Maximo Nivel's TEFL course in Antigua exceeded my expectations by a long shot. Everything was clear, organized, and packed with info and prep to become the best TEFL teacher as possible. Karen Wilke is the instructor and is extremely experienced. She directs the class in a fun, personable way, while constructively encouraging her students to work harder to perform better. The first day she said, "I will give you 200% and I expect half of that." By the end of the course, that statement was completely true. I would suggest this course to all my family and closest friends if they were interested in taking TEFL.

Also, GO GUATEMALA! It's the most beautiful country I've seen. Furthermore, Antigua (look it up!) is a beautiful historic city that feels like a vacation all the time with all its restaurants, cafes, panaderias, and terraces within walking distance.

I highly recommend the course with Maximo Nivel in Antigua. This TEFL course is very hands-on and prepares you to teach in the classroom. This course includes learning teaching strategies and methodologies specific to teaching English as a foreign language and includes practical experience that gives you the opportunity to teach starting the first week of the course. Each week we taught mini lessons and during the last week of the course we were student teachers. At the end of the course my cohort and I were confident and prepared English teachers. Out TEFL teacher Karen was extremely knowledgeable, energetic, creative, and fun, but most importantly supported us throughout the course in growing as English teachers, providing us with valuable feedback along the way.

I specifically enjoyed my time in Antigua, Guatemala, which lies below the shadows of three volcanoes, is a quaint Spanish colonial town with cobble-stoned streets, friendly locals, great food and nightlife, and an exciting local market. It also is a great base to go to various places including the beach and Lake Atitlan, which can be visited on weekends during the course.

Maximo has an international team which supports you with anything that you need throughout your course - from housing, to activities to participate in during your time in Antigua to helping you find medical advice and treatment if needed. Overall this organization as a whole is organized, helpful, with friendly staff to help you with whatever you need while in Guatemala.

Our instructor Karen Wilke was knowledgeable and she was always there to help. I love her energy too, kind, good-hearted, intelligent, funny and smart :) You'll enjoy taking your TEFL there.

Maximo Nivel is a good school (I took Spanish there). The location is incredible, you're close to museums, libraries, the Parque Central where the banks are, restaurants, market, stores, everything you need.

After I took TEFL there, they interview you in case you like to work there. They have TEFL schools in Guatemala, Costa Rica and Peru so lots of possibilities.

Antigua, Guatemala was a wonderful place to take TEFL. It's safe, secure and very beautiful there. Maximo Nivel had everything I needed too. We have a computer room there, tutoring, coffee/tea (all free to students).

Really wonderful course that has me feeling fully prepared and equipped for a new career. Karen is empowering and inspiring as a teacher and gives us a lot of resources and support. It is a challenging course that really gives us the full experience so we are ready for anything. I really appreciated the flexibility of the Hybrid program since I couldn't take much time off my current job. This was new territory for me so I wanted extra time with the first online portion of the class, to really let it marinate in my mind. The onsite portion was intense but engaging and very hands on. Karen really led by example and was always available for support.

Antigua is a wonderful exciting city to do TEFL, I would recommend spending some extra time before or after your course to do day trips since this course will keep you busy!

This isn't your typical TEFL/TESOL course. The entire month is a beautiful growing experience that I would recommend to anyone and everyone. Even if you don't plan on teaching English full-time or long-term, the certification is almost like having additional job security. The TEFL instructor here in Antigua is completely qualified, very knowledgeable in all things English, linguistics, teaching, traveling/ living abroad, etc. NOT to mention, she's just one of those amazing people in your life whom you will never forget.
Maximo provides so much support outside of the classroom. The facility is gorgeous, clean, perfectly-located, and peaceful. Antigua is a beautiful little colonial town, full of welcoming locals, fellow travelers, and comfortable accommodations. Endless restaurants, hidden gardens, beautiful ruins to explore during your free time. With awareness and precaution, you shouldn't have any problems of safety.
As far as the STAR of the review goes, the course itself: I can't properly convey how much information, wisdom, methodology, confidence, friendship, and experience I gained from this month-long TEFL program. The course work didn't always feel like a breeze, but I also never felt too overwhelmed at any point. Many Antigua-based TEFL students end up staying longer than planned.
I'm so glad I made the leap. If you're looking for a the best TEFL course all around, congratulations because I strongly believe you've found it.

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.