Info:

School: Máximo Nivel
Location: La Antigua, Guatemala
Course: TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language)
Dates: January 20, 2014 – February 14, 2014

Background:

I had already taught internationally before doing the TEFL course, most notable in South Korea and Mexico.  So, why take the course?  Surely my experience would be enough to get me a teaching job somewhere in the world, right?   Well, yeah… it probably would, but that wasn’t the point.  I wanted to do something different, to become a better teacher, and to open even more doors for future travel, specifically in Europe where some sort of teaching certificate is normally desired for TEFL employment.

The Course:

The course was, as advertised, pretty intense.  Without wanting to give away too many specifics, classes were jam-packed with lots of information, and homework included a variety of readings, observations, write-ups, paper writing, and lesson planning.  But above all else, this course was great because it had us up in front of students almost immediately practicing our craft with real ESL students.

The TEFL Trainer and Staff:

Suzanne, our TEFL trainer, was without-a-doubt the reason that this class was fun and not a bore.  She is professional, experienced, and super fun.  I hate to ruin one of her surprises, but the marshmallow fight we had after a particularly exhausting few days reviewing grammar really set the tone for the course.  She always made herself available, and her feedback was very honest and helpful.

The teachers at Máximo were also amazing.  We got to observe them regularly as part of the course and aside from being incredible teachers, they always went out of their way to answer any questions we had, explain curriculum,  or just have a bit of a chat.

And I cannot forget Nancy, the client service manager.  She and the entire international team were super helpful with regards to pretty much everything from orientation, questions about housing, printing homework, looking for places to go around town, etc…

The Location:

La Antigua, Guatemala really is a stunning place.  Its colonial architecture, cobblestone streets, plazas, churches, fountains, mountains and erupting volcanoes make it one of the more beautiful places to study that I have ever been to.  A big highlight for me included being able to see the volcano El Fuego erupting while sitting in my chair during class.

Opportunities:

TEFL is attractive for its ability to open international teaching opportunities, and taking the course through Máximo Nivel has the added advantage of possibly being able to work with Máximo in Peru, Costa Rica, or Guatemala.  They are always looking for good teachers, and prefer hiring TEFL certified teachers, especially those who do the course through Máximo ; ) In fact, I am now working with them as a field manager in the international department in Cusco, Peru and I couldn’t be happier!

Overall Grade: A

Without question, this course was a fantastic way to pass 4 weeks.  I met lots of great people, learned tons of new and effective teaching techniques which I can use in other areas of my life including my own language studies, and I did it all in an especially beautiful area of the world.

So what are you waiting for?