TEFL Certification with Guaranteed Job Placement in Costa Rica

Name: TEFL Certification with Guaranteed Job Placement in Costa Rica
Brand: Maximo Nivel
SKU: 29194
Rating: 4.95 (257 reviews)

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4.95 Rating

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Location

Costa Rica
- San José
- Playa Blanca

Length

150 hours

Training Type

Classroom

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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

Last Updated: Feb 12, 2025

Last Reviewed: Jun 13, 2025

Wish List

55 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.

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Video and Photos

MAXIMO NIVEL - TEFL Training Center in Costa Rica

MAXIMO NIVEL - TEFL graduation celebration

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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.

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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.

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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

4.95 Rating

based on 257 reviews

Leave a Review

Rating Spread Teach TEFL

5 rating 94.55%
4 rating 5.45%
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 4.95
Support 5
Value 4.8
Academic Rigor 4.6
Job Assistance 4.8

Good for Students, Building your resume, Solo Travelers

Showing 185 - 192 of 257 reviews

The TEFL certification course was quite rigorous! One definitely must earn it, not just receive it. The material was thoroughly presented in an effective manner. Days were packed with class time, homework, reading material, and lesson plans. The books were informative and resourceful. My teacher, Audra, was impressive. Not only was she clearly an expert at teaching grammar, she made it fun. She showed plenty of personality while still being a professional. She had me cracking up laughing every day, all day. Anyone who can make grammar fun, is witty and admirable in my opinion. When I was struggling with the amount of work or feeling discouraged from my mistakes , she pointed me back in a positive direction. She presented the lesson plans just as we were being taught to present them to our future ESL students. She made it look so easy! Having the opportunity to spend our last week doing Practical Teaching with real, Spanish-speaking locals, gave us a chance to apply what we had learned all month. This was the most important part of the course. Real-life experience was necessary to becoming certified. We got a chance to implement everything we had learned, and to present our own lesson plans. After I got over the fear of making mistakes, it became enjoyable. The course taught me how to be prepared with a well-organized, effective lesson plan. By the end of the course, I was comfortable teaching a group of ESL students. It became fun building rapport, managing a classroom, increasing student-talk-time, eliciting information from them, confirming their comprehension, correcting errors, and being relaxed enough to show my personality. The facility itself was outstanding! It was large, very clean, nice landscaping, an enticing snack bar, a kind and helpful staff, air conditioning, wifi, lockers, printers, computer access, and a million-dollar view of the Pacific ocean! I would recommend Maximo Nivel in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica to anyone interested in getting their TEFL certification. Wonderful people, beautiful place, and new, effective teaching skills I can use in the future. Thank you Audra, my teacher, and thank you to the lovely ladies at Maximo Nivel who made me and my dog Rasta feel so welcome during our course attendance (July-August 2017). Thank you for your humor, kindness and joy. Sincerely, Rasta and Erica

What would you improve about this program?

By adding me to their staff!!!!!
This program is perfect! I wouldn't mind joining the staff and teaching others what I have learned.

This course was very detailed, intense, and prepares it's participants to teach English effectively! The instructor and staff are very kind, helpful, and attentive to all students' needs! The experience was very fun overall, and is held in a very beautiful setting in a well organized environment. The training is very in depth, and there is a lot of practical experience involved. In the end, all students leave very prepared for their next ventures!

My experience with Maximo Nivel was absolutely wonderful!! The staff is extremely friendly and helpful and our TEFL trainer/director, Audra, was a 12 out of 10!! She cares so much about her students and wants them to succeed. This course is a lot to cover in one month, but she taught everything very practically and efficiently! I was never too overwhelmed with the work load because she always gave us the right materials and tools to succeed. I would 100% recommend taking this course (especially with Audra) if you are thinking about it!

The past 4 weeks in the Maximo Nivel TEFL course have been absolutely amazing. The staff and other students made this such a welcoming, encouraging and supportive place for my family and I. We are excited for our future but our hearts are also heavy knowing that we will be leaving soon. Also, they have quite a few tourist activities that they help arrange if interested. My husband went white wáter rafting. Thank you everyone.

I took the accelerate hybrid program at Maximo Nivel, Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica. I thought it would have been hard to catch up with my classmates but thanks to an excellent TEFL trainer I was able to understand everything I missed in person. Audra's classes were fun, exciting and enlightening. Maximo Nivel, Manuel Antonio, has a fantastic, friendly and very helpful staff and a nice location! It was a great experience!

It's hard to imagine a more effective TEFL trainer than Audra Wooldridge. She was able to support our class and maintain high engagement throughout this intensive course. She was an excellent model for the strategies and techniques being taught both in the TEFL classroom as well as the ESL classroom. She also was available to offer useful advice and recommendations for job searches around the world. With her support, I was able to secure a job in Guatemala with a start date immediately after my certification.

Additionally, Karen and the rest of the staff at COSI were always kind and super responsive to student needs. The building was clean, with a beautiful view, and some of the rooms had air conditioning. The large iguana that lives outside the school also provided some visual entertainment during long classes. Overall, this was a wonderful experience and I am glad that I choose COSI Manuel Antonio to get my TEFL certification.

If you are in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, Audra will make your experience in the class a really fun one! You will learn what you need to know in a very lighthearted way. It is not however without time constraint. Hours after class are required to fulfill your assignments and in spite of the beautiful view from the school, the days can be long. Overall I would definitely recommend this program!

What would you improve about this program?

I believe there were a lot of handouts that could have been organized and bound and given to each student as a part of their books.

Questions & Answers

What is the best way to prepare for the TEFL program?

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!

By Hayley Wordsworth on November 21, 2016

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Are there job opportunities in Manuel Antonio itself?

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 :)

By Caroline Peckham on May 5, 2016

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Do you recommend bringing a laptop?

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.

By David Tausheck on May 24, 2016

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What is the cost to me?

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/

By Lauren Binnert on February 18, 2016

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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

I wanted an opportunity to change my career path from a dissatisfying corporate job to a rewarding career that can take me traveling around the world and enable me to gain cultural experiences in different diverse countries whilst helping others in learning a 2nd language to enable better job opportunities.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

The Maximo Nivel program provided me with top quality information travel assistance, support staff and teachers who were extremely knowledgeable and made the whole experience extremely worthwhile.

They organized my volunteer program and also the accommodation at my host family, and assisted with holiday and activity options.

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What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

If I were to do the course again, I would definitely choose a professional organization that is well-credentialed and respected like Maximo. It makes it so much easier having a strong support base and experienced team.

I would definitely allow for more travel time either before or after the course, so you can get to appreciate the country you are visiting.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

The program is very solid and lots to fit in every day, as it is a compact course.

Having said that, there were still afternoons off and a couple of free days to chill. And an average day consisted of about 8 hours at school with a mixture of theory and practical class observations and activities.

After school, you would generally need to do 2 hours of homework or reading.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

I guess my only fear was not finishing the course or not being able to do the assignments and lesson plans in time. But the course structure and support of the teachers was a huge benefit in allaying my fears. This made a big difference in my ability to manage the course effectively and get everything done.

Any last thoughts?

This is a really fun and rewarding opportunity. It is full-on but satisfying in so many ways. You learn so much about yourself and build up comradery with people from all over the world, with diverse backgrounds and age ranges. It will give you great confidence and belief that you can do whatever you want to set your mind to.

Don Wallace

2019 Alum

Ron van der Vis

2016 Alum

Dave Garner

Martin Botsford

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Tell us a little about Maximo Nivel and your role at the company.

Máximo Nivel is a family-run business that was started by Giovanna and Ken Jones; Giovanna is from Peru and Ken is originally from the US. They were both studying languages in Cusco, Peru, and saw a need for programs with better client service, teachers and overall organization.

They opened the first Maximo English school in 2003, and from there they grew to incorporate study abroad programs including Spanish language immersion, TEFL/TESOL certification and volunteer and internship programs. Over the past 10 years, Máximo Nivel has become a true Intercultural Center, bringing together locals and international students in a fun, educational environment.

I joined Máximo about two and a half years ago, and have loved being a part of the organization. I’m lucky enough to have a very multi-faceted role, heading up what we affectionately call the “Nucleo Team,” which spans the three countries in which we work.

I help with client service and setting up new programs for incoming Spanish learners, volunteers and TEFLers by answering questions and arranging logistics. I also do a lot of outreach and work with everyone interested in study abroad or volunteer work, from college professors and on-campus student groups, to high schools and youth programs. Finally, I also get to lend a hand is developing new program and project offerings, which is lots of fun!

How did you get involved in the volunteer industry?

I have always been fascinated with the intersection between business and non-profits, and I truly believe that social enterprise is the key to making lasting social change. In my master’s program in International Relations I focused on Fair Trade and other social enterprise systems, and it was there that I first ran into the idea of a humanitarian volunteer company, self-sustainable, but still truly focused on giving back to the local community. From there I was lucky enough to find Máximo Nivel in Costa Rica, exactly where I was hoping to settle down, and I knew that I had found a great match!

What makes Maximo Nivel unique?

I think that Máximo Nivel is really unique in a lot of ways! We have fantastic teams in each country that seem to have boundless energy and enthusiasm to share with all of our visitors. They are all avid travelers and have lived the difference that these sorts of programs can make in your life, and they are eager to foster those same life-changing transformations in others.

We’re the only organization that I know of that has medical doctors and construction foremen as part of our staff, not just relationships outside of the organization. Máximo has real talent on the team to make sure we’re doing things right!

The scope of Maximo Nivel is also really unique. As I mentioned earlier, we’re a true intercultural center and have people from all over the world with us every day, representing lots of different places and cultures. It really feels like a melting pot, and the environment for learning and cultural understanding that creates is incredible and really unique.

Some people are with us because they dream of teaching English, others because they want Spanish as a tool to travel, others are studying English to improve their careers, and still others are here to give back to local communities through the volunteer programs… It just means that there are a lot of really incredible people working together at Máximo on any given day.

How do you ensure your programs are sustainable and mutually beneficial for you, the community, and the volunteers?

The sustainability of our programs is really important to us! As you say, programs really need to be mutually beneficial so that not just the volunteer, but the larger community gains from the experience. First of all, Máximo Nivel is a local organization in each of the countries where we work, so we’re one of the important small businesses that drives the local economy.

We hire local staff, purchase supplies from local companies, and work with hundreds of host families to bring additional income into their households. We also establish and maintain long-lasting, sustainable relationships with the projects we work with. In some cases, the mutual benefit seems obvious, for instance when volunteers work in under-staffed local orphanages with kids that really need the care and affection.

In other cases we work a bit harder to make sure that we’re really helping. For example, we design our construction programs to address the needs of project sites and the local communities, and we also have a monthly humanitarian budget that lets us address specific donation requests from projects and participate in larger level education and food programs.

What does the future hold for Maximo Nivel?

Julia: We’re constantly working to expand our programs to meet the needs of everyone who wants to study, work and travel with us. 2013 is shaping up to be a big year. We’re launching a Gap Year program for people taking a year off, and we’re adding a variety of study abroad programs that target specific skill-building and certification options. For example, program participants can combine Spanish or volunteering with things like yoga, SCUBA or a seminar on how to create your own social enterprise. The future’s looking bright!

About Maximo Nivel

Founded in 2003, Maximo Nivel is a leading organization in study abroad and educational travel. We are an internationally accredited organization with 4 locally based institutes in 3 of the most beautiful countries in the world—Costa Rica, Guatemala. and Peru. At Maximo Nivel, we strive to set ourselves apart and provide the best education and...