Ofcourse, when travelling around in Guatemala and Central America, a basic knowledge of Spanish is ‘a must’ to connect with local Guatemaltecos. Guatemala has several hotspots if you decide to slow down and learn some Spanish -or improve your existing knowledge.
Main Study Locations
- Antigua: thé study-Spanish-location in Guatemala, with a lot of larger and smaller language institutions. Pro: lot of options – lots of others students – relaxed smaller city. Con: lots of other students – bit more expensive.
- Quetzaltenango (‘Xela’): better option if you really want to connect with Guatemaltecos – bit less expensive than Antigua
- San Pedro La Laguna: study Spanish at the Lago de Atitlan (!) – cheaper
- Guatemala City: if you want to study in a more ‘business’ like environment – fewer young students (I studied Spanish at IGA)
- Petén: study Spanish in the historical and environmental hotspot of Guatemala – combine with eco-volunteering
Must do’s when studying Spanish in Guatemala
- follow a sala class, cooking class (ceviche!) or cultural lecture
- combine your language course with volunteering in one of many social or eco projects; Antigua, Quetzaltenango and Petén region have a lot to offer – take your time to really get into the details of your project and think about your competencies and possible added value before choosing a project
- combine course locations: search for a language school with more than one location – start on a higher level on a new location
Share your experiences
Did you study Spanish in Guatemala?
- At which location and language school? What experiences did you have?
- What activities did you join after classes?
Read more
- (in Dutch) Check JoHo’s page Spaans leren in het buitenland