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Study Spanish While Traveling
4 Calle Poniente # 17
Antigua
(+502)-7832-8005; (+502)-5403-4415
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Registration
Write to the school
Location Map
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| Rank |
84% |
| Prices |
200 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.
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| School Size |
2 – 12 students |
| Openings |
This school currently has openings! |
| Summary |
Empresa Cultural de Español Spanish Traveling is a small new school with a totally different concept. Students and their teachers go traveling to Antigua, Lake Atitlán and Rio Dulce. Students stay in hotels, the teachers in host families. During the study hours they learn, practice and experience the most attractive outings together. At the end of the day, you can relax and enjoy tropical evenings. This method has its price, but it is a very good way to get the best out of your stay in Guatemala. If you plan to stay only in Antigua, the program is not not stronger than that of other schools.
The school also offers the professional program "linguameeting" for studies via internet, at affordable price per hour. There is a program for group tuition for volunteers and of course there are normal Spanish one on one classes.
The school was founded in 2007.
Total immersion in Spanish Traveling is excellent, because you are talking Spanish most of the day. |
| Registration |
Since the trips have to be organized, the school asks you to register formally at least two weeks in advance. Spanish Traveling is a small school with experienced teachers and may fill up any given time. During high season and towards the end of the year it becomes especially busy. |
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 |
There are 6 woman teachers who have between 4 and 12 years of experience and earn $40 per week. They are trained as travel guides, as well as for tuition.
See details for recommended instructors!
[Show Details] |
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School's specific Information:
Part of the school′s philosophy is that teachers will get to know some of their country and develop further skills and responsibilities. There are three more teachers trained to give classes via internet.
Recommended teachers: Suzi Zamora II, Mariella.
(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 |
Study Spanish while traveling: On a typical day, you will take breakfast in your hotel, then meet with your teacher and start studying. You do vocabulary, grammar exercises and reading, just as other Spanish students do. The difference is, that you can do a lot of studying using the scenery, communicating with local people on the markets etc. You retire for lunch and then meet again on the afternoon for a boat trip or some other adventure.
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School's specific Information:
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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 uses the beginners′ textbook "¡Con brío!" by María Concepción Lucas Murillo. They use also photocopied exercise sheets, a disc man for songs and board games. You can use the library of the nearby "El Sitio" cultural center.
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School's specific Information:
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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 |
There are two further programs: 1. teaching for volunteer groups ($45 pp. for 15 hours per week), 2. Linguameeting where you study using internet at an affordable price per hour.
[Show Details] |
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School's specific Information:
Volunteer groups: this is just an option to offer something attractive to volunteers who want to continue studying. During 15 weekly hours they can study in small groups, saving money and addressing any problem in Spanish they encounter during their work.
Linguameeting: |
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 |
On 4 Calle Poniente # 17. Traditional classes take place in a rented patio of a colonial-style building. There is a kitchen/cafeteria and a small garden. |
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School's specific Information:
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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 |
Besides the regular on site lessons, there are various adventurous trip packages for students of all levels (see details).
[Show Details]
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School's specific Information:
Trip to Antigua - 5 days: Roam the streets, shops and museums or take excursions e.g. to the Pacaya volcano. The teacher is with you during 5 hours daily, explaining to you the history of the places you visit. You stay in a traditional host family. Cost $300 incl. food and lodging.
Trip to Lake Atitlan - 7 days: First the teacher - student team visits the famous indigenous market in Chichicastenango and then Panajachel at Lake Atitlán. From a hotel there you visit the beautiful indigenous Villages around the Lake. Then you continue to the hot Georgina baths and Quetzaltenango. Cost $550 without food.
Trip to Rio Dulce - 6 days: Live in an ecological hotel at the river bank and make excursions through beautiful Rio Dulce to an old fortress used to fend off pirates from the Caribean, to Livingston, a small town humming with Reggae culture, and some natural wonders. Your teacher stays with a host family, where she takes the meals, and you meet to study and travel. Cost $500 without food..
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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 |
Since you travel, you stay mostly in hotels. In Antigua you stay in welcoming host families which make you take part in their daily lives. |
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School's specific Information:
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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 |
The school has ties to a pediatric clinic and to woman′s development projects. |
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School's specific Information:
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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 |
Airport pick up costs $35 per person, for groups $15 per person.
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School's specific Information:
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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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How to get there 
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Send yourself an e-mail with information on how to get to Study Spanish While Traveling.
Just walk one block from the central parque. You will find it on 4 Calle Poniente # 17, interior of Centro Comercial Maria.
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Richard and Denise
08 / 2009 |
We want to thank you guys for the excelent service, we had a wonderful vacation and our experience was very unique. We enjoyed the different places that we traveled to because these places are not often visited by turists, it also gave us the opportunity to experience how the locals live in their own enviroment. One of the best things about Guatemala is that the hotels were cheap and in the best locations (Susy and Antonio made good choices). We would like to highlight, how excellent the spanish classes were, and the fact that the classes were in different locations made it all the more interesting. A special moment was sitting on the rocks, looking out on the lake and the locals washing their clothes and taking a bath while telling us jokes. All this helped us to learn better because we came thinking in English and left thinking in Spanish. Thank you very much, Antonio y Susy for the wonderful experience. We will definitely recommend spanishtraveling.com to all our friends and relatives who are seeking excellent Spanish lessons. Our trip home was somooth sailing. We thank you for your services and hospitality once again. Sincerely, Richard and Denise. |
Richard Boyd
boyd8575@sbcglobal.net
07 / 2009 |
Hi, our trip home was smooth sailing. We want to thank you guys for the excellent service, we had a wonderful vacation and our experience at, Spanish While Traveling was very unique. We enjoyed the different places that we travelled because, these places are not often visited by tourists, it also gave us the opportunity to experience how the locals live in their own environment. One of the best things about Guatemala is that the hotels were cheap and in the best locations (Susy and Antonio made good choices). We would like to highlight, how excellent the spanish classes were, and the fact that the classes were in different locations made it all the more interesting. A special moment was sitting on the rocks, looking out on the lake and the locals washing their clothes and taking a bath while telling us jokes. All this helped us to learn better because we came thinking in English and left thinking in Spanish. Thank you very much, Antonio and Susy for the wonderful experience. We will definitely recommend Spanish While Traveling to all our friends and relatives who are seeking excellent Spanish lessons. We thank you for your services and hospitality once again. Sincerely, Richard and Denise. |
Rémy Saulnier
remysaulnier@gmail.com
04 / 2009 |
Hello, I studied at Spanish Travelling School in Antigua, with my girlfriend. We studied in this school for a week. We took 6 hours of class on a Friday. It happened to be really friendly and to teach us spanish very well. So, we took a complete week with 3 hours/day. We learned spanish with Susy and we made the visits of the museum and to Maximon with Marlene. We had a whiteboard, pencils and a "book where we could write in" (I don′t remember the name) and papers prepared by Susy to make exercises. It convinced to what we wanted. We made three activities: a visit to Maximon in a church, a visit of the museum of music and coffee of Antigua and a cook school when we went to the market, bought the ingredients and cooked with Susy various typical foods. We lived in a fleet in Antigua and weren′t hosted by a family. We would of course recommend the school. Antonio, Susy and Marlene are really friendly, good teachers and the place where the classes take place is really beautiful. If you need further information, I will try to answer your questions. With best regards, Rémy Saulnier. |
Siamak Safargar
safargar@yahoo.com
01 / 2008 |
Hello, I studied at Spanish Travelling School for 1 week. My teacher′s name was Suzi Zamora and she was very good. My host Family was great (Zamora Family). I travelled with my teacher to visit the coastal part of Guatemala (livingston and more). I would recommend the school to anyone. Thanks, Siamak. |
Coburn Erskine
erskinc@cc.wwu.edu
01 / 2008 |
I studied with the school Spanish Travelling in Antigua, for two weeks. My teachers were fabulous! Susie Zamora and Mariella. My host family was very warm and welcoming. They seemed a little distant and at times a bit awkward but I enjoyed staying with them. I travelled with Susie around Antigua and Lake Atitlan, then stayed in Antigua for a week and studied with Mariella for the remainder of the 17 day trip. I visited Guatemala City, Antigua, and just about all the towns around Lake Atitlan, which were all beautiful. I would definitely recommend the school to anyone wanting to study Spanish and have a wonderful time getting to know Guatemala and its people. Sincerely, Coburn Erskine. |
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