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  • Phone: (214) 785-6605
  • info@globalcrossroad.com

Volunteer Teaching English in Costa Rica!

Are you looking for an English teaching volunteer opportunity in Costa Rica? Do you have a passion for teaching and love working with kids? Would you like to travel to beautiful Costa Rica and make a difference?

Costa Rica is a paradise that draws 2 million travelers from around the world each year. It’s no wonder, with its incredible wealth of unique and pristine beaches, large rainforests, great surfing, beautiful rivers to raft down, volcanoes to hike, hot springs to soak in, and friendly, laid-back locals, Costa Rica is calling your name!

Unfortunately, much of the money generated by the lucrative tourism industry is out of reach for the average Costa Rican. Only 10% of the population speaks English, the language of most of these international visitors. As a result, these locals can’t get well-paying tourism jobs, or take advantage of all this wealth pouring into their country.

You can help! Join this English teaching volunteer opportunity in Costa Rica at a local school. Help kids develop the valuable language skills they need to go on to have bright futures and successful careers. Gain teaching experience while helping kids in need!

Contact Global Crossroad today to learn more about teaching English in Costa Rica!


Volunteer Responsibilities & Impacts

You’ll be teaching English in a local school to a classroom of Costa Rican children. You will make lesson plans, teach basic conversational English, grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure. You are also welcome to bring teaching aids that you feel may be useful in the classroom. Inspire your students to have fun learning! We also provide opportunities for English teaching to adults in community centers.

Your time as a volunteer teacher in Costa Rica will have a big impact on both you and the kids you are there to help. You’ll gain confidence, experience, and skills teaching in front of a class, and the children will learn a valuable skill that will help them get ahead in life. Connect with the kids and have a great time volunteering abroad!


Skills and Qualifications

You don’t need teaching credentials to join this program, though a passion for teaching and a good knowledge of English is essential. You must love kids and be excited to help them learn. You must also be patient, flexible, creative and encouraging.

Volunteers working with children will need to undergo a background check and need to be 18 years of age to volunteer. Volunteers who are at least 16 years old can also volunteer on their own but need parental consent and those below the age of 16 need to be accompanied by their parent, guardian or faculty leader if they wish to volunteer.

Speaking Spanish will be helpful though not mandatory. If you’d like to work on your Spanish while in Costa Rica, you can enroll in our Spanish language program and learn while you volunteer!


Each day volunteering abroad will be an exciting adventure in the world of education. You’ll have a great time teaching the kids and experiencing life in Costa Rica. Your actual hours will vary based on your final placement, but here’s a sample schedule to give you an idea of what to expect.

  • First Day : On your first day of volunteering as an English teacher in Costa Rica, you’ll be escorted to your placement by a local coordinator and introduced to the school staff that you will be working with. You’ll also meet your students and have an informative orientation.
  • Orientation: Learn about the work you’ll be doing, your schedule, safety, and a little about your host country.
  • Weekdays: A typical volunteer day is as follows:
  • 7.00 to 7.30 AM: Begin your day eating breakfast with your local host family, and getting ready for an exciting day of volunteering.
  • 7.45 AM: Head out to the local school you’ll be volunteering at, and dive headfirst into teaching your students. In addition to your lessons, you may have the chance to do other fun activities like arts, crafts, and games.
  • 12.00 PM: Break for lunch. Bond with fellow teaching volunteers in Costa Rica and the kids you are here to help!
  • 3.00 PM: Work at the site usually ends. Volunteers are free to travel home, prepare for the next day or do some shopping and sightseeing. After teaching you’ll have the rest of the day free to explore. Wander around downtown San Jose and visit shops, restaurants, museums, and more!
  • 6.45 PM: Enjoy a lovely dinner with your host family and take time to get to know them better. Have a behind the scenes look into the local culture with your welcoming hosts, trying traditional foods, and practicing your Spanish!


Volunteer Teaching English in Costa Rica: Dates and Fees

Program Dates

Global Crossroad volunteer programs begin every Monday year-round. We still allow flexibility if you have travel constraints. Volunteers can join our programs from 1 week up to 12 weeks.

Fees

Global Crossroad is committed to offering the most affordable and highest quality Costa Rican volunteer trips. We strive to keep our costs low. The humanitarian side of the business is our passion.

Global Crossroad volunteer opportunity in Costa Rica application and registration fee costs US $299. The application fee covers the cost of advertising, program promotion, and office expenses (rent, utilities, and staff salaries in the USA office).

In addition to the application fee, you are required to pay a weekly program fee. You will pay your weekly fee directly to your host family and project (via the country coordinator). This way, the fees that you pay will benefit those who rightfully deserve them, and are not for company profit.

Volunteer Program Fees (US$)

    Duration San Jose
Program Fees (US$)
Manuel Antonio
Program Fees (US$)
  1 Week   $455   -
  2 Weeks   $765   -
  3 Weeks   $1,075   $1,255
  4 Weeks   $1,345   $1,535
  5 Weeks   $1,530   $1,730
  6 Weeks   $1,715  $1,925
  7 Weeks   $1,900   $2,120
  8 Weeks   $2,085   $2,315
  9 Weeks   $2,270   $2,510
  10 Weeks   $2,455   $2,705
  11 Weeks   $2,640   $2,900
  12 Weeks   $2,825   $3,095

Comprehensive Travel Insurance $3.49/day ( below 28 years) and $4.49/day ( above 28 years) »

Spanish Immersion Classes
Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica - $150/week
San Jose, Costa Rica - $125/week

How your fee is allocated?

Program fees cover:
  • Shared Accommodation with host family
  • 2 meals per day (Breakfast & Dinner)
  • Airport Pick up
  • In-country support
  • Program Orientation
  • Project Management
  • Volunteer Certificate
  • Discount for returning volunteers
Program fees exclude:
  • Visas
  • Airfare
  • Miscellaneous personal expenses, soft drinks, food, etc.
  • Daily transportation
  • Airport return transfer
  • The Costa Rica volunteer program fees cover expenses from the first day of your program to the last day of your program. If you arrive before the first day of the program or you decide you stay beyond your program’s last day, you will be responsible for any additional expenses.


    Accommodation and Meal

    When you join the English teaching volunteering opportunity in Costa Rica, you’ll have safe, clean, and comfortable accommodations and two healthy meals (breakfast and dinner) provided each day. You’ll have the culturally immersive experience of staying with one of our welcoming and experienced host families, who will offer you a true home away from home.

    Learn more about your housing and food in Costa Rica.


    Free Time and Weekend Exploration

    You’re going to have your evenings and weekends free, so you’ll have plenty of time to explore Costa Rica. San Jose has a lively downtown with museums, theaters, galleries, shops, and restaurants. The city is a great jumping off point for many weekend adventures, like rafting, visiting a volcano, surfing at a beautiful beach, or hiking into a cloud forest.

    Discover what to do in your free time and weekends in Costa Rica.


    Safety and In Country Support

    Your safety is our top priority here at Global Crossroad. For your English teaching volunteer trip in Costa Rica, we’ll plan every aspect down to the last detail and make sure you are safe and satisfied while traveling. We offer airport pick up, general guidance and support from our in-country staff.

    Learn more about our safety and support.


    Volunteer Teaching English in Costa Rica: FAQs

    If you’ve never traveled with us before, you more than likely have a few questions you’d like answered. Here’s some helpful information to put your mind at ease:

    Arrival and Departure

    You’ll fly into Juan Santamaria International Airport in San Jose, Costa Rica. Your airport pickup is included in your program fee, and we’ll have someone waiting for you when you land who will take you safely to your accommodations.

    When you complete your teaching English volunteer program in Costa Rica, you will need to arrange your own departure transportation as it is not included in your volunteer fee. Just speak to the local project staff if you need advice on booking a taxi to the airport.

    Visa

    You may be eligible for a visa stamp upon your arrival at the airport in San Jose as you pass through immigration. However, do your research to learn the requirements for your home country before heading out on your Costa Rica healthcare volunteer experience. Research the visa requirements at the official Immigration site of Costa Rica.

    Most volunteers will be eligible for a 90-day tourist visa. You should know you will need to provide proof of onward travel. If you have a round trip ticket, this will serve as all the proof you need. Please visit the official Immigration site of Costa Rica to learn more.

    Vaccination

    Make an appointment with your doctor at least a few weeks before heading out to get up to date on your vaccines. You should be up to date on your routine vaccines, as well as Hepatitis A & B and Typhoid. You can also find information on the CDC website.

    Why Volunteer Teaching English in Costa Rica?

    Travel the world

    You want to help others, but you also have a burning wanderlust that can only be satiated by traveling the world and seeing exciting and exotic destinations. Satisfy your travel bug with a volunteer trip abroad!

    Experience a new culture

    There is nothing quite like stepping outside of your comfort zone and experiencing a totally new and different way of life. Costa Ricans are warm and friendly people with a laid-back culture of having fun. The national motto is Pura Vida, a nod to enjoying the simple life of being satisfied with what you have. It’s not just a slogan on a t-shirt, it’s a way of life!

    Gain experience teaching in a classroom

    If you’re pursuing a career in the educational field, volunteering teaching English in Costa Rica is a great way to get hands-on experience in a classroom setting. With the added challenge of teaching in a Spanish speaking country, this project looks amazing on your resume!

    Explore a career as a digital nomad

    Digital nomads are people who work from their computers and can live and travel anywhere in the world with an internet connection. Many language schools and private tutor services hire remote English teachers, so if you have a desire to travel or live somewhere exotic, this is a great chance to try this career path!

    Contact Global Crossroad today to learn more about teaching English in Costa Rica!


    Other Volunteer Opportunities Available in Costa Rica:

    No matter your passion or interests, we offer a variety of life-changing, volunteer programs in Costa Rica such as
    childcare,
    medical,
    construction
    conservation and environment and much more. 

    For more information on our exciting programs in Costa Rica, contact us today.


    Other Teaching English Projects Worldwide

    Learning English opens up many career opportunities. Help equip children with this valuable skill so they can have a better future. We organize English teaching programs in many different countries, the most popular of which are listed below: