TEFL Courses & Certification in Central America

I came to Máximo Nivel excited to improve my Spanish and earn my TEFL certification. I hoped it would be a rewarding opportunity to learn and meet people from different backgrounds. Instead, parts of my experience left me feeling unwelcome, overlooked, and disappointed. I’m Filipino, and English isn’t my first language. BUT I’ve also lived and worked in several international settings: I worked in South Korea, studied in Singapore, worked in Switzerland, Oman and spent nearly ten years as a First Class flight attendant in Dubai- UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, and am now Canadian citizen. I’m familiar with multicultural environments, so I was especially troubled by how uncomfortable I sometimes felt at a school that promotes cultural exchange. My experience at the International Office: I often felt uncomfortable approaching Maia for help. When I tried to talk about difficulties I was having, I felt judged rather than supported, and her manner came across to me as cold and dismissive. I also noticed what seemed like a change in her demeanor when a white person entered the office while she was helping me. She appeared warmer and more accommodating. I can’t know what she intended, and I can only speak to my own experience, but the contrast left me wondering whether my ethnicity affected how I was treated. My interactions with Reese, also working at the international office, also left me feeling uneasy. Over time, I found myself hesitating to approach the International Office, even though supporting international students is its purpose. I’ve also encountered people (especially Americans) who made assumptions about my education or abilities because I had worked in Dubai. Those experiences made it all the more important to me to be treated with respect and without cultural stereotypes. I did have positive experiences with Gabby, the head of the International Office, and Rico, who is from South Africa. Both were welcoming and helpful. Questions about the teaching program: During my TEFL course, our instructor, Sean, asked us to apply for a Máximo Nivel teaching program with opportunities in Costa Rica and Guatemala. I submitted my application before some of my American and British classmates, but I never received a callback or meaningful follow-up. My application stated that I’m Filipino. I can’t know whether my nationality played any part in the outcome, and I understand that applying early doesn’t guarantee selection. Still, given how I had already felt at the school, the lack of communication left me with questions. I wasn’t expecting a guaranteed position. I did expect clear information about the selection process. If passport eligibility, visa rules, or other hiring requirements affect who can participate, I believe those requirements should be explained upfront—especially when an institution invites its students to apply. My Spanish classes: My experience in Tania’s group Spanish class was also disappointing. I was the least proficient speaker in the group, which was exactly why I had enrolled. Instead of feeling encouraged, I often felt overlooked. At times, class started about five minutes late. Tania would sit down, turn the fan toward herself, and sometimes apply face powder during class. I also felt that too much of our four-hour class was spent hearing about her personal life, including her dog, or doing seatwork rather than practicing conversation. I had hoped for structured lessons, patience, and plenty of speaking practice. Instead, I left feeling that the class didn’t give me the support or engagement I needed to learn. The people who made a positive difference Not everyone at Máximo Nivel disappointed me. Sean was a professional and capable TEFL instructor, and Nelly, my private Spanish teacher, was excellent. Gabby and Rico were also approachable and helpful. Their conduct showed me the kind of teaching and support I had hoped to experience throughout the program. Final thoughts: My main disappointment is the gap between the school’s message about international exchange and how I felt during parts of my time there. Students should be able to ask for help without feeling intimidated, and language learners should feel supported rather than embarrassed about where they’re starting. I’m sharing this especially for Filipino and other Asian students considering Máximo Nivel. I can’t speak for anyone else, and others may have a different experience, but I want prospective students to know about mine. I didn’t expect special treatment. I expected courtesy, professional instruction, fair consideration, and respect—regardless of my nationality, appearance, or language level. Being a non-native English speaker doesn’t make someone less educated, experienced, or deserving of respect. For the cost and the expectations I had, my overall experience was deeply disappointing. Based on it, I wouldn’t recommend Máximo Nivel. I hope the school takes concerns about cultural sensitivity, communication, recruitment transparency, teaching quality, and staff professionalism seriously.

I had a great experience in the TEFL program. The workload was manageable and the class was very practical. The teacher Russ was very kind and intelligent. It was a great experience overall, no complaints.

I cannot say enough good things about my experience with Máximo Nivel in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica! I came into this program excited to begin a new chapter in my life, and I’m leaving with so much more than just a TEFL certification. The four-week program is intensive, challenging, and incredibly rewarding. The combination of classroom instruction, lesson planning, observations, and hands-on teaching experience really pushes you to grow and develop your skills. One of the things I appreciated most was how much emphasis the program places on actually applying what you learn. By the end of the course, I felt significantly more confident in my ability to plan and deliver effective English lessons. I especially want to recognize Russ, who is an incredible instructor! His knowledge, experience, and dedication to helping his students succeed really make a difference. He provides constructive, thoughtful feedback that challenges you to improve while also helping you recognize your strengths. It’s clear that he genuinely cares about preparing his students to become successful teachers, and I couldn’t have asked for a better instructor to guide me through this experience. What really stands out to me is how much personal and professional growth I’ve experienced in just four weeks. This program challenged me to step outside my comfort zone, develop new skills, and discover a passion for teaching. If you’re considering earning your TEFL certification, I highly recommend Máximo Nivel. Come prepared to work hard, embrace the experience, and challenge yourself. You’ll walk away with practical teaching experience, valuable knowledge, and memories that will last a lifetime. I’m incredibly grateful for this experience and excited to take everything I’ve learned into the next chapter of my teaching career!

I took the hybrid TEFL course and I can attest that Maximo Nivel’s TEFL trainer Karen is incredible. Right away she makes you feel welcome and integrates you into the work. She is an excellent teacher and is truly there to support you. I couldn’t have asked for a better teacher. Thank you

I had no idea programs like this existed, and I am glad that, after doing research, I found TEFL Pro. They are amazing! They provide everything you will need to learn in videos and activities. They are always there to help if you need it, and you write posts when completing a module. I have already recommended my friends back in California to this program. Most of them are excited or say that it feels "too good to be true," which I thought the same thing until now. TEFL Pro gives you everything you need and will help you even after completing the program. :)

I have found this course useful for making this very daunting transition to teaching English overseas into something less daunting. I feel much more aware of my blind spots walking into a TEFL interview or first job position, and feel like the course provides a solid foundation for lesson planning and classroom management. I look forward to receiving the placement assistance that is offered now that I am at the end. As a working adult with my own business, I found the flexibility to be unmatched by any other product yet still providing the solid foundation I was looking for. Thank you TEFLPros!

My experience with Xplore has been incredible. From the entire staff being supportive in my journey to the practical experiences I learned in my TESOL course, Xplore is most definitely a program I can recommend to anyone that is interested in teaching English abroad.

Teach Explore Asia (XploreAsia) responded to this reviewSeptember 03, 2026

Thank you so much for your wonderful review, Reb! We’re so happy to hear that you had such a positive experience with Xplore and that you found both our team and the practical aspects of your TESOL course so valuable. It was a pleasure supporting you on your journey, and we wish you all the best as you continue your teaching adventure abroad! - Jordayne

Maximo Nivel has been a great organization to work with while taking the TEFL course in Costa Rica. The staff has been helpful from first asking questions, to arrival, and throughout our stay. They have great recommendations for food, recreation, activities and anything you need during your stay. Lewis has been an absolute blast to have as a TEFL instructure. He makes grammer enjoyable and helps the entire class grow in their teaching. Plus, living in Costa Rica for 4 weeks has been phenomenal! Our apartment has been perfect! The onsite pool has been a wonderful stress releiver and the common area is great place to socialise with other folks doing all sorts of Maximo activies and programs. The rainforest, animals, and the beach has been unforgetable.

This TEFL course is simply the best. From how to manage a class to grammar rules to job searching assistance, this course will help you with everything in your teaching journey. What sets this course apart from me is the opportunity to teach actual language learners. They were a pure delight. Plus, your instructor encourages you and challenges you every step of they way. As a twenty five year educator, this TEFL course has reminded of the joy of teaching. I can't recommend this course enough! Go as soon as you can. The hard part will be--you won't want to leave Costa Rica!

I did the TEFL class from 22 June - 19 July 2026. I found this program through endorsement by Ramsey Solutions. Something I didn't know is Costa Rica is the most expensive country option: your money will go further in other sites. My instructor was highly qualified and taught the course exactly how we are expected to teach. It crams a semester's worth of information into 4 weeks, including 2 6-page papers. If you come prepared to work and not vacation, this is an excellent option. I'm not sure what the job placement guarantee is, since I want to teach online, and was told it takes several months to build up to a full schedule. Something I wish I knew: there is no air conditioning if you stay with a host family. However, it's an extremely valuable opportunity to improve your Spanish if that's something you want to do.

I really enjoyed this TEFL course. The instructor was very funny, knowledgeable, and created a positive learning environment. The lessons were well organized and included a great balance of theory and hands-on teaching practice, which helped me feel more confident in the classroom. I especially appreciated the practical activities, lesson planning, and opportunities to observe and teach real students. This course gave me valuable skills that I can use in my future teaching career. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in teaching English abroad or working with English language learners.

Getting TEFL certified with Maximo Nivel was amazing. The instructor Lewis was amazing in every aspect. Whether it was giving feedback to better myself, or engagingly teaching grammar, this is an experience I am extremely glad to have done.

This self-paced course was well organized, easy to navigate, and broken into manageable lessons. The classroom videos were particularly helpful, providing beginners with realistic examples of effective ESOL instruction. The practicum was an invaluable opportunity to put the concepts into practice, reinforcing everything covered throughout the course. Overall, the training was comprehensive and equipped me with the knowledge and confidence to handle a wide range of situations in the classroom.

I did the hybrid TEFL course in June 2026 in Antigua Guatemela. My first two weeks were self paced online and the second two were in person. It was located in the beautiful city of Antigua with create culture and food, I really enjoyed living here. My instructor was Lewis Murphy, he was very English: lots of energy and very experienced and knowledge. There were 4 other onsite students and I joined half way through their 4 weeks in person. I am graduating today and very happy I did this course!

My expectations have definitely changed, although I’m not quite sure I have a solid set of expectations now. TEFL has really taught me to be prepared for anything and everything, and for that reason I think I’m having trouble setting expectations for the rest of the course. What I can say is that my expectations regarding how I’d be teaching have changed drastically. I’ve always relied on my explanations and speaking skills to teach, so having that taken away and replaced with eliciting and CCQing was quite a challenging task. Though, as said in the faithful TEFL certification manual, the best teaching method is eclectic, which in my terms means : trick question, there isn’t one. Every student, every classroom, and every situation will differ, and that will require multiple different methods in different moments. After being “TEFLed” myself, I really started to understand how and why the method works. A standout moment in this realization was when our instructor, Lewis, taught us a TEFL class as if we were native speaking students. He did this by teaching it entirely in German. I speak English and French, and I’ve learned Spanish, but without that one simple hour I don’t think I’d ever truly comprehend how it feels to be a student in a TEFL class. As you can imagine, it was very confusing and overwhelming at first, but with good elicits and CCQs, I actually felt like I was beginning to understand in a language that had absolutely no meaning in my brain. It was incredible, and since then I’ve been holding on to the compassion I felt in that mock class. So yes, my expectations have changed, but I think it’s fair to say that change is purely positive

Lewis Murphy was my TEFL teacher in Antigua and it was really awesome. I never even knew what TEFL was and I had so much fun with my friends and I will teach in honour of Lewis he isn’t dead but he is leaving Maximo so RIP

When I arrived at the airport, I was feeling a little overwhelmed and uncertain. Moving to a new country and joining a program like this was a big step, and I had all kinds of questions running through my mind: Would someone be there to pick me up? Was everything really going to work out as planned? Thankfully, the shuttle arrived right on time, and the staff made the transition to our hostel feel seamless and welcoming. From that point on, the experience became the adventure of a lifetime. Our instructor, Nikki, brought incredible energy and enthusiasm to every lesson, making the coursework engaging and enjoyable. One of the most valuable aspects of the program was the opportunity to gain real classroom experience. Being able to apply what we were learning in an authentic setting helped build my confidence and better prepare me for teaching. The program also provided a great balance between learning and exploration. We participated in several excursions that felt like fun field trips, allowing us to experience more of Costa Rica while building connections with our classmates. What stood out most was how supportive and knowledgeable the staff were throughout the entire process. They even helped me navigate my journey from San Ramón to my teaching placement in Guanacaste after the program ended. Their support didn't stop there—they have continued to check in and make sure I am adjusting well to my new school, and I feel comfortable reaching out whenever I have questions or concerns. I have truly enjoyed the teaching position they helped me secure and am grateful for the opportunities this program has provided. Overall, I found the experience to be well worth the investment, and I would highly recommend it to anyone considering teaching abroad.

I spent an amazing month in Quepos with Maximo Nivel completing the TEFL course. The TEFL course moves at a fast pace and is packed with great content. The instructor, Lewis Murphy, brings his energy and enthusiasm to each class making the experience fun and enjoyable. I highly recommend this intense course for anyone seeking to get TEFL certified.

My TEFL month was fast paced, intellectually challenging, profound, practice, and truly enjoyable. As a solo female traveler, I always had peace of mind having the support of the Maximo staff, my host family, and my TEFL group. The climate, access to incredible beaches and national parks, and the small town charm of Quepos and Manuel Antonio made this experience a 10/10!

I ordered a Hard Copy certificate and it took longer than expected to get sent out. I could not get through to anyone on the phone or by email, which I am putting down to COVID Lockdown and the office being closed. As soon as I used the Chat, Kate was very helpful and told me the status of my order straight away. I have given 4 stars purely because contacting them by phone and email was so hard, but the chat feature is excellent, so try that first if you need help.