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Escuela de Español Tecun Uman
Escuela de Español Tecun Uman
6 Calle Poniente N. 34 A
Antigua
(+502)-7832-2792, 5513-4349
Registration
Write to the school
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Rank 87%
Prices 180 USD for 20 hours per week including host family
110 USD for 20 hours per week without host family
Study one hour daily more or less: add or subtract about USD 20 per week.
School Size 20 to 70 students
Openings This school currently has openings!
Summary This is one of the traditional schools of Antigua, founded in 1983. Therefore, many advanced students study here. The school pays a fair salary and bonuses to teachers and thus is able to hold good teachers. The director personally fetches late night arrivals from the airport and introduces them to their host families. Teaching takes place in a colonial building or on a roof terrace with shades.
Total immersion in Antigua is modest because of many tourists in Antigua. But it also depends on each individual′s interest.
Registration

Escuela de Español Tecun Uman is a very established school and fills up during the following months January thru April and June through August. For these months it is recommended to register in advance. Take note that during these months the study costs increment by $25.

With a timely registration, the school can assign you the best teacher from its list. (Contact us for group discounts).
Photo Gallery of Escuela de Español Tecun Uman (click here)








Escuela de Español Tecun Uman - Details
Teachers Teachers earn a good $40 to $45 per week plus Christmas and health payments.
See details for recommended instructors! [Show Details]
Methods One on one teaching. The curriculum is the same as in most schools. [Show Details]
Materials No official textbook but verb and exercise lists. Teachers develop their own materials. Library: small. Video library: excellent [Show Details]
Location Cubicles, adapted to students needs. No garden, a good kitchen. [Show Details]
Activities Nice activities, one hour per afternoon. [Show Details]
Host Families Families earn about $70 per week. Student′s reports about host families are mostly good. [Show Details]
Volunteering The school recommends non profit organizations like "Mi Angel Guardian", "Nuestros ahijados", "El Buen Samaritano" or PGM.
Airport Pick-Up Service The school offers safe and reliable airport pick up service for $30 one person. Special prices for more than two persons. [Show Details]
Students' Feedback
Craig Peters
craig.peters.sa@gmail.com
09 / 2009
Hello, I decided to go to Escuela de Español Tecun Uman in Antigua. I studied there for 3 weeks. My instructor Rosa, was very opinionated but very fun and entertaining. Study materials were good, notepads and exercise books. My Spanish improved fantastically! There were loads of after school activities, I saw the volcano Pacaya, had some tours of the city, went to a macadamia farm, it was very fun in the afternoon. The familia Sanchez, was excellent, great food and very accommodating. I would certainly, recommend the school to others. Thank you, Craig.
Elisabeth
isil@gmx.at
08 / 2009
Hallo, I decided to go to, Tecun Uman Spanish School in Antigua. I studied for 2 weeks there. My instructor, Catalina Rodriguez, was great!! I really enjoyed working with her. Also on a personal level, she was great and we discussed lots of interesting topics, from Guatemalan politics to women rights,... (I was already advanced) Study materials were quite good, although I preferred to focus on oral exercises and free discussion. My Spanish improved very much. The after school activities, were a bit disappointing, often, promised activities, were not provided (maybe because I studied there in the low season). However, in the second week, I had met enough people to organize my own activities. The family of Thelma de Reyes, was great and the food, very, very good!! Very much, everyday, there was something different. Thelma, tried to cook a variety of different Guatemalan dishes. It was a great experience to try all different kinds of traditional dishes. The family, always had dinner with us (there were 2 more students) and it was a good change to further improve my spanish. The room was also very nice, spacious and clean. I would definitely strongly recommend this family. I would also, recommend the school, the spanish learning experience was really worthwhile. Best wishes, Elisabeth.
Cynthia Paulson
cpaulson@vyger.net
03 / 2009
Hi, my daughters (16 and 13) and I studied with one instructor, Carolina, at Tecun Uman Spanish School, in Antigua. We were there only a week. We all had an instructive and good time. Carolina was funny and responsive to us. My youngest daughter has studied Spanish but, has had little experience speaking it. I learned the basic concepts of present and past verbs in only one week. I just now, need lots of speaking practice and more vocabulary. The school had activities every day that we could participate in (walking tour, coffee plantation, dance lessons, etc.). We volunteered at Casa Angeles, an after school program for children. My children went 4 days. I went 2 days. On the weekend we went on a school sponsored trip to Lake Atitlan and the market town. Our host family was very pleasant. Sara was the hostess name. The house was on a fairly busy and noisy street. My children had a room on the street. My room was back by the garden. The accommodations were fine and the food was fine. Sara only spoke Spanish so we had more practice speaking. I recommend the entire experience. My children would go back in a second. Thank you, Cynthia.
Thor Bastholm
thorbastholm@hotmail.com
01 / 2009
Hi, we studied at Tecun Uman Spanish School in Antigua. We studied there for 7 days. Every instructor was good. The study resources were good and everybody very helpful and professional. The host family was fantastic. Very good food and a welcoming atmosphere. Also, a good place to practice the Spanish I learned in school. The host mom′s name was Aracely. I would definitely recommend the school. Sincerely, Thor.
Rejean Lessard
lessardr@videotron.ca
10 / 2008
Hello, I elected to go to Tecun Uman Spanish School in Antigua. I studied for 6 hours a day. I got a good teacher, his name is Jorge. My host family was, So So. I would recommend the school. Thanks, Lessard.
Kristine Cummings
kac_high@yahoo.com
07 / 2008
I remember I picked Escuela de Español Tecun Uman in Antigua. Mario Castellanos was the director and he was very helpful to me in finding accommodations and my way around Antigua. I studied for 1 month there. I had excellent teachers, very friendly and very helpful. I would definitely recommend this school to anyone! Thanks, Kris.
Lynn Alexander
lynntesh@gmail.com
06 / 2008
I ended up at Escuela de Español Tecun Uman in Antigua. I studied there for two weeks. My teacher was very good, but I cannot speak for the whole school. Each teacher had their own materials and the ones I used were good for me. There were a lot of teenagers studying in groups which I found to be distractingly loud. I did not stay with a host family. I′m not sure I could rate the school exactly but I would give my teacher, Edgar an A. Thanks, Lynn.
Carol Rushby
carol.rushby@verizon.net
04 / 2008
Hi, I spent one week each in 2 different schools. The first week I attended Escuela de Español Tecun Uman in Antigua. I studied for 4 hours a day. The teachers were great and each taught in a different manner. Study materials were ok at this school. I did a home stay at Tecun Uman. My family was great. The food was good. I had a private room with bath and wish I had a window I could open in the room. The whole experience was wonderful and hopefully I will be able to go back next year. I would grade this school with a B+. Thanks for the site, Carol.
Joyce A
02 / 2008
I decided to go to Escuela de Español Tecún Uman in Antigua. I studied for three weeks there. My teacher, Liliana De Muñoz is an excellent instructor. While the director of the school, Mario, provided some nice vocabulary sheets, most of the materials we used were provided by Lili personally and were based on my specific needs as a language learner --- stories, newspapers, CD′s, targeted grammar exercises from a variety of texts. I was very happy with my stay at the home of Blanqui and Julio Romero. At first I was dubious --there were so many of us, it was more like a pensión than a home stay-- but in the end it was fun living in this tiny ′International House′ with this incredibly gracious (and tolerant) family. I think that Mario (es muy cumplidor) is very reliable -- he really comes through for the students and delivers what he promises. This school, in my personal view, has everything it takes to be a superior school -- very strong teachers, long-standing relationships with exceptional families and a director who takes customer satisfaction very seriously. You want a number? This is hard... well, it′s got a good [salsa] beat...(por supuesto que) of course that, you can dance to it...I would really recommend this school ;). Oh, and I really like guatemala365. I′m very grateful to you for creating and maintaining this helpful resource for all of us. ¡Muchas gracias! Saludos.
Warren
07 / 2007
I attended Escuela de Español Tecun Uman in Antigua. I studied 4 hours a day only for one week. My teacher was Silvia, and she was excellent. Friendly and helpful. She spoke to me exclusively in Spanish, and by the end of a week, my skills were much higher than I expected. All the study materials were provided and were fine. My host family was the Perez family, just down the road from the school. They were amazing. They truly made the experience an unforgettable one. They were friendly, enthusiastic about spending time with us, and funny. They ate almost every meal with us, and always made time to talk with us. The food was restaurant quality every meal, every day. They were just excellent. 10+/10!!! 100%. The school was excellent. Study time was always started and finished on time. The teachers were great, and there were interesting extra-curricular activities. They really have their act together. I heard from friends that were studying elsewhere that the studying part was good, but the home stays were not that good. I had no complaints, and only the nicest things to say about my stay in Antigua, and I will almost definitely return. Thanks! Warren. PS. Your website was really an excellent service. We had the ability to review all the schools, see photos, and read reviews by other students, which really is one of the most important parts.
Jana Schweitzer
11 / 2006
Hello, I studied for 4 weeks at Tecun Uman Spanish School in Antigua (director Mario Castellanos). My teacher Sergio Muñoz was excellent. I am an advanced student, and he (and the school) have an excellent system for improving a student′s Spanish. The afternoon activities were well organized, varied, and interesting. The homestay was comfortable. I highly recommend this school. Thanks for asking--Jana Schweitzer.
Anonymous
07 / 2006
I studied at Escuela de Español Tecun Uman in Antigua for 3 weeks. My teacher was very good. There were many diverse activities which I enjoyed very much. I stayed in the students′ guesthouse. It was nice and the food was great.
Anonymous
07 / 2006
I studied at Escuela de Español Tecun Uman and had a great experience. My teacher was wonderful. I opted not to stay with a family because of travelling with a friend who thought she would be uncomfortable. We stayed at a hotel instead, Casa Florencia. Overall I had a great experience. The school offered cooking lessons, dancing, etc. I loved Antigua, Panajachel, Chichi and Tikal. I really want to return. MJ Sinkwich
Eugene Aydelotte
eaydelo@charter.net
05 / 2006
I attended Escuela de Español Tecun Uman for two weeks. I had an excellent teacher. My family was the best; they serve good food and plenty of it, I had a clean room and there was plenty of hot water. Very friendly family and lots of conversations.
Zachary Yohalem
ronayo@sbcglobal.net
02 / 2006
I studied for one month at Escuela de Espanol Tecun Uman and had a wonderful experience. My teacher was excellent and I thought the director and staff were extremely helpful and supportive. I also found there other cultural activities to be valuable and varied. I would be happy to recommend this school. I had 2 good living experiences - one a very pleasant family in a lovely house and also at a guest house run by the school. Overasll I was very pleased with the environment created for the students and the responsiveness of the staff to student needs. However I used several differnt sites to choose which school to attend including yours but relied heavily on TeachMe123 because of the student ratings.These ratings were more impressive that any objective criteria. The 2 sites together promted me to select this school and I was very pleased that I had, Thanks for your input as well.
Liesbet De Wit
liesbet_dewit@yahoo.co.uk
08 / 2005
I studied in Escuela de Español Tecun Uman in Antigua for one week. Unfortunately, I didn′t have more time, so I took 5 hours a day (which is kind of hard, 4h is ideal). I was very happy with the teacher (José) I got, he was very professional, new perfectly how to screen my knowledge of Spanish, was very structured, and new a lot about a whole range of things (Guatemalan culture and history, but also general philosophy, ...). I was also very pleased with the personal treatment you get in this little school. The director knows you by name, regularly asks you how you are doing, and picked me up from the airport on a Sunday night (of course I paid for this, but it was a big help anyway). The family I stayed with wasn′t a real family, but rather a pension with some 10 people living there. I found this a little bit disappointing, although I was very happy with the clean and comfortable room, and with the talks I had with the lady of the house, and the other guests. I′m also satisfied with your website, there is enough information on it, and it works fluently! Thanks a lot for your help, and many greetings from Guatemala!
Petra Vujakovic
petravujakovic@yahoo.com
08 / 2005
School Tecun UmanI spent 3 weeks in Antigua this summer (July 2005), in Tecun Uman Spanish school. I took contact with a couple of schools on account of information and comments I found in the internet, and decided for Tecun Uman because I got a very good first impression via e-mail form Mario, the director, who answered all of my questions instantly and very friendly. And I didn′t regret the decision, because I was very satisfied with the school. Especially the friendly atmosphere and nice and kind people at the school made it a wonderful experience. I learned more than just Spanish, because there was a lot of very interesting extra activities, every day, actually. And wonderful excursions on weekends. I was there in summer, when there were a lot of students in the school, so I don′t know if there are all the activities also when there are only a few students at a time. My teacher, Victoria, was great, she taught me a lot. The family I stayed at I chose on a recommendation of an ex-student of the school, and it was great - everything clean, good food, friendly and nice people.. I loved them!
Christie Walton
cwalton1@bellsouth.net
07 / 2005
Escuela de Español Tecun Uman 2 weeks. Yes, my teacher Rolando was terrific. He was flexible enough to adapt to my level and push me in the areas where I was weakest. He also challenged me with interesting homework assignments. After one false start.. just fine. When we arrived, we realized we were not going to be in a true "home" setting. More like a B & B. The kids were nice, but we could tell interaction would be limited. Because of that, we asked to be moved into the school′s version own version of a guesthouse... and it was perfect. One tip.. I think by requesting a private bath.. I limited the school′s options in assigning me to a family in a "real" home. In the future, I would designate that I would be willing to share a bath as a trade-off to be in a more natural home setting. On one other note: I am from New Orleans and was 1 week into my studies when Hurricane Katrina hit my hometown. The people at Tecun Uman could not have been more sympathetic or accommodating once they recognized the seriousness of the situation at home. In fact.. one of my "classes" was spent in front of a television in a bar as the storm came in along with my friends from N.O.. .. trying to explain to our teachers what was happening in fractured Spanish.
Gail
gailjup@aol.com
02 / 2005
My husband and I spent 10 days in Antigua, Guatemala in Feb 05.  We went to the Escuela de Espanol Tecun Uman mostly as recommended by your web site. It was very good.  The director picked us up at the airport, introduced us to the school and took us to the host family.  We stayed with a very nice woman in a very nice home.  Only complaint was the food could have been better.  Not in terms of cooking skills but quality.  For example we had no meat and only chicken bits once during the entire 6 days.  Mostly macaroni and cheese type food. The teachers were very good and selected for our needs. Teaching materials are limited but that was not so important.   Every student had their own teacher.  Site was acceptable in an indoor/outdoor setting with few distractions. Extra curricular activities were good.  Lectures in Spanish etc. We studied 4 hours a day for one week and toured the city on the weekends. All in all it was fun, interesting and very worthwhile and an excellent value. The city is great to spend time in with good restaurants and great people watching. Regards,
Marc Lafrance
lafrance.marc1@videotron.ca
11 / 2004
Escuela de Espanol Tecun Uman 2 weeks with a good teacher. My family was nice, but meals no too much of meat
Christine Koyanagi
10 / 2004
Escuela de Espanol Tecun Uman, Antigua Length of study: 2 weeks, 4 hrs/day - not very long, but I will return to Central or South America to study again, hopefully for 3-4 weeks and make sure I study outside of class the next time. Teacher: I had 2 teachers, 1 each week, who were both good, personable, knew some English which helped as I am a beginner. I definitely needed to study outside of class to learn what I did in class - vocal, conjugating verbs, etc, but chose to go on outings, run, go to the gym (very cool gym that is exposed to the outdoors with a tent), hang out with other students. Family: I requested to be the only student at my home stay (which I got) thinking that I would learn Spanish better and not speak English. My family was friendly and the food was good - I received a satisfying amount of food each meal. I had my own room with a lock & key for the door and it was slightly damp in my room - probably not that unusual for the area. The tub for showering was decrepit and the water was luke warm to cool. However, out of the 6 times I was home and available to eat dinner with the family; I only ate 2 xs with a member of the family - once because I asked the teenaged son. However, the mom & dad did get sick my last week and were in bed, so the adult son cooked for me. My family also left for 2 days without telling me - strange - and they had the mom′s sister come cook for me. Due to my home stay circumstance, my last night in Antigua, I had dinner at another home stay which was beautiful where 6 students were staying. They sat down at a large dining table for each meal with the hostess (had a cook & maid) and they all did their best to speak Spanish at the table. I experienced how valuable eating and speaking Spanish with the host family was. Next time I will ask to be with other students. Antigua: Although students want the best school for the best price, I think students should book a school without stress, try it a week, change teachers, home stays, or schools if desired and don′t sweat it. Good luck.
Julia Mcevoy
jmcevoy@chicagopublicradio.org
06 / 2004
Actually my son then switched to Escuela de Español Tecun Uman for two weeks of our 6 week stay. He then studied for 2 hours a day with them. He really liked Escuela de Español Tecun Uman because he was able to learn through playing sports, and with less formal written work. So the style of that place worked much better for him. (He then came home and played soccer in the streets with local kids, so he got to put the language into practice!) The school is good.
Kris Cummings
kac_high@yahoo.com
06 / 2004
I decided on Escuela de Español Tecun Uman because it was located in Antigua. Since I was travelling with my two sons, one is 14 years old and doesn′t know any Spanish; I felt he needed to be in a city setting (cafes and internet). We studied for two weeks and all of us liked our teachers very much. My older son has studied Spanish 5 yrs and is taking it in college and would probably be ready for more adventures in more remote areas of Guatemala and beyond. My sons stayed with one family and I with another. Both of our accommodations were excellent. The hosts were very friendly and helpful with information. I got more understanding of the Spanish language from these 2 weeks than all the years I′ve taken in school. I wish I had planned on a month to six weeks! I learned so much about the culture and history of Guatemala, that I am definitely planning a return trip. During our weekends, we tried to see as much of the country as possible. We went to Monterrico, Lake Atitlan, and Tikal. The website was very instrumental in arranging our trip. I have several friends who are interested and I have directed them to the website. Thank you, I hope this helps.
Matt Zemon
mzemon@tbfmiami.com
06 / 2004
My wife and my eight month old daughter used your site to find Escuela de Español Tecun Uman We each had a private teacher for 5-6 hours per day, depending on the day.  As a whole we liked both of our teachers.  They were knowledgeable, personable and experienced.  They agreed to come to our hotel each day for lessons so that we could take turns watching the baby. We loved Antigua and would highly recommend the experience.  The only negative was the apartment that the school recommended was a solid ten-minute walk from the city.  It was nice and cleans but just too far with a baby.We ended up moving into a hotel.
Katie Moore
newkatiliz@aol.com
05 / 2004
Escuela de Español Tecun Uman Yes,my teacher Rosa was fabulous. She has more than 10 years of experience and is great with advanced and beginning students. The director Mario is very riendly with students. How was your family? Awesome. Again, they accepted lots of students, but the food was varied and it was worth the extra cost to have a very clean house.
Erwin
04 / 2004
I choose the Escuela de Español Tecun Uman in Antigua because it was recommended to me of several people. I studied 2 weeks with a very good teacher, his name was Cachio. I learned the basics very good with him within 2 weeks and improved it all by travelling six months through Central- and South America after the course. And I stayed by my own in Antigua in an hostel cause it was some cheaper than to stay with a family. O.k. David that′s all from me. Greetings to Guatemala y hasta luego.
Carlye Bates
12 / 2003
I studied at Escuela de Español Tecun Uman. It was not originally my first choice; that school was already full during the time I was down there. Mario, the director, was very helpful. Our plane arrived over 3 hours late. The shuttle was still there to pick us up and Mario himself drove around after midnight to help some other Friends find a room for the night. I studied for one week. My teacher was pretty good. She knew the grammar and was patient. My host family was fantastic! They were a wonderful Family, very kind, and hospitable. We had our own room with bathroom, which was great, but not exactly the most comfortable bed.
I really appreciated the information on your web site. It made choosing a school much easier with all the information laid out and the research already had done! There are so many schools to choose from, especially in Antigua, so this was a great help.
Peter Dunne
12 / 2003
We decided on The Tecun Uman School which was excellent. We studied for just one week but as beginners this was very useful. Petrea had an excellent teacher who spoke good English, whereas my teacher spoke very limited English which was a bit of a problem because as I was a beginner I had lots of questions which she could not answer. It was however still a great experience. The family we stayed with was excellent.
Sara Chacko
12 / 2003
For which school did you finally decide? Tecun Uman in Antigua. - For how long did you study? 4 weeks. My first teacher was not good, but I switched after two days and my new teacher who I stayed with for the rest of the time was great. My family was very nice- though the house was a little dirty.
Joachim Plesch
11 / 2003
I studied at the Escuela de Español Tecun Uman in Antigua for 2 weeks. My teacher was great, he was as old as I am (25) and I learned a lot. My family was really nice too. In retrospect I can say that everything was close to perfect.
   
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