
Paid Teaching Program in Costa Rica with TravelBud
by: TravelBud
Experience life the Pura Vida way with our Paid Teaching Program in Costa Rica! One of the most sought-after paid teaching placements, Costa Rica offers a laid-back Tico culture and a low cost of living. The first of its kind, our program includes everything – a job placement with 100% guaranteed earnings of up to $1500 (USD) per month, 24/7 dedicated pre-departure and in-country support, and an...
Experience life the Pura Vida way with our Paid Teaching Program in Costa Rica! One of the most sought-after paid teaching placements, Costa Rica offers a laid-back Tico culture and a low cost of living. The first of its kind, our program includes everything – a job placement with 100% guaranteed earnings of up to $1500 (USD) per month, 24/7 dedicated pre-departure and in-country support, and an internationally accredited TESOL/TEFL certification. Plus, complete a full week of cultural orientation in Costa Rica before you start teaching. Teaching Abroad with TravelBud gives you the building blocks for a successful experience. We vet our partner schools against strict criteria and tailor your TESOL course specifically to the classroom climate in the country. We're ready to get you start...
Program Highlights
Guarantee a job placement earning of $900 to $1500 (USD) per month.
Ease into a life abroad while earning your TESOL/TEFL Certification in Costa Rica with fellow participants from all over the world before you start teaching.
Join a full week of cultural orientation with multiple fun, enriching excursions as well as Spanish language lessons and lessons on Costa Rican history, culture, and politics.
Receive thorough pre-departure support and 24/7 in-country support throughout your teaching placement—for anything, be it big or small.
Gain free lifetime access to future placements through TravelBud in our other program destinations: including Japan, Thailand, Myanmar, South Korea, and Vietnam.
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Quick Details
- Costa Rica
- 1 Year
- American
- Canadian
- Australian
- Kiwi
- Irish
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Program Reviews
Hear what past participants have to say about the programs
Overall Rating
Total Reviews
A unique experience!
by: Rachel Perera - United StatesProgram: Paid Teaching Program in Costa Rica with TravelBudLiving and teaching in Costa Rica was a very unique and fulfilling experience. It gives you a chance to learn a lot about the culture in a different way than just traveling, because you are part of the work force and after a while just start to feel like a regular person. I was placed with a host family in San Ramon who took really good care of me, and was able to easily make friends with the other teachers and even some students so I had a little community. I think overall, the cost of the program is too high for what they actually can do, and they need to improve some organizational aspects. Here’s some stuff I wish someone had told me! Advice: - have at least 1.5 years on your passport. Travelbud recommended me 1, but with border runs it’s much better to have 1.5 if you plan to stay for a full year because you often need at least 6 months to enter some countries. - use Natives Way for border runs - it’s very affordable and organized! - ask lots of questions about your placement. What did previous participants say? Or are you the first one? What does it mean for your taxes? - be proactive about making friends and ask them for advice! I found I learned a lot more from my local friends and host family than I did from TravelBud, which honestly makes complete sense. - learn Spanish before you come, it’ll help you make friends and honestly without Spanish I would’ve felt pretty lost and unsafe. Some people can get by, but I always felt thankful to have it! - practice logical safety. I think some people create this image in their minds that Costa Rica is 100% pura vida 24/7, but you need to be mindful of your surroundings. - take a photo of your passport and the stamp you got. - use YouTube to help you understand how to teach (I like the channel PapaTeachMe) - try different foods, travel lots, learn as much as you can, and just take it all in! Pros -orientation the first month is fun and helpful - you are guaranteed to get a job - offers you an added level of safety, and some helpful connections to get started - lots of opportunities for traveling Cons - they don’t always vet the placements like they promise (one of my friends had quite a negative experience with his) and they focus on jobs that are easy to get, not necessarily helping you find the best one for you. For me personally, I had one amazing school, one school that I had various issues with including weird hesitance to send me my paystubs, strange comments from my boss about the personal appearance of employees, lack of basic materials like markers, and one online job where I had a different student every class and felt like a robot reading off slides. I found a different online job on my own, which I absolutely love and I’m still working with them. All to say - Ask questions!! Push to find the job that’s right for you, or at least to know what you’re signing up for. You don’t have to stick with the first/easiest option. You can also find jobs yourself just on google, Facebook, etc, I was able to get 3 interviews on my own and took the online offer. - don’t offer consistent advice about taxes, so you kind of have to figure it out on your own. - expensive cost that doesn’t align with qualify/level of support - some inaccurate information (usually better to ask on-site team) - jobs have low pay I think if you choose to sign up for this program, you will learn a lot no matter what. Be proactive in creating a positive experience for yourself, and enjoy this unique time in your life!

Hey Rachel! Thank you so much for your review and solid advice for other teachers taking on this journey! I'm pleased you had a unique experience and we have no doubt that your students were really lucky to have you. We appreciate your feedback and we really believe some of your advice from your first-hand experience offers excellent value to other teachers. We've reached out to you via email regarding some of your points so we can collaborate together. We'd love to hear more about what you're doing for your next adventure, but we have no doubt that you'll be successful in anything you do! Warmest Regards & Pura Vida, Grace Martens Enrolments Director
Program Details
Learn all the nitty gritty details you need to know
Locations
- Costa Rica
Availability
Years Offered: Year Round
- 1 Year
Age Requirement
Age Requirement Varies
Guidelines
- American
- Canadian
- Australian
- Kiwi
Cost per week
Program Cost Includes
- Emergency Support
- Job Placement
- TESOL Certification
- Certificate of Completion
Accommodation Options
- Apartment/Flat
- Group living
- Home-stays
- Independent living
Salary & Compensation
$650 to $1150 (USD) per month
Qualifications & Experience
- English
Language Skills Required
- Bachelor’s degree
Accepted Education Levels
Application Procedures
- Online Application
- Resume
- Phone/Video Interview
Frequently Asked Questions
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