What’s She Up To Now?
Laura Legere graduated from Costa Rica TEFL in May of 2022. Shortly after graduating, she was placed at a school in Jaco. She lives and works in Playa Hermosa, another beautiful beach town in Costa Rica just outside of Jaco. She teaches English, Math, and Science to grade 1 and 2 students. Laura has truly enjoyed her time at the school so far and has made many new friendships along the way. Since accepting her current teaching position, She spends her time “hanging around Jaco, collecting sea glass from the beach, enjoying the various restaurants, or immersing in the nightlife with other English teachers.” Laura also enjoys traveling to see her boyfriend who lives in La Fortuna, another beautiful area of Costa Rica, home of the famous, Arenal Volcano.
Laura’s Adventures
Laura has also explored neighboring countries, Nicaragua and Colombia since arriving in Costa Rica. While on these trips, she was able to make new memories and learn about other cultures. Visa runs can be a great opportunity to check places or experiences off of your bucket list while also learning about other countries and their customs. Laura is looking forward to her next visa run, where she can expand her list of countries she has visited.
Is It Scary?
Laura explains, “when I packed up and moved to Costa Rica in March 2022, I had no idea where I was going to end up or how long I would stay. But, here I am 9 months later, a confident teacher with no plans on leaving this amazing country. I have gone outside of my comfort zone and I cannot express how many opportunities have presented themselves from doing so. I have made lifelong friends and learned so much. Not only have I learned about being a teacher, but also about myself. I am excited to see what the future brings, but I am also content with the future being an unknown journey.”
Taking the leap and coming to Costa Rica can be scary at first. But, the memories and everlasting friendships you make will prove that this could be the best decision you ever make. After COVID, self-discovery has been on many people’s minds, so why not do this on a beach in a country of truly amazing people?!
Laura’s Teaching Experiences
Laura’s experience taking the Costa Rica TEFL course has taught her valuable teaching skills. It has helped her to make language learning fun, rather than a chore. Laura uses the knowledge she learned in the TEFL course to incorporate different games and activities into her teaching. This helps to keep students engaged and excited about learning. TEFL was the stepping stone that Laura needed to break out of her comfort zone; Laura never expected to enjoy teaching little kids, but she has discovered that she has a true passion for it.
When asked what her favourite teaching moment, Laura explained that, “picking one specific moment is too difficult. I have at least one favourite moment everyday. But overall, my favorite part of teaching is watching my students grow. It is very rewarding to watch them improve and it makes me very proud to be their teacher.”
Laura’s Future Plans
As the school year is coming to an end in Costa Rica, Laura has accepted a new job in the town of San Ramon. There, she will be working for Great Lakes Native English, which is a company that currently offers online English classes. The company will soon be offering in person classes as well. Laura is looking forward to being able to see more of this beautiful country while still being able to earn money and help students grow.
By: Lizzy Fenn
Administrative Coordinator, CRTEFL