International Internships in Latin America

Costa Ri atemal eru ! Live It! MAXIMO NIVEL Maximo Nivel is a family-owned social enterprise dedicated to providing educational travel, intercultural experiences, and The Intercultural Center opportunities for international service learning. Our programs of Latin America include: International Internships, Volunteer Abroad, Service Learning, Native Spanish Program, University Study Abroad, TEFL/TESOL Certification, and Adventure & Culture packages.

Our International Internships provide unique opportunities to live and work in Latin America—building your professional experience level and Spanish language skills. Internship projects include: Education, Special Education, Medicine, Micro-Business, and Hospitality & Tourism.

Maximo Nivel has intercultural centers in San José, ; Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica; Antigua, ; and , Peru. A LEADER IN INTERNATONAL EDUCATION SINCE 2003

Maximo Nivel was founded as a small, high-quality language center in 2003. From these roots, we’ve grown our education programs and client service model across 3 countries in Latin America. Today, we host more than 4,000 international travelers, students, and teachers every year.

Our success is based on our commitment to quality and the highest level of client service. We continuously invest in professional staff and first- class facilities to ensure your overall experience with us is nothing short of excellent.

We hope you’ll visit us in Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Peru!

ACCREDITATION

As an accredited educational institute, Maximo Nivel must adhere to strict codes of professional practice and client service. We are recognized by the following institutions: ALTO (Association of Language Travel Organizations), Ministry of Education-Peru, Ministry of Education- Guatemala, and our official School of Record in the United States is State University-Monterey Bay (CSUMB).

DESTINATIONS

We offer our International Internship programs in 3 of the most beautiful, culturally significant, and biologically diverse countries in the world!

Costa Rica literally means “the rich coast,” and it is indeed a tropical paradise. Pristine rainforests lead to white sand beaches and the “pura vida” (pure life) pace of life is relaxed. Costa Rica is a great place to begin your adventure.

Guatemala is known for its Mayan roots and vibrant culture. Timeless architecture, archeological ruins, and volcanoes loom overhead. The Mayan ruins of , Lake Atitlan, and the Pacific coast beaches are all must see places!

Peru was the center of the Inca civilization. Here, the Amazon River runs through the jungle, while the peaks of the Andes are covered in snow, and to the north there are beautiful beaches on the Pacific coast.

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INTERNATIONAL INTERNSHIPS

Maximo Nivel’s internship programs provide unique work experiences and gap year opportunities to live, work, and study in Latin America.

We are focused on program quality, participant safety, and building your professional experience level and Spanish language skills.

INTERNSHIP PROJECTS

EDUCATION providing daily assistance with patient consultations Working alongside K-12 classroom teachers in an and treatment, interns can expect to leave with a bet- international setting provides you with a new class- ter understanding of patient care and foreign health- room perspective and helps you grow as an educator. care systems. (Dental placements are available on a Interns observe classroom instruction and manage- limited basis.) ment, as well as plan and teach lessons. While teach- ing, you will be observed and receive useful feedback MICRO-BUSINESS to help hone your skills as a teacher. All placements With the ever expanding global economy, it is vital to are in English-speaking classrooms. (ESL place- get hands on experience and to understand business ments are available upon request.) practices in all corners of the world. Micro-business interns work with local entrepreneurs and small busi- SPECIAL EDUCATION ness owners, helping them improve marketing, sales, Special needs vary at all schools, including visually client service, and accounting functions. Interning impaired students, hearing impaired students, and in Latin America provides excellent opportunities to developmentally disabled students. Through acting grow as a global business professional. as a teacher’s aide, conducting assigned lessons, and teacher-to-teacher mentoring, you will learn TOURISM & HOSPITALITY about the education system available to special needs You will work with local tourist agencies, tour opera- students, and learn and grow as an educator in your tors, hotels, and other tourism-related organizations. field. Work is centered on improving and updating En- glish-based marketing and client service and includes MEDICAL everything from website improvement and social Partnering with a local doctor, nurse, or other health media to client service training. Other work may professional in a foreign country will open your eyes include client database development to help improve to a new world of medicine. Through shadowing and the in-country client experience.

5 Spanish Programs

SMALL GROUP CLASSES SPANISH TEACHERS Small group classes are dynamic and fun. Classes Our Spanish teachers are all highly qualified and hold are available in 2-hour/day and 4-hour/day formats. Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Spanish or Educa- Class size is typically 3-4 people with a maximum of 8 tion and/or are certified in teaching Spanish as a For- people. Group classes begin every Monday. eign Language. Our teachers have all been teaching for a minimum of 5 years and many have experience teaching at the university level.

TANDEM CONVERSATION PROGRAM To supplement your Spanish classes, we suggest you join our free Tandem Conversation Program. This is a conversation exchange program, where we match you with a native Spanish speaker for conversation practice. This is an excellent opportunity to meet new people and to practice your Spanish while your part- ner practices his/her English.

TEACHING METHODOLOGY Maximo stresses communication—because you need to speak a language to learn it. Our teachers use the communicative method which emphasizes speaking PRIVATE CLASSES and conversation. Teachers also use an integrated More intensive and personalized, private classes are skills approach to help you improve your grammar, the fastest way to build your proficiency in the Span- pronunciation, reading, writing, and vocabulary. Your ish language. Private classes are available for 1-8 teacher will push you to speak in Spanish every day! hours per day. Private classes can begin on any day of the week. Maximo’s International Internship programs include 1 hour/day in private Spanish classes.

GROUP + PRIVATE CLASSES Maximo offers our special 6-hour combo option where you study for 4 hours/day in small group classes and then 2 hours/day in private classes. This is an excellent option for people who enjoy the fun and camaraderie of group classes, but who wish to have scheduled private time with their teacher.

6 FACILITIES & SUPPORT

FACILITIES We pride ourselves on offering a great home base in Latin America. We think it’s important you have a place to call home, a place to study, and a place to meet up with friends and to make new ones. Our institutes range in size from 15–22 classrooms, all furnished and outfitted for your comfort. Every loca- Program, computer lounge and internet, office-wide tion provides large common areas, modern computer Wi-Fi, Salsa dance classes, cooking classes, free lounges, high-speed internet, and office-wide Wi-Fi 7 coffee and tea, and much more! days/week. We also have a great snack bar where the coffee and tea are always free. UNIVERSITY CREDIT University credit is available for our Internship, PROFESSIONAL STAFF Spanish, and Volunteer programs. There are 2 ways Our team is a unique blend of international and local you can earn credit: professionals. The Maximo team is multilingual, and • California State University-Monterey Bay—You we come from a wide variety of backgrounds includ- can receive credit through our official School ing education, business, international relations, and of Record and then transfer this credit to your science. We all live locally in each country and are university. intimately familiar with the culture. The Maximo insti- • Your University—We work with you and your tutes are open 7 days/week and our staff is available school to provide all proof of studies, exams, 24/7. syllabi, grades, and transcripts to be sure you get the credit you’ve earned. THE MAXIMO PAQUETE - WHAT’S INCLUDED Our International Internship program includes the fol- ACCOMMODATIONS lowing: Airport pick-up, private room in a family-stay, We offer various accommodation options to suit breakfast and dinner 7 days/week, academic advisor, your needs. Many people like to stay with local host official Spanish certificate, professional reference families—shared and private rooms are available. letter, Field Manager support, Tandem Conversation We also offer a student residence option. This is a special guesthouse and is similar to a family-stay though you’re housed with 10–15 other participants. In addition, we offer private, furnished apartments on a limited basis. Hotels and hostels are also available and can include a private or shared room.

TRANSPORTATION The nice thing about San Jose and Manuel Antonio Costa Rica; Antigua, Guatemala; and Cusco, Peru is they’re all great walking cities. Our centralized

7 locations make it very easy to get around on foot. HEALTH INSURANCE There are also taxis and buses which are inexpensive We strongly encourage you to buy health insurance to and very accessible. ensure you have proper coverage and protection while you’re traveling abroad. We suggest the following: AIRPORT PICK-UP • geobluetravelinsurance.com We’ll be there waiting for you! Our professional • sevencorners.com/insurance-for-travelers drivers will meet you outside of baggage claim as • volunteercard.com you exit the airport—just look for the yellow smiley face flag. You will receive a Welcome Folder detailing STARTING DATES your accommodations, orientation time, and our Internship programs begin every Monday year-round. Emergency contact numbers. Airport pick-up is Most people arrive on the Saturday or Sunday before included in all of our programs. their program starts.

STUDY ABROAD HOLIDAYS Through our partnerships with local universities, you Our intercultural centers are open 7 days/week can take part in university level courses in Culture, year-round. Our institutes are closed to the public Business, Environmental Studies, and Medicine. We only on 25 December and 1 January. This ensures also offer our special BridgeLevel programs including you always have a great home base at Maximo! Local Social Enterprise Startup and International Entrepre- holidays are observed and even though our centers neurship. are open, volunteer projects and Spanish classes can be affected. We will work with you during the booking TOURS & CULTURAL PROGRAMS process to minimize the effect holidays have on your We offer lots of different options to add exciting, program. world class, adventure and cultural travel to your program. Our Adventure & Culture programs include: TESTIMONIALS Mini Adventure, Volunteer Adventure, Surf School, Read testimonials and learn more about Maximo: Scuba Certification, Yoga Instructor Certification, and • maximonivel.com/testimonials various others. All programs are led by experienced, • facebook.com/maximumlevel bilingual guides and trainers. Get more information at • facebook.com/group/maximonivel [email protected] • youtube.com/user/maximonivelvideo

All of our intercultural centers have an onsite travel partner and we’re happy to arrange specific tourism and sightseeing excursions.

PARTICIPANT PROFILES Participants in our International Internship programs usually range from 20 to 25 years old. Most are university students and young professionals looking to gain international work experience and satisfy internship and/or language skills requirements.

8 ENROLLMENT & PAYMENT Web: www.maximonivel.com Email: [email protected] Tel: 1 800 866 6358 We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. We also accept U.S. dollars and Euros. Payment can be made by phone, PayPal, or bank transfer, and of course in person. Programs require a non-refundable $300 deposit per person.

UNITED STATES 7950 NW 53rd Street, Suite 337 Miami, 33166 Tel. 1 800 866 6358 / (786) 871 6662

COSTA RICA [San Jose] 75 mts south de la Farmacia La Bomba San Pedro–Montes de Oca Tel. +506 2253 9220 [Manuel Antonio] Enfrente de la Escuela Bilingüe Puerto Quepos, Costa Rica Tel: +506 2777 0021

GUATEMALA 6ta Avenida Norte #16–16A Antigua, Guatemala Tel. +502 7932 1500

PERU Avenida El Sol 612–616 Cusco, Peru Tel. +51 84 58 1800

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