Program Reviews

A nice experience that allows you to travel while also educating yourself and giving back…

Antigua Guatemala is very nice and has many beautiful ruins. I recommend visiting them all. The food is also very good and the restaurants are all of a high quality…

The people in Guatemala are very friendly and helpful and the market is a lively place! If you like beautiful textiles then you will like Guatemala. If you go consider taking Spanish lessons because it is a very useful language to know..

The online TEFL program was enlightening. You will learn how to be an effective ESL teacher; completing the program will give you great insight into your motivations and the kind of teacher you want to be. Best of all, you get to see the reward for your hard work during the practical teaching week. My TEFL trainer, Sean, was helpful and provided advice and guidance quickly after any inquiry was made—excellent service, and a rewarding experience. Based on my experience, I recommend this program to anyone seeking a TEFL certificate.

Maximo provided an incredible opportunity to gain experience working in a medical environment. I have gained more hands on experience and learning, of both medicine and Spanish, than I could have gained in the same amount of time back in the states. With the limited resources available in Guatemala, Maximo also allowed me to learn manual skills that have been replaced by modern techniques back in the states just as manual blood pressure and blood sugar. I have made memories and friends from all over the world that will last a lifetime.

Being apart of this experience has really been so amazing. I became so close with the kids and built strong relationships with them. Even though I couldn’t speak Spanish and they couldn’t speak English the experiences and memories I made with them were unforgettable. The teachers there were outstanding. They welcomed us in with open arms the first day we got there and were so patient with us when we didn’t understand something. I even learned more spanish here in 3 weeks than I have in 2 years back in the states. Even though I had some background spanish and knew the basic words and phrases, at times it was really hard communicating with everyone not only at the school but in other places like ordering food and asking questions. I feel like if I were to come back and do it again, I would want to be fluent.The weekend trips that we took are what made it worth it. We went on so many fun weekend trips and it really made the trip so memorable. I also have celiacs disease so I came here a little worried about finding gluten free food that I can eat but I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of options they have for my accommodation. I overall had a really good experience and would highly recommend it if you are looking into doing it.

It was a really good experience!!!! We got to know all the kids and created bonds with them! It was eye opening to help them learn English and gave me a greater appreciation for anyone at home who speaks a second language. Our housing was not ideal and could use a really deep clean but our food was great and host mom was good to us. Sometimes at the project I felt like I wasn’t doing anything then other times I felt like me being there had a direct impact on these kids. I would come back and visit Guatemala! The weekend trips made the weekdays worth it. I’m really glad we traveled around and got to see some pretty cool places. I would not recommend if you don’t know Spanish or are not with someone who is fluent!!

I don't doubt that the TEFL course would not have been as amazing as it was if it wasn't for my amazing instructor Annabelle. She made class so fun and was always keeping us engaged with laughs and valuable information. She truly made this trip and experience amazing! She always made herself available if we needed help with anything. Her instructions were clear and helpful. I feel more than confident to begin to ESL teaching career thanks to her. She was thoughtful, respectful and made an impact on me.

I’m extremely glad to have picked my last elective for medical school in Guatemala. From the beginning, Máximonivel has been patient with all the paperwork that my friend and I required for our university, and they were able to find a clinic which fulfilled both of our interests for a clinical rotation. I will never forget the time we spent helping los ancianos in Ciudad Vieja, the beautiful ruins we visited in Antigua and all the delicious food we tried upon recommendation from the staff. Thank you all for this amazing experience!

I did a medical internship at Ciudad Vieja with Maximo Nivel and it was a really nice experience. We had a lot of autonomy as there are no other doctors working there and we were really able to see the lives of patients as we went to their houses to do home visits. The staff were very kind though it took some getting used to the lack of labs and imagery.
Maximo Nivel also proved to be a great experience for cultural immersion as we lived with a family as well as the Spanish classes and opportunities to do salsa, cooking and one on one Spanish practices with natives.

I decided to do the online TEFL courses through Maximo Nivel, while I’m still in college. The courses were still manageable during this time and also very informative. Throughout these courses, I have learned a lot and also had a great instructor who was always there if need be. Mackenzie helped me through the process and gave me helpful & supportive feedback to get me where I should be. Along with this, the practical teaching online is very rewarding and the students are very patient with you, as is the instructor. I highly recommend this course and program!

In the midst of a career change and a big move, I started the TEFL program. I needed to leave it for a bit, and my mentor supported me through the process of taking time and coming back. In the end, I had a great experience, completed the course and really enjoyed the teaching experience in the program. I look forward to using my certification to teach and tutor in Central America and online, as a paid teacher and volunteer. This has been one of my favorite learning experiences after several university degrees and vocational programs.