly care about helping the people in the community and throughout Costa Rica to improve their English language skills in order to attain a better job and lifestyle.
They also have an entire curriculum that is already built so all you have to do as a teacher is review the material, adapt it to make it your own, and deliver the lesson plans. In addition to having a genuine mission and an effective curriculum that receives very positive feedback from the students, Idioma Internacional also helps you attain your work visa when living in Costa Rica!
What was your favorite part about Costa Rica?
My favorite part about Costa Rica was my host family I was living with and my students. There was nothing quite as comforting as coming home to a loving and welcoming family who wanted to hear stories about my day.
My Papí was always singing, my sister was always baking, my mamí was always crafting or cooking to feed other families in her community, and Valentín (the doggo) was always playing. I've also never had students who were so intrinsically motivated to want to learn and had so much respect for me as a teacher like my Costa Rican students.
Since I taught adults, we were able to have awesome in-depth discussions in class and I got to know each and every one of my students and form positive relationships with each of them. I also loved that I could hop on a bus and spend the weekend on the beach, hike a volcano, bungee jump, or go white water rafting. Additionally, the local restaurants were never disappointing.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
The thing that made my experience abroad extraordinary was the combination of meeting awesome, genuine people (fellow peers and students) and having endless beautiful places to explore.
I formed an unforgettable bond with all of my fellow peers and teachers during my time in Costa Rica. We planned trips to the beach and various parks to explore some of the endless beauty the country has to offer.
One of my favorite trips was to Manuel Antonio National Park. The beaches were breathtaking, the trails were so fun to hike. We saw sloths in their natural habitat. We also watched the monkeys "outsmart" some of the other tourists.
One group snagged a juice box and some goldfish crackers for a little lunch snack and I swear he was laughing at us as he drank the juice box way up in his tree.
Poas Volcano
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
The staff was extremely helpful. The main part was consistent and clear communication. I was always able to get my questions answered within minutes through WhatsApp or email. The staff at Idioma Internacional is extremely positive, energetic, and they want you to thrive so they do their best to make the entire process as smooth as possible.
They are also very understanding and willing to help resolve any problems or conflicts you may be faced with. Additionally, they conduct regular meetings to make sure everyone is on the same page and to talk about your strengths and weaknesses. They are constantly encouraging you to grow and prosper as a teacher.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
One thing I wish I would have done differently is I should have gotten a local phone with a service provider. I just used WhatsApp and the internet, which worked most of the time as the majority of places in Costa Rica have wifi.
However, when I needed to figure out transportation or pull up a map and the power went out somewhere or I wasn't near a place with wifi, I definitely wished I had a service provider.
I also wish I would have rented a car when I explored more of the coastal areas. Public transit is a little more sparse in those areas and there aren’t addresses like there are in the U.S. so it's extremely difficult at times to find specific locations.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
I lived with a host family near the mountains so I would begin my day with a morning run down the mountain into town and back. While I was studying at the academy in Barva, I would often stop at the local bakery and get my favorite type of pan dulce and some delicious Costa Rican coffee.
I would be in class from 9:00-12:00. During lunch breaks, I would often walk to the local smoothie shop, Cosechas, with my fellow cohort for lunch. I resumed class from 1:00-4:00 and then I would either teach night classes there or get transportation to another facility to teach.
My employment with Idioma Internacional didn't begin until the middle of the pandemic and I had moved back to the U.S. Most of my classes were taught virtually with Idioma, which I actually ended up loving. I would typically teach Mon-Tuesdays and Thurs-Fridays. I used Wednesdays for grading most of the time and which allowed me to have my weekends open.
If I were able to be in Costa Rica at the time, I definitely would have gone on some adventures to Guanacaste or Santa Teresa.
Manuel Antonio National Park
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
During my free time, I loved hiking volcanoes (they have over 200 volcanic formations and six active volcanoes to explore), going to the beach, and taking Zumba/dance classes. I would often go to a little local café se llama "el gigante" in town and study, grade papers, or just visit with my friends.
On Tuesday and Thursday nights there were Zumba classes in the park. There were often flyers around town for dance classes as well. Sometimes, I would just stay at home and visit with my host mom and help her cook for her church. She was one of the families who helped provide food for those living in the poorer communities.
Although Costa Rica is a gorgeous country, there is still a huge population of impoverished people living there. I was very thankful that I was part of such a caring family and that I was able to help them help the community.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
I lived with a host family, who became my tica family and will forever be a part of my life now. I loved that it was within walking distance to some local stores and the bus station so if I needed to head into San José, I could just hop on one of the buses at the bottom of the mountain.
I also loved that since Barva isn't right on the Coast nor directly in a big city it stays fairly cool and feels a lot safer than living directly in San José. Another positive aspect of living with my host family is that since they were locals they knew which places were safe to go in and they would also caution me about things I needed to be aware of so I could have a fun, safe experience.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
One thing you should know is they are always providing opportunities for professional development and the grammar jams are so helpful for ESL teachers. Thus, if you forget a grammar topic or are struggling, don't stress because there are plenty of opportunities to practice your grammar skills and an entire network of staff members willing to help you.
As with any teaching job, grading can be a bit time-consuming. However, with Idioma Internacional, it was nice because I saved time with lesson planning because their curriculum is already developed and highly effective with the students.
Would you recommend Idioma Internacional to others? Why?
I would 100% recommend Idioma Internacional to students, teachers, schools, and businesses because they are very well organized, they genuinely care about their staff and students, and they have an extremely effective curriculum.
The administration and leadership there is stellar. Brendan is an outstanding communicator and facilitator. Lintonia is always an encouraging, positive ray of light. Summer has the ability to coordinate, problem solve, and multi-task, unlike anyone I've ever met. Bill is always so understanding and patient with any curriculum questions you have.
It truly is just a solid team with a great mission. They truly care and they never stop working to improve the program and the experience for everyone involved.
Pacuare River
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
I think the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is challenging yourself and overcoming fear. Change isn't easy. Learning how to find sustainable work, living accommodations, and transportation in a foreign country with a possible language barrier can feel super overwhelming at times.
This feeling of fear and uncertainty can often prohibit one from venturing on a journey abroad. However, every time you overcome a fear or a small obstacle, the feeling of accomplishment you get is priceless and makes the overall experience even more special and worth it.
Being immersed in another culture allows you to be exposed to something different from what you already know. It gives you a new perspective on life that helps you to constantly see the world through new eyes.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
I'm currently a Spanish teacher for grades K-8 and a virtual ESL teacher. Spending time abroad has allowed me to be able to share my stories and learning experiences with my students. I also aim to incorporate various cultural elements I've learned from living in other countries in our class.
Travelling abroad and directly experiencing other cultures and places allows me to add a genuinely passionate element to my teaching, which then motivates my students to want to learn about other places and cultures as well. I try to prepare my students so that they too can one day explore a new country and find their own unique truths and paradises.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel to me is when you gain a new perspective about something, try something outside of your comfort zone, feel an extreme emotion (positive or negative because you learn from both), and form memories that you will never forget. In other words, meaningful travel educates, entertains, and enlightens.
During my time in Costa Rica, I was reminded to slow down and the overall cultural pace is more tranquil than I'm used to living in the U.S. I was also reminded to truly value time with family and friends. My host family became my second family. We would have coffee together and share stories about our day over dinner at night. They are still my second family today.
I was also reminded to never stop exploring. During my time in Costa Rica, I learned about the history of Costa Rica through various tours and museums. I visited coffee plantations and learned the process while drinking the best coffee en el mundo! I saw sloths, kissed toucans, and played with the monkeys. I also formed solid friendships with my fellow cohort, colleagues, and previous students.
