4-Week TEFL Course in Antigua, Guatemala

Once you’ve enrolled and paid your deposit, we’ll notify Maximo Nivel, who will review your application before confirming your place.

(If for any reason we or they can’t offer you a place, your deposit will be fully refunded.)

You’ll stay in regular contact with both the School of TEFL team and Maximo Nivel in the lead-up to the course. You’ll get guidance on visas and documentation, help with arranging your accommodation, and support with any questions you have.

The remaining course fee is paid directly to Maximo Nivel around 60 days before the course starts – though if you enrol later, that’s no problem.

You’ll be met on arrival (either at the airport or bus station) and taken to your accommodation. Then it’s straight into the course – your trainer will meet you on the first morning to get things started.

Theory
During the 4 weeks of the course you’ll gain a solid foundation in the principles of successful English language teaching. You’ll have input sessions for 7-8 hours a day, Monday to Friday. The typical schedule is: Class from 9am-1pm, lunch break from 1pm-2pm, class from 2pm-4/5pm. These sessions cover a range of topics: You’ll learn about the language itself, teaching skills and techniques, classroom management strategies and much more, giving you a strong grasp of the theory behind Teaching English as a Second Language. You’ll also be expected to complete 20-30 hours of required reading.

Practice
Practical teaching is the heart of the TEFL course, and you’ll leave the course with invaluable hands-on experience. You’ll give lessons both to your peer group and to real English learners, observed by your trainer. You’ll start with teaching mini-lessons in the first week and continue throughout the course, building up to taking over a live English class with real, non-native students in week 4, where you’ll teach 60-minute lessons each day. You’ll have plenty of feedback, guidance and coaching from your trainer throughout this process, allowing you to reflect on your teaching, increase your self-awareness and improve your techniques.

In addition to this, there are various short workshops where you’ll be able to practice specific teaching techniques and strategies. You’ll also have the opportunity to observe 6 hours of real classes by experienced teachers. In total, you will have 15 hours of practical teaching and observation during the course.

Coursework and assessment
In addition to the practical component, you’ll be completing coursework and assessments throughout the four weeks. This includes two focused written assignments. You’ll also be assessed on your overall progress and growth as a teacher during the course.

The assessment process is designed to prepare you for real-life teaching scenarios you’ll encounter when you start paid employment.

You can expect to spend some time outside of the classroom on assignments, observations and planning your lessons. Throughout the course you’ll be challenged and encouraged to think creatively and analytically, both during input sessions and with your teaching practice and assignments! By the end of the course, you’ll have the knowledge, skills, and practical experience you need to confidently pursue a career in English language teaching.

There are a number of accommodation options:

Host Family
Most participants stay with a pre-approved Guatemalan family in the Antigua area. Our families live 10-25 minutes walking or by bus from the training centre. You can choose a shared or private room. For shared rooms, you are placed with 1-3 other people of the same gender and age group. Breakfast and dinner are included seven days a week. You’ll have a key to the house and are free to come and go as you please, but you must respect the routine and house rules of the family.

Student Residence (subject to availability)
Student residence rooms are within a 10-minute walk of the training centre. They can be shared or private, with breakfast and dinner included seven days a week. For shared rooms, you are placed with other people of the same gender.

Apartment
Apartments are within a 10-25 minute walk or bus/taxi ride from the training centre. They are private (not shared), fully furnished including linens, towels, kitchen utensils and Wifi. Please note that meals are not included with apartments.

Hostel / Hotel
Hostel and hotel rooms are within a 10-25 minute walk or bus/taxi ride from the training centre. Hotel rooms are private; hostel rooms can be shared or private. For shared rooms, you are placed with other people of the same gender. Please note that breakfast is included with hostel and hotel rooms, but not other meals. Most hostels have a kitchen.

Typical accommodation costs for 4 weeks *
Host family – Shared room: $625
Host family – Private room: $740
Student residence – Shared room: $760
Student residence – Private room: $950
Apartment: $795
Hostel – Shared room: $480
Hostel – Private room: $840
Hotel: $2295

* Prices are representative and may vary slightly.

A bus ride to the training centre will typically cost around $1. Taxis are more expensive. We recommend budgeting about $5 per day for transport.

Whichever accommodation option you choose, you’ll receive detailed instructions on how to get from your accommodation to the training centre!

What can I do with my TEFL certificate from School of TEFL in Guatemala?

The School of TEFL course trains you to teach in Guatemala or anywhere in the world. If you decide to stay in Guatemala, you’ll find high demand for English teachers, partly due to the rapidly growing tourism industry. The low cost of living means that many teachers find they can cover their expenses and enjoy a good quality of life while teaching in Guatemala

Maximo Nivel’s job support includes a specialist job-finding workshop in week 2 of the course, CV preparation, plus guidance on how to connect with language schools and recruitment contacts across Latin America. They also often hire two to three TEFL graduates each month to work at their language institute in Antigua (the same location as your TEFL training centre), depending on performance, availability, and fit.

Where can I teach?

You’ll find job opportunities in Antigua, Xela (Quetzaltenango) and the capital, Guatemala City, in both private language institutes and public schools, working with all age groups. Private institutes hire year-round, whereas public schools follow the school year, recruiting mainly in January and February. You’ll find Guatemalan students keen to learn and relaxed, making it a great country to teach as a newly qualified teacher.

If you decide to leave Guatemala, your TEFL certificate opens up opportunities to teach in dozens of countries worldwide.

Again, the School of TEFL team and the specialist staff at Maximo Nivel will provide you with advice and support. We offer guidance on creating a CV tailored to the Guatemalan job market and support in exploring opportunities with local schools and institutions.