TEFL in Antigua, Guatemala with Guaranteed Job Placement

This program was much better than what I expected! I learned a lot and the esl techniques that I learned are extremely useful! The location and trainers were amazing too! It was a great experience achieving my goal in a nice environment and with great people! Strongly recommeded!

I took TEFL in Jan-Feb 2015. Not only was the location of the program beautiful, but the people here are so beautiful as well. I ended up getting my own one bedroom apartment which was extremely helpful for studying. I would walk to school at 8:30 am and get a smoothie or fresh orange juice from a fruit stand along the way. I have become very well acquainted with this beautiful city, and even considered a regular at some places. I am very sad to be leaving.

The course itself was also amazing. In Antigua the classes are generally smaller, which makes for a more personal experience and gives you the opportunity to REALLY learn what you are there for. I evolved so much as a teacher in my 4 weeks at Maximo, and I wouldn't trade the experience for anything in the world. AMAZING! DO IT!

I volunteered with Maximo Nivel for 1 week in February and fell in love with Antigua. I moved back to Antigua in November and was feeling lost about my next steps. I knew I wanted to help the community further but wasn't sure how. With the help of the awesome girls from the office, Jean & Corinne I signed up for TEFL and took the leap of faith. I learned so much more than I thought possible in just one short month and now I feel incredibly confident to go out and start teaching the world. Maximo is probably the most organized company in the game. I was shocked with the amount of support they offered me in between my projects. Suzanne is the best TEFL trainer to date. If you're thinking about taking the course, stop and just do it to it.

My experience at Máximo was great. The staf was always helpful and the facilities were beautiful and clean. Most importantly, I really feel confident that I've had sufficient training to begin a career as an English teacher abroad.

My TEFL program in Antigua was all that I could ask for and more. The staff at the international office were very welcoming and informing. If I ever had a question about my staff, the girls at the front desk always had an answer and a smile.The TEFL program is very informing. I had no previous teaching experience before partaking in the Maximo course in Antigua, but after my week of practical teaching, I am confident in my ability as a teacher. I highly recommend this program to all who are interested.

Classes were a blast everyday! The teacher was really helpful and energetic. As long as you stay caught up with your work it's not too overwhelming. You have lots of material to help you along the way as well. The rest of the teachers teaching on site are also very helpful and super kind. The city was great and the host family was amazing. ALL the staff were amazing as well!

On a motorbike in Laos one day near the Chinese boarder I decided to get certified to teach English as a second language. To give the gift of communication. Throughout the rest of my time traveling in Southeast Asia I researched programs for TEFL certification - everywhere from Indochina, to South America, to Europe, etc, etc. I knew what I wanted: Spanish Speaking Country, Job Opportunities, Supportive Staff, Good Materials, A good Community, good living conditions, and of course, a beautiful place. My brother recommended Maximo to me having volunteered with them in Cusco. So one morning under the shadow of a Durian statue in Southeastern Cambodia I put down my deposit and signed up for Maximo.

From the start the program was streamlined, efficient, and welcoming. My travel from Guatemala City to Antigua was painless. My accommodation and host mom were wonderful - Sandra was a great cook and a good companion. Maximo provided just about every opportunity I could hope for: travel advice, job advice, immediate placement upon completion, and a rigorous course. This program isn't half-hearted or lazy in its pedagogy - Suzanne Harle, my TEFL trainer, is a gifted instructor with the kind of genuine passion and serious expertise necessary to prepare anyone to teach English who is willing to put the necessary time into it. You simply must commit to doing real work all the time and trust Suzanne completely, in everything, all the time. Which is good, because she is always right. Thankfully, it is fun and instructive - what a combination!

The educational strategy is immersive and reflexive. You are taught to teach in the style that you will be teaching in. Effectively, you get a great example(Suzanne) and then the opportunity to build up, step by step, to becoming that wonderful example. You feel yourself learning. You remember the techniques. You rely on what you've learned. And you teach. You actually teach.

The staff in Antigua are all wonderful and knowledgeable as well as realistic and forthright. You are your only biggest obstacle, however, if you buckle down you will be rewarded with a new skill and a great network, and maybe even a new vocation.

The surrounding area is magnificent: looming volcanoes, pristine lakes, lush coffee plantations, and at the heart of historic UNESCO certified Antigua, full of a chromatic smorgasbord of shopfronts and beautiful, ruinous Spanish Cathedrals. It is lively and frenetic in the city, small but quaint, with a good community of teachers, expats, locals, and others to converse with and learn from. Guatemalan culture is great. Delicious food, music, and feelings all around.

It isn't the cheapest program around, and it is difficult and rigorous. But this is all good. You get what you pay for. There is nothing janky. You are not misinformed. Materials are available, everyone is willing to help, and there is a strong sense that you are taken care of personally and sincerely. There is also the strong sense that Maximo is constantly interested in its own improvement(while I was there they were installing an entire new computer lab for their students to use) which is really refreshing and positive, and speaks to a genuine care for their project and those that use their services.

I highly recommend the TEFL Certification at Maximo Nivel in Guatemala! What are you waiting for?

Great program! The staff is super friendly and helpful; they were able to help me with everything I needed. The TEFL class is intensive but interesting and rewarding, also fun! The practical teaching week is a great way to get some experience. Antigua is an amazing city, especially for those who like to explore; there are volcanoes and mountains all around that are available to hike. I would definitely recommend this program!