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El Quetzal Spanish School
10 Calle 10-29, zona 1
Quetzaltenango
(+502)-7765-1085
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Registration
$ 30
Write to the school
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| Rank |
86% |
| Prices |
140 USD for 25
hours per week including host family
105 USD for 25 hours per week without host family
Study one hour daily more or less: add or subtract about USD 20 per week.
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| School Size |
2 – 14 students |
| Openings |
This is a relatively small school, which tends to fill up any given time. Reserve at least two weeks in advance! |
| Summary |
El Quetzal is a small family style school founded in 1998 by Glenda Lopez, she has over 13 years of experience teaching Spanish to foreigners. She started El Quetzal Spanish School with a desire to not only follow her passion in teaching, but also to create a school that would help fund scholarships for disadvantaged children who can´t afford to go to school. The teachers have a minimum of 4 years experience. The school has it′s own materials and good Spanish literature books. This school is well organized and focused on teaching in a familiar atmosphere. Good value for money! Students are given a free internet pass for two hours per week, at a local internet café.
Total immersion in El Quetzal: Very good if you avoid other tourists. |
| Registration |
Note that during busier times (summer, Holy Week, end and beginning of the year) it is recommendable that you register at least two weeks in advance. By signing up early, students will help this small school plan staff and host families before their arrival. |
With a timely registration, the school can assign you the best teacher from its list. (Contact us for group discounts). |
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| Teachers |
The school′s 7 young teachers earn a good $45 and 48 per week plus extras. They have a minimum of 4 years of experience. Exceptional teacher′s training.
See details for recommended instructors!
[Show Details] |
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School's specific Information:
Every Friday afternoon during two hours the director Glenda reviews the weeks teaching sheets of every teacher and trains teachers based on any of their shortcomings. Finally, they have to pass a weekly exam.
Recommended Teachers: Glenda Lopez, Heber Lopez II, Linda.
(Roman numbers refer to the numbers of recommendations.) |
General Information:
Spanish language teachers in Guatemala are mostly young people like University students who do this job for very little salary (US$30-$60 per week) and are trying to continue their education. Teachers in our recommended schools have undergone a formal training and know how to make students enjoy learning. By enrolling in advance, you are likely to get a better teacher. This holds especially true during high season.
If you are not happy with your assigned teacher, don’t hesitate to ask the director for another teacher. How to get a good teacher.
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| Methods |
One on one teaching. The curriculum is similar as in most schools, but homemade.
[Show Details] |
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School's specific Information:
Every week there is a "grammar afternoon´ where students can expose their problems and Glenda explains. Also, hilarious vernacular phrases are explained. Every Friday there is an exam.
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General Information:
Spanish Schools in Guatemala promote the most effective 'one student one teacher' method. You spend your time talking and listening with your own personal teacher. This is why Guatemalan schools are probably unmatched in the world. Go to a good school, and get the grammar right, too.
A typical school day:
8:00 to 10:00 Grammar and exercises
10:00 –30 -minute break for coffee, tea, and socializing with teachers and other students
10:30 to 12:00 - Conversation, pronunciation, reading comprehension
After 12:00 - lunch with your host family
Afternoons: previously scheduled activities and homework
(See your curriculum of learning Spanish)
Most schools offer a diploma stating the amount of time studied and the level of Spanish attained (minimum of two weeks).
See more information about diplomas and university credits.
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| Materials |
The school has its own grammar material. Library: 300 books.It has also a program for Japanese students with Japanese – Spanish materials.
[Show Details] |
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School's specific Information:
Glenda has produced her own detailed grammar guide and verb lists. Also, there is ample and carefully selected material to back up theme writing.
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General Information:
At most Spanish schools in Guatemala, teachers write examples and grammar on paper; at others, blackboards are used. And at some, students receive a notebook for their own use. Teachers generally have to supply their own teaching materials. The most widespread book is AMSCO “Spanish Three Years” (Nassi, Levy), a very helpful grammar and exercise book in three levels, written in Spanish and English. A few schools have good libraries, video collections, and many have board games like Scrabble and others, to make teaching more entertaining.
If you are not an English speaker, you may want to bring grammar- and exercise books in your language. In any case a good and small dictionary is very helpful for homework.
(See recommendations on good Spanish Textbooks.)
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| Special Programs |
The school has no special childrens´ program and only a small patio. But lots of childrens´ books. We have no reports, yet.
[Show Details] |
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School's specific Information:
El Quetzal can connect you with a wealth of volunteer opportunities in Quetzaltenango. |
General Information:
Special Programs are available for medical students and nurses, lawyers, missionaries and business people. You study Spanish as any other student, but with emphasis on the vocabulary of your profession or interest. Schools also get you in contact with Guatemalan professionals of your field and organize practical courses upon request.
A few schools have good programs for children. Guatemala365.com recommends schools in safe places and with a garden or ample cubicles. This way the children feel free to play while learning.
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| Location |
School is located three blocks south of the Quetzaltenango parque, with Colonial style reduced corridors, a small patio with a peach tree, kitchen and dancing room.
[Show Details] |
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School's specific Information:
If you are travelling from Guatemala City, take the AMERICA Bus Line, because their office in Xela is within blocks of Central Park, so you do not need to take a taxi. |
General Information:
Many schools have big halls or patios in a pleasant environment, with tables that seat two. You can often hear teacher-student conversations from nearby tables. Some schools have separate cubicles for each teacher – student team. Most schools have small patios or gardens to relax and get to know each other at break time. Some schools also have a cafeteria or even kitchens where students and teachers meet to cook local or food from their home countries.
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| Activities |
The school offers 3 or 4 extracurricular activities per week which includes, weaving, dancing (one hour free each), video, lectures (political, culture and history of Guatemala), strolling around town and villages. Fridays at noon local kitchen instruction and food, as a farewell for departing students. On weekends: trips to the volcanoes, the Chicabal lagoon etc. Students will pay meals and transportation for weekend activities.
[Show Details]
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School's specific Information:
To complement your formal class study, El Quetzal offers a variety of activities to choose from. We want you to have an opportunity to use your new Spanish abilities in a variety of contexts..
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General Information:
During afternoons, a school staff member takes you to the most beautiful places, interesting projects and Maya traditions of the
area, where you have the opportunity to practice your newly learned Spanish and get to know teachers and other students. These activities make your stay a real holiday. Some activities like weekend trips have an additional cost.
Note: small schools have fewer activities during low season.
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| Host Families |
Families earn $35 per week. We have no reports yet.
[Show Details] |
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School's specific Information:
Families are located near the school, there are one or two students per family, just as you wish. |
General Information:
Generally host families provide each student with their own private little room and three meals a day/six days a week. On Sundays, most families provide no meals. There is nearly always hot water and electricity. It is recommended that you bring your own towels, soap, shampoo and other personal care from your country or you can buy it here. Your host parents help you with any problems and encourage you to talk Spanish. It is pretty interesting to see how people live in Guatemala.
A word on food:
By looking at what families earn at different schools you can assess the quantity of food given. The range is from US$30 to $85 per week. If you are in a $35 host family, please do not complain about beans every day. Just eat out now and then.
If you do not want to stay in a host family, we recommend you to visit www.guatemalastory.com for a list of good hotels in Guatemala City, Antigua, Atitlan, etc.
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| Volunteering |
Some of the social projects connected to the school include: English teaching, working with children from broken homes, and helping to support scholarships and library projects in several rural communities in Guatemala.
[Show Details] |
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School's specific Information:
The school can also connect you to organizations like habitat and other which accept volunteers if you like to volunteer in other areas. |
General Information:
Most schools have only loose contact to volunteer social projects or have only poor projects on their own.
If you want to volunteer, it is best to rely on PMG (Antigua, Rio Dulce and Cobán), or Entremundos (Quetzaltenango) or other non profit organizations in order to find an organization that suits students' interests.
More information on volunteering and jobs in Guatemala.
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| Airport Pick-Up Service |
Upon request, the school can recommend you a contact in Guatemala City to pick you up at the international airport.
[Show Details]
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School's specific Information:
Patricia′s Bed & Breakfast, Dos Lunas or Posada Belen are the choices for airport pick up service. |
General Information:
If you don?t want to worry about closed banks on the airport, late night hotel search or unsafe zones of Guatemala City, take advantage of the airport pickup service of your school.
For hotels in Guatemala City please see www.guatemalastory.com.
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Cassie Cohen
cassiecohen@gmail.com
09 / 2009 |
Hello, I decided to attend El Quetzal Spanish School in Quetzaltenango. I studied for 3 weeks there. My instructor, Heber Lizandro Lopez, was great!!!! My Spanish improved very much. After school activities were good. The host family was very experienced with exchange students. For the last 12 years, they have hosted students. The host mother is related to the Director of El Quetzal. I would certainly, recommend this school to others. It is run by an indigenous woman, who is incredible. The teachers, are quality instructors and it is small enough, that you don′t get distracted by speaking English too much with other students like some of the larger, more visible schools in Xela. Regards, Cassie. |
Sarah Goldberg
sarahgoldberg2@gmail.com
08 / 2009 |
Hi, I studied at two schools during my time in Guatemala. I studied at El Quetzal Spanish School in Quetzaltenango, for one week. I liked my instructor, Maria. Study materials at this school were sufficient. Although, I definitely recommend bringing your own English-spanish dictionary. My Spanish improved tremendously. I spoke absolutely no Spanish, before I arrived in Guatemala and when I returned home to Chicago I took a placement test for the extension school of ′Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico′ and was placed in Intermediate 2. I learned in 6 weeks what took me 6 years of middle school and high school to learn in French. After school activities were great, we had hiking and salsa dancing, both of which I loved. Quetzaltenango have lots of opportunities outside of the school for exploring on your own. My host family at El Quetzal was not good at all. They were hosting about 5 students at a time, and never spoke to any of us. The students, ate their meals alone and the meals never varied. It was clear, that the family was hosting solely for money and not for a cross-cultural experience. I would recommend both schools I studied at though--I had good experiences at El Quetzal and other school I attended later, although they have different atmospheres. El Quetzal is a very small school. When I studied there with my two friends we were the only three students there. The teachers treated us like friends and we felt like we were part of a family. Everyday we had a break in the middle of class and teachers and students ate a snack of bread and tea and chatted and laughed together. The director of the school and teachers of my friends, invited us to a wedding at her house. We all cooked and ate a meal together on our last night there. We felt very welcome, and learned about the culture. I am glad I had both school experiences, though, I′m not sure which I prefer, but they are definitely different and worthwhile. Sincerely, Sarah Goldberg. |
Kelly Nowicki
kcnowicki@gmail.com
07 / 2009 |
Hello, two friends and I travelled to Guatemala after Peace Corps to learn Spanish. Our first stop was Xela and before arriving we decided to attend El Quetzal Spanish School. It was fantastic. They arranged for us to be picked up from the airport and helped us board a bus to Xela. We were met in Xela by Glenda, the owner, who personally dropped us off at our assigned host families. My host family, Anna and Danny, were the nicest family I could′ve hoped for. They were a young couple and there were always new friends and family to meet in their house. My two friends and I all had different levels of Spanish and we all felt we were matched up perfectly with our teachers. My teacher, Heber, was great. He was very patient with me, and took the time to re-teach me many things I had forgotten. We had long conversations and he taught me about Guatemalan life. I would highly recommend him as a teacher. Glenda was also fabulous. She is like a mom-away-from home, always making sure you are happy, comfortable, and safe. She really made us feel at home in our new place. The school is small, which we really liked. It made the experience feel much more personal than another school we went to later in our trip, with 30 students. I would highly recommend this school to others. You won′t regret it!! Sincerely, Kelly. |
Nicole Boyer
02 / 2009 |
We had a great experience in Guatemala and at El Quetzal Spanish School in Xela. I studied for 2 weeks at this school. My teacher, Linda, was GREAT. She′s been there since it opened, she has a great sense of humour and teaching style. I never sought any study materials out, so I′m not sure about them. We really enjoyed the after school activities; they included salsa lessons, visits to a nearby children′s hospital and great lectures at EntreMundos, a local non-profit organization. When I expressed interest in working with women, Glenda, the director of the school, arranged 2 weekend excursions to neighbouring pueblos too! We didn′t stay with a host family. I would absolutely recommend the school. It is a small school with quality instructors, great activities, and we felt good about supporting a Mayan woman-led business. Sincerely, Nicole. |
Jonathan Alspaugh
11 / 2008 |
Hello, I finally decided for El Quetzal Spanish School in Xela, which is near the hospital. I studied for one week at that school. My teacher, Heber, was a great teacher and I think he did an outstanding job but I think he would be better suited teaching more advanced students. I am a beginner and we both had to look up a lot of words in the dictionary in order to communicate. I did learn a fair bit but found it easier to learn from someone who spoke more English. My host family was good; Ester was my host mother and she was pretty cool. Awesome cook, really enjoyed the food. She also helped me learn some Spanish. I would recommend the school, to more advanced students. All for now, Jonathan. anotherdayforme3@yahoo.com. |
Nina Rooks Cast
rooks_cast@hotmail.com
06 / 2008 |
I also spent three weeks at El Quetzal Spanish School in Quetzaltenango, which was a week more than originally planned, but I loved the school so much that I cut my trip to Antigua short by a week just so I could have more time at this school. The woman who runs the school has to be one of the most amazing teachers in the whole country, though she was not my personal teacher. Heber Lopez is only second best to Glenda, the aforementioned woman. He was an excellent teacher, using study materials developed specifically by the school as well as three other sources, just to make sure he was covering all bases. The activities were many and varied, including hikes, visits to other towns, and also lectures and videos. My host family was also lovely, and I would recommend them to anyone (just stay away from the guard dog!). Quetzaltenango, or Xela as it is known within the country, has more English speaking people living in it, so it is possible to lapse into speaking English amongst other tourists; however, most of them are there to learn Spanish just like you, so it′s not as difficult to practice your Spanish as it can be in Antigua. And no one at the school speaks (or will admit to speaking) English - my Spanish improved greatly while there. I most definitely highly recommend this school to everyone. I can′t wait to go back, even if it′s just for a visit. Thanks, Nina Rooks Cast. |
Russ Bartlett
russbartlett@hotmail.com
12 / 2005 |
I have ended up at what I consider the best unknown spanish school in Xela. It´s Quetzal Escuela. First the director has about 15 years of experience (in fact she trained the owner of one of the newest schools- San Miguel). Second the director trained all of her teachers to be just as incredible as her. She has activities no other schools use. For example, she teaches vocab only by using Antonyms and Synonims- and yes I am learning twice the vocab with half the effort. Brilliant. I would fully reccomend this school and after living in Xela for about 4 months, researching loads of schools it is by far one of the best (right up there with PLO). |
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