{"id":30325,"date":"2025-10-08T15:42:37","date_gmt":"2025-10-08T21:42:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/?p=30325"},"modified":"2026-03-03T09:15:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T16:15:16","slug":"teach-english-costa-rica","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/teach-english-costa-rica\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Teach English in Costa Rica: The Ultimate Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;\" class=\"sharethis-inline-share-buttons\" ><\/div>\n<p>If your dream TEFL experience abroad involves having pristine beaches at your fingertips and living in a laid-back culture, then you should have your sights set on a Costa Rica TEFL job. With its strong demand for English teachers and accessible requirements, this Central American country is a tropical haven not only for teaching English in person but for digital nomads too. Let\u2019s take a look at what you need to teach English in Costa Rica, including the types of jobs you can land, the qualifications you\u2019ll need, and what teachers have shared about living the <em>pura vida <\/em>lifestyle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>If you&#8217;re new to teaching, you&#8217;ll want to get initial training and qualification with a <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/courses\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TEFL certificate<\/a>. You can explore our <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/online-tefl-certification\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">online TEFL courses<\/a> to get started.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ub-table-of-contents-block ub_table-of-contents\" id=\"ub_table-of-contents-0bbb93da-160c-4432-b4ce-a44453b3d1d3\" data-linktodivider=\"false\" data-showtext=\"show\" data-hidetext=\"hide\" data-scrolltype=\"auto\" data-enablesmoothscroll=\"false\" data-initiallyhideonmobile=\"false\" data-initiallyshow=\"true\"><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-header-container\" style=\"\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-header\" style=\"text-align: left; \">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-title\">Table Of Contents<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-extra-container\" style=\"\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-container ub_table-of-contents-1-column \">\n\t\t\t\t<ul style=\"\"><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/teach-english-costa-rica\/#0-is-there-demand-for-english-teachers-in-costa-rica\" style=\"\">Is there demand for English teachers in Costa Rica?<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/teach-english-costa-rica\/#1-what-qualifications-do-you-need-to-teach-english-in-costa-rica\" style=\"\">What qualifications do you need to teach English in Costa Rica?<\/a><ul><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/teach-english-costa-rica\/#2-tefl-certification\" style=\"\">TEFL certification<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/teach-english-costa-rica\/#3-degrees\" style=\"\">Degrees<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/teach-english-costa-rica\/#4-prior-teaching-experience\" style=\"\">Prior teaching experience<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/teach-english-costa-rica\/#5-visas\" style=\"\">Visas<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/teach-english-costa-rica\/#6-what-is-life-like-for-english-teachers-in-costa-rica\" style=\"\">What is life like for English teachers in Costa Rica?<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/teach-english-costa-rica\/#7-what-types-of-teaching-jobs-are-available-in-costa-rica\" style=\"\">What types of teaching jobs are available in Costa Rica?<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/teach-english-costa-rica\/#8-what-do-people-say-about-teaching-in-costa-rica\" style=\"\">What do people say about teaching in Costa Rica?<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"550\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Costa-Rica-Map.jpg\" alt=\"Map of Central America highlighting Costa Rica between Nicaragua and Panama, a popular destination to teach English in Costa Rica.\" class=\"wp-image-40413\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Costa-Rica-Map.jpg 550w, https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Costa-Rica-Map-480x262.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 550px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Costa Rica on the map of Central America \u2014 a top spot to teach English abroad.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"0-is-there-demand-for-english-teachers-in-costa-rica\">Is there demand for English teachers in Costa Rica?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Costa Rica is one of the countries in Central America where the demand for EFL teachers is constantly high, making it easy to find English teaching jobs. Most opportunities are in the capital, San Jos\u00e9, and other major cities and towns, but jobs are also available in the coastal areas. Jobs are available all year round, although it\u2019s best to start your job hunt around December or January, before the academic year starts in February.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>While it is possible to find opportunities to teach young learners in Costa Rica, the most popular EFL teaching jobs are with adults, many of whom want to improve their English skills in the workplace.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"\"><div class=\"content-advertisements template1\"><div class=\"thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/courses\/online\/professional\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" \"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Professional-Certificates.png\" class=\"\"><\/a><\/div><div class=\"txt\"><h5>Kickstart your English language teaching career with<\/h5><h3>Professional TEFL\/TESOL Certification<\/h3><p><\/p><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/courses\/online\/professional\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"btn-ads\">Get Certified<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-what-qualifications-do-you-need-to-teach-english-in-costa-rica\">What qualifications do you need to teach English in Costa Rica?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Generally speaking, the requirements for teachers in Costa Rica are not that strict. Here are the most important qualifications you have to check to teach English in Costa Rica:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-tefl-certification\">TEFL certification<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Having a <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/courses\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TEFL certification<\/a> is essential for teaching English in Costa Rica. It\u2019s also important to note that earning a TEFL\/TESOL certificate of at least 120 hours is the best choice \u2013 not only is it a requirement by the majority of employers, but it will certainly make landing quality TEFL jobs in the country easier.<\/p>\n\n\n<ul style=\"padding-left: 1.1em; text-align: left; --ub-list-item-icon-top: 3px;; --ub-list-item-icon-size: 0.9em; --ub-list-item-background-image: url('data:image\/svg+xml;utf8,&lt;svg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 512 512&quot;&gt;&lt;path fill=&quot;%2300d084&quot; d=&quot;M0 256a256 256 0 1 0 512 0A256 256 0 1 0 0 256zM281 385c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0s-9.4-24.6 0-33.9l71-71L136 280c-13.3 0-24-10.7-24-24s10.7-24 24-24l182.1 0-71-71c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9s24.6-9.4 33.9 0L393 239c9.4 9.4 9.4 24.6 0 33.9L281 385z&quot;&gt;&lt;\/path&gt;&lt;\/svg&gt;'); --ub-list-item-fa-li-top: 3px; --ub-list-item-spacing: 0px; \" class=\"wp-block-ub-styled-list ub_styled_list\" id=\"ub_styled_list-612a65e0-fe19-427f-a4ff-1872b9e858e8\"><div class=\"ub-block-list__layout\" style=\"text-align: left; column-count: 1; --ub-list-mobile-column-count: 2; \">\n<li class=\"ub_styled_list_item\" style=\"--ub-list-item-icon-top: 3px; --ub-list-item-icon-size: 0.9em; --ub-list-item-background-image: url('data:image\/svg+xml;utf8,&lt;svg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 512 512&quot;&gt;&lt;path fill=&quot;%2300d084&quot; d=&quot;M0 256a256 256 0 1 0 512 0A256 256 0 1 0 0 256zM241 377c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0s-9.4-24.6 0-33.9l87-87-87-87c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9s24.6-9.4 33.9 0L345 239c9.4 9.4 9.4 24.6 0 33.9L241 377z&quot;&gt;&lt;\/path&gt;&lt;\/svg&gt;'); \" id=\"ub-styled-list-item-6247b6be-efde-469b-a029-d4462e779455\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"ub_list_item_content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ub_list_item_icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"0.9em\" height=\"0.9em\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 512 512\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#00d084\" d=\"M0 256a256 256 0 1 0 512 0A256 256 0 1 0 0 256zM241 377c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0s-9.4-24.6 0-33.9l87-87-87-87c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9s24.6-9.4 33.9 0L345 239c9.4 9.4 9.4 24.6 0 33.9L241 377z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ub_list_item_text\">If you don\u2019t hold a TEFL\/TESOL certification yet, taking the self-paced course <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/courses\/online\/120-hour\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">120-hour Master Certificate<\/a> course will equip you with the essentials of English instruction and learn the core methodologies of teaching the different aspects of teaching the language (vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, etc.).<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/li>\n\n<li class=\"ub_styled_list_item\" style=\"--ub-list-item-icon-top: 3px; --ub-list-item-icon-size: 0.9em; --ub-list-item-background-image: url('data:image\/svg+xml;utf8,&lt;svg xmlns=&quot;http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg&quot; viewBox=&quot;0 0 512 512&quot;&gt;&lt;path fill=&quot;%2300d084&quot; d=&quot;M0 256a256 256 0 1 0 512 0A256 256 0 1 0 0 256zM241 377c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0s-9.4-24.6 0-33.9l87-87-87-87c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9s24.6-9.4 33.9 0L345 239c9.4 9.4 9.4 24.6 0 33.9L241 377z&quot;&gt;&lt;\/path&gt;&lt;\/svg&gt;'); \" id=\"ub-styled-list-item-a9ff6670-46b3-470a-91da-c0088d07ba8a\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"ub_list_item_content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ub_list_item_icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"0.9em\" height=\"0.9em\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewbox=\"0 0 512 512\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#00d084\" d=\"M0 256a256 256 0 1 0 512 0A256 256 0 1 0 0 256zM241 377c-9.4 9.4-24.6 9.4-33.9 0s-9.4-24.6 0-33.9l87-87-87-87c-9.4-9.4-9.4-24.6 0-33.9s24.6-9.4 33.9 0L345 239c9.4 9.4 9.4 24.6 0 33.9L241 377z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"ub_list_item_text\">If you\u2019re targeting competitive or higher-paying English teaching jobs in the country, earning a graduate-level, accredited TEFL certification such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/courses\/online\/idelt\">IDELT<\/a><em><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/courses\/online\/idelt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Online<\/a><\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/courses\/online\/idelt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">\u2122<\/a> gives you even more edge as a TEFL\/TESOL teacher. It also provides you with the most comprehensive training in teaching English.<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/li>\n<\/div><\/ul>\n\n\n<p>Looking to stand out further or expand your market in Costa Rica? Adding professional development certifications to your credentials, like a <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/courses\/specialized\/teaching-business-english\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Specialized Certificate in Teaching Business English<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/courses\/specialized\/teaching-english-online#see-more-courses\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Teaching English Online<\/a>, is the way to go. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, suppose you\u2019re hoping to work in bilingual or public schools. In that case, a <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/courses\/specialized\/content-language-integrated-learning-clil\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Specialized Certificate in CLIL Methodology<\/a> will not only boost your resume but also help you be better prepared for teaching other subjects in the English language in these institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/benefits-of-clil\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">What are the benefits of CLIL in bilingual education? Find out here.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-degrees\">Degrees<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the major draws for people who want to teach English in Costa Rica is that a bachelor\u2019s degree is not required. Nevertheless, it may be necessary for teaching in private international or bilingual schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-prior-teaching-experience\">Prior teaching experience<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Similarly, teaching experience is not a requirement if you want to teach in Costa Rica, although this may be preferred by some companies. Meanwhile, if you\u2019d like to start gaining experience to be qualified (or feel more confident to teach before applying to a company), you can also find plenty of opportunities to teach English as a volunteer with non-profit organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/teach-english-without-degree-experience-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Learn more about teaching English without a degree and without experience.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"5-visas\">Visas<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ll need a work visa to teach English in Costa Rica. Processing this visa may involve a lot of documentation (e.g., copies of your degree, TEFL certificate, background check&#8230;), although there are companies that provide work visa assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Costa Rican government also offers a <a href=\"https:\/\/migracion.go.cr\/nomadas-digitales\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">digital nomad visa<\/a>, which can be issued to remote workers and freelancers working for a foreign company as well as entrepreneurs who want to stay in the country for a longer time (tourist visas for Costa Rica are typically valid for up to 90 days). With this digital nomad visa, you can stay in Costa Rica for up to a year, and you can extend it for another year (provided that you\u2019ve stayed in the country for at least 80 days).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"550\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Teacher-in-Costa-Rica.jpg\" alt=\"Teacher at a school fair in Costa Rica, smiling and making a peace sign while standing indoors.\" class=\"wp-image-40411\" style=\"object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Teacher-in-Costa-Rica.jpg 550w, https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Teacher-in-Costa-Rica-480x262.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 550px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>A teacher at a School fair in Costa Rica.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"6-what-is-life-like-for-english-teachers-in-costa-rica\">What is life like for English teachers in Costa Rica?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>As there are no age limits to teaching English in Costa Rica, it is also a popular destination for retirees who want to transition or continue in TEFL. In fact, Costa Rican students place a lot of value on teachers who have had more experience in life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Costa Rica is also welcoming to non-native English teachers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Depending on the type of institution you\u2019re working for, the salary range for English teachers in Costa Rica ranges from $800 to $1,200 USD monthly. Bilingual or international schools typically pay the highest, and the job offer may include accommodation as well as allowance for living expenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, language schools or academies typically pay between $8 and $10 per hour. If you\u2019re tutoring privately or running your own English teaching business, it is possible to charge $15 to $25 per hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You may wonder, however, if the rate above would be enough to live comfortably in this country. Definitely! The cost of living in Costa Rica is relatively low. <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/teaching-in-costa-rica\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tom, a former financial advisor-turned-English teacher in the beach town of Playa Jac\u00f3,<\/a> gives us a picture of how far your money can go with the salary you\u2019ll earn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIn Costa Rica, you can expect to break even while working a 26-30 hour per week schedule. Rent is affordable \u2013 you can expect to pay $200-$300 per month for a one-bedroom apartment. If you are on a budget, you can eat cheaply at the many \u201csodas,\u201d or traditional Tico-style restaurants, scattered throughout the country for $3-5 per meal (rice, beans, chicken, fish, salad, fruit, etc.),\u201d he shared.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"\"><div class=\"content-advertisements template4\"><div class=\"thumb\"><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/where-to-teach-english-abroad-destination-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\" \"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/Teach-English-Abroad-DestinationGuide-1.png\" class=\"\"><\/a><\/div><div class=\"txt\"><h5>Embark on your TEFL adventure with the free<\/h5><h3>Teach English Abroad Destination Guide<\/h3><p><\/p><a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/where-to-teach-english-abroad-destination-guide\/\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"btn-ads\">Download<\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"7-what-types-of-teaching-jobs-are-available-in-costa-rica\">What types of teaching jobs are available in Costa Rica?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Most of the English teaching jobs in Costa Rica are available in language academies, which are private language schools that typically cater to adult learners or young learners who want to practice English after school hours. Teachers may give classes on weekdays or weekends and work around 20 to 25 hours weekly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There are also many international or bilingual schools in Costa Rica, whose curriculum is taught in English. These private schools tend to pay higher, although they may have stricter qualifications, such as a bachelor&#8217;s or university degree, <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/courses\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TEFL certificate<\/a>, teaching experience, and in some cases, a teaching license.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, you can teach English online, which gives you a chance to work from anywhere in the country (imagine yourself giving classes with a beach backdrop) and even travel to different spots as a digital nomad. You can find virtual English teaching opportunities with language academies that offer online ESL classes, or you can also have private students to <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/teach-english-online-digital-nomad\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">teach online<\/a> (and have extra spare cash for your travels).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"550\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Playa-Jaco.jpg\" alt=\"A panoramic view of Playa Jac\u00f3 in Costa Rica, showing the long curved shoreline with dark sand, turquoise waters, surrounding green hills, and the town along the coast.\" class=\"wp-image-40415\" style=\"object-fit:cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Playa-Jaco.jpg 550w, https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Playa-Jaco-480x262.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 550px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Playa Jac\u00f3 in Costa Rica<\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"8-what-do-people-say-about-teaching-in-costa-rica\">What do people say about teaching in Costa Rica?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Costa Rica\u2019s stunning landscapes, booming economy, and safe environment \u2013 not to mention delicious and healthy food \u2013 are just of the myriad of reasons why it\u2019s one of the most popular TEFL destinations in Central America, and many teachers, like <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/arunima-teaching-english-in-costa-rica\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bridge grad Arunima from India<\/a>, can attest to that. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Asked what she loves the most about teaching English in Costa Rica, Arunima shared: \u201cCosta Rica is a very culturally rich and diverse country. It is also breathtakingly beautiful. It\u2019s a peaceful country.&nbsp;Also, I believe Costa Ricans hold high regard for their teachers. It\u2019s part of their culture.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, Tom, who moved to Costa Rica to pursue his dream of living abroad, added, \u201cAlthough Ticos (which refers to people from Costa Rica) are excited about their studies, teaching in a beach town such as Playa Jac\u00f3 is quite laid back. A common saying in Costa Rica is <em>Pura Vida<\/em>!, which means: relax and don\u2019t take life too seriously. Costa Rican students like to have fun, laugh, and joke a lot during their classes!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, if you see yourself embarking on a TEFL adventure, getting immersed in a vibrant culture, and, of course, living the <em>pura vida<\/em> lifestyle, the time may be high for you to jet-set to Costa Rica. As Tom advised, \u201cDo not be scared to pursue this goal.&nbsp;You only live once and you do not get any younger. Seize the moment and follow your passion!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"9-if-you-are-not-sure-where-to-begin-bridge%E2%80%99s-teaching-english-abroad-resource-page-explains-each-step-from-getting-qualified-to-picking-the-best-destination-\"><em>If you are not sure where to begin, <a href=\"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/teaching-english-abroad\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bridge\u2019s Teaching English Abroad resource page<\/a> explains each step, from getting qualified to picking the best destination.<\/em><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If your dream TEFL experience abroad involves having pristine beaches at your fingertips and living in a laid-back culture, then you should have your sights set on a Costa Rica [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":40410,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[622,621,257,714],"post-language":[685],"popular_posts":[],"class_list":["post-30325","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-teach-english-abroad","tag-bridge-professional-certifications","tag-teach-abroad-benefits","tag-teach-abroad-requirements","tag-teaching-in-central-america","post-language-english"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Teaching-English-in-Costa-Rica-featured-image-2.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"Krzl Light Nu\u00f1es","author_link":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/author\/krzlnunesgmail-com\/"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30325","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30325"}],"version-history":[{"count":33,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30325\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41798,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30325\/revisions\/41798"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40410"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30325"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30325"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30325"},{"taxonomy":"post-language","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post-language?post=30325"},{"taxonomy":"popular_posts","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bridge.edu\/tefl\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/popular_posts?post=30325"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}