We are often asked, "How can I prepare for my 4-week, onsite TEFL course in Costa Rica?" Let us share five of our most important recommendations and tips!
1 - Read as much as you can.
Student Affairs sends lots of resources about everything from packing to cultural tips. Although it can be overwhelming, read it all! It's important to have a good idea of what you are getting yourself into! Read the articles here on our website. We share teaching techniques, information you will want to know about moving abroad and explain the TEFL course in detail. You can also read our grad's blogs and Q&As about their experiences in our course, teaching ESL and living abroad.
It is not necessary to study grammar or teaching, as you will learn everything you need to know during the course, but if worried about grammar, go ahead and start learning tenses, parts of speech, etc. We recommend Understanding and Using English Grammar by Betty Schrampfer Azar, and there are many useful websites for ESL teachers. You can also buy our course textbook ahead of time and start reading the curriculum if you'd like to get ahead.
2 - Prep your job search resources.
As soon as you get here, you will start receiving information about open positions and applying for jobs, so make sure your information is organized. You will need to make some adjustments before applying to ESL teaching positions, however, bring a completed resume. Ask your references for a letter of recommendation or, at the very least, for their permission to share their contact info.
3 - Guarantee your tech devices are ready.
You will be depending on technology quite a bit during the course, so make sure you are ready! You are required to bring a laptop with a long battery life. Tablets and smart phones cannot be used in place of a computer. Bring a flash drive that is compatible with your computer. You will need access to a reliable word processing system like Microsoft Word. Assignments can also be submitted as PDFs, so research that process if you aren't sure. We also recommend having a Gmail account and a good understanding of Google Drive to save your assignments and work with your colleagues.
4 - Stay rested.
We don't kid about the course being intense, so please don't arrive tired! Even if you travel around Costa Rica for a few days before the course starts, make sure to stay rested, hydrated and healthy. We want your four weeks with us to be beneficial, positive and fun.
5 - Keep an open mind.
We've all seen the movies and read the books, but until you step foot into an ESL classroom, you really can't know what it's like. Furthermore, those with previous teaching experience may have a different idea of what teaching should look like, so keep an open mind and be ready to learn some new ideas!
We can't wait to have you here for your 4-week, onsite TEFL Costa Rica! If you haven't saved your spot yet, contact us today!
