Program Reviews

I really enjoyed every second of my time here at Maximo Nivel, and I was set up with a really cool construction project, which has had a positive impact on the surrounding area and community, which helped me feel a sense of accomplishment, all whilst I was having fun and enjoying myself, and making great friends along the way. I will most definitely be recommending Maximo Nivel to my friends, as well as anyone who wants to go abroad and leave a positive impact on the country. Make sure you have a go

As a volunteer through Maximo Nivel, I worked at a childcare center with kids ages 2-4 in San Jose, Costa Rica. My experience was amazing! Both the kids and teachers I worked with were incredibly sweet and energetic. At the Maximo Program center, I met volunteers from so many different places around the world, as well as so many kind and supportive staff members. Additionally, the host family Maximo placed me with was so friendly and hospitable. Through immersion at the childcare center, practice activities at the Maximo Program center, and time with my host family, I was also able to develop foundational communication skills in Spanish. I am so grateful for my experience and would highly recommend this program to anyone who is interested!

I would recommend Máximo Nivel a million times over. The warm, engaging staff and volunteer/student community makes you feel welcome from the moment you step in the door and I met several life-long friends. There are lots of opportunities to go explore, including around the city and the country as a whole. I felt so fulfilled working in the childcare program with students who are eager to learn-- I learned a lot about myself from them and my Spanish really flourished. I can´t say enough great things about this company and the programs, best experience ever!

The Maximo Nivel TEFL Course was an amazing experience! I highly recommend doing this course in person at one of the Maximo Nivel sites. The instructor, Jackie, was extremely knowledgeable, reliable, and hilarious. The course is designed in an extremely effective way. You learn the theory of how to teach English effectively, and also the specific teaching strategies and methods to use to be most successful. You get the opportunity to practice these teaching strategies by teaching classes of real students, both in person and online. You receive tons of feedback on your teaching, which helped me improve my teaching and increase my confidence in front of the classroom. You leave the course with all the materials you need to work as an English teacher, whether it be for a company, or independently. I got bachelors degree in teaching, but this course prepared me more for teaching than any other class I have taken. This course was absolutely worth the time, money, and work!

It was an awesome opportunity for my 14 year old niece to experience a whole new culture. We all loved the people here and hope to come again. And learn to speak Spanish. The people on the adventure were the BEST. WE SPENT LOTS OF TIME WITH THE ANIMALS AND HAD TO STOP A FEW DOG FIGHTS. IN FACT THERE WAS A FIGHT EVERY DAY. The paw project owner was great and seemed grateful for all the help we provides. You HAVE to ride the chicken bus. You never know whT you'll find ridi g the bus with you or what you'll pass on the cobble stone street.

This course set me up perfectly for becoming an ESL English teacher. Within the first few days, I was face-to-face with English students and developing my practical teaching skills. Each week, the practical experience was centred around applying recently learnt theory. Then in the final week, I led a daily, hour-long class. Alongside this, I observed other English teachers at Maximo Nivel, studying how they applied the theory, which helped put what I had learnt into context. The curriculum was logically ordered and fast-paced.

My TEFL Trainer, Mackenzie, brought the whole thing to life by giving memorable lessons and extremely constructive feedback. Mackenzie is passionate about his subject and a very experienced English teacher. This really showed during his lessons, where he embodied the mantra: "show, don't tell". Mackenzie also gave very sound practical advice for finding jobs.

Overall, this was an awesome experience. I met great people on the course and even had time to hike the volcanoes around Antigua! I highly recommend it.

I went on the Holiday Program to San Jose, Costa Rica with Maximo Nivel and IVHQ. I had an incredible experience, and I would recommend this trip to everyone. I am 18 years old, and it was my first time doing a program like this. However, I was able to adjust quickly due to the constant support and care by the Maximo Nivel staff, other volunteers, and my host family. Even though I was a solo traveler, I never felt alone. My advice to future volunteers is to come in with an open mind and kind heart, and be ready to learn, listen, adapt, and have a life changing experience!

The holiday program was overall a great experience. I think it is one of the best ways to travel to a new country while being able to give back. The volunteering fills part of the day with different types of work while leaving the rest of the day free to travel and see other parts of the city and country. It especially is a great way to travel for a long period of time as there is a host family to prepare the breakfasts and dinners. This type of a trip can accommodate a wide range of travels, from going alone to a family coming together. In the holiday program there is a group of people from all different places, and it is a great way to meet new and friendly people. Overall this trip has been the best one I have ever taken, as the volunteering experience does make an impact, so you don't feel just as a tourist, but more immersed in the country. This aspect as well as the people I have met have been the best part of the trip.

For me, this was everything I wanted out of my TEFL program: economical, lively city (with weekend destinations), proper instruction, real teaching practice.

The instructor for the TEFL course was experienced and very knowledgeable about all things ESL. The TEFL classes were taught using the same teaching methods the course focused on, which proved their effectiveness for me. The classes were lively and entertaining, which was important given the compactness of the program. Getting to teach in front of real students was extremely valuable. Not only did it allow me to apply and practice all of the things I had learned, but it exposed my weaknesses and strengths as a teacher, allowing me to develop into a better teacher over the course of the program.

Maximo was a nice school. Free coffee/tea and places to study/work were awesome to have throughout the program. The end-of-program "TEFL Toast" was very fun and a nice gesture from the school. I think the real differentiating factor for this program though was the instructor, Mackenzie. Given the time-intensive nature of the program, having a great instructor seems critical. For six hours a day, the classes remained engaging. It was immediately obvious that they were prepared and really knew the material that was being taught. Those things were imperative for me to buy-in. Though I didn't take advantage of it too much, the instructor was more than willing to help outside of class and in office-hours.

As for Antigua, I found the city to be wonderful. By the end of my program it felt like home. Lots of food, events, and things to do. Entirely walkable and I always felt safe.The Acetenango and Fuego volcano hikes being right next door is also an amazing must-do while you are here too!

It was a very rewarding experience and my fellow volunteers all were very lovely and nice! I became close friends with them, which was very nice. And all the activities we participated in during the mornings were very impactfu and were all very different, so there was variety and it was never boring.