[praying4rlittl1]

Hi,
My daughter is wanting to study in a Spanish immersion school in Guatemala this summer. I know a few of you have talked of such programs and am wondering if someone could point me in the right direction. Any information at all would be very much appreciated.
Thanks!

[JGarrick]

With Spanish being an official language, I'd think simply living there would be all the immersion someone needs.

[respitemom2]

Our 19 year old son spent 6 weeks in Antigua studying Spanish and living with a host family through the Ixchel School, this past summer. I believe he had approximately 3-4 hours a day with one on one instruction. He was able to get credit for two college classes of Spanish at the college he attends in Michigan. He also had the opportunity to travel to different parts of Guatemala on the weekends. (made me jealous, LOL, as he saw much more of Guatemala than either my husband and I got to see during the adoption process for his little sister!) He also met people from different countries, that came and went while he stayed with his host family. It was reasonably priced and the host family included him in weekly visits to a children's school to help the students with English. He didn't understand much the little kids said at first, but by the end of the six weeks, he could communicate well. Host family mother even took our son shopping at the market to find little sister a traditional dress, blanket, and doll for big brother to bring home to her from Guatemala. PM me if you would like to get in touch with my son about more details.

[iccsd]

There are so many schools in Antigua. The going rate is $95/week for 4 hours/day to give you an idea. Here is a link to a few schools that have websites. Antigua Guatemala Spanish Schools - Guatemala

There are also language schools in Xela, but that's much further from GC and has fewer options.

My 15 year old and 12 year old are going to study Spanish this summer in Antigua, but I haven't found the right school for them yet.

Good luck!
Sara

[Lexi73]

There are many schools here, some are more serious than others. One of the most serious ones is Proyecto Lingüístico Francisco Marroquín. They offer Spanish and Maya languages. I have had several friends learn Kaqchikel and they were fluent after 6 weeks, so I imagine they are as good in Spanish...it is also a serious school with actual linguists, she can get credit, too, I think.

I think it helps a lot to get the structure and not just learn to converse. 4 hours a day is a good amount and then she can have the rest of the day to wander around Antigua and make friends.

[susy...patience]

I'm passionate about this so my post is long...

I think it would be a great opportunity for her. For those of you that don't know, Antigua is world famous for its Spanish immersion schools -- big business there --- because Spanish is pure with little slang. Almost all schools have 1-on-1 teaching combined with staying in home of Antigua family with some interactions at meals so that you hear Spanish & have speaking opportunties all the time.


I thought went I went to Spanish immersion school that all college kids should go & learn language for month or so & then volunteer just to see a different part of the world.

I went to Antigua & studied for just one week at Academia de Espanol de Guatemala. The owner is Gustavo & they have a web site. I paid around $250/week and for that got 6 hours of Spanish M-F and private room with private bathroom in house down the street & 3 meals a day. (It's a lot cheaper for the 4 hours per day most people do). I really enjoyed my teacher and in a week went from no Spanish at all to a little (haven't kept it up so I've lost some but still find myself able to pick out a few words when Spanish speakers are talking). The experience of a home stay was also interesting --- learned a little about how Guatemalans live (for example, I didn't know domesticas--maids--are so common).

I liked this school in terms of the following:

--Great teachers (some schools apparently recruit teachers on street....but mine paid regular salaries to teachers even in week when not enough students)

--Nice outside location for class around garden with lots of "las flores" and arbols (flowers & trees)

--Gave introduction to help you with adjusting (for example, said electricity very expensive so house where you are staying will want lights out, also explained weird system for hot water for showers---can only describe it as looking like water is running out of showerhead & over live hotplate). Also have homestay liason in case it's not working out & you need to move.

--Met promises in terms of activities (free happy hour, volocano hike, Jade factory tour, etc).

--Cosmopolitan students (including some from England, Netherlands, Israel, & Austriala while I was there)

--Conversation time (school used set time each day when teacher & I were supposed to talk including questions). I mostly listened becasuse my Spanish was so bad but I gained some real insights into Guat life. For example, my female teacher was in 30's-40's & she told me rent was very high so since she wasn't married she lived with her family (brother) and could not afford a car.

--Offered travel with teacher program (they have 1 week plan to do a few days of immersion, they travel with teacher)....I used variation when I went to class for a week then hired teacher to go with me & my father on weekend to see sites.

From 2 other girls in my house, I learned that quality of schools varies.......1 piece of advice is only pay upfront for 2-3 weeks at one school. If don't like it after that, there are about 20-30 schools so you can find another one. Far better to do that than get stuck with one you don't like. Also in terms of homestay, I read website that said watch what you pay in terms of place to stay---if it's cheapest (I think they quoted $45 per week) you will only eat eggs & beans. My school had price of $75 per week for homestay....and we got some meat/chicken for that.

PM me if you have other questions.