Scholarship Program Coordinator/EFL teacher

Scholarship Program Coordinator/English as a Foreign Language Instructor- Jan.-June 2013

Volunteer Position- Room and board provided.

Located on the beautiful Sarapiquí River, the SCLC depends on long-term volunteers to run its day-to-day programs and operations.  The volunteers must be highly committed, self-motivated, willing to work full-time, and responsible for coordinating the entirety of the Scholarship program and also teach up to ten classes a week (depending on registration levels).   In 2012, the SCLC is restructuring and focusing on realizing its original mission of establishing itself as a center for resources for the Sarapiquí community and a place where the community comes to support and help each other.  Due to the nature of the Center and the mission to reach and work with the local community, and of course to communicate with the scholarship students and their parents, volunteers should have at least an intermediate level of Spanish and feel comfortable communicating in this language.

We are currently looking for a Scholarship Program Coordinator to lead, supervise and manage the high school scholarship program. While education is free in Costa Rica, attending high school can be costly for many families in the Sarapiquí region. Expenses such as uniforms, books, copies and transportation make it difficult for families to be able to send their children to high school. SCLC's high school scholarship program aims to support families through facilitating international donations to local high school students. The program also provides monthly meetings, community service projects, environmental programming, ongoing career and future planning, and opportunities for students to discuss and work on environmental and social problems facing their communities.

Please note that coordinating and teaching is only a part of this position; this is a Community Development and Outreach Center in which it is absolutely necessary for volunteers to participate in all of the Center’s projects and missions.

Job Description

• Manage international donations and its database for local high school students
• Participate in community outreach and development, mainly with local Youth Group
• Conduct monthly program activities that include service, leadership, team-building, education, career planning and environmental themes each semester
• Maintain a 6 month plan for program activities that meet goals and objectives of program as well as mission of the organization
• Ensure students communicate with donors by means of quarterly correspondence
• Communicate with students and families of students in regards to student issues and grades
• Communicate with donors to convey program information and updates via newsletters, email updates, and mailings
• Act as the liaison between the SCLC and the high schools in Puerto Viejo and La Virgen, as well as local Youth Group
• Host study sessions at SCLC to improve study skills of scholarship students as time permits
• Teach multiple levels of English classes to adults and young adults, mostly in the evening because of demand.
• Assist EFL Program coordinator in promoting course registration, managing tuition payments, creating class schedules

Job Requirements

• Native English Speaker
• Fluency/Advanced Spanish
• TEFL, TESOL or CELTA certification
• A strong passion for working in community outreach and development, and conservation
• Experience teaching EFL/ESL
• Experience managing youth groups
• Experience creating lesson plans
• Experience teaching adults and children
• Experience with classroom management
• Motivation and self-starting initiative
• Experience with accounting, newsletter development, and data management a plus
• Ability to communicate effectively
• Willing to sign contract detailing responsibilities and commitments, with $100 refundable deposit to adhere to these commitments
• Willing to work evenings (5:00 – 8:30 pm)

If you are interested in applying for this position or would like general information about the Center, please contact us at: volunteer@learningcentercostarica.org