Location
  • Costa Rica
    • San José
    • Playa Blanca
Length
150 hours
Training Type
Classroom

Program Details

Teaching Practicum
Yes
Job Placement
Yes
Certifications
TEFL TESOL
Housing
Apartment Host Family Hotel

Pricing

Starting Price
1495
Price Details
Airport pick-up
Program and safety orientation
Walking tour
Official TEFL Certificate
Letter of recommendation
Lifetime job-finding assistance
Tandem Conversation Program
Office-wide WiFi and computer lab
Salsa dance classes
Cooking classes
Free coffee and tea and on-site snack bar
Institute is open 7 days/week
Emergency contact number 24/7
Lifetime Job Finding Assistance
What's Included
Activities Airport Transfers Wifi
What's Not Included
Airfare Travel Insurance
Sep 07, 2023
Feb 26, 2024
39 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Become a certified English teacher by earning a TEFL certification with Maximo Nivel on the beach in Manuel Antonio. TEFL Certification is your passport to living and working as English teacher anywhere else in the world!

The 4-week/150-hour certification program includes more than 15 hours of practical English teaching and observation of experienced teachers.

The TEFL Program consists of 14 modules:
1. Approaches to Learning & Teaching
2. Critical ESL Techniques
3. Class Management
4. Lesson Planning
5. English Grammar Review 1
6. English Grammar Review 2
7. Teaching Grammar
8. Teaching Vocabulary
9. Teaching English with Games
10. Teaching Speaking & Writing
11. Teaching Listening & Reading
12. Assessing Learners
13. Introduction to International English Exams
14. Practical Teaching

Maximo Nivel is internationally accredited and the Maximo Nivel TEFL Certificate is accepted by institutes, language schools, and universities around the world.

Video and Photos

Diversity & Inclusion

LGBTQIA+ Support

At Maximo Nivel, we deeply value diversity in all its forms. We maintain an open-minded approach, recognizing the significance of varied perspectives, intelligent discourse, and the transformative power of a positive mindset. We warmly welcome and respect individuals from all backgrounds, irrespective of politics, gender, gender identity, age, race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. Whether it’s volunteering, Spanish immersion, TEFL certification, international internships, university courses, or GAP year experiences, members of the LGBTQIA+ community are wholeheartedly invited to participate in our programs.

Impact

Ethical Impact

At Maximo Nivel, we work in close partnership with our local communities in Latin America to ensure that volunteer projects align with genuine local needs, fostering meaningful and relevant impact. We emphasize sustainable initiatives designed for enduring change, rather than short-term interventions. By promoting cultural sensitivity, we facilitate enriching exchanges rooted in mutual respect, and our commitment to local employment further integrates and supports the communities we serve.

Program Highlights

  • Accredited certification accepted worldwide
  • 15 hours of practical teaching and observation
  • Teach real ESL classes
  • Guaranteed Job Placement
  • Lifetime job-finding assistance

Program Reviews

4.96 Rating
based on 238 reviews
  • 5 rating 95.8%
  • 4 rating 4.2%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Benefits 4.9
  • Support 4.95
  • Fun 4.25
  • Facilities 4.3
  • Safety 4.7
  • Instruction 5
  • Support 5
  • Value 4.8
  • Academic Rigor 4.6
  • Job Assistance 4.85
Showing 1 - 8 of 238 reviews
Default avatar
Hannah
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Supportive Environment...and loads of FUN!

I signed up for this program because out of all the TEFL courses I've seen, this one seemed to be the most hands-on and offered the most support. After completing the course, I can confidently say that this is exactly what I got and more!
My instructor, Annabelle, in Costa Rica, made the class engaging, an appropriate amount of challenging, but most importantly fun! There is quite a bit of coursework to get through so having a fun environment is crucial! I'd recommend this experience and especially this instructor to anyone :)
Oh, also! It's true what they say about job assistance! Communicate with them and they'll really help! I was able to have a job lined up with my certificate before I even finished the course.

4 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Chloe
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Worth it

Annabelle is an amazing TEFL trainer !
She is supportive, funny and her energy is so high! The certification itself was difficult but everyday, Annabelle would motivate me, help me, and help me have the confidence to be an esl teacher.
The program was intense but passed so quick thanks to her and her passion for training people to be esl teachers.
The program included a lot of practical teaching, it was not only theory, so every week we could progress and learn from our mistakes. It was so fun
Thank you Annabelle !

22 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Maria
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best TEFL trainer in the World 🌎

Annabelle is an amazing instructor. The course is very rigorous and challenging but she is available for support and is always trying to help students in whatever ways she can. She’s so fun and a really genuinely caring person, not to mention extremely organized. I couldn’t have imagined a better trainer than her, seriously. I highly recommend getting your TEFL certificate through her program at Máximo. Manuel Antonio is also the perfect location for this course — loved going to the beaches and partying at the nearby Selina hostel and the Villa Roca. Both had great pools and service and were very fun alternatives to the beach.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I would have been more organized / disciplined with my homework schedule. I still got through fine but it would have made the experience less stressful for me if I had done a better job staying on top of the assignments instead of doing them all last minute
Pros
  • Top tier instructor
  • Beautiful area and beaches close by
  • Making friends within the program
Cons
  • Amount of course work in such a short time
31 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Sarah
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

TEFL/TESOL Training

This program is helpful for anyone looking for ways to dig deeper into the English language and share their knowledge with a global community through teaching. The TEFL/TESOL program is accessible to all, yet challenging - the teachers are supportive and you leave the program feeling a sense of satisfaction that you can make a difference in people's lives. I would recommend this program because it can be applied anywhere around the globe or online! ESL techniques can also be applied to other language classrooms - for instance, I am an elementary Spanish teacher and will definitely use the teaching techniques to elevate my own teaching and support my student's growth.

Pros
  • It was super educational and useful.
  • My instructor, Wayne, was AMAZING!
  • It was a fun experience and I made new friends :)
Cons
  • The coursework was difficult!
  • I didn't have very much time to do Spanish immersion.
  • I
43 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Marina
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

TEFL Certification - Hybrid

I really enjoyed the whole program. Since I chose the hybrid program, I started out with the online portion a few weeks before the scheduled time to join the in-person group in Costa Rica. The program was very intense, both online and in person; however, I received a lot of support and feedback from both Mackenzie Tucker (online) and Wayne Summerbell (in person). Wayne was energetic, positive, well-prepared, and passionate about teaching. He made sure the course was productive, fun and engaging.

Pros
  • Rigorous.
  • Engaging Teaching Methods.
  • Flexible - you can choose hybrid, in-person, or online.
56 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Jacob
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Excellent Educational Experience

So glad that I participated in this program. Although the course was quite rigorous, almost every single aspect of the program was extremely insightful, educational, and beneficial towards becoming a skilled and effective TEFL teacher. My instructor Wayne was an absolute joy to work with and was simultaneously funny, engaging, encouraging, and insightful. I gained real, hands-on teaching experience throughout the program and feel well prepared and supported if I ever decide to apply for a TEFL teaching position anywhere in the world in the near future.

Pros
  • Relevant Educational Materials
  • Hands On Teaching Experience
  • Real Job Finding Support and Assistance Available After the Program
Cons
  • Very Intensive
  • Stressful
53 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Janelle
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

TEFL Certification with Wayne Summerbell

This course serves as one of the best decisions I have ever made. Through Wayne's dedication and engagement I was able to find a deeper understanding and appreciation for teaching EFL. Wayne was also absolutely outstanding in helping me find a job using my TEFL certification. He is a delight in his patience, positivity, and boundless love for teaching and providing opportunities for others to grow as learners and educators. It was an honor to be his student and a privilege to have had such an incredible opportunity to grow as a professional.

Pros
  • Professional Development
  • Quality Educational Experience
  • Strong Team Dynamic
Cons
  • Not.
  • a.
  • one!!!!!
57 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Helen
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Maximo Nivel TEFL Program

I am so happy I decided to take this course and I am even more lucky to have had Wayne Summerbell as my TEFL instructor. He was meticulous when it came to making sure we had grasped the concept before moving on. He was funny and kind and extremely helpful. And although it was a very intensive course, he made fun all the while. And now thanks to him I have a job lined up in July teaching in Costa Rica, where I can continue to put my TEFL training to good use. All in all, Wayne did an amazing job, and he will continue to so in the future.

Pros
  • Guaranteed job placement when you pass
  • 10 minutes away from the beach. The location is beautiful.
  • All the amazing and cool people you'll meet.
Cons
  • It's pretty pricy so you just have to be comfortable spending that amount. But I know it was worth it for me.
64 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers

Apart from what the others have already suggested, I would also advise that any travel you intend on doing, you are prepared to leave until you've finished or to start beforehand. Manuel Antonio is a beautiful place, and you will certainly have beach time. But don't be fooled! The classes are intensive and require outside-the-classroom prep time. Good luck and have fun!

Thanks so much for your reply. I'd love if you could connect me with them! I'm going to be studying at Maximo in January 2017 and am very keen to teach :)

I would definitely recommend a laptop. You'll need it to work on assignments and lesson plans out of class. The building can get pretty hot, so being able to relocate to cooler locations is a must. Regarding clothes, I wore decent shorts and collared shirts for the classes. For interviews, I would recommend something more business casual.

The cost of the program varies by location and what type of stay you prefer (apartment, hostel, or homestay). I have added a link to the estimated program costs below that you may find helpful. In general, the cost will be somewhere between $2000-$2500, not including your flight. http://www.maximonivel.com/tefl-tesol/prices/