April 29, 2016
One of our January 2016 graduates of Costa Rica TEFL, Ashley Torgerson, shares with us her experience at her dream job:
“I am a kindergarten teacher at the Corcovado School which is a private, bilingual school in Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica on the Osa Peninsula. I also help teach 2nd and 3rd grade Math and 1st grade English. Other roles I hold are updating social media, fund raising, and recruiting volunteers. My students are all so marvelous and quick to learn English! I am so proud and astonished everyday to witness their creativity and energy as they learn!
Puerto Jimenez is an amazing and special, tiny town on the Osa Peninsula. With tons of biodiversity and the Corcovado National Park, the peninsula is Costa Rica’s last wild frontier. I love that right outside my front door I see macaws, parrots, and toucans. Golfo Dulce is within walking distance, along with miles of other coastlines to explore! I live in my own slice of paradise! When I’m not teaching I spend my whole day in the wilderness. I hit up the nearby beaches (which are almost always vacant, so its like having my own private beach)! I enjoy taking bike rides, kayaking, and visiting the Corcovado National Park. Also, Panama is only 2 hours away, so on long weekends I enjoy exploring the beauty there too. And if I haven’t worn myself out with the full day of fun and sun, I like to go dancing at the Disco in town.
All of this is to say that Costa Rica TEFL helped me prepare for being dynamic and entertaining while teaching a new language with very little resources. They really involved the student teachers in interacting and experimenting with the same games that they will use to facilitate an English class. This was so valuable for me! I am working in a small school, with a minuscule budget, so I do not have the luxury of tons of resources. With only a copy machine, construction paper, and markers I am able to do so much! The activities that are taught in Costa Rica TEFL are very versatile and fun! Even my kindergartners enjoy them! I love what I am doing now and the next step will be an exciting one…that’s all I know! Costa Rica TEFL has helped open so may new doors to continue to travel, explore, and share the passion of language learning.”
Best of luck to Ashley and all our other TEFL graduates!