WorldTeach

Program Description

The commitment of this Central American nation to the education of all its citizens is virtually unmatched in the developing world. Some 40 schools have recently been constructed in rural areas where there had previously been no educational opportunities at all. Despite the obvious benefits of this remarkable increase in access to education, such expansion brings difficulties as well. The biggest hurdle was that there were few people in the targeted communities who were qualified to teach in the new schools. Because of the severe shortage of teachers, the Costa Rican Ministry of Education implemented a distance-learning curriculum, named Telesecundaria, using videos to introduce subjects from math to science to English. The Ministry then recruited facilitators from the local communities whose responsibilities included playing the videos and taking class attendance. While this partnership between the Ministry and rural communities enabled the program to begin successfully, schools soon needed teachers with some knowledge of English to answer students' questions about the language.

In 1999, WorldTeach was asked by the Ministry to send summer volunteers to Costa Rica with the specific purpose of complementing the Telesecundaria curriculum. The partnership has been a success ever since. WorldTeach volunteers have found the partnership with Telesecundaria very worthwhile because they are able to provide rural students with more than just English language education-they are also offering them access to greater economic opportunity. Upon completion of Telesecundaria, graduates enter a professional network that offers them professional contacts and opportunities beyond their home village.

WorldTeach summer volunteers will become the "human element" of the video classes, teaching the English portion of the curriculum in partnership with a local educator and using the videos to supplement their own classroom lessons and activities. While the size and schedule of each Telesecundaria school will differ, WorldTeach summer volunteers typically teach 1-3 classes per day to 7^th, 8^th, and 9^th grade students whose ages may range from 14-24 years old. WorldTeach volunteers are instrumental in preparing 9th graders for their national exams in the fall.

"I have learned that Costa Rican children love to laugh and I love to hear them."

Katie Fraumann,
Costa Rica Volunteer

In addition to teaching, volunteers are required to develop a community project in their host town. This may involve the school and its students, or members of the wider community. It may be an art, drama or music project, a sports event, or an environmental initiative. This year's projects included painting murals on the school, teaching adult classes, building volleyball courts and benches around the soccer field, and creating a beautiful yearbook for the school.

At the beginning of the program, volunteers receive one week of orientation, during which they review their individual teaching assignments, discuss and practice teaching methods, review Spanish, and become acquainted with the country and its culture. Orientation will be led by the WorldTeach Summer Program Coordinator and Field Director, who provide training and support to volunteers for the duration of the program. Volunteers reconvene for a mid-service conference to share teaching and community project ideas, and gather again at the end of the program to reflect on their experiences.

"I have become accustomed to the chickens, the dust, the coffee trucks, and the chisme. Little by little I have met and befriended the men who wield machetes and the women who cook tamales on wood fire stoves. I have become part of a Costa Rican family and a community that feels like home."
Anna Pfaff, Costa Rica Volunteer

Volunteers teach in rural Telesecundaria high schools. The Costa Rican Ministry of Education has invited WorldTeach to become the only international volunteer organization to involve short-term teachers in this innovative rural educational initiative.

While knowledge of Spanish is not a requirement for being accepted to the program, please keep in mind that many of our sites are quite remote and in some cases the volunteer might be the only English speaker in town. We have had past volunteers with no Spanish background have successful experiences at their sites, but it requires a positive attitude, a sense of humor, and a willingness to use gestures and sign language.

Volunteers live with local Costa Rican families who receive compensation from the Ministry of Education for providing meals and housing. Most volunteers have their own room and share the bathroom and living space with their host family. For added support, WorldTeach makes every effort to place summer volunteers in relatively close proximity to each other or to WorldTeach volunteers currently serving year-long assignments in Costa Rica.

Rice and beans are the staples of the Costa Rican diet. Other traditional fare includes fried plantains, eggs, tortillas, and fresh tropical fruits. Although host families will provide most meals, volunteers may also eat some meals at the school cafeteria with fellow teachers, or at a small restaurant or soda in town.

$3,990. This includes pre-departure information and preparation, round-trip international airfare, one week in-country orientation, health insurance, transportation to your site, meals and housing during orientation and teaching service, and 24-hour field support.

Please read more about costs and services.

Note: WorldTeach summer programs may qualify for international internship and travel funds awarded by colleges and universities. Students are encouraged to check with their schools for eligibility.

WorldTeach summer programs are open to qualified individuals over the age of 18 (including undergraduates) who are looking for a meaningful, short-term volunteer teaching experience.

English language fluency is required. Prior teaching experience is helpful but not required. Successful volunteers will be flexible, mature, resourceful, and have a genuine interest in teaching in Costa Rica.

Please see the Volunteer Stories and Site Placements for more information on the program.

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