Maximo Nivel

Program Reviews

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Nadine
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

TFL Course experience

I had such a positive learning experience all thanks to my amazing TFL trainer Wayne Summerbell, who has been such an incredible teacher and mentor! The 4 weeks of training were compact with so much information but with the smooth delivery and energy of the classroom, the time flew by so quickly! I have left the course with so much knowledge, transferable skills, and most importantly, passion and excitement to apply what I have learned. I have learned so much from observing what a successful teacher looks like.

What was your funniest moment?
Our first teaching experience, we thought vocabulary to volunteer students. We selected words to teach to the class and as they were English learners we could not explain. It was very fun trying to elicit the words for the first time.
Pros
  • Learning experience, with transferable skills
  • Exposure to how to teach successfully
  • Laughter & friendships
Cons
  • Compact course
  • Consistency and attention required every day
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Khalifa
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Costa Rica is the best

My name is Khalifa and I am 54 years old man from United Arab Emirates. I am retired and like to travel a lot. My trip to Costa Rica was so rewarding as I felt I was making a positive impact on society while enjoying the travel. My experience in Costa Rica and with Maximo Nivel was a game-changer in my life. I encourage everyone to devote some of their time to helping society by choosing a program suitable to their needs. And if you are thinking about traveling to Latin America consider Costa Rica to be your destination. Costa Rica is very beautiful and the people here are amazing

What was your funniest moment?
I participated in a cooking class in Maximo nivel while I don’t like cooking. The reason was to eat only. I hope nobody noticed
Pros
  • Charming people
  • Great weather
  • Delicious food
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Indigo
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Yay

This course exceeded all of my expectations in a positive way. It was challenging, but I looked forward to each day of class and practical teaching. I cannot understate how much Maximo Nivel Antigua benefits greatly from their incredible TEFL trainer- Wayne Summerbell- who is kind, supportive, and incredibly knowledgable.

The classroom time, resources, and constant support that was provided allowed all in our cohort to be successful and enjoy our time together. We didn't know what to expect when we signed up, but would strongly recommend to anyone considering.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Do it, you won't regret it! Stay an extra week if you want to explore the area.
Pros
  • Wayne
  • Antigua is a beautiful place
  • Learners are lovely
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Megan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Exceeded all expectations

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.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
Teaching adult learners for the first time was certainly anxiety-producing, but being able to be supported by Wayne and the other TEFL-ers made it all a great experience. Not to mention the students were understanding and fun.
Pros
  • Wayne is a great teacher
  • The staff and student community at Máximo is so kind
  • Antigua is a beautiful place
Cons
  • Too busy with work to get to know classmates outside of class
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Chaeli
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Rigorous, eventful journey

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.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Definitely spend time with the locals. The best part of travel is immersing yourself in the local culture.
Pros
  • Great teacher
  • Helpful staff
  • Pool
Cons
  • Showers didn't work
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Tyler
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Wayne Rocks!

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.

What was your funniest moment?
Many funny moments such as when all 4 of us TEFLers would learn something about English that we thought was false and Wayne would have us fact check it to prove he was right.
Pros
  • Wayne is ready to help
  • Staff is always asking what we need
  • Beautiful location to study
Cons
  • Heavy workload
  • Wish we had more mini-lessons to practice the teaching techniques
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Nicholas
5/5
No, I don't recommend this program

Best TEFL Course

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.

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Tess
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

The best choice I could have made!

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.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I planned it so that I arrived one day before the start of the program and left two days after the last day. I would have liked to stay a bit longer to have more time to explore Cusco and surrounding areas as well as spend more time with the people I have met here.
Pros
  • Great TEFL room
  • Institute airport pickup, accomodations setup, medical guidance (they have a doctor that will come to your homestay 24/7 if you need)
  • Well designed course with amazing instructor
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Evelyn
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Fully prepared me for teaching real students!

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.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Go in expecting to work hard and try your best! The program is what you make of it. If you really want to teach English to students, you'll want to make sure that you are well prepared to be a good teacher. Do the assignments thoughtfully and seize opportunities to teach English in-person in low stakes situations if you can.
Pros
  • Flexible timeline
  • Opportunities to observe real classes and teach real students
  • Rigorous
Cons
  • Lots of content & some difficult assignments - you may prefer an in-person classroom
  • The course can only teach so much English grammar; you'll need to brush up yourself
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Fatima
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

What a Great Experience!

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!

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
The last step of the course was a week-long teaching practicum. I was extremely nervous at the prospect of teaching a full class and making my own curriculum, but my instructor gave me lots of support and helped me prepare. Despite my nervousness, I was able to make it through! The first day was pretty rough, but I grew over the week and got better every day! I'm so grateful for the support I received from my instructor, Sean!
Pros
  • 24/7 access
  • quick feedback
  • robust modules