Program Reviews

I signed up for the TEFL course with Máximo Nivel as a "Plan B." I had just decided to take a pause from teaching after 10 years in the U.S. public school system and was open to any new opportunities that came my way.

This course with Wayne changed everything! He was so kind, informative, knowledgable and supportive, and the course was so engaging, that I now fully intend to seek an English-teaching job in Latin America.

The course is a lot of work, and challenging, but with Wayne's guidance I never felt lost or overwhelmed. The classroom was like a tiny community, and we supported each other through every struggle and accomplishment. Plus, practical teaching week was such an incredible opportunity to learn, grow, and practice.

I was definitely pushed in a way I hadn't been pushed before. Lewis was an excellent teacher with charisma and energy I had never seen in a teacher before. He was harsh but thats ultimately how you learn the best. I really appreciated the local Ticos being so willing to learn English, they were so sweet and really motivated me to keep going.

Even though there was plenty of tears shed during these past 4 weeks. There was even more laughter and joy.

I will never forget this course, I will never forget Costa Rica, and I will never forget Maximo Nivel.

As they say here in Costa Rica, pura vida.

I took my TEFL course with Wayne Summerbell. He was an excellent teacher. He treated each class professionally and was aware of our needs as students throughout the entire course. Each day was engaging and fun. Wayne demonstrated the TEFL techniques that we would need to use in our own classes. Every assignment was very clear and Wayne was there to help us every step of the way. I always felt that I had the resources and support I needed to succeed. Wayne is kind, friendly, and energetic and his enthusiasm for the course makes the course enjoyable despite its heavy workload.

My TEFL course at Maximo Nivel, Antigua was an incredibly positive experience. I did not know exactly what to expect but what I found was a very academically rigorous course that gives you all the tools necessary to be a successful teacher. The instructor, Wayne Summerbell, could not be of higher quality. He is incredibly professional, charismatic, energetic, knowledgeable, and available. It is very clear that he has a wide breadth of experience that informs his teaching style and technique, he understands well how to synthesize that experience into something easily digestible by a complete novice. I could not be happier with my experience. Many say it is too expensive but for what you get, it is well worth it in my opinion.

This course surpassed my expectations. I feel much more confident and prepared than I thought possible. I was also worried about the workload but it is definitely manageable and Sean (the GOAT TEFL instructor) wants you to succeed. The four weeks fly by and it is so much fun. Your first taste at teaching is the second day of the course and the whole last week you take over teaching an English class at the institute. You are baby-stepped into all of this and it really helps build confidence and practice with the techniques. Máximo in general is a great organization. They are organized and know what they are doing. It is super easy to meet both Peruvians and international students and everyone is so friendly. I 100% recommend and wish I were staying for longer.

I did a lot of research on online TEFL courses and landed on Maximo Nivel because of it's good reputation with employers and price point. I was pleasantly surprised that the 150-hr course was rigorous and truly prepared me for teaching real students. After completing the course, I can confidently say that I feel like I could step into a classroom. I liked that the course had a practical teaching component at the end where I could practice the skills I had gained and learn more about the actual experience of teaching.

Working with Maximo Nivel to receive my TEFL Certification was such a great experience! I was able to have consistent access to their robust modules, support from my instructor, and lots of activities to strengthen my skills as a teacher. They made getting my certification an easy process, and I feel very prepared to work with an actual ESL class! Even though I have finished and received my TEFL Certification, I look forward to continuing my relationship with Maximo Nivel and potentially even working with them in the future!

I came to work with kids also to improve my experience as a coach working with kids back home and I really enjoyed the activities the teachers did with the kinds and how they integrated me in them. I learned new games, met and got the chance of helping amazing young kids and had fun playing and dancing together with the kids and teachers. I recommend to be open-minded, flexible with the schedule and creative with the activities. The teachers have infinite ideas of different activities so you will never get bored.

I loved getting to know local people and practicing my (poor) Spanish. Everyone was very nice and patient with me and trying to help me learn. I enjoyed taking tours, and getting to know the surroundings. I also like the cooking class! It helps to learn more about the local cuisine. My teacher was very good, personable and knowledgeable of course in English but also as a conversationalist. I’ve learned a lot from her about the Costa Rican ways. The school itself is very well planned as a structure with open classes and plenty of opportunities to meet people and interact. I loved the idea of the pool, didn’t use it but I will if I return.

It’s really a great program for people who are up to trying new things, meeting interesting people, and just generally having fun.
The course is very well thought-out, anticipating 99% of the questions that might come up. The remaining 1 % is part of the fun lol.
I am very thankful to have had such a great teacher as Annabelle, she really put 200% into her work every day and made sure we felt welcomed from the moment we got there.

She is really smart, fun and energetic. I never thought I would enjoy learning so much :)