Program Reviews

This course was incredible to me. I had 3 wonderful classmates who along with our instructor Wayne made this the most memorable experience. This is not a holiday and you get what you put into the course. Wayne was always available and encouraging as we developed ourselves into the next generation of TOEFL teachers.

As a recommendation to those who are considering this program, you should be prepared and focused. You will find this course difficult, but in the there will be success. The host family was welcoming and incredibly inclusive to make me feel comfortable. I am grateful for everyone that I have met and will continue to be a part of community of instructors and students. The rewards are endless with each student who develops their skills in learning a new language.

I had a blast doing TEFL at Maximo Nivel in Antigua, in large part thanks to my five-star instructor, Wayne Summerbell. I highly recommend this program. Believe me, it's not a walk in the park. There were moments that I doubted I could complete the tasks at hand, but those trials made the experience that much more fulfilling. Don't worry, Antigua is a very comfortable and safe place and the Maximo staff are super helpful and communicative. If you have any issue, they will be happy to help resolve it. Wayne is a gem of an instructor and there are so many fun activities to take part in throughout the week! My favorites were free Salsa class and soccer night! I've taught ESL as a volunteer for 2 years, and I still found this course to be eye opening and challenging!! You won't regret this experience and you get life time job placement assistance. It's the perfect place to start a worldwide journey teaching English. Just make sure you have instructor Wayne! He's the best :)

Máximo Nivel far exceeded all my expectations!  This course gave me the confidence and experience needed for my English teaching career.  

I was pursuing TEFL certification and one of my friends, who completed this course, recommended it to me. I went through the 3-6 month program and got a 3-month extension as needed. The course was well organized and covered everything from grammar, learning styles, teaching methodology, technical skills for online classes, lesson planning, assessing learners, and more.

I received support throughout the program from my Tefl instructor, Sean. He answered all my questions and was available for anything I needed help with.  A quick Zoom call with him put my fears to rest as he encouraged and guided me with lesson planning during my practical week of teaching. He also gave me helpful feedback after each lesson which fine-tuned my teaching skills so I could better serve my students with every lesson. 

After completion, I got my certificate, a letter of recommendation, and job-finding assistance to set me up for success. 

I highly recommend Maximo Nivel to those looking to boost their confidence and credibility.

It is pretty pricey, not gonna lie. However, if you can afford it, then you can have a very fun time. If you are already very confident abroad, then it may not be worth it for you. However, if you are a solo, new, student, or uncertain traveler, then I would recommend you look into this organization. The Máximo support staff are excellent, welcoming, and understanding. Liam and Andres are the GOATS. There are many volunteer programs here, so you can generally find one that fits your interests and goals.

I thoroughly enjoyed every single aspect of the TEFL course in Cusco, Peru. From the moment I touched down in the city, I felt incredibly supported and cared for by the amazing staff at Máximo and beautiful host family. Sean is an amazing instructor! Each day was full of fascinating language lessons, endless laughs, and abundant opportunities to push oneself. We were able to teach for a total of 10 hours throughout the course and with each lesson, my confidence, skills, and strengths as a teacher grew. We received excellent feedback from Sean after each teaching experience that allowed us to acknowledge and strengthen our weaker points. I had so much fun and was truly lit up by the passion that fills each individual at Máximo. Come experience the magic for yourself!

The Maximo Nivel online TEFL program was very thorough and well done. It definitely prepared me to be able to teach. I enjoyed the self-paced modules, video observations, and support. The ability to teach class for a week through their online program was a great experience. The program was challenging enough that you feel ready to teach in-person or online when you receive your certificate.
Sean provided experienced support both during the self-paced portion when I had questions and in preparing for the online teaching experience. After each lesson I taught during the practicum, he provided me with feedback on how to improve for the next lesson.

This course will exceed your expectations. If you are an experienced educator or a recent graduate, you will learn some new and amazing skills. I cannot thank the staff and instructors enough for their support and guidance. This was an exceptional experience. I would have loved to stay in the area longer and explore but there are jobs to be done, and I have to go to my new teaching location. I am grateful for the job placement and skills I will take with me. I cannot thank the host families and Maximo TEFL staff enough. They are the pillars of this organization and took care of me like family.

Loved the Maximo Nivel TEFL course! Taught at the institute in Manuel Antonio, which is a Beautiful location. The course is very intensive but for those who are willing to put in the work you can learn a lot of valuable skills!

The teacher, Lewis, is very qualified: knowledgeable, helpful, and compassionate. Lots to do in the community as well. My partner came with me and we thoroughly enjoyed going to the beach, exploring the jungle on hikes, attending a local salsa class, and going out to some local bars/restaurants.

I had such an incredible time with Wayne as my teacher. English language is not typically something I find very interesting, but Wayne was able to make the classes fun and engaging. My entire experience was really positive despite how difficult the content was and I would highly highly recommend anyone do this course if they’re considering it. It’s a month of hard work for endless work opportunities and it’s really shaped the way I think and helped me to grow in the way communicate. The content challenged me in new ways and has left me feeling accomplished and capable.

Most educators around the world who teach subjects in English are having to apply strategies to better reach students whose native language is different than their own. The TEFL program at Maximo gives you numerous strategies and new techniques to help these students in classroom settings of all kinds. As a veteran teacher of many subjects and levels, I found much of the course--which I completed in a hybrid manner including 2 weeks onsite--to be refreshingly new and challenging. The staff at Maximo is professional, the guidance along the way is solid, and the setting of the school in the heart of Antigua is ideal. I am happy to have finally gotten TEFL-certified after "being on the fence" for many years!