TEFL Certification in Antigua, Guatemala

I had a wonderful time at Maximo Guatemala! I met wonderful new people that I am still close friends with 2 months later. I loved it so much in Antigua that I am now living here full time. The course was thorough and prepared us well for our coming job search. The academic office was very helpful in resolving any issues we had during our time in Antigua from finding the best coffee in town to signing up for Spanish classes during our TEFL course. They allowed me to make last minute changes to my living situation and helped my transfer the extra money from housing to Spanish courses. My host family was AMAZING and we are still great friends. The highlight of the course was Karen, of course, who made each day fun even when there was plenty of work to be done. 10/10 would recommend!

I took the TEFL certificate course last month and it was amazing. Karen, our tefl trainer, made the whole experience a wonderful learning process. You get to do a lot of practical teaching since the beginning of the course til the final week which was my favorite one! The practical teaching week is challenging but rewarding in the end. Karen will make sure you feel motivated all the time! Antigua is THE place to get your TEFL certificate because Karen is THE teacher :D !

I spent 10 weeks volunteering with Maximo Nivel before deciding to take the TEFL course. It was one of the best decisions I ever made! I learned so much in such a short amount of time, both about teaching and about life. Going back to my volunteer program the week after I finished the course was so rewarding because I felt like I was able to give my students so much more than I’d been able to before. Karen is such an exceptional teacher and role model, and honestly just the opportunity to be her student for a month is a good enough reason to take the course. She’s so supportive, knowledgeable, and fun, and truly the best example of what I would like to achieve as a teacher. Within a month of completing the course and returning to the the states for university, I got a flexible online ESL teaching job which I’ve been loving for the past couple months. Excellent program aside, Antigua is the best place to be, and my only warning would be that it’s very hard to leave.

The training I received at Maximo Nivel exceeded my expectations. We were giving mini-lessons in front of students by the end of the first week. Normally, I would have cringed under these circumstances. However, we had amazing support and were equipped with amazing teaching skills. I have never taught before, but this program definitely gave me a boost in confidence. Karen, the TEFL Trainer, is AMAZING! She has a great deal of experience and will give you all the support you need. I don't think my TEFL training/Maximo experience would have been the same without her. I would definitely recommend this program to others.

This course was an amazing experience. I learned life skills along with my new teaching skills. They created a wonderful environment and great support at all times. The class was broken up and made fun so it wasn't too much to handle. This course helped me grow as a person as well as a teacher. I previously volunteered at the same site at Maximo Nivel Guatemala and decided to return due to the support and encouragement I had received. I am so glad I did this and now have the confidence to go and travel any where in the world and use the skills that I gained.

Maximo Nivel has been great since my first time communicating with them. From re-scheduling my classes they were always following up to make sure I was good and if there was anything thy could do to help. Once I finally made it here it was AMAZING!!!! I must admit that we had a special class and that added to the experience. But The support you get from the school, Karen (TEFL instructor) is out of this world. It was a great experience and now I look forward to seeing where the next chapter takes me. To anyone on the fence about taking the course I say JUST DO IT!!!!! the only regret you will have is not taking it sooner. To anyone just looking for an adventure I say TAKE THE CLASS!!!! You learn to become a teacher but you learn so much about yourself in the process as well.

I've gotta say as someone who is very shy and quiet, it was a challenge getting through the TEFL course. It was terrifying thinking about being in front of people and actually start teaching. If it were not by the support of the academy, classmates and our trainer (Karen Wilke) I wouldn't be where I am right now. Many people go into the course thinking "Is it worth it?", it definitely is. It's not only about you getting the certificate and skills to teach English, it's the experience, the students, classmates, etc. Pretty much everything is an upside. Doesn't matter if you get stressed, the reward after, overcomes all of it.

For those reading and wondering if you should go for it or not, what's wrong with you? Just do it and don't miss the chance to write another huge chapter of your lives.

The TEFL training at Maximo Nivel is full of practical teaching experience, memorable lessons and supportive staff. I bonded well with my classmates through silly grammar lessons, traveling on the weekends and so many vulnerable moments in the mix of learning how to teach. After finishing the course, I feel empowered to teach...but also know I will never be alone on the journey. The people of this course are now my "family/network" for future employment and questions in the mix of continual learning in the classroom! I am leaving with a grateful heart.

Honestly can't give this course enough praise. Maximo Nivel is situated in Central Antigua, a perfect and beautiful location. From the get go, pre-departure, responses to emails were promt and helpful, helping with any issues or worries I may have about moving abroad. The course itself surpassed my expectations, and although very intense and not easy, it was an incredible expereince. For someone who has never taught before it was the best way to prepare for teaching ESL. The course includes a week (or more if you wish) practical teaching, and from week one you are thrown into the deep end having to plan and deliver short lessons. Karen the TEFL tutor was knowledgable and quite frankly made the entire course! Maximo was so organised and professional that i am in fact staying there for 6 months to teach! I couldnt be more excited and thank TEFL Heaven for giving me this connection.

I had such an amazing experience in Guatemala. Karen is a great instructor, she really changed my life and the way I viewed teaching. I learned so much in just 4 weeks and met amazing people along the way. It was A LOT of hard work but it was definitely worth it! Karen will help you get through it. Maximo is super supportive too they will always be there if you need them. I highly recommended taking the TEFL in Antigua!

Maximo has been quite the experience for me. I took the TEFL course in Antigua Guatemala For starters the teacher (Karen) that led my group was amazing!!! Caring, patient, and extremely knowlendgable! She was there every single step of the way offering a helping hand, and giving great realistic advice. She's been doing this a long time and she still loves it. You can tell. She genuinely cares about her students and their futures. Aside from her the staff at Maximo is very helpful as well. They offer their time and resources for all of the students and staff. I loved my experience with Maximo and can proudly say I will be working for them starting in February!

I'm so incredibly glad that I chose to come to Antigua to earn my TEFL certification with Maximo Nivel. The course is challenging -- full days with homework afterward -- but Karen, the amazing instructor, guided us through it. We all learned so much and it was incredible to see everyone's growth and improvement over just four weeks. We went from being terrified to give 20-minute mini lessons at the beginning of the month to confidently planning and leading our own classrooms at the end of the month. At the end of the month, you'll graduate with your TEFL family. The staff and facilities at Maximo are excellent, my homestay was great, and I also was able to take Spanish lessons. Although it's a big investment of time and money to come to Antigua and complete this program, it's one thousand percent worth it and I've had one of the best experiences of my life.

Who knew that taking a 4-week intensive course learning how to teach English could be one of the most fun, entertaining, enlightening, fulfilling experiences you could have?! Oh yes it was challenging, nay exhausting, at times, but the hard work pays off and the drained energy is replenished ten-fold when you hold that certificate in your hand and actually start to teach in a real class room - it's exhilarating! Maximo Nivel has your back every step of the way, helping with daily practicalities: homestay organising, country advice, tours and cultural trips and the provision of study areas with PCs, research information, teaching aids and complimentary tea, coffee and water. I took my course in their Guatemala school in Antigua and the staff and teachers could not be more helpful, or cheerful!! In particular, our skilled and passionate TEFL trainer, Karen Wilke, who never lacked enthusiasm or creativity, providing guidance tailored to your specific learning style and endless support and advice on techniques and teaching resources to make this one of the most organised and inspirational courses I have experienced. You also get to meet some of the most incredible people in Antigua and your fellow TEFL students become your family who assist and encourage you throughout the studying weeks. You get so much more than an international TEFL qualification - you get life skills and contacts that will serve you forever!

Maximo Nivel's TEFL program was truly the most challenging and rewarding month of my life. Karen is beyond incredible and the program in Antigua, the staff, support and experience is truly one in a million. I absolutely loved the women in my class and the environment and experience was beyond amazing. Karen did a beyond amazing job of preparing and instructing us to be fun, energetic and most of all - PASSIONATE teachers moving forward! Thank you Maximo for the experience, thank you Karen for your time and thank you Guatemala for becoming my new home!

Last month I took Maximo Nivel's 150 hour TEFL Training course, and would highly recommend it to anyone considering teaching English as a foreign language. Claudia, our instructor, was fantastic: very enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the practice of teaching TEFL, supportive and approachable yet completely willing to be tough when necessary. Among the benefits of taking a TEFL class abroad was the opportunity to observe other teachers and get extensive practice in teaching real, live English learners. Be forewarned: this is not in any way an easy course, and will require serious effort and attention from you, but the benefits of this rigorous training were very clear: each of us improved significantly as teachers over the month.
Antigua is a lovely and user-friendly Central American town, colorful colonial buildings and cobblestone streets surrounded by lush green mountains. All in all, an excellent preparation to be a TEFL teacher!