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EDUCATION

STUDY ABROAD IN LATIN AMERICA

Experience counts in the classroom, and for aspiring teachers, Maximo Nivel’s Education programs are a great way to get professional practice and gain confidence as an educator. Our internship, service learning, and semester abroad programs offer incomparable student-teaching experiences, as well as meaningful intercultural learning that helps prepare teachers for the demands of the modern classroom. Study abroad programs are available for K-12, Special Education, and English as a Second Language.

Participants may schedule programs using the academic calendar or can take advantage of open enrollment internships and service learning programs, which begin every Monday year-round!

Internships place Education majors alongside professional teachers to help university students grow as future educators. You work in primary, secondary, post-secondary, and private institutions and you get real-life experience by teaching and co-teaching classes, providing individual tutoring, and helping to assess student learning. As an intern, you may also get involved with family meetings and community outreach.

Service learning programs give young teachers new perspective on the lack of access to education that is so prevalent in developing countries and the challenges of teaching in this environment. Service learning projects are full-Spanish or bilingual settings and teachers work at schools, community centers, and after school programs.

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Maximo Nivel takes your academic success very seriously. We evaluate each student’s motivation for the program and academic history. This helps to ensure a productive and successful cohort experience.

– At least 18 years of age
– Enrolled in Education, Special Education, or related
– Basic to Advanced Spanish language skills
– Hard working, passionate, creative, and resourceful
– Minimum GPA 2.50

Fields of Study

– Pre-school (Pre-k)
– Elementary (1-5)
– Middle School (6-8)
– High School (9-12)
– Special Education
– English As A Second Language (ESL)

TERM DATES
Summer Term 2026 01 June – 24 July
Summer Term I 01 June – 26 June
Summer Term II 29 June – 24 July
Fall Semester 2026 14 September – 18 December
Fall Term I 14 September – 02 October
Fall Term II 12 October – 30 October
Fall Term III 02 November – 20 November
Fall Term IV 30 November – 18 December
Winter Term 2026-2027 04 January – 15 January
Spring Semester 2027 01 February – 07 May
Spring Term I 01 February – 19 February
Spring Term II 01 March – 19 March
Spring Term III 22 March – 09 April
Spring Term IV 19 April – 07 May
Summer Term 2027 31 May – 23 July
Summer Term I 31 May – 25 June
Summer Term II 28 June – 23 July
FULL ACADEMIC CALENDAR

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Programs Antigua,
Guatemala		 Cusco,
Peru		 San Jose,
Costa Rica		 Manuel Antonio,
Costa Rica
Spring or Fall – Term I
(3 Weeks)		 – $1,995 – –
Spring or Fall – Term II
(3 Weeks)		 – $1,995 – –
Spring or Fall – Term III
(3 Weeks)		 – – – $2,295
Spring or Fall – Term IV
(3 Weeks)		 – – – $2,295
Winter Term
2 Weeks		 – – – $1,795
Summer Term I
4 Weeks		 $1,595 $1,595 $1,995 $2,295
Summer Term II
4 Weeks		 $1,595 $1,595 $1,995 $2,295
Country Jumper
(Spring or Fall)
14 Weeks		 $8,995

*Prices above are representative only. Final tuition costs vary based on itinerary, housing preferences, tours, and transportation.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

Why I Maximo Nivel

I moved to Costa Rica with Maximo Nivel for 4 months never having lived away from my family for that long before and the way the program was structured made me feel comfortable and at home right away in Costa Rica. I am teaching here in San Jose, planning lessons can be challenging and you have to be self motivated to get it done, but being in the classroom with the students is so rewarding. I would definitely recommend the teaching program in San Jose. I find it very rewardng and I love the central location of San Jose which makes it very easy to travel on the weekends.
Claire C.

INTERNATIONAL INTERNSHIPS

K-12, SPECIAL EDUCATION, & ESL

GRADES K-12
Education interns work directly with experienced teachers in English-speaking classrooms at private schools. Interns choose their preferred age group and academic level. As an intern, you assist with classroom instruction and plan and teach your own lessons. While teaching, you receive feedback from your mentor teacher on how to improve your teaching skills. You may also get directly involved with curricula and standards, methods for assessing and measuring students’ needs, as well as family and community interaction.

SPECIAL EDUCATION
Special Education interns work with teaching professionals at private and public schools with programs for children with special needs. As an intern, you work with students with visual, hearing, and physical impairments and developmental disabilities. Through working as a teacher’s aide, conducting your own lessons, working with individual students, and teacher-to-teacher mentoring, you grow as an educator and learn about the special education systems available to students in developing countries.

TEFL TEACHING PRACTICUM
Students begin their internship by completing Maximo Nivel’s 150-hour TEFL Certification program, where you learn skills and methodologies for teaching ESL. Following the TEFL course, you teach full-time for 3 months at the Maximo Nivel institute or at another local ESL placement. As an intern, you work as regular ESL teachers and take part in teacher meetings and in-service training. Note, these unique positions include a monthly stipend.

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International Internships for Education Majors
Service Learning for Education Majors

SERVICE LEARNING

FOR EDUCATION STUDENTS

Speaking English is a life-changing skill for people in developing countries, because it opens both academic and professional opportunities, and it provides a path out of poverty. Service learning projects for Education majors serve underprivileged schools and communities—people who want to learn, but who do not have the financial means to do so.

Maximo Nivel’s service learning projects provide an excellent opportunity for aspiring teachers to hone their teaching skills and help local students improve their English language skills. Service Learning students work in a variety of settings including public schools, community centers, after school programs, shelters for street children, and other educational programs for the poor. Your work varies at these projects, but generally consists of creating lesson plans, teaching classes, one-on-one tutoring, and organizing educational games and activities.

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UNIVERSITY COURSES

SOC 301: Social Justice & Social Responsibility

SOC 301 aims to develop students’ knowledge of social justice issues in Latin America. The course focuses on indigenous rights, women’s empowerment, LGBTQ rights, as well as environmental issues, in the scope of Latin America’s economy, culture, history, religion, and politics. Students select a specific area of social justice and a specific country of focus for their final project. Through completion of the final project, students analyze social justice, development, and sustainability alongside both supportive and conflicting societal variables and interests.

SUS 301 introduces students to the theory, principles, and practices of sustainability using Latin America as a case study for wider global implications. The course includes discussions on maintaining ecological and environmental health, creating economic welfare, applying sustainable business practices, and ensuring social justice. In this course, students identify the key characteristics of human and natural systems as they pertain to sustainability and learn how they interact with one another, identify measurable collective and individual actions, and analyze sustainability from a multidisciplinary perspective.

Spanish 101 is a first-level language course designed for students who have not previously studied Spanish or those with a low-basic level. The course creates a foundation in grammar, vocabulary and speaking skills, with additional exercises in reading, writing, and listening while exploring Latin American culture. Course methodology is based on the communicative approach, emphasizing conversation in Spanish.

Spanish 102 is a continuation of Spanish 101. Students at this level have a very basic working knowledge and understanding of the Spanish language. The course builds upon the elementary grammar, vocabulary, and other language skills learned in Spanish 101. Course methodology is based on the communicative approach, emphasizing conversation in Spanish.

SPA 201 – Intermediate Spanish I
SPA 202 – Intermediate Spanish II
SPA 301 – Spanish Composition I
SPA 302 – Spanish Composition II
SPA 350 – Latin American Literature
SPA 360 – Latin American Civilization & Culture
SPA 361 – Modern Day Latin America
SPA 370 – Medical Spanish
SPA 371 – Business Spanish
SPA 380 – Intercultural Communication
SPA 420 – Advanced Spanish Grammar
SPA 480 – Advanced Spanish Conversation
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University Courses for Education Majors
Schools of Records

EARN ACADEMIC CREDIT

UNIVERSITY ABROAD

Academic credit is available for Maximo Nivel’s Study Abroad programs. Our programs can fulfill major, minor, or elective requirements. Our School of Record issues official transcripts and academic credit for your program. Get the credit you earn!

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