Special-Interest Vacations

Spanish-Language Programs

Guatemala is a major destination for folks looking to learn or brush up on some Spanish. You can find courses of varying lengths and degrees of intensiveness, and many that include cultural activities and day excursions. Some of the schools have reciprocal relationships with U.S. universities so, in some cases, you can even arrange for college credit. Most Spanish schools can arrange for homestays with a local Guatemalan family for a total-immersion experience. These homestays include a private room and either two or three meals daily taken with the family. Most of the schools integrate excursions and cultural programs into their curriculum. Classes are often small, or even one-on-one, and can last anywhere from 2 to 8 hours a day. Listed below are some of the larger and more established Spanish-language schools, with approximate costs. The majority are located either in Antigua or Quetzaltenango, but there are Spanish-language schools in such far-flung corners of the country as Monterrico and the Petén. Contact the schools for the most current price information.

Guatemalan Spanish is considered one of the most pure, in terms of clarity and pronunciation, in the Americas. Compared to the Spanish spoken in other Latin American countries, Guatemalan Spanish tends to be more clearly enunciated and slightly slower. This is one of the reasons language schools are so popular throughout Guatemala.

Quetzaltenango has the greatest concentration of language schools, followed in short order by Antigua. In broad strokes, the programs in Quetzaltenango are less expensive. In Antigua, you'll pay a slight premium for living and learning in arguably the hippest and most desirable city in the country. That said, in reality, the price difference is negligible for many, and is around Q375 to Q750 ($50-$100/£26-£53) per week. I personally recommend you decide where you want to spend your time and what kind of side trips and extracurricular adventures you might want to enjoy, and choose by location.

* Academia de Español Guatemala , 7a Calle Oriente #15, Antigua (tel. 502/7832-5057; www.acad.conexion.com), offers group and one-on-one classes. Their main facility features a lovely garden, with its own swimming pool, as well as free Internet and Wi-Fi connections. A 1-week program including 4 hours of private instruction per day, a homestay, and airport transfers costs Q1,725 ($230/£121).

* Celas Maya Spanish School, 6a Calle 14-55, Zona 1, Quetzaltenango (tel. 502/7761-4342; www.celasmaya.edu.gt), offers intensive Spanish and Ki'che Mayan language classes. One of the larger and more popular schools in Xela, these folks charge between Q1,125 and Q1,350 ($150-$180/£79-£95) per week, for 5 hours daily of one-on-one instruction, including a homestay with a local family.

* Centro Lingüístico Maya , 5a Calle Poniente, #20, Antigua (tel. 502/7832-0656; www.clmmaya.com), offers weeklong programs with 4 to 7 hours of private instruction per day. The 4-hour-per-day week runs Q863 ($115/£60), with the homestay costing an extra Q488 ($65/£34) per week.

* Eco Escuela de Español, San Andrés, El Petén (tel. 502/5940-1235; www.ecoescuelaespanol.org), is a community-based language school program in a small village on the shore of Lake Petén Itzá. The program costs just Q1,125 ($150/£79) per week, including lodging and three meals daily with a local family, as well as 4 hours of daily class time, usually one-on-one.

* Escuela de Español San José el Viejo, 5a Av. Sur, #34, Antigua (tel. 502/7832-3028; www.sanjoseelviejo.com), only offers private instruction. Their 32 1/2-hour Monday-through-Friday program costs Q900 ($120/£63), not including room and board. These folks can arrange a local homestay for around Q750 ($100/£53) per week. They also have several very comfortable houses and apartments right on or near their campus.

* Jardín de América Spanish School, Calle 14 de Febrero, Panajachel (tel. 502/7762-2637; www.jardindeamerica.com), is located in downtown Panajachel, just a few blocks from the shores of Lake Atitlán. Their homestay program places students with predominantly local Maya families for an interesting cultural experience. A weeklong program with 4 hours of instruction daily and homestay costs Q1,050 ($140/£74).

* Proyecto Lingüístico Quezalteco, 5a Calle 2-40, Zona 1, Quetzaltenango (tel. 502/7763-1061; www.hermandad.com), is a very well-run school that integrates an understanding of Guatemala's social and political context into their learning experience. They actually have two campuses, one in downtown Xela and another in a more rural, mountain setting. A weeklong program, including 5 hours of daily private instruction and a homestay, costs Q1,350 ($180/£95).

* San Pedro Spanish School, San Pedro La Laguna, Lake Atitlán (tel. 502/5715-4604; www.sanpedrospanishschool.com), is an excellent little school that even offers classes in the Tz'utujil Mayan dialect. Rates run around Q750-Q1,125 ($100-$150/£53-£79) per week for 4 hours of classes per day and a homestay with a local family.

* Ulew Tinimit Spanish School, 7a Av. 3-18, Zona 1, Quetzaltenango (tel. 502/7761-6242; www.spanishguatemala.org), is one of the better Xela language schools. These folks also offer classes in Ki'che and Mam Mayan dialects. A 1-week program with 5 hours of class instruction daily and a homestay costs Q975 ($130/£68).

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Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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				Frommer's Guatemala, 1st Edition Author: Eliot Greenspan Pub Date: February 27, 2007 Price: $19.99				Related Titles: Costa Rica For Dummies, 2nd Edition Frommer's Belize, 2nd Edition Frommer's Belize, 3rd Edition