English Teacher and Program Facilitator

El Yue International Center for Peace
Job Description

Length of Contract:

23-26 months. Start date is negotiable.

About the Center:

The Peace through Yoga Foundation (PTYF), a non-profit based in Indianapolis, has been serving the community of Carbón 1, Costa Rica for 15 years in various ways. 5 years ago, the El Yüe International Center for Peace was founded with the goal of tutoring 16 local children in various subjects and providing them with opportunities they otherwise may have missed out on. Two years ago it was made into an all-girls program and an English teacher was hired from the United States to make up for the lack of an English program at the local elementary school. We are now looking for a replacement that would live and teach in the community for two years with the option to extend their contract. Students are girls between the ages of 7 and 12 from the communities of Carbón 1 and Hone Creek.

About the Location:

The center is located in Carbón 1, a town of about 400 residents. It is located 2 kilometers from Hone Creek (1400 residents), where the teacher must reside for the purposes of this position. Hone Creek is 5 kilometers (or a 1USD bus ride) from Puerto Viejo, one of the most diverse beach communities in the country and definitely one of the best places on the Caribbean Coast. In the other direction, it is a 10 kilometer (also 1USD) bus ride to one of the best known national parks in the country, Cahuita, where monkeys, sloths, and other wildlife are abundant.

Hone Creek itself is very much local and is considered to be one of the hubs (relative to the area) of the county due to its 24-hour public clinic, two separate supermarkets, a video store and various pulperias, or convenience stores. Very, very little English is spoken in this community and it is therefore incredibly important to have strong Spanish skills.

Stipend Breakdown:

-$700 per month living stipend
-$25 per month communication stipend (expected to be used for center-related calls and emailing reports from internet cafe)
-$130 every three months to go to Bocas Del Toro, Panamá for three days in order to renew visa and relax. Occurs 6 times throughout contract.
-$500 travel stipend at the end of the first year/15 months (in December 2017). Can be used for round-trip plane ticket home or for travel elsewhere. This includes the $130 for that month's visa trip, so you must leave Costa Rica for at least three days.

Additional Benefits:

-10 anytime vacation days per year
-Set vacation from the 2nd week of December to the 2nd week of January (with $500 travel stipend, explained above)
-5 sick days per year
-Use of kitchen appliances, furniture, fan, decorations, etc. provided by PTYF for teacher's house
-Use of PTYF bicycle

Not Included:

-Rent
-Phone (recommended iPhone 4S or newer)
-Health and/or personal property insurance (we recommend expat or local social security insurance)
-Food or entertainment (the living allowance is enough for living comfortably relative to the area, but not for extensive travel in addition to the paid visa runs).
-Transportation (other than bike)

Position Requirements:

-Fluency in English, high proficiency in Spanish
-Excel: Must be able to fill in a pre-made spreadsheet
-Moderate understanding of organizational and day-to-day finances
-Ability to work with very little direct supervision
-Flexibility and patience to live/work in a culture very different from one's own
-TEFL certificate and past English teaching experience preferred
-Bachelor's Degree

Position Responsibilities:

-Plan for and teach classes Monday through Friday, 2pm to 5pm (or 3 hours at different time as students' schedules permit)
-Incorporate into lessons all parts of the English language: speaking, reading, writing and listening
-Plan, prepare and deliver lessons to a range of diverse age levels and academic abilities
-Creatively utilize English in other activities, such as yoga, karate, crafts, music, drama, etc
-Plan and attend excursions and/or guest speakers with assistance of the PTYF board. These will sometimes fall on weekends
-Coordinate with sewing teacher about class schedules
-Enforce ground rules for the El Yüe property, including attendance of parents at the monthly workday.

Basic Administrative Responsibilities:

-Send weekly reports including daily attendance, topics covered and activities utilized
-Log academic, personal and emotional growth per child
-Visit each child's home once every six months
-Maintain contact with students' families regarding attendance, behavior and academic growth on at least a monthly basis
-Assist students in writing to their international sponsors, to be sent monthly
-Maintain records of expenses to be sent monthly and arrange delivery of rent to the owner of the center. This will require a monthly trip to the bank located in Puerto Viejo in addition to the trips you will make for personal reasons

Note: This will require a significant amount of planning and work outside of class, but this should not be considered a full-time job.