Alannah Garcia is a graduate of Costa Rica TEFL’s June/July 2014 course. She secured a great work/exchange position as the English teacher for a Peace Corps funded program at the San Isidro Learning Center in a small community here in Costa Rica. She has been living with a host family, teaching English, and working with the community to develop new educational programs. She is currently working towards offering fitness classes, and is also hoping to receive a donation of computers which will allow the center to offer computer classes which, she notes, are in high demand in the community. Recently, we caught up with Alannah, and she let us know what life has been like in San Isidro:
“I am currently living and working in the beautiful mountains of San Isidro León Córtes in Zona de los Santos. I am teaching English here at the Learning Center as a collaborator with the Peace Corps! Throughout the week, I am responsible for creating, planning, and teaching classes at the Adult Beginner levels, children in elementary school and high school, and intermediate levels! We are currently working to be able to offer classes for computation and exercise education, as well as organize activities within the community such as movie night and a talent show! When I’m not teaching, I spend time with my host family learning the intricacies of farming coffee, how to dance the salsa, and how to make tortillas by hand! For fun every Saturday, I head to the bar/restaurant in town with my host-siblings for a little karaoke! I have learned that karaoke is wildly popular in this part of the country and it’s a great way to connect with people in the community. So far, living in San Isidro has been just as important an experience in learning as it has been in teaching– and I’ve only just begun!”
