Staff Interview with Ken Jones

Today on GoAbroad we bring you an interview with Ken. Our interview today jumps into some of the new and exciting developments at Maximo Nivel. See why going abroad with this dynamic organization could be the perfect fit for you!

Tell us a bit about yourself and how you came to start Maximo Nivel.

Giovanna and I had the idea for Maximo in late 2002. We were living in Cusco, Peru at the time—she was studying English and I was studying Spanish. Before moving to Peru, I had been teaching English as a side job for about four years, so I had a pretty strong base as an ESL teacher. Like most people who start an organization or create something, we just thought we could do it better. We saw a need in Peru for native English teachers, small classes, and really good client service—so that’s what we set out to do.

When we opened Maximo in February 2003, we really focused on offering something better and something different, and our reputation grew. From there, we began to build on the idea of creating an “intercultural center.” We felt we could bring something better to the whole idea of study abroad.

The concept of an “intercultural center” has worked really well. English – Spanish – Volunteering – TEFL/TESOL Certification – We bring people together who are able to learn from each other, not only on a language level, but a personal level as well. The combination can really be amazing.

Maximo Nivel offers a variety of language, volunteer, and internship programs in Peru, Costa Rica, and Guatemala. What makes it possible for the organization to offer so many options?

We have different kinds of study abroad programs that complement each other. So people who come to Maximo can get involved and make a difference in lots of ways, not just one or two.

It’s also the wide range of skills and experience we have on our team. For example, I’ve studied abroad; I’ve lived and traveled in Europe, in Asia and in Africa; and I was an ESL teacher… But most of the time, I feel like I’m the least traveled and least experienced on our team! The Maximo crew is very international—we’re all lovers of language, culture, food, and travel. We’re all avid teachers, students, and helpers at heart; and we’ve all set out to truly be global citizens. When you bring that kind of passion and experience together—really cool things happen! And it means we have the know-how to create and organize various kinds of programs.

What else sets us apart? We’re a local organization in each country (Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Peru). We employ primarily local teams, and the rest of us live here locally. We’ve all left our home countries to be in Latin America and to make our lives, families, and careers here. We’re the real deal in terms of feet-on-the-street, gave-it-all-up to come live and work in another country.

We’re passionate, we’re knowledgeable, and we’re actually residents and citizens! We love sharing that part of ourselves and working to make a difference.

2013 marks the 10th anniversary of Maximo Nivel (congrats!) What are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen and what do you look forward to 10 years from now?

Thanks! We’re very excited about the next 10 years.

Study abroad has really grown as a viable option for more and more people. More university students are studying abroad, more high schools are adding study abroad as part of their curriculums, and older people are also making the jump. Our program participants are simultaneously younger and older every year now.

Volunteering and service learning have really become a large part of what people are looking to do. People are more involved and they want to help others who are less fortunate. People are looking for legitimate international experiences and they want to learn and to be part of an effort.

In terms of the future… Internally, we talk a lot about continuously improving the experience we offer and continuously improving the impact we bring. We’re moving forward with new local and international partners to increase the variety of study abroad options we offer. We’re also excited about things like online learning and increased fund raising for volunteer projects.

What advice would you give to a student interested in learning/teaching a new language abroad?

In terms of learning a new language abroad… Make it a priority. Do it for as long as you can and/or as frequently as you can. Come live abroad if possible. Choose a language that you’re passionate about. If you’re doing it for career reasons, choose an in-demand language—Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, etc. Go beyond your language school and remember to move beyond the tourist level of whatever country you’re in. Get local roommates live with a local family, date, fall in love—these things makes all the difference in the world.

With respect to teaching [English] abroad… First, get certified. No matter how strong your educational background is, a TEFL, TESOL, or CELTA certification helps. Then, when you get the teaching job you’re looking for, treat it professionally. Treat it like a job and a career move. The institute you’re working for and your learners are counting on you. Teaching abroad is a resume/CV builder, so make sure you look at it that way.

What kind of program duration options do you have?

We have all options. It’s very flexible. People join us for a week and people join us for a year! Most join us for 1 to 6 months.

What is Maximo Nivel’s most popular program location?

Overall, Costa Rica and Peru are equally popular. Guatemala is somewhat smaller, but that’s because it’s a younger program. Our goal is to help people find what is right for them, so they get the experience they’re looking for.

What do you think is the most enriching thing about meaningful travel?

It opens doors and it opens minds—it makes you part of the wider, international [global] community.

It helps you learn about yourself! From one, simple conversation with a Guatemalan woman, a coffee farmer in Costa Rica, or a Spanish teacher in Peru, you find yourself recognizing what is new, different or just plain beautiful. It can really help you appreciate your home country, and give you more perspective to be happy and successful anywhere you go.

The 2012 Open Doors Report noted that international education exchanges are at an all-time high. Do you see this continuing to increase? How has Maximo Nivel’s model adapted with this change?

Yes—no doubt. Not only are more people of all ages studying and volunteering internationally, but we’re also seeing more program participants from Asian and Middle Eastern countries. 

Maximo really embraces the idea of offering a full service “home base” in each country, so we’ve invested a lot in our facilities and in our staff. Things like bi-lingual and tri-lingual team members, high-speed internet, computer lounges, open 7 days/week, comfortable common areas, and 24/7 support have been very important and increasingly so.

Our program leadership has also developed, so for example we now have a team of Field Managers who work with our volunteers and create and manage service learning projects; we also employ a medical doctor in each country to help lead medical groups and our health projects; and we have on-staff construction foremen that lead our volunteer construction teams.

We’ve also tweaked things like our accommodation choices and our program and safety orientations. We plan to expand the study abroad programs we offer, and we want to make sure our programs remain low priced and accessible.

Anything new and exciting happening at Maximo Nivel we should all know about?!

We’re always looking for ways to help people create 'the perfect experience.'

What we’re doing now is expanding our study abroad programs to provide short courses, professional certifications, and skill-building options that pair easily with Spanish immersion. Things like SCUBA, Yoga, Sustainable Development, Social Enterprise Development, and other programs in conjunction with local universities and schools.  We’re also developing an international business boot camp, which is a “bridge program” to help prepare students for graduate school or their first job.

What’s your favorite travel quote?

Well… it’s not really a travel quote, but it’s how I think of traveling….“Just do it!”

I asked our team the same question, and here’s their favorite: “The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” Marcel Proust

Thanks for chatting with GoAbroad, Ken! Explore all of Maximo Nivel’s programs on GoAbroad today! Do you have more questions about Maximo Nivel? Share your questions and thoughts below in the comments!