The program begins with an orientation during which you will learn about meeting the challenges of living and working in Costa Rica as well as about lesson planning, teaching techniques, classroom management and environmental education. You will come away from the orientation with improved Spanish skills, lesson plans and a sense of what it will take to establish yourself in the community. A Global Routes director will be on hand throughout your internship to assist and guide you in whatever ways you require. On weekends interns convene to share their experiences of the week. This is an opportunity to touch base with American counterparts, eat some western food and put aside the teacher role.
Interns are also welcome to spend the weekend with their families and village communities.
People generally express concerns about a few different health issues. These include AIDS, malaria and stomach ailments commonly associated with travel in a developing country. You can do a great deal to prevent the possibility of exposure to AIDS, which is transmitted through sexual contact, intravenous drug use and blood transfusion. You are completely able to reduce the risk of exposure via avoidance of the first two and Global Routes does its best to reduce the possibility of exposure through contaminated blood. While the risk of exposure to AIDS is extremely low, the risk of exposure to malaria is not.