What a wonderful experience. I love to travel, but I prefer to do something productive in a foreign country. This was such a great way to do that. I was able to open a door for myself to be able to travel to anywhere in the world and find a job. The course was great. There's definitely a decent amount of work to do, but it's all worthwhile. What really made this program special was the practical teaching experience. It's one thing to learn theory about teaching and talk about grammar, but it's a completely different thing to actually put it into action in a real classroom with real students. It was amazing to see the progress I'd made over the course of the 4 weeks. And watching students "get it" is one of the coolest, most rewarding feelings I've felt.

I'd recommend this program to everyone.

The instructor, materials, staff and setting in Manuel Antonio went above and beyond all my expectations. Plus, my home stay family made my adjustment as stress-free as possible. I would definitely recommend Maximo Nivel to anyone wishing to teach English in Latin America. But be advised, after a while you might grow accustomed to all the amazing things like howler monkeys at night, sloths in the trees, iguanas just hanging out, beautiful beaches, friendly people, unbelievably tasty smoothies...

I did my TEFL training in Costa Rica- Manuel Antonio and I was fortunate enough to experience both Audra and Karen as TEFL teachers. They were fully supportive, and I couldn't have asked for better trainers. The course was intense but they made it fun and interesting, and you felt like a little family. I was provided with all the support I needed and help and guidance. Fantastic course and fantastic trainers!

I did not have clearly defined expectations for myself coming into the course as I do not have a teaching or academic language study back ground. I spoke with quite a few people about TEFL courses and did a lot of research on the internet so the one thing I did expect was that a four week course including a week of practical teaching would be far better training than an on-line course that I could complete in two weeks at home with zero practical teaching. My expectations were far exceeded by Maximo Nivel and especially Claudia Behnke. I was fortunate to have some very hard-working and caring teachers back in school but I never had a teacher who loved teaching like Claudia. She gave 110% all the time and never held back. There were what appeared to me to be a full spectrum of learners in our class with a much broader range of challenges that I would have anticipated. From an on-line learner coming in half way through to illnesses and other incidents that took people out of the course and required incredible flexibility on Claudia’s part. To be fair, the entire staff exceeded my expectations. They were friendly, warm and never hesitated to stop in the middle of their busy day to help with whatever we needed at the moment. This included the teachers we conducted our observations with. They were more than happy to speak with us and answer any question we had about their style and the level and character of their classes.

Wonderful program overall. We spent long days going over material, but it was always kept fun and engaging. I truly felt that the teaching method (or critical ESL techniques) would continue to benefit for life due to its practicality. I walked away thinking that all subjects should follow the ESL methods, and can see why it has been as successful as it has.

They really push for excellence and creativity. This is most evident in their reviews and their attention to detail. They really want to graduate top teachers and ensure this through support, but stringent requirements for successfully completing teaching lessons.

Their TEFL trainer did a phenomenal job teaching material due to her passion for education. I loved being apart of her class (which speaks volumes considering I spent most of my time abroad in her class). I felt that I left the program well trained and supported. :)

I did my program with Maximo Nivel at their Manuel Antonio location. I had worked with Maximo Nivel in Peru on a previous occasion, so I already knew that the institution was "legit" and had an incredibly dedicated and motivated staff. As was expected, it was an absolutely amazing experience, to say the least. My TEFL trainer (Audra) and assistant trainer (Kevin) were PHENOMENAL. They brought an energy and vivaciousness to the classroom that I very rarely see in other learning settings that quickly inspired the rest of us. They demonstrated a clear passion and enthusiasm for their work that made coming to class every day and learning an absolute pleasure. They made the class fun and engaging, while maintaining a very professional demeanor all the while. The staff at Maximo are phenomenal, and constantly looking for ways to support your success, whether that be during your stay with Maximo or while you are looking for careers abroad. All in all, I cannot say enough good about this program. Overall incredible experience that I will never forget. If I could go back, I wouldn't change a thing.

Taking TEFL with Maximo Nivel in Costa Rica has been the most amazing experience! The school overlooks a beautiful beach, the staff is incredibly accommodating, the course is chalk full of hands on teaching opportunities and the culture here is beautiful. My instructors, Audra Wooldridge and Kevin Martinson made all the difference with their encouragement, vivaciousness and love for teaching. I highly recommend this course to anyone with an adventurous spirit, a love for teaching and an appreciation for natural beauty. Thanks to everyone at Maximo Nivel for making this experience so memorable.

The course was quite intensive, and yet, a lot of fun. Our instructor, Audra, was fantastic!! She is a great teacher who makes tough content easier to understand, dry stuff fun, and brings her wonderful attitude to class every day. She is a wealth of knowledge and offers astute feedback. She truly wants everyone to be successful and was always available to help us out. Everyone at Maximo Manuel Antonio was very friendly and helpful: Kevin (assistant extraordinaire!), Barbara, Karen, Jake, and Brandon. A big heartfelt thanks to all of you!!! I hope our paths cross again soon.