I made the mistake of committing to one school for 2 months in Xela. Some of the teachers were good but others were really bad. One who had been there for yearsissed numerous mistakes in something a wrote for homework – the next teacher found them. The school is popular for it’s strong emphasis on progressivism /social justice and attracts people who are really zealous about this stuff (what’s your pronoun?). Every Friday night they have a dinner where they sing communist guerilla songs (from the armed conflict).

This stuff is fine if it’s what you’re signing up for. I would have been happy with good spanish lessons and a dollop of social justice but it was the other way around. They won’t hire a teacher unless they have the correct social justice beliefs (I met a teacher who couldn’t get a job there because of this).

I’ve heard stories of students who had committed to long term study at lago Atitlán during the high season only to find out their teachers were a university students with no training or experience in teaching spanish. They get paid about 10q/hour (about US $1 30). Even qualified teachers make less than 30q/hour.

To become a teacher, you take an exhaustive course on grammar but receive no training on how to teach.

Before you go, ask a few questions:
1) do they have teacher evaluations each week?
2) do they have homestay evaluations each week? Homestay families are supposed to interact with you as part of your learning experience but some just want the money.
3) can you see teacher profiles so that you can choose a teacher that might fit your style?
4) does the director observe teachers to make sure they’re teaching? Done teachers talk all the time rather than eliciting conversation from the student.
5) do they incorporate technology into the classes? E.g. youtube videos, online exercises, etc.
6) who is the target audience? E.g. medical/legal, serious students for general spanish, or backpackers (they spend a few days or a week learning basic phrases).

I found my school on Guatemala365 but didn’t realize it had such a high score only because of the social justice aspect.

My final thought is to go during low season and be prepared to change schools if you have time.

Hey Amanda,

I am glad to hear you and your children had a wonderful experience learning Spanish! Thanks for sharing this experience with us.

Hey Dana,

Honestly, we have not encountered any students with children, however that doesn’t mean you can’t be the first! Chance are if they do allow your daughter, they might charge an additional fee. Try sending an email to the schools directly and see what they say!

Let us know how it works out! Good Luck :)

Glad to here you are studying in Xela, and we are sure the immersion experience is a lot better than other places in Guatemala.

Thanks for sharing your school choice and the recommendation! :) Happy Studying !

After visiting some Spanish schools I signed my self up at Sol Latino. It’s one of the cheaper schools in town, though is very well organized. They have well trained instructors with in depth knowledge of the Spanish grammar. A teacher who I can recommend is Gilma.