Volunteer Abroad & Spanish Immersion

I live in San Jose half of the year and took advantage of the holiday break to take a two week course to improve speaking Spanish. The staff at Máximo Nivel were very communicative and quick to respond to my queries. I arrived for the classes the first day and although I didn't really need an orientation, I thought the tips they gave the international students were really important tips like "always get in the front seat of an Uber." I took two hours of class per day in the afternoon. The teacher did a very good job at trying to respond to the needs of all the students although our goals were all very different. Besides the book that was provided by Máximo Nivel, the teacher also brought supplementary texts that were very interesting. The small group was really ideal for practicing conversation if you already have a strong grasp of grammar. I noticed a real improvement in confidence in my skills even in the short two weeks that I attended the course. It was a good refresher on the grammar I had years ago and allowed me to practice speaking.

Personalized one-on-one classes when no other students were present at my level. (Class time was halved.)

The Spanish lessons were amazing! Every staff member was so helpful and kind!

The "Maximo Nivel" in San José, Costa Rica, is a lovely school located apart the city centre with great teachers and staff. Since it is a smaller school with a mixture out of national and international students in nearly every age class, the atmosphere is mostly familiar and welcoming. They do include a driving service which will you from the airport to your housing. The staff will probably know your name and will treat you well, have talks with you or invite you to activities which are every Monday (salsa dance training) or Friday in the evening (karaoke night / soccer / etc.). They do also have a Tandem program where you can meet up with native speakers and a travel service agency where it is possible to book tourist activities apart from the school itself with extern organizers.

The lessons were very good and the teachers take care of your personal and individual learning standards and levels to give you the opportunity to progress.

All in all it has been a great experience and an enriching learning process, but since October is in the rain season of Costa Rica there were not as much international students as in the summer season. Therefore, due to the fact I have originally booked the Spanish Immersion Intensive Course, which is meant to have 2 single lessons and 4 group lessons, they could not find other students which have been in my language level (intermedium) but only had students in a basic or advanced language level to build groups with. Instead of that they offered me additional single classes (2 single classes instead of 4 group classes).

If I would have known before that I would solely have single classes, I would have decided for another school since it was not originally the product and program I decided for or for what I had chosen this institute, however it was surely a special situation where they tried to make the best out of the circumstances.

I have not learned Spanish language before coming to Costa Rica, just knowing basic phrases. Because of that, I was placed to have a one hour private lesson instead of two hour group lesson. I really enjoyed learning Spanish with my teacher, Andrea. I can tell she is an experienced teacher because she gave me the lessons according to my needs, not just follow the textbook, as well as making me comfortable to ask questions and speak Spanish. I wish I could continue the lessons with her more.

Because of the private lesson, my class was changed to evening first, then afternoon. I prefer to have a class in the morning as scheduled. I also did not like the placement test that was very intimidated since I did not understand any of it although I understand the school needs to do it.

I attended one of the free activities, Latin Dance lesson. It's fun.

Because of my experience at Maximo Nivel, now I am motivated to keep learning Spanish!

I was supposed to have 4 days in an A1 class. But I was the only one beginning in the Christmas week in elementary class, that’ s why the school gave me private lessons instead and that was great. Last time I tried to learn Spanish was 20 years ago in Malaga. My teacher Lindsay spoke Spanish all the time and that motivated me to try to talk too. She gave me small homeworks and thought me not only in Spanish but told me about Costa Rica’s culture and traditions . She is a very pleasant person. Every time I needed help with some thing, fx booking a trip or printing something etc., I met a smile and en effective action.
The only minus for me was that the school is actually in San Pedro, far away from my condo in the northwest of San Jose. I had to take Uber/ taxi to get there every morning. On the other side I came to see more of San Pedro and this was educational .
Who knows may be I will come back to Máximo Nivel, if I visit Cusco in future. Pura vida

I was happy with the school. I booked my classes last minute but they were still able to work me in. The staff was very friendly and all spoke perfect English. As for my classes, I took one week of private lessons, 6h a day. Definitely gave my Spanish a boost.

Everyone who worked at the school made a sincere effort to help me learn and to feel comfortable during my time in San Jose. I studied hard and long. Perhaps I expected too much out of just one week at the class, but despite all the positives, I do not feel I made sufficient progress to give five stars.

My teacher Ana was AMAZING, I am so grateful - she improved my Spanish so much so quickly. All the staff at Maximo are amazing. Great lessons, a focus on what you want to learn, for me it was conversational Spanish. They even had a lovely courtyard to sit and chat and practice your Spanish or make friends. Thank you!

The school catered to my situation very well. I was extremely satisfied with the quality of teaching and how much I was able to learn in the space of a week.