Program Reviews

I've had in on my bucket list for a while to take a Spanish course while living abroad, so this year when Hollywood went on strike and I had some free months on hand, it felt like the time!

Maximo Nivel was a great touchstone for me as a solo traveler. I was able to arrange my housing and my Spanish classes through them, and book most of my travel through their partner, American Inca Trail.

Some info/additional context for others looking into the program:
Maximo Nivel offers several programs. Some people will be volunteering, some will be taking Spanish, some will be teaching English, and many will be doing a mixture of those things. I'm in my mid-thirties, but since most people are doing this program as a gap year or through their college, the majority age is 16-22. Everyone is super fun and nice, but I did feel a little old sometimes lol.

Spanish Classes:
I never had anyone at my level the 4 weeks I was there, so I had 4 hours private the whole time. Thankfully I was able to meet friends through my travels and housing. My teacher was super friendly and personable. The curriculum is pretty basic and kinda just a grammar dump, but combined with conversation time, I did improve a lot over my 4 weeks.

Housing:
When I read "host family" I thought I'd be having meals with a family, but that's not the setup for most of the hosts. In general, they're housing 8-10 students and you eat with the other students. However, they're also available to chat, give recommendations, and are super nice and helpful. The rooms/accommodations are humble, but clean and safe. The meals prepared were delicious. One note is that I requested a single room and was assigned to shared room when I arrived - Maximo was quick to transfer me when I notified them of the mistake.

Maximo Nivel's TEFL program is a thorough training in how to teach students English through immersion without the use of their native language. At every opportunity, Maximo uses the techniques you will be using as an ESL teacher to teach you what you need to know for certification. This double-dose of the essential techniques is an incredible learning tool that will allow you to independently teach real ESL classes to students by the fourth week of your course.
Students coming to Maximo Nivel will be particularly lucky if they can get Wayne Summerbell as a teacher. He is an extremely competent and approachable instructor. I can't imagine receiving better help while navigating my strengths and weakness to become an independent teacher of English as a second language.

Everyday I’m so happy to be at the daycare with the kids, they teach me so much and vice versa. The highlight of my morning is when I get there I get “ambushed” with hugs and good mornings. Honestly they are the most lovable people in the whole world. The staff at los ositos have been very helpful and welcoming. Also the kids love it if you smile at them it makes them feel happy and gives them like extra energy for the day. But honestly working with the kids makes you have to have extra energy..

I am a Family Nurse Practitioner who decided to make a career change. I thoroughly investigated the different TEFL courses available and chose Maximo Nivel. I completed the hybrid course in August in Antigua, Guatemala due to my demanding job as a Nurse Practitioner. I was definitely challenged! When I attended the on-site portion, I immediately realized the rigor of the program. I was impressed with Wayne Summerbell, the TEFL instructor. He is passionate, knowledgeable, supportive, and gives excellent feedback. I enjoyed the students so much and have found a new passion! This program is amazing! Wayne Summerbell is an asset to Maximo Nivel and honestly, I can say the time I spent in Antigua with him and my fellow students will be some of most cherished memories!

It was the most amazing experience of my life and I am so grateful for everyone who made it what it was.
The memories I made here, whether on the construction site or at the beaches, national parks, clubs or bars are what will stick with me forever.
And the help from the Maximo Team, my host mum, the local construction team and the friends I made here, really made the trip more than what I ever expected it to be.
I can recommend this journey to everyone out there!
Unless you don‘t like talking to new people and making amazing new friends from all over the world… in that case it might not be for you ;)

This program is helpful for anyone looking for ways to dig deeper into the English language and share their knowledge with a global community through teaching. The TEFL/TESOL program is accessible to all, yet challenging - the teachers are supportive and you leave the program feeling a sense of satisfaction that you can make a difference in people's lives. I would recommend this program because it can be applied anywhere around the globe or online! ESL techniques can also be applied to other language classrooms - for instance, I am an elementary Spanish teacher and will definitely use the teaching techniques to elevate my own teaching and support my student's growth.

I completed the TEFL course in Antigua Guatemala with Wayne. Wayne was a very qualified and very charismatic teacher and when I started the course I had no prior experience. By the end of the course I felt fully confident in my ability to teach and prepare ESL classes. The techniques used here are very practical and useful. I can recommend the TEFL course! Antigua is a beautiful city. I cannot speak to the homestays, I got my own accommodations but I never heard any big complaints from any of my friends staying in those places.

We had a wonderful teacher who made our Spanish lessons a lot of fun. The teacher was experienced, well-organized and very funny, making our lessons both enjoyable and productive. All the staff were friendly and helpful. They also helped us to arrange some wonderful tours of Inca sites in the area. I didn’t realize how many fascinating sites there are in the Cusco region! The facilities were clean and well maintained. The location was convenient, so we were able to walk to local museums and some great restaurants.

We had wonderful Spanish classes in the sparkling clean and beautiful facility, perfectly located in the historical center of Cusco. The staff and teachers are so friendly and informative and helpful! Our teacher was very attentive to our level of expertise and helped us to improve each day with clear and thoughtful explanations about the nuances of the Spanish language. Also, our weekend tours through the Sacred Valley arranged by Maximo Nivel and conducted by American Inca Trail were fabulous. Maximo Nivel in Cusco is a wonderful place to learn about the language, the culture, and the history of Peru and all of South America. We're going to go back soon!

I loved every second of this program and truly recommend anyone who is interested in healthcare or medicine to join this experience. The host family made me feel welcome and comfortable, the Maximo Nivel staff were helpful and friendly, and the care facility where I volunteered was happy to have us there and teach us more about their way of medicine. I will definitely do this again and recommend all my fellow healthcare people to join!