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Connect with the Peace Corps
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Apply to the Peace Corps
The application process begins by selecting a service model and finding an open position.
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If you are flexible in where you serve for the two-year Peace Corps Volunteer program, our experts can match you with a position and country based on your experience and preferences.
Serve where you’re needed mostEnglish Teacher Trainer
Education
Job highlights
- Make a meaningful contribution to Costa Rica’s education system and evolving English curriculum.
- Strengthen Spanish language skills through daily collaborations and interactions.
- Experience Costa Rica’s rich culture and pura vida lifestyle.
Costa Rica • North America
In partnership with: Ministry of Public Education
Get answers live — every weekday at .
Apply by
July 15, 2026Know by
September 1, 2026Depart on
February 2, 2027Duration
12 monthsAbout the project
Are you a seasoned English teacher who wishes to strengthen language learning overseas? Costa Rica has a meaningful opportunity for you!
For decades, many students in Costa Rica’s public education system were not reaching the necessary level of English proficiency even after 11 or 12 years of instruction. In 2017, the Ministry of Public Education (MEP) developed a new multi-year English curriculum to reflect the knowledge, skills, and abilities that Costa Rican students need to succeed as global citizens today. Each year, new lessons and guides are released for different grade levels. However, students continue to struggle to learn English. As MEP updates the national English curriculum to incorporate more action-oriented, communicative approaches, they seek support from skilled, bilingual educators who can share language-learning best practices.
As an English Teacher Trainer, you will collaborate with Regional English Advisors and local secondary school teachers to revise the national English language curriculum, create engaging educational resources, and train teachers to creatively use these materials in the classroom. Your efforts will enable local teachers and students alike to increase their English proficiency and expand their access to personal and professional opportunities.
Learn more about what Volunteers do in country by visiting our Costa Rica project page.
Required skills
Qualified candidates will have the following criteria:
Bachelor's or master's degree in education, preferably with a focus in curriculum or instruction.
AND
Teaching certification or license with two or more years of relevant experience, including teaching and curriculum development.
Language: Spanish
A. Completed 4 years of high school Spanish coursework in the past 8 years
B. Completed college-level Elementary II Spanish semester (Elementary III in quarter system) within the past 6 years
C. Score between 50-62 on the Spanish College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exam in the past 6 years
D. Score Novice-High or Intermediate-Low on official American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) in Spanish within the past 6 years
Required behavioral competencies
These competencies are essential for all service assignments and are assessed in the application and interview process:
Motivation for and commitment to service
Adaptability and open-mindedness
Problem solving and resourcefulness
Behavioral maturity and professionalism
Photos from Costa Rica
How you and the community will make an impact together:
Produce educational materials and resources, such as audios, videos, teacher toolkits, dialogue scripts, and student resource kits, that support various proficiency levels and learning styles.
Revise documents and organize resource creation workshops.
Design and facilitate teacher workshops on topics related to English language teaching and learning.
Participate in field trips to high schools to follow up on previously facilitated trainings.
Support the regional English advisors with daily departmental operations.
You may also work on additional projects that meet the community’s interests and priorities, such as facilitating an English club or coaching after-school youth sports.
The type of housing assigned will depend on availability at the time and place of the Volunteer’s assignment. Housing may take various forms, including a room with a host family or an independent room or apartment. All housing is located within three kilometers of the Volunteer’s primary work site, allowing them to walk, bike, or use public transportation to commute.
Learn more about the living conditions, including detailed information on culture, communications, housing, and health/crime statistics on our Costa Rica country page. You can also delve into stories about local communities by reading our blog or Volunteer stories.
Meet a Volunteer in Costa Rica
Henry B.
Elementary English Education Volunteer
"Dancing is big in my community, and it has been a great way to meet people and to distinguish myself from the tourists who are constantly coming through town."
See full Volunteer profile
After a two-week orientation on topics such as health and safety, you will move to a semi-urban or rural community where you will collaborate with a regional English advisor of the Ministry of Public Education to assess the local needs and develop a work plan in line with their established goals.
Peace Corps/Costa Rica will support you if you choose to work with a local tutor who can further advance your language skills to better connect with the community.
To learn more about serving as a couple in Costa Rica, visit the country page.
Application process
From application to departure takes around nine months. Learn about the application process for Volunteer opportunities.
Medical/legal clearance
You will need to be cleared medically and legally in order to serve in Costa Rica. Review information on medical clearance and legal clearance to learn about the process.
