Program Reviews

I did TEFL in Quepos, Costa Rica with Maximo Nivel. I'm so glad I did it here, in a safe, friendly town 3 km away from the beautiful Manuel Antonio. I have learnt so much in such a small amount of time, a very rewarding experience. The workload is intense, there's a lot to do, but it is completely worth the fight. Included is 10 hours of practical teaching which is included in the course, which acts as a launchpad for your TEFL career. The course was amazing, and so were our trainers, Lewis and Christina! Muchas gracias a Maximo Nivel!!

This course is the complete package. You gain practical teaching experience, are taught how to deliver lessons, and regularly receive tailored feedback which help you identify your strengths and focus on improving your weaknesses. I was lucky enough to have the renowned Wayne as my TEFL teacher, however I am sure that whoever you may potentially end up with will be great as well. MN is a brilliant organisation that will help you all the way, and the value for money for the course is second to none.

Before choosing Maximo Nivel, I did a lot of research into different TEFL programs. It was very important to me that I felt fully prepared by the end of the course, and Maximo Nivel offered a thorough, challenging program.

The deciding factor for me was that Maximo Nivel is the only online TEFL course I found that includes a student teaching practicum. That experience was incredibly valuable and helped me feel much more prepared.

The course also includes 10 hours of tutoring with your TEFL trainer, plus consistent support throughout the practicum and even into the job search phase. I was extremely nervous going into the practicum, but my trainer, Sean Barter, was incredibly patient and encouraging.

The course modules are locked in sequence, so you can’t skip around or preview upcoming content. At times, I found that information from later modules would’ve been helpful for earlier assignments—but I managed to work through it. Some feedback on assignments can be a bit limited or confusing unless you take advantage of the tutoring sessions (which I didn’t), so I’d definitely recommend using them.

Overall, I came away with a solid grasp of the material, and from what I’ve seen of other online TEFL courses, Maximo Nivel’s program is definitely superior. I’d recommend it to anyone who values hands-on experience and wants to feel truly prepared to teach.

I highly recommend the Maximo Nivel online TEFL Course for everyone who wishes to acquire the required knowledge to teach English as a Foreign/Second Language. The theoretical part empowered me with teaching skills while teaching an online class - as part of the practical teaching – made me feel really confident! Moreover, the live trainer Mr. Barter significantly contributed to my upskilling related to my current role as an online English teacher, helped me to acquire digital skills and supported me to find a job!

I loved volunteering with Guarderia Obras! I helped with small tasks around the classroom like passing out supplies, cutting and gluing, and overall supervising the kids. There was a language barrier for me since my Spanish is not very advanced, plus the kids are young so it was difficult to understand them. Overall, the environment is pretty chaotic but the kids are really sweet so it’s all worth it. I would recommend this program for people who have a lot of patience, specially with children and previous Spanish knowledge.

To be honest, my only complaint about this trip is that I wish it was longer. The food was great, and everyone I interacted with, including the staff at Máximo Nivel, the workers at Cat Cafe (where I volunteered for animal care) Jessica and her whole family (my homestay), all the locals and vendors I met along the way, fellow travelers, as well as fellow volunteers from Máximo Nivel. The city of Antigua itself was beautiful, and I only wish that I could stay longer and explore more of the country. Will be coming back!

Host family was great. Project was fulfilling and my Spanish improved a ton. I always felt safe and at home. 5 stars all around. The food is great and the city of Antigua is very walkable. Within a few hours I felt like I know my way around everywhere. I never needed a GPS once and was fine without cell service. There is a lot of support through the program and lots of activities to do while taking breaks from volunteering and Spanish classes. I would recommend anyone wanting to improve their Spanish to visit regardless of fluency. I only spent a week here and my fluency improved loads. I met so many great people and the city itself if beautiful.

Embarking on a career transition in one's sixties can be a daunting yet ultimately fulfilling endeavour, particularly when fuelled by a desire for change and a latent passion waiting to be ignited. The shift from a long-standing career in finance, specifically as a Senior Bookkeeper/Accountant, to the realm of Teaching English as a Foreign Language represents a significant departure, driven by burnout and a yearning for a more stimulating and personally rewarding professional path. I found all this, beyond expectation, when I took the TEFL online course. I found the course material to be comprehensive and the manner in which it was presented, made learning so much easier and a lot more fun than one would expect from doing an English teaching course. My personal trainer, Sean Barter, who is stationed in Peru, was immensely patient, extremely helpful and was more than happy to have me listen in on others' classes. The online teachers gave me invaluable advice and during my practical training, Sean guided me through with unstinting advice , not just on the teaching but also how to better use the Zoom platform. This is the best thing I have ever done and I look forward to my new life as an English teacher.

The clinics were very well ran and every educational for all. I appreciated the independence of each station and the education that was given to us. All the excursion were very fun and always a smooth time. I appreciated the drivers for getting us everywhere safely, even in all the early mornings. Everyone in the program was very friendly and accommodating to make it enjoyable for all. The provider we were with was very educational and enjoyed teaching as he saw each patient. Everyone was very helpful with the language barrier and was always willing to jump and and help one another.

I had such a great time this week with Maximo Nivel! The trips were fun and so were the clinics! The first day we went to a clinic in San Miguel Duenas and learned how the clinics run and saw some beautiful views then after went to the Mayan ruins of iximche! On the second day, we had a clinic in Ciudad Viejo did a lot of lice treatment, and went to the volcano! the next day we had a full clinic day near Santa Ana and played some games with the kids which was very fun. The next day we went to the beach which was really fun and then we finished out the week in pair last clinic in a more rural area!