Program Reviews

As an educator with many years of practical and academic experience in education, I highly recommend the Maximo Nivel TEFL program in Cusco, Peru. The course was rigorous and serious. But my classmates and I received a lot of support from the instructors, Sean and Christina. There was a good balance between seat work, where we learned the theory, and practical work (mini-lessons and classroom teaching) where we practiced what we had been taught. Besides the content, the program (and instructors) build a strong community among my classmates that added to the learning. I would recommend the program without qualification.

Everything exceeded my expectations! The city is beautiful and the weather was amazing. The food was unique and excellent. The staff were all very friendly and supportive and answered any questions. The host family was very sweet and accommodating. Their house was beautiful and they had a very sweet dog. Lorena was the host! The place we volunteered at (cat cafe) was an awesome fulfilling experience. Everyone who worked there was very patient with us! It was the perfect experience for me and my girlfriend Brooke Doyle.

Completing the TEFL certification has been an incredibly rewarding and transformative journey. This program has not only enriched my understanding of teaching methodologies but also provided me with the practical tools necessary to excel in an ESL classroom. The structured framework of the course offers a comprehensive insight into effective teaching strategies, ranging from classroom management to lesson planning. It ensures that educators are equipped to adapt their approach to meet the diverse needs of students. Moreover, the hands-on experience gained during the course builds confidence, enabling teachers to create engaging and impactful learning environments.

The methodologies and skills acquired through TEFL training are invaluable for any ESL educator. These techniques empower teachers to bridge language barriers and inspire students to achieve fluency in English. By fostering interactive and student-centered learning experiences, the methodologies help create a supportive environment where students feel motivated to participate and grow. Above all, the course equips educators with the ability to guide students in developing not only linguistic skills but also the confidence to use them effectively in real-world contexts. For anyone considering a career in teaching or looking to enhance their skill set, TEFL is a step worth taking.

Wonderful experience with very helpful staff. The staff both at Maximo and the cat care were so nice and helpful. I really felt like I made a difference. I love animals, so this program was perfect for me. My boyfriend ended up loving the program even though he was not initially excited for it. Maximo was also great with organizing excursions for us and with education us on/providing transportation. This was a vacation inside of a great volunteer experience. I would definitely recommend this to a friend.

Dive into it! it is challenging, and requires hard work, but it is doable! Wayne was/is one of the best teachers I have ever had the pleasure of learning from. He is such a delightful presence, and really helps all of his students fulfill their potential. I would not have been able to excel without him. Antigua is a beautiful city, and the people are so wonderful. During this program, I learned about teaching, but also about myself. This is a program for people who want to push themselves to become something different, something more! Thank you Wayne and Maximo Nivel!

Second week in and another month to come. So far, happy with the program and teacher! The school location is tight in the corner of Antigua near the central park.

Two buildings, one three levels with open air, private spacing, great accommodations, and more.

I am from Canada but spend two to three months/ year. I have family living here( some with English) and it does help by listening and trying to get basic sentences together. My first language French Canadian is also very helpful. I go to school 3 days/week for two-hour sessions.

Great fun and loads of support given before and during the programme. Lovely host family and friendly guests from all over the world. It was really good at the end of the day to catch up with everyone. Delicious food and lots of local sites and restaurants to visit.

I did the 2 hourly one-to-one lessons Spanish course which really helped progress my limited skills. If you are coming to help the dental program and can donate any stock or materials they will be greatly appreciated so please ask.

I had so much fun in here during the whole month of February 2025. This agriculture project was far better than i had expected. I got to know the owners and workers quite well. They were all very kind and generous and they showed great appreciation for any type of help provided to them. This place is a beautiful little paradise. Either you weed, rake leaves, plant, water, feed little animals or just watching the Maya spiral gardens, you find yourself in a different world and this environment is a perfect place for reflexions and the surroundings help in soothing your soul. I am certainly thinking very hard to come back here. I highly recommend this place and don’t be shy to apply for this program as Eco-Farm Guatemala is growing fast and they could do with more volunteers.

I spent quite a bit of time researching the best TEFL programs to take- a balance between something affordable yet reputable while also providing me flexibility to complete while I am currently in a full-time job. I am so grateful to have selected the right course! The online instruction was thorough yet flexible with time. I always had immediate support from the staff for any questions I had along the way as well as just friendly check-in's. I know I also selected this program because I thought the practical teaching would be beneficial to my growth and development as a teacher as well as receiving constructive feedback from the staff yet initially when I finished the online portion of the course, I got a bit anxious about the practical piece. I have to say, it was by far my favorite part of the whole course! I immensely enjoyed my week of teaching online with a great group of students. It was a great way to end the course and I received superb mentorship and advice from Sean Barter. All this to say, 10/10 recommend this course and this institution!

This is a great, quality TEFL program with competent staff! My trainer (L. M.), the kind students and the comprehensive 150-hour program, including practical teaching of local Latin American students, enriched the experience. My trainer, with his strong skill set and ability to personalize this entire TEFL training experience for me, using clarity, kindness and brilliance helped provide a life-changing experience! Whether you are a seasoned teacher, like me, or you are early in the language teaching profession, you will appreciate the positive learning outcomes with a lot of international, global “spice”!