Education Internships in Costa Rica
About Internships
Each UC Davis Summer Abroad Internship program pairs UC Davis Study Abroad with a partner organization that manages the personalized internship placements; arranges accommodations and excursions; leads onsite orientations and optional social events; and provides 24/7 emergency support. As part of the placement process for Summer Internships, participants will first enroll through UC Davis Study Abroad and then complete a supplemental application for the partner organization associated with their particular Summer Internship program.
Although Study Abroad partners with outside organizations for some aspects of Summer Abroad Internships, the official provider for these programs is UC Davis Study Abroad, and course credit is issued by UC Davis.
Internship Placement Process
After students enroll through UC Davis Study Abroad in the Education in Costa Rica Summer Internship program, they will receive instructions for completing a separate application and portal for this program’s partner, CIS Abroad. CIS Abroad’s supplemental application will require a resume, cover letter, transcript, online application, and more. CIS Abroad will make internship placements based on details provided in cover letters, so students should be sure to indicate in their cover letters what age groups they would prefer to work with. An interview with the placement organization or school may be required.
Sample Internship Placements
Students will be placed in area schools, working as teachers’ assistants alongside a permanent English teacher or, in some cases, other teachers as needed. Work duties will include teaching, mentoring, homework assistance, classroom and lesson prep, and, in some cases, after-school activities. Students may also be placed to assist in teaching English to the network of host families, and administrative staff at Veritas University, or with an NGO that welcomes interns. Interns could teach three levels of English, beginner, intermediate and advanced. There are also placements for students with advanced Spanish language skills.
Depending on the placement a background check may be required and the cost is not included in the program fees. Background check fees are dependent upon what jurisdictions the individuals have history in. The base fee is $34.65 but it could go up to $75 depending on the jurisdictions. Background check fees are subject to change.
Students are encouraged to be open-minded and approach the program with a willingness to learn and grow, both professionally and personally. Final internship placement will be determined just prior to departure.
Resume and Cover Letter Resources
We strongly recommend that all students meet with an advisor at the UC Davis Internship and Career Center or the Career Center on their home campus to have their resume and cover letter reviewed prior to submitting these documents to CIS Abroad. The ICC provides many online resources, such as resume, cover letter, and letter of recommendation examples.
Our Program Partner
For the Education in Costa Rica Summer Internship program, UC Davis Study abroad partners with CIS Abroad (Center for International Studies), a study abroad organization that offers independent study and intern programs in more than 22 countries. The organization offers customized internship placements to provide students with hands-on, professional experience within their chosen field. The Education in Costa Rica Summer Internship program is a customized program designed by CIS Abroad uniquely for UC Davis Study Abroad. Onsite, a team of CIS Abroad staff will welcome students at the airport, lead the welcome orientation, coordinate and lead the group excursions and optional activities, and be on-call 24/7 for emergency support.
Transcript Notation
Students participating in UC Davis Study Abroad Internships are eligible to receive Transcript Notation (TN). Transcript notation documents your academically approved internship on your official UC Davis transcript. By having your experience noted, it provides proof of where and when you participated in an internship. This is especially valuable for international internships that may be difficult for a prospective employer or program to contact.
Transcript Notation is a process you’ll start within the first two weeks of your internship placement through Handshake, the tool UC Davis Internship and Career Center uses to connect students and employers.