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costa rica has long been renowned for the friendliness of its people, high standard of education, enlightened environmental policies, and for its peaceful, democratic government. Most of all, Costa Rica is famous for its stunning natural beauty and the density and diversity of its exotic flora and fauna.

The town of Manuel Antonio occupies a unique place on Costa Rica's central pacific coast where the rainforest sweeps down from the mountains to greet a series of warm palm-fringed beaches.

Bordered by one of the nation's most stunning national parks to the south, Manuel Antonio is a living paradise and a nature lover's dream. The trees are alive with tropical birds of all description and home to three species of monkey, including the rare mono titi (1200-1300 left in existence). Wild orchids and butterflies abound as well as sloths and the inquisitive coati.

Manuel Antonio boasts a series of magnificent beaches that are the perfect place for studying alone or for just spending a day with new friends. Manuel Antonio's sister city Quepos provides a glimpse into traditional Costa Rican life and hospitality.

Located just a few minutes from our campus, this small town can be easily explored on foot, and yet for its size, Quepos offers an astonishing assortment of international restaurants, as well as shops, Internet cafes, beaches, a farmer's market and a colorful nightlife.

From the bohemian feel on the beach and the sunset bars and restaurants clinging to the hillside to the authenticity and charm of Quepos, a visitor is certain to find a niche (or two) to call one's own.

You can experience all this while studying for your tesol certificate. A tesol certification is your passport to job opportunities in exotic and culturally fascinating locales the world over. However, after getting a certification in Costa Rica , you may never want to leave this earthly paradise again.

The School

TEFL Training Centre

The ITTT training centre is located in the beautiful Manuel Antonio area, in the town of Quepos, right next to the Manuel Antonio beach. The building has nine classrooms, including the TEFL room. The classrooms are open spaces so do not need air conditioning. The TEFL room and the Orientation room have air conditioning.

Inside the building, there are three apartments (available to trainees on a first-come, first-served basis), a large kitchen with a snack bar and free tea and coffee. The institute has a swimming pool. We recommend that each student bring their own pool towel, but we can also provide one at the institute if needed. There are five bathrooms, two downstairs with access for disabled students, and three upstairs. Three of the bathrooms have showers so that trainees can shower if they come from the beach or before/after the pool. The TEFL school building also has a coworking space, in case someone needs it to work.

15 minutes by bus from the public beach of Manuel Antonio, the TEFL training centre building is a five-minute walk from the marina, one or two minutes from the bus station, and there are a couple of pizza restaurants within 15 meters. The building has covered parking with a gate, along with 24/7 security.

Accommodation

We have a variety of accommodation options available for trainees on our Costa Rica TEFL course. These options include home stay, private apartments, hostels and hotels. If notified in advance, our training in Costa Rica will be able to arrange a home stay with a local family in Quepos. This includes a private bedroom in a family home as well as breakfast and dinner seven days per week. Choosing the home stay option is a great way to experience the local culture and to brush up on your Spanish. Please note that the home stay option needs to be secured at least one month prior to your course start date.

We also provide a list of recommended alternative accommodation options. These include private apartments, hostels and local hotels. When your place on the course has been confirmed you will be sent an accommodation preference form to help you choose the best option for your needs. Availability is on a first-come, first-served basis so be sure to provide us with details of your preferred accommodation as soon as possible.

Course dates

Course fees

The total price is divided into: deposit and balance.

The deposit may be paid via:

1. Credit Card
2. Paypal
3. Wire transfer
4. Western Union

The balance of the course fee must be paid by cash, PayPal or bank transfer directly to the training center before your course begins.

Accomodation Fees

The accommodation fees are not part of the course price and you are free to choose whichever accommodation option you prefer.

If you choose to use one of our accommodation options, it should be paid for directly to the provider prior to your arrival.

Private apartment

Host family, private room, two meals (breakfast and dinner)

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are my payment options?

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  Course deposits must be paid to our administrative center. Credit/debit card payments are the fastest and cheapest way to pay, but we also accept payments via Western Union, PayPal and bank transfer. While there are no deadlines for a deposit, courses can fill up quickly and your seat will only be reserved after the deposit has been paid.

  Once you make your deposit, you will receive an email with an informational packet that provides detailed information about the course and Costa Rica itself.

  The balance of your course fees is payable in cash, by credit/debit card or via PayPal. The balance is due before your course begins. Once you have been in touch with the Costa Rica center and have made your accommodation and course package selections, an invoice will be emailed to you with additional payment instructions.

  Please read through the welcome information that will be sent to you from the Costa Rica center carefully so you are aware of what materials you will need to bring with you and what services may or may not be available at our overseas center.

• What are my accommodation options?

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  We recommend that students stay with a local family during their time in Costa Rica. Home stay accommodation is designed to give trainees a cultural and family atmosphere which will enhance their stay in Costa Rica. Students will be given a private room in a local family's house and receive delicious traditional meals for breakfast and dinner each day. All families have been chosen for their warmth and interest in hosting foreign students and are located within a 5-10 minute bus ride of the TEFL school. The cost of this option is US$ 700.

  Our second accommodation option is a private apartment which can be rented at a cost of US$ 795.

  Course accommodation is available starting two days before the first day of the course through to the day after the last day of the course. If you choose to arrive before or stay after the course, you may do so based on availability and at an extra cost of US$ 33 per night.

  Students may also choose to find their own accommodation within the Quepos/Manuel Antonio area.

• What travel documents will I need for costa rica?

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  Visitors to Costa Rica from the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and the European Union nations can enter the country without a visa. All visitors to Costa Rica are required to carry a passport valid for at least six months after their arrival date and can remain in the country for 90 days.*

  * As this information is subject to change at any time, we advise you to contact your local consulate for current travel regulations prior to planning your trip. For more information on obtaining visas please check with your local Costa Rican consulate or embassy.

• What is the course schedule?

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  The course is full time over four weeks. Depending on the month you choose, the course either runs from a Monday to a Friday, or from a Wednesday to a Tuesday. The first two weeks are comprised of six hours of classroom work each day, with two 15 minute breaks and one hour for lunch. The final two weeks are spent on lesson planning and teaching practice. On the first day of your course you should arrive for orientation at 9:00 AM. At this time you will be given a detailed course timetable. In addition, there will be a graduation party on the last day of the course, so if possible you should make your departure arrangements from Manuel Antonio accordingly.

• What can I expect during teaching practice?

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  We invite local Costa Rican students for your teaching practice. Costa Rican students are very keen and enthusiastic and because we don’t charge them to attend, all students come to classes purely because they want to!

• Who usually attends the course?

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  Typically we have around 5-15 trainees. If course numbers exceed 18, the trainees are divided into two classes that are taught simultaneously. Most of the participants are American, British, Canadian, or Australian, although we do accept non-native speakers of English who have a high proficiency in the language.

• Is there a dress code?

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  During trainees’ lessons, casual attire is allowed. Costa Rica can get rather hot so this means sandals, shorts, t-shirts and other loose fitting clothing, cotton attire is best. During teaching practice, you will need to dress in trousers/skirts and closed-toe shoes. Men need collared shirts, while women need to wear conservative tops that will cover their shoulders. Men also need to shave or keep facial hair neatly trimmed. No visible tattoos or facial piercings are allowed while teaching local students.

• What should I bring for course studies?

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  Please be sure to arrive on the first day of the course with a notebook and a pen. We strongly recommend you also bring a laptop as we have Wi-Fi at the training center.

• What documents do I need for finding employment after the course?

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  Of course, you will need your passport. When you secure work you may also be asked to provide copies of your birth certificate, college degrees and transcripts. You might also consider obtaining an international driving permit if you want to drive in Costa Rica.