“Family” projects are suitable for children aged 4 and up. Our advisors will provide personalized recommendations based on your children’s age, the destination, and the type of mission.
The program consists of working with students aged between 6 months and 6 or 12 years depending on the placement, teaching and playing in English. You can choose to be with the younger or older children if you wish, or to work with all ages. Participants will be working alongside local staff, but will be free to bring their own ideas into class. It is important to understand that the methods of teaching and interacting are less important than the attitude of the participant towards the children. Activities will change in line with the school year, taking into account environmental issues or current festivals. In holiday periods there are special events and programmes to keep the children entertained and engaged.
Our project has received full support from the local government and Educational Supervisor, granting us access to numerous schools in the region. Our program involves providing language classes, primarily English but also offering French, German, or Mandarin Chinese, to students between the ages of 5 and 19.
While some of the larger schools have English teachers, they often encounter difficulties. Participants are encouraged to bring their own teaching ideas and methods into the classroom, as the key factor is their attitude towards the students rather than the teaching approach itself. Additionally, the subjects taught may vary depending on current school activities, such as environmental issues or festivals.
This teaching initiative serves a dual purpose: it provides children in rural Costa Rica with the opportunity to learn from native speakers while also offering you a chance to gain insight into the Costa Rican education system and build strong relationships with students, teachers, and parents, fully immersing you in the local community.
Tourism is a vital industry for Costa Rica, and proficiency in popular tourist languages is crucial for its success. Unfortunately, private bilingual schools are often costly, leaving children in government schools at a disadvantage. This program provides an opportunity to enhance the prospects of these children by expanding their cultural knowledge and instilling the confidence to use and practice a foreign language. As they converse with you, they will develop essential language skills that will benefit them throughout their lives.
Therefore, the primary goal is to elevate the prospects of these children by teaching them a global language. As a participant, you will gain valuable teaching experience, develop essential life skills, and immerse yourself in a rich cultural experience.
Monday to Friday
You will be balancing a range of activities for your duration at the school or daycare. Your schedule can be flexible, but you should be prepared to teach 3-6 hours a day. You will have lunch on site and can expect to remain there from 07:30 until just after 16.30, depending on your schedule, giving you plenty of time to immerse yourself in the school and its activities, and to get to know its students and staff.
Duration during the week | Budget total mission |
|---|---|
2 weeks | 1190 € |
3 weeks | 1550 € |
4 weeks | 1950 € |
5 weeks | 2400 € |
6 weeks | 2750 € |
7 weeks | 3200 € |
8 weeks | 3650 € |
10 weeks | 4500 € |
12 weeks | 5400 € |
A supplement of €200 applies to participants aged under 18. For more information, meet on the youth area.
Your new home will be one of two newly built eco houses in our centre in Esparza: Jaguar House and Toucan House.
The two houses sleep up to 22 people. Most rooms have bunk beds and are shared on a single gender. One room in each house has a bunk bed with a double bed below, single above, suitable for couples or small families, if needed. (Private rooms can be obtained at additional cost; this must be arranged before arriving for your program).
All doors are lockable, but as rooms are shared, and we carry out regular cleaning, we recommend that you don’t lock your rooms.
There is also a large dining hall/games room/communal area shared by both houses, with free WiFi, and table tennis, and a large garden of tropical plants, including coconut palm, papaya, banana, and citrus
Food Arrangements
Three meals a day on weekdays (two on weekends) are included during your stay. The meals will mainly be a mix of traditional and modern Costa Rican food, so you may experience the Costa Rican take on foods you will be familiar with. Most meals will include either fish, chicken, pork or beef, but vegetarians can be catered for.
Orientation Day
On the Monday of your first week at this location, you will join our orientation day, to familiarize you with the surroundings as well as local culture. Your program will continue as usual from Tuesday onward throughout the rest of the week.
Schedule
-Introduction meeting, House rules, Setting Expectations, Health and Safety Advice and handling of documents.
-Costa Rican Do’s and Don’ts, Costa Rican Culture Lessons and Spanish Language Lessons.
-Tour around the compound and local area; where to find local shops, and arrange a sim-card if necessary
-Lunch
-Introduction to the Project, Project site and start participating on the project (if possible).
– Minimum age: 18
– English level: Basic
– Extract of CRB
– Passport copy
– Vaccines: Diphtheria, Typhus, Typhoid, Hepatitis A and Polio. Consult your doctor for destination-specific vaccinations.
