TEFL Certification - 4 weeks (150 hours)

Maximo Nivel - Manuel Antonio

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Course description

The TEFL/TESOL Certification course certifies native English speakers or people with an Advanced level of English (C2) to teach English as a Second Language (ESL) anywhere in the world. Our TEFL/TESOL Certification program is a practical and thorough introduction to Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL). It is designed for those who have no previous teaching experience, but is also valuable for more experienced teachers who desire an internationally recognized teaching method and certification.

During the 4-week, 150-hour course, you become familiar with the principles of successful ESL teaching and develop the practical skills needed to teach English effectively in foreign countries. This includes components of grammar, lesson planning, class management, assessment techniques, and more. The training program includes 7-8 hours/day of classroom instruction and in-class presentations, 20-30 hours of required reading and focused written assignments, and 15+ hours of observation and practical teaching.

You deliver lessons both to your peer group in the TEFL/TESOL class and to non-English speaking classes and individuals. TEFL instructors supervise and evaluate teaching practice. Feedback is provided continuously to help participants increase their self-awareness and improve their teaching techniques.

Máximo Nivel TEFL certification courses are internationally accredited and are recognized worldwide by language schools, institutes, and universities. Included in the program you'll receive lifetime job-finding assistance, which includes:

- Resume/CV workshop and feedback
- Letter of reference following the program
- TEFL Trainers are on-resume references
- Ongoing references for future jobs
- Help assessing employment contracts
- Job contacts throughout Latin America and other countries
- ESL job websites

We also hire directly from our graduates, typically 3-5 native English-speaking TEFLers every month in Peru and 1-3 teachers every month in both Costa Rica, Peru, and Guatemala.

Class schedule

Course duration
4 weeks
Start dates
25 Nov 2024, 20 Jan 2025, 17 Feb 2025, 19 Mar 2025, 21 Apr 2025, 19 May 2025, 18 Jun 2025, 21 Jul 2025, 20 Aug 2025, 22 Sep 2025, 22 Oct 2025 and 24 Nov 2025
Classes per week
20 lessons per week (each lesson lasts 60 min)
Class days
Monday - Friday
School holidays
25 Dec 2024, 01 Jan 2025, 25 Dec 2025, 01 Jan 2026

Maximo Nivel does not hold classes on the holiday dates above. The school does not compensate for these holidays, so make sure to choose your start date accordingly.

Class times

Morning session
09:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Afternoon session
01:00 PM - 04:00 PM
Afternoon session
01:00 PM - 05:00 PM

Class schedule may change depending on availability and season.

Class level

Advanced
You will take a placement test on your first day to determine your class level.

Class size

Average 5 students
Maximum 9 students

Student age

Age range 18 years old and older

Certificate

A certificate of completion will be issued at the end of the course.
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Photos

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  • Entrance to Maximo Nivel - Manuel Antonio 14/34
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reviews

Reviews

100% recommend

based on 3 reviews
5 stars
3
4 stars
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3 stars
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1 star
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Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Housing

"Absolutely amazing"

Pascale Emmisberger, student from Switzerland

I LOVED my stay at Maximo Nivel language school. I had the private apartment, which was the right choice for me. The school was excellent. The teachers have a lot of experience. They are talking nice and slowly, so it's easy to understand them and they are also very good at explained words that are unfamiliar in Spanish, so that in the end you understand them. I had at first 4 hours with another student and then 2 more private lessons. The classes are with as little students as possible and they really focus on the talking. You are going to talk a lot and therefore learn also a lot. Usually we would do some grammar and then practice the newly learned grammar while talking. It is very interactive. I am excited about how much I learned in 4 weeks and can not wait to use Spanish and talk to people.

The campus is also really nice. There is a microwave to heat up food or there are also other restaurants nearby to go and eat lunch. From most of the classrooms you have a view over the jungle at the sea.

On my first day, Noily welcomed me and I felt good immediately. She is great and takes care of the campus but also the students.

A big "Thank You" to Francis, Marianela, Noily, Wendy, Valeria and Karen for taking such great care of me. If I ever need another Spanish course to brush up my knowledge, I will definitely return.

Only thing that could be improved are the social activities. They offer salsa lessons and also a cooking class at school. Also in the evenings they offer to go to bars and have reduced entrance fees for example. However, the school's campus has a really nice outside terrace, which in my opinion has so much potential. There could be more activities offered for instance movie night or BBQ on the beautiful outside terrace, board games evenings or a Spanish book club. But this is truly the only remark I can find.

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Housing
Duration of study
3 weeks
Date of study
17 Apr 2023 - 12 May 2023
Would you recommend this school?
Yes
This is a verified review. This student has booked a course at this school through Language International.
Valy, Program Advisor at Maximo Nivel - Manuel Antonio responded to this review.
21 November 2023

Thank you for your kind words! We are so glad that you had a positive experience with your classes and that you felt the support from our team. We hope to see you again soon!

"It was much fun to improve our Spanish skills. :)"

Janine Hundertmark, student from Germany

We had a private class because of our level so the teacher had the chance to concentrate on our needs. We really improved our language skills from typical holiday sentences to understanding the most of what is said to us. We are able to communicate- of course it is just a basic talk at the moment - but it feels like it will become better by practicing. The location and the view of the school is more than awesome!
The housing was typical and it was cool to live in a real tico family. The only thing what was not the best was the location of the host family because you really had to take a bus or taxi to get to school from there. There was no opportunity to walk from your house to school.
All in all we had a really great time at COSI! :)

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Housing
Duration of study
2 weeks
Date of study
9 Sep 2019 - 27 Sep 2019
Would you recommend this school?
Yes
This is a verified review. This student has booked a course at this school through Language International.
Marta, Program Advisor at Maximo Nivel - Manuel Antonio responded to this review.
10 October 2019

Thank you for your kind words Jamie! We are so glad that you had a positive experience with your classes and that you enjoyed the immersion aspect of staying with a host family. We hope to see you again soon!

"COSI-Maimo Nivel is the epitome of professional services, excellent teachers, and caring people."

Cynthia Turner

My experience at COSI-Maximo Nivel was incredibly positive. I cannot find one negative thing to say. The teacher was the best I've ever had in four years of studying spanish. The location in Manual Antonio, Costa Rica is fabulous with friendly, helpful, truly wonderful people and then, there is the beauty. The rainforest is glorious, the ocean magical and the rain is divine. It is the only place I've ever traveled that I drank tap water. The school is located on a mountain with fabulous views of the forest and the ocean, and just minutes away from the most amazing beaches. The extra, adventurous activities like zip-lining, snorkeling, white water river rafting, and hiking were all offered by professional companies with the best guides and sanctioned by the school. The host families were accommodating and gracious. It can't get any better than that!

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Housing
Duration of study
1 week
Date of study
16 Jun 2014 - 27 Jun 2014
Would you recommend this school?
Yes
Marta, Program Advisor at Maximo Nivel - Manuel Antonio responded to this review.
10 October 2019

We are so glad you enjoyed your time in Manuel Antonio and that you took advantage of all the amazing activities available outside of class time! We take pride in our school and our teachers and hope to see you again soon :)

housing

Housing

Maximo Nivel offers the following housing types:
homestay

Homestay - Single-person room - Breakfast and dinner

NZ$ 404
weekly
Age range: 16 years old and older
Location: In the city center of Manuel Antonio
Housing type: Homestay
Room type: Single-person room
Board type: Breakfast and dinner (14 meals per week)
Facilities: Wireless internet
Distance to school: 5 - 35 minutes by bus
Availability: January - December
Check-in: Sunday, anytime
Check-out: Saturday, anytime
NZ$ 404
Family-stays are all with pre-approved families and include breakfast and dinner Monday through Sunday. All of our host families are middle-class and live in homes and areas that are attractive. Most family-stays include a shared room and shared bath. Many of the families have been hosting international travelers for years. Guests are given a key to the house and are free to come and go as they please, but they must respect the routine and rules of the family.
student-residence

Student residence (off-campus) - Single-person room - Breakfast and dinner

NZ$ 584
weekly
Age range: 18 - 26 years old
Location: In the city center of Manuel Antonio
Housing type: Student residence (off-campus)
Room type: Single-person room
Board type: Breakfast and dinner (14 meals per week)
Facilities: Wireless internet
Distance to school: 5 - 25 minutes by bus
Availability: January - December
Check-in: Sunday, anytime
Check-out: Saturday, anytime
NZ$ 584
Student residences are similar to a family-stay, as they are still houses managed by a family living in the residence, in charge of catering the meals daily. however, they are larger and offer accommodations with a larger group of participants from 10 to 40 people between the ages of 18 to 26 years old, to create a "university dormitory" style experience. Families are less involved with the students who stay in these big houses. Both private and shared rooms are available as are private and shared bathrooms. Student residences include breakfast and dinner 7 days/week. Guests are given a key to the residence and are free to come and go as they please, but they must respect the routine and rules of the residence.
apartment

Private apartment - Single-person room - No meals

NZ$ 357
weekly
Age range: 18 years old and older
Location: In the city center of Manuel Antonio
Housing type: Private apartment
Room type: Single-person room
Board type: No meals
Facilities: Private bathroom, kitchen, wireless internet, and air conditioning
Distance to school: 5 - 15 minutes by walk
Availability: January - December
Check-in: Sunday, anytime
Check-out: Saturday, anytime
NZ$ 357
Apartments are comfortable, fully furnished and with equipped kitchens. They're all centrally located within easy walking distance or a short bus/taxi ride to the Institute.
hotel

Hostel - Single-person room - Breakfast

NZ$ 620
weekly
Age range: 18 years old and older
Location: In the city center of Manuel Antonio
Housing type: Hostel
Room type: Single-person room
Board type: Breakfast (7 meals per week)
Facilities: Kitchen, computers, wireless internet, and free internet
Distance to school: 5 - 15 minutes by walk
Availability: January - December
Check-in: Sunday, anytime
Check-out: Saturday, anytime
NZ$ 620
Hostels are a good option if you want to save money while still remaining 100% independent. All hostels are clean and safe with excellent service and amenities including WiFi and TV rooms. All hostels are within a 5-15 minute walk from Maximo Nivel. Hostels are clean and safe, but basic accommodations. Shared bathrooms are standard for all room types in hostels.

3-star hotel - Single-person room - Breakfast

NZ$ 988
weekly
Age range: 18 years old and older
Location: In the city center of Manuel Antonio
Housing type: 3-star hotel
Room type: Single-person room
Board type: Breakfast (7 meals per week)
Facilities: Private bathroom, wireless internet, free internet, and air conditioning
Distance to school: 5 - 10 minutes by walk
Availability: January - December
Check-in: Sunday, anytime
Check-out: Saturday, anytime
NZ$ 988
Maximo Nivel works with very nice, comfortable 3-star hotels. Hotel accommodations include private room with private bath, and breakfast. Hotels are a more expensive option, but provide you with the highest comfort and the most privacy. All hotels are within a 5-15 minute walk from Maximo Nivel.
visa

Visa support

We cannot apply for visas on behalf of students. However, the school can supply you with all the documentation you need to support your visa application.

Your letter of acceptance will be sent to your home address by regular mail at no charge to you.

Flights and airport transfer

Please note that we do not book flights for our students. If you are researching airfare costs, we recommend using Kayak.com, a search engine that lets you compare flight options from your home country to Manuel Antonio based on your budget, schedule and preferences.

Travel insurance

Study abroad worry-free with Language International's health and personal effects insurance coverage. When you book a course with us, you can opt to purchase an international insurance plan that covers not only your health care cost but also loss of your personal belongings. You must book your insurance in advance when you register.

Learn more about our insurance plan »

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questions

Questions and answers

Have questions? Get answers from Maximo Nivel - Manuel Antonio staff, Language International student advisors, and past students.

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