Home > TESOL residential courses > Costa Rica > Manuel Antonio

costa rica is a very popular location for taking a TESOL course. The natural beauty of the country combined with the relative ease of finding jobs teaching English in costa rica and elsewhere in the region makes our Manuel Antonio centre a good choice for your course.

costa rica is well known for being a very stable and peaceful democratic country. The people are friendly, the climate is warm year round and prices are comparatively low, all of which has led to costa rica becoming a very popular location for tourists and travelers. However, probably the main attraction which draws people from far and wide to costa rica is its incredible natural beauty, with tropical rain forests, volcanoes and glorious beaches. costa rica is also home to a wide variety of flora and fauna.

The small town of Manuel Antonio is located magnificently on costa rica's Pacific coast where you can see lush and exotic rainforest running down from the mountains to the lovely palm lined beaches. Manuel Antonio is an absolute delight for nature lovers. It is located next to one of the country's most beautiful national parks. The national park is home to a diverse range of plant and animal life and you can expect to see tropical birds, various species of monkey, sloths and wild orchids amongst others. Manuel Antonio is also famed for its stunning Pacific Coast beaches. Close to Manuel Antonio is the attractive small town of Quepos that offers a chance to experience traditional Costa Rican life and culture. Quepos is situated just a short journey from our TESOL course campus and despite its small size, it offers a wide selection of local and international restaurants, bars and shops.

All of this can be experienced while you are taking your TESOL course. Although the course is intensive, we have structured the timetable to allow you to have plenty of free time to explore this magnificent region.

Register now & get certified to teach english abroad!

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

Accommodation options for trainees on our Costa Rica TESOL course include home stay, private apartments, hostels and hotels. Home stays can be arranged in Quepos with a local family and includes a private bedroom in the family home plus breakfast and dinner during your stay. Home stay accommodation is a great way to experience the real Costa Rica and practice your Spanish skills while studying for your teaching certificate. For this option we need to be notified in advance and home stay accommodation should be secured at least one month before the start of your course.

We also have a list of other accommodation options including hotels, hostels and private apartments. Once your place on the course has been confirmed, you will receive an accommodation preference form from us to enable you to choose the best option for your needs. It is advisable to let us know your preference as soon as possible as accommodation availability is on a first-come, first-served basis.

Course dates

2024

• 25 November 2024 - 20 December

2025

• 20 January 2025 - 14 February
• 17 February 2025 - 14 March
• 19 March 2025 - 15 April
• 21 April 2025 - 16 May
• 19 May 2025 - 13 June
• 18 June 2025 - 15 July
• 21 July 2025 - 15 August
• 20 August 2025 - 16 September
• 22 September 2025 - 17 October
• 22 October 2025 - 18 November
• 24 November 2025 - 19 December

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.

 

Deposit
US$ 600

to be paid in advance

+

Balance
US$ 895

to be paid on arrival

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.

And up
US$ 795

(to be paid on arrival)

Private apartment

And up
US$ 740

(to be paid on arrival)

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

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are my payment options?

  Expand

  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?

  Expand

  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?

  Expand

  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?

  Expand

  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?

  Expand

  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?

  Expand

  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?

  Expand

  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?

  Expand

  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?

  Expand

  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.