Study Spanish on the Beach in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

The staff was very nice and helped me a lot to feel comfortable and to get to know the area. The teacher was really good and the lessons helped me improve my Spanish very quickly. Although I only took three weeks of classes, I felt like it was a very rewarding experience. First, I had one to one lessons, but later, anoter student joined us and the three of us talked a lot, which was really important for me. The service of Maximo was amazing, the Wifi was very good, I got coffee and water for free and I met a lot of amazing, nice people, which was really helpful considering I did not know anyone when I arrived. Also, I loved the extracurricular activities like cooking classes! I wished I could have continued taking classes, but for a longer period of time, I could not afford the costs. Nevertheless, I had an amazing experience with Maximo.

We have attended Maximo Nivel Costa Rica in Manuel Antonio this summer and last.
Last summer we took private lessons which were great! My two kids were in class together ages 7 and 11. We attended 4 hours a day for two weeks. They learned so much!
This summer my daughter begged to go back. She’s 8 years old and since we had a shorter stay she attended 2 hours per day for a week she in private lessons.
In comparison to Spanish class in the US she learned about a semester of knowledge in 3 weeks combined.
The teachers are all really great and we learned so much Spanish especially the conversational piece.
We took our own supplies with us such as pencils, pens, highlighters and notebooks. The school gas snacks available for purchase and the provide tea and coffee complimentary.

I arrived at Maximo Nivel intending to improve my Spanish, but I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I was so happy to find that there is so much more going on than I had anticipated. I found myself a part of a beautiful and unique community that was made up of the staff, volunteers, and students in the program. I made close relationships and countless memories. The Spanish classes exceeded my expectations, and I improved so much!! I even was starting to get the hang of Salsa dancing by the end of it. I chose to spend, a more than conventional, four months with Maximo Nivel, and honestly every second was worth it. I would travel outside the city some weekends or take advantage of really cool stuff happening in San Jose. By the end of my experience, I was leaving three families. My host family, who genuinely are like parents to me. My Maximo family, all of the awesome people who I would say hi to every day and get support from often (including great teachers). And finally, the weird mixed up group of people I met along the way from air force groups to people on gap years like me to the Costarican friends I am going to miss so much. I will never forget my time in Costa Rica, and what it has done for me, I owe a lot of that to this great program.

If you are really serious about learning Spanish, complete immersion is undoubtably the way to go. When you stay with a host family that speaks no English you have little choice but to try. It may be daunting at first, but whomever you speak to will generally offer encouragement and will complement you on your Spanish, even though you might think it's not very good. Finding your way around by riding the San Jose bus routes is an adventure in itself, and if you get lost you can always find a taxi to take you back home.

Seeing how other cultures live and how they've learned to adapt to problems unique to them gives you an appreciation of their solutions and broadens your mind as to their uniqueness. I can't speak about other Latin American cultures, but I can say that Ticos are some of the most welcoming people I've ever met.

You will be overawed by Costa Rica's countryside. From beaches to wildlife to active volcanoes, get ready to be wowed by the sights of Poaz, Arenal, and other volcanoes. The beach and jungle wild life in Manuel Antonio is not to be missed.

This was the third Spanish immersion program I have done. The program through Maximo Nivel in Costa Rica was the best. An evaluation test is conducted prior to the start of classes to ensure students are placed with peers of a similar level of proficiency. You are able to learn at at an accelerated rate because of the small classes and intimate attention from instructors. I was in a class with only one other students which meant that classes were specifically tailored to my needs and abilities. The program focuses on the application of proper grammar in conversation, but instructors are open to unrelated questions. Many times I would ask a random question about vocabulary or about a particular phrase and the instructor was happy and willing to pause the lesson in order to answer. In this way, I was able to expand my vocabulary everyday. Lessons are conducted in Spanish, but the instructors are fluent in English. I learned more Spanish in four weeks, than I did over the course of four semesters in the United States. An immersion program is the best way to learn a language.

GREAT EXPERIENCE ......... I have been to many spanish immersion classes and this school has a lot to offer. The teachers are very professional and well prepared. The staff is very friendly and always available to offer support and answer questions. The school environment is very positive and upbeat. Everyone at the front desk was always friendly and had a smile. Overall it was a great experience. Also the locatioin in San Jose is excellent, very close to many ameneties: restaruants, shopping, bars, cafes: you can walk everywhere. I stayed in an apartment which was a good fit for me, but others told me that the homestay program was a good experience. Thank you Maximo Nivel.

Muchas gracias por todo Maximo Nivel, lo pase muy bien.. Voy a regresar.

I came to Maximo Nivel to take Spanish classes. I took classes for a full month, 6 hours a day. I took a more intensive schedule than most students who come to Maximo Nivel choose to do, but it was worth it. I really appreciated how personalized the course was. There were only two students in my classes, so the course was 100% personalized. Outside of class I was staying with a host family, so I was speaking Spanish most of the day. This is really the best way to learn. I am going home from this program speaking Spanish much more fluently and correctly than I did when I showed up only a month ago. Outside of classes, Maximo Nivel made sure my experience was comfortable in everyway. The staff were ready to help with any and every question I had. I also really enjoyed getting to know the other students here as well.

I was nervous to take some Spanish classes abroad, since I was going to be traveling by myself. After doing some reserach on Spanish immersion programs in Central America, I found Maximo Nivel. My University has a study abroad program in collaboration with Maximo Nivel, so I knew that if my University found value in sending students here, I would too. Maximo is great for students and professionals because through this institution, they arrange so much for you. I was so happy that through Maximo I found a host family that was amazing. My living conditions were great and I got to practice my Spanish in the household. Maximo is also right next to a travel agency, so it is very convinient to book trips or learn more about the different places in Costa Rica.

As far as my expereince in the classroom, I am beyond happy with how much my Spanish has improved. The class sizes are small, and depending on what time of year you travel, you may be the only one. I was with one other student for a majroity of my time here, but I ended up taking one week of solo lessons. The teaching staff here is expceptional. All of the educators are dedicated and extremely friendly. The class is modeled after a conversational style of learning, which is extremely helpful for learning everyday phrases, and holding your attention for a long period of time. I personally took 4 hour lessons each day, and I highly recommend this amount of instruction for anyone looking to vastly improve their Spanish.

The only downside to my expereince was that, at times, I was the only one in my class or host family. I think this was because I came here towards the end of summer. There were many families that traveled together, and they all seemed to have a great expereince. If you are looking for a solo adventure, this is a great institution to come to, as the staff is super friendly and there are a few outside activites they plan for free.

Overall, I am very greatful for my expereince here at Maximo, and although it can seem daunting to travel alone, I recommened this program to anyone interested!