Location
  • Guatemala
    • Antigua
Length
150 hours
Training Type
Classroom

Program Details

Teaching Practicum
Yes
Job Placement
Yes
Certifications
TEFL TEFL (Hybrid) TESOL
Housing
Apartment Host Family Hotel

Pricing

Starting Price
1295
Price Details
– Airport pick-up
– Program and safety orientation
– Walking tour
– Official TEFL/TESOL Certificate
– Letter of recommendation
– Lifetime job-finding assistance
– Guaranteed Job Placement
– Free Tandem Conversation Program
– Free office-wide WIFI
– Free Salsa dance classes
– Free cooking classes
– Free coffee and tea and on-site snack bar
– Institute is open 7 days/week
– Emergency contact number 24/7
What's Included
Activities Airport Transfers Wifi
What's Not Included
Airfare Travel Insurance
Feb 12, 2025
Apr 15, 2025
13 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Become a certified English teacher by earning a TEFL certification with Maximo Nivel in Antigua, Guatemala. 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. Groups are small with usually 2 to 14 people.

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

Video and Photos

Diversity & Inclusion 💙

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.

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.

Program Highlights

  • Guaranteed Job Placement
  • Accredited certification accepted worldwide
  • Highly qualified TEFL Trainers
  • 15 hours of practical teaching and observation
  • Lifetime job-finding assistance

Program Reviews

4.98 Rating
based on 180 reviews
  • 5 rating 98.33%
  • 4 rating 1.67%
  • 3 rating 0%
  • 2 rating 0%
  • 1 rating 0%
  • Benefits 4.8
  • Support 4.95
  • Fun 4.95
  • Facilities 4.9
  • Safety 4.85
  • Instruction 5
  • Support 5
  • Value 4.85
  • Academic Rigor 4.55
  • Job Assistance 4.9
Showing 73 - 80 of 180 reviews
Default avatar
George
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing!

The TEFL Certification course absolutely exceeded my expectations! The coursework was challenging and completely prepared me for a life of teaching English abroad. I was extremely pleased with the academic support and the opportunity to teach real students during the practical teaching week. My host family was also incredibly accommodating and my room was comfortable (and had wifi). You are definitely getting the complete package when taking the TEFL Cert at Maximo Nivel. My TEFL trainer (Mackenzie) was knowledgeable and always quick to respond to any emails and help out with the class during office hours. The job finding workshop and lifetime job finding assistance Maximo provides was also an essential part of the program for me. I would highly recommend this course to anyone looking to become TEFL Certified.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
I was very nervous about flying solo to Antigua without knowing much Spanish. Maximo picked me up from the airport and dropped me off at my home-stay, completely taking away any of the nerves about getting from the airport to housing. Once in Antigua I was totally able to get by with limited Spanish, my host family was always patient and very welcoming even though there was a little bit of a language barrier.
97 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Matt
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

TEFL Antigua

Had a good experience in Antigua with Maximo. Don't know anything about their other programs but the TEFL course is well thought out, comprehensive and challenging. Karen was a great instructor that clearly cared that her students were understanding the material and were able to use it. It was nice chatting with her outside of class as well. The class was a lot of work, but I felt like there was a pretty good balance of serious, hard work and some lighter stuff so that the class didn't drag on. It was nice to have some actual practical teaching experience built into the course.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Be prepared for a lot of work. I was advised not to treat the course like a vacation opportunity and I would say that helped to set good expectations at the beginning.
120 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
John
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

TEFL certification in Guatemala

Getting TEFL certified in Guatemala was amazing. The 4 week long in person course was challenging, but the information learned is exactly what you need to learn to start teaching. By the end of the course you will be teaching actual classes confidently and effectively. My trainer Karen was amazing. Her experience and passion for teaching will be clear from day 1 and she will become one of your greatest resources. Enough really can't be said about Karen or Maximo Nivel. On weekends you also have the opportunity to do all kinds of things like hiking active volcanoes, relaxing at the lake, or visiting some of the nearby towns. I would HIGHLY recommend to anyone.

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I would spend WAY more time in Guatemala. 4 weeks in Guatemala (while getting TEFL certified) is not enough time if you want to see all of the amazing attractions Guatemala has to offer.
119 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Enrique
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great TEFL Course in Antigua

Karen is a great instructor and the course really prepared us to teach English classes at any level. It was great getting to apply what we had learned in the final practicum week, and then adjust everything to suit our own styles and strengths. You definitely leave feeling as if you've advanced a great deal in just one month. The lifetime job assistance that comes with the program is also incredibly valuable and something to make good use of. Guatemala is a beautiful country too, and if you're going to take this program you should definitely get to know it closely.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
The third week of the program involves a lot of work. You just have to be patient with yourself and you will get it done; it's not overly complex at all, and ultimately it will help you.
112 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Tim
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Antigua is sick

Super rad program in a great city

Maximo Nivel is pretty streamlined to get you on track with teaching - a great method by the way - so that you can best help your future students. The program is pretty chill for the first two weeks and then it is quite difficult the last two, but it is a good challenge and it is all worth it.

The program was really well done - We experienced it not at it's 100% cause of the pandemic but I think it would be even better to do it all in person with others, but it was interesting to teach online too

You got This!

What was your funniest moment?
trying to teach and epically failing ahah - like now knowing my own English language sometimes
92 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Ali
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing Experience in Antigua

I had an incredible TEFL course in Antigua with Karen. She was an extremely helpful, caring and genuine teacher. She shared her extensive knowledge with us in an effective and efficient way, and exemplified what it should be like to be a teacher. We also had lots of practical teaching experience throughout the course, which felt scary at times but it really helped to feel more comfortable teaching. Karen gave great personalized feedback after every practical lesson. I am grateful for what I learned and feel prepared to teach both online and in person.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Have fun with it and get all your work done efficiently! There is so many fun things to do and see in Guatemala, and the workload can get a bit overwhelming at times. But, if you buckle down every day for an hour or two it's not bad - then you can go out and have fun!!
96 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Rachel
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great Program!

I attended the TEFL training in Antigua, Guatemala in Dec 2019 and it was an amazing experience! The city was easily navigable, the classes were so helpful in preparing us to be ESL teachers, and the school even provided activities such as salsa dancing and cooking classes after hours that added some fun! I highly recommend this program to anyone looking to teach ESL. I have been teaching for a year now and using the game ideas, grammar knowledge, and class structures that I learned here. There is even housing options if needed with host families.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
While there, I got food poisoning and actually ended up in the hospital, but the school sent a representative to me (even though I was an hour away) and they stayed with me till I was better!
94 people found this review helpful.
Default avatar
Brendan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Maximo Nivel in Guatemala - great decision!

In March 2020 (just before Coronavirus) I completed a hybrid TEFL cerfication program with Maximo Nivel in Antigua. I did half of the work and requirements on line at my convenience before going to Antigua to do two weeks of onsite work, joing a small group (5) of classmates. There, we all had the great opportunity to work under the tutelage of Karen "Boss" Wilkes and teach real life students who were enrolled in Maximo Nivel to learn English. The program is solid on many levels. - It is comprehensive, well structured. It is fun, supportive, and professional. Happy with my choice and that is only in part because being in Antigua for a month was awesome!

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
Hey it's not not terrifying to get up in front of students for the first time BUT you are supported, you are made (thankfully) to do it several times, and the students themselves are a joy!
92 people found this review helpful.

Questions & Answers

I'm in the states right now....but looking forward to heading to Cambodia to teach at a school there. I was teaching for Oxford Language in Guatemala since 2 weeks after my certification.