Testimonials and References 1
|
We take pride in delivering world-class service to all of our students. Read what some of our satisfied students have said about us! So, you need to learn Spanish in a TOP SCHOOL with life and purpose completely different to all! please continue visiting our website to learn more about our programs. If you have any questions, then please email us.
Bonjour tout le monde, I heard about Guatemalensis Spanish School through a fellow traveller and found it more than lived up to its excellent reputation. The teachers and administrators are all incredibly friendly and I found the atmosphere welcoming and relaxed. My teacher was extremely good, better than any Spanish teachers I had had previously, and I felt I learnt a great deal in just a week. The school arranged a family for me to stay with who turned out to be one of the best families in Guatemala, constantly happy and laughing, it was a great place to stay, especially as I had the priviledge of being there over Christmas. I'll never forget that party!. The highlight of the week was taking part in one of the school's projects. We visited a local village and held a christmas party for families who live in poverty. It was a great way to spend an afternoon and you could tell what a difference Guatemalensis Spanish School makes to the lives of those less fortunate. I honestly cannot find fault with this place, and recommend it highly to anyone interested in learning spanish and experiencing Guatemalan life at its best.Kieran Ball, London, U.K. Before enrolling in Guatemalensis, I was concerned about studying and chatting with the same person for 5 hours a day, 5 days a week. Any worries were soon dispelled after my first day. All the teachers were so relaxed and friendly, that the time flew. Days chatting and joking on the sunny terrace never seemed like study. Excursions were fun and interesting. My family were also great ensuring I enjoyed my Spanish immersion. Brian Kearney, Ireland Guatemalensis Spanish School is a great place to be not only to learn the Spanish language, but to be in good company as well. I came into the school with a basic knowledge of the language, solely the present tense, and I am leaving after 9 days with a comfortable grasp ot the preterite and imperfect past tenses, future, nouns, pronouns, prepositions, and much more. The one-on-one teacher student set up is ideal for learning at the pace you want, asking questions when needed, and creating a wonderful relationship. My time at Guatemalensis has been invaluable because of the Spanish I have learned, the comfort zone harnessed in a foreign country, and the teachers and staff. Not to mention, the fact that it is a non-profit school that supports impoverished families helps to make Guatemalensis the place to learn Spanish in Xela. I would, and will, recommend Guatemalensis to anyone with a will to learn spanish or travel to Guatemala. Thank you for everything. Joanna Hoffman, U.S.A. I have learned a great deal in my 2 weeks studying Spanish. Although the pace of the class was fast towards the end because I didn't have more time, I now have the fundamentals in order to study outside of class. I have learned about the Present, Preterit, Imperfect and Future. The varied styles of teaching are good -writing, reading and conversation. Repetition is a great way to learn. There is also a great selection of resources to use. The activities are also very informative and enjoyable. Thank You! Abbie Kirkby. England
Alla Guatemalensis School mi sono trovata molto bene per questi motivi: Xela has been a great place to learn Spanish as you have to use it all over the city as very little English is spoken, so you are pushed to practice Spanish all the time; my family have been great, so friendly, helpfull and the foods been wonderful. The school outings have been interesting and well informative, never giving you the chance to become bored. My experience in Guatemala and the rest of Latin America has been greatly improved by the high standard of teaching at the school. The teachers are patient, funny and always pushing you forward. All in all my time in Xela and the Guatemalensis Spanish School has been very helpful. David Landsberg, U. K. (England)
"GSS is a
small, but professional language school. I studied here for four weeks and
learned incredibly much about the Spanish language, the Guatemalan culture
and the country. Nora and Rolando, the heads of the school, take such good care of the students. Almost every afternoon there are school activities like going to surrounding villages, or we had a Guatemalan cooking class, a barbeque on the roof of the school, week-end trips to the ocean, or to Lago Atitlán, we climbed a volcano, etc. – so you will never feel lonely, you can practice your Spanish and see a lot of Guatemala. And of course, you can express your wishes and tell them if you would like to see or do something specific. The great part about it all is that by going to GSS you are also doing something beneficial, because part of your tuition fee goes to the social Project of the school. Every Wednesday we went to one of the slum areas of Quetzaltenango and spent time with the kids who are being supported by GSS, doing homework with them and playing games outside – at least then, you have to practice talking in Spanish! :) I can only recommend GSS and hope I will be able to come back one day again! Stefanie Speh, Germany Mes trois semaines ici à Xela étaient remplies d'activités. J'ai beaucoup aimé mes études à l'école de Guatemalensis. J'ai eu la chance de rencontrer beaucoup de différents gens de différentes endroits. Mon enseignant était vraiment sympa et durant les trois semaines j'ai pu apprendre beaucoup d'espagnol. Les directeurs Nora et Rolando sont très chaleureux et sont toujours prêts à prêter leur aide pour n'importe quel problème.
Toutes les activités de l'après-midi étaient bien organisées. La
participation d'immersion en famille m'a aidé à pratiquer l'espagnol
que j'apprenais à l'école. Les gens étaient très acceuillants.
C'est une très bonne école où vous pouvez apprendre l'espagnol où il y
a un professeur pour un étudiant.
Je la recommende à tous.
Mes amitiés,
Jeannine Kowalski, Canada
"I have been very impressed with Guatemalensis Spanish School for several reasons. I think the teachers are intelligent, care about their work and the students, and are adept at teaching Spanish. There is a good mix of playfulness and fun mixed with serious study and real learning. Christian worked well with me, even on the days when I didn't feel like learning or when I got frustrated because of a new concept, etc. He is a great teacher!. Aside from the teaching, I was also impressed by the "family" atmosphere at Guatemalensis. Nora and Rolando care very much about their school and their students, and it shows I never felt like just another student passing through. The directors and the teachers are wonderful about helping with even the little things, like calling hotels for reservations, and also about tailoring teaching methods or activities to meet various students' specific needs. Lastly, the activities were great and varied, and the costs very fair. I heard students from other schools saying they had to pay much more for the same things I was able to do for less at Guatemalensis. Overall, I would and will highly recommend this school!!!" Brooke Weberling. U.S.A.
Nach 4 Wochen Sprachkurs in der Schule "Guatemalensis Spanish School" in
Xela (Quetzaltenango) kann ich diese Schule nur waermstens empfehlen.
Alle fuer einen Sprachkurs wichtigen Aspekte wurden hervorragend
erfuellt: Kompetente Lehrer, Freizeitaktivitaeten sehr abwechslungsreich und
den Wuenschen der Schueler entsprechend, Familienunterbringung sehr gut.
Und das Preis-Leistungsverhaeltnis stimmt auch- im Vergleich guenstig.
Ausserdem kann man an dem Sozialprojekt der Schule einmal die Woche aktiv
partizipieren. Im Gegensatz zu einigen anderen Schulen ist dieses dadurch
fuer die Schueler transparenter und man kann erkennen, dass die Schule klar
das Ziel verfolgt anderen Menschen zu helfen - sowohl den Schuelern beim
Spanischlernen als auch einheimischen Benachteiligten. In 4 1/2 weeks I have found the school, and all of its auxiliaries such as family, excursions, to be more than I had hoped for. The attitude of openness friendship and shary was present immediately upon my arrival and has only increased over time. The school is very well organized, and I am fully satisfied that I was placed with an appropiate teacher, studied at the appropiate level, and received both the grammar and the conversational ability that I need. I found my tutor to be excellent, she clearly is a gifted teacher and enjoys what she does. Additionally I feel sure that other tutors are equally talented and contribute to the overall atmosphere of the school. The network of host families is equally impresive and I was very happy with my family. Additionally, I want to say that the directors, the tutors, and the family support me and offered assistance whenever and for whatever reason I needed it. There is a combination of scholarship and a friendly atmosphere that together create a wonderful and vibrant environment in which it is possible to learn quickly. Karin Burke, U.S.A. With Guatemalensis I made a perfect choice. I learned Spanish very quickly with a very well qualified teacher and in the meantime I learned a lot about the life and culture of Guatemala, since I lived with a family here in Xela. I enjoyed every minute in school and had lots of fun learning Spanish. All the activities have been wonderful too. The fact that it is a non-profit school and that I could support, with the money I payed to the school, a social project with children made me very happy. When ever we went to see the kids and families I had a wonderful time with them, but also could see how much help is needed there. My family here in Xela was just about like my family back home, I felt very much like home here. They have been wonderful, we spoke and laughed a lot every day and I could experience how tasty the guatemalan food is, since my Guatemala mum is a great cook. With the children of the family I could practice a lot of Spanish, which has been great. From the bottom of my heart a big THANK YOU for everything it has been a wonderful and unforgetable experience! Mit Guatemalensis habe ich eine perfekte Wahl getroffen. Ich lernte Spanisch sehr schnell mit einer sehr gut qualifizierten Lehrerin und gleichzeitig lernte ich viel ueber das Leben und die Kultur von Guatemala, weil ich mit einer Familie hier in Xela gelebt habe. Ich habe habe jede Minute in der Schule genossen und hatte viel Spass beim Spanisch lernen. Auch die diversen Aktivitaeten waren wunderschoen und interessant. Die Tatsache, dass es eine non-profit Schule ist und dass ich, mit dem an die Schule bezahlten Geld, ein soziales Projekt mit Kindern unterstuetzen konnte, machte mich sehr gluecklich. Jedesmal wenn wir die Kinder und Familien besucht haben, hatte ich eine wunderschoene Zeit, aber gleichzeitig wurde mir auch bewusst wie viel Hilfe sie noetig haben. Meine Familie hier in Xela war fast wie meine Familie zu Hause, ich fuehlte mich wie zu Hause hier. Sie waren alle sehr lieb, wir sprachen und lachten jeden Tag und ich konnte erfahren wie gut das guatemala Essen ist, da meine Guatemala Mutter ein super Koch ist. Mit den Kindern der Familie habe ich viel Spanisch geuebt, was super war. Aus tiefem Herzen ein grosses DANKESCHOEN fuer alles, es war eine wunderschoene und unvergessliche Erfahrung! Mit Guatemalensis hani ae perfekti Wahl troffe. Ig ha uh schnaeu Spanisch glert mit aere sehr guet qualifizierte Lehrerin u glichzitig hani viu ueber ds Laebe u Kultur vo Guatemala glert, wueu ig mit aere Familie hie in Xela ha glaebt. Ig ha jedi Minute ir Schuel gnosse u aes het uh gfaegt Spanisch z'lere. O die diverse Usflueg u Aktivitaet si schoen u interessant gsi. Tatsach, dass aes ae non-profit Schuel isch u ig, mit em izahlte Geld fuer d'Schuel, aes sozials Projekt mit Chind ha choenne unterstuetze het mi uh gluecklich gmacht. Jedesmau we mir d'Chind u d'Familie bsuecht hei hani ae uh schoeni Zit gha, ha aber glichzitig o gseh, wie viu Hilf si bruche doert. Mini Familie hie in Xela isch bau wie mini Familie dehei gsi, ig hami wie dehei gfuehlt. Si si extrem lieb gsi, mir hei jede Tag viu gret u glachet u ig ha choene erfahre wie guet ds guatemala Esse isch, wueu mini Guatemala-Muetter ae super Choch isch. Mit de Chind vor Familie hani viu Spanisch guebt, was super isch gsi. Us tiefen Haerze aes grosses MERCI fuer alles, aes isch ae wunderschoeni u unvergesslichi Erfahrig gsi. Sonja Eigenmann, Switzerland. In a beautiful country with great people, I had the great opportunity to learn Spanish. Not only was I able to study in a great school, but I had the chance to live with and become a new member of a pre-existing family. The owners of the school, Rolando and Nora, have a great countenance about them. They honestly care for the students, their teachers, and not to mention the poor children they help provide for and educate. They have given me a gift of knowledge and experience. Apart from the schooling, I was able to see an active volcano, swim in one of the most beautiful lakes in the world, take a merengue lesson, and help provide for and educate those poor children! I also made many new friends and as I stated before, became a new part of a family. The overall experience was great, and I am sad to be leaving. I hope to come back some day to further my Spanish speaking abilities. It has definitely been an experience I will recommend to others, and one I will not forget. Nicholas L Stafford, U.S.AMerci beaucoup pour l'aide à apprendre l'espagnol! J'ai adoré l'école et les activités, ainsi que l'ambiance! Il y avait des sourires sur tous les visages, tous les jours! Je vais recommander Guatemalensis à tous mes amis et à ma famille! Et merci pour vous être occupés de moi quand j'étais malade, je m'en souriendrai toujours! Merci encore! Christine Labrie, Canada
Guatemalensis is a wonderful Spanish School. Even before I left for Guatemala I
was particularly excited about one on one learning and their social project.
Guatemala is ravaged by poverty and it is touching to see a school and
group of people that work together to make a better life for poor families.
Concerning the school itself I was extremely impressed. I couldn't have asked
for a better teacher or group of people. They were warm, exciting, and greeted
me with open arms. My teacher taught me Spanish while using my interests in
human rights and women's rights as a teaching mechanism. I learned so much more
than Spanish. Adjusting to a different culture and country can be really
difficult. I was blessed with an amazing host family. I would go home when I was
sad and they would make me laugh, hug me, care for me when I was sick. They gave
me so much more than 3 meals a day and a private room. I was really a member of
the family. I started studying here on April 25, 2005. I was interested in learning some of the basic rules to be able to talk the Spanish language. I really liked the quick start. We got right down to studying vocabulary and then moved right into the verbs. There were also many other rules that we studied along the way too. My studying here has helped me greatly in understanding and speaking Spanish. The atmosphere was good. I enjoyed the activities that we did and some of them helped me to see the Spanish culture better. The way the school here is set up it makes it easier to learn the language if someone really wants to learn. Also one thing about the activities, they helped to give a diversion. Learning a language is always a challenge and I enjoyed it. Thanks for the help that this school has provided in my studies. Wilmer Lee Mast. U.S.A. Could Guatemalensis be right for you?
I spent two months
at Guatemalensis Spanish School (GSS) in Xela studying the Spanish
language. I worked one-on-one with my fantastic teacher, five
hours a day, five days a week. During these lessons, he taught me
new concepts then we practiced and practiced. It was only a matter
of days before I was engaging in lengthy discussions with him and
the other instructors. Often we would go for a walk, visiting
markets, the downtown park, or many other points of interest. Not
only did I learn grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure, but I
also learned about the Guatemalan culture, customs, and special
celebrations. In just eight weeks, I gained so much.
After completion of my studies at GSS, I returned to Mexico where I continue to live and operate a medical clinic. I rely on my Spanish all day, every day to do my work. I am thankful for my opportunity to study at GSS; it gave me a strong foundation of Spanish to build on every day.
Don't wait, sign
up today for your own unforgettable experience at Guatemalensis
Spanish School. Guatemalensis is a small school located near the old town center. The directors and the teachers are friendly and professional. Because of its size, and the dedication of the staff, all the activities are coordinated to suit the students needs and capabilities. The home stays are very close to the school with friendly people and reasonable accomodation. The food though basic consists of many traditional local dishes prepared with fresh local ingredients. I have visited 4 other spanish schools in the last few years and this was the best all round bargain for me. John Elmore, Canada. Guatemalensis Spanish School ist eine kleine, aber sehr professionelle Sprachschule. Ich habe hier vier Wochen Sprachkurs gemacht und habe unglaublich viel über die Sprache, die Kultur und das Land kennen gelernt. Dadurch, dass man Einzelunterricht hat, kann der Lehrer speziell auf die Wünsche des Schülers eingehen. Und selbst wenn einem der Stil eines Lehrers nicht liegt, kann man ohne Probleme wechseln und andere Lehrer ausprobieren. Der Unterricht ist sehr intensiv, aber auch abwechslungsreich, da man auch zusammen mit anderen Schülern und Lehrern was unternehmen - und so die Sprache gleich in der Anwendung lernen kann. Nora und Rolando, die Schulleiter, kümmern sich unheimlich gut um die Schüler. Fast jeden Nachmittag wurde ein Ausflug in umliegende Dörfer angeboten, oder es gab einen Guatemala-Kochkurs, ein Grillfest auf dem Dach der Schule, Wochenendausflüge ans Meer, an den Lago Atitlán, eine Vulkanbesteigung etc. - so dass man sich nie einsam fühlte, mit anderen Spanisch reden und viel vom Land sehen konnte. Und natürlich kann man auch Wünsche äußern, was man gerne sehen oder machen würde. Und das tolle an der ganzen Sache ist, dass das ganze auch noch einem guten Zweck dient und die Schüler mit ihrer Kursgebühr das Sozialprojekt der Schule unterstützen. Jeden Mittwoch sind wir in eines der Armenviertel von Quetzaltenango gegangen und haben dort mit den Kindern, die von GSS unterstützt werden, Hausaufgaben gemacht und danach noch gespielt -spätestens da muss man versuchen, Spanisch zu reden. Ich kann GSS nur weiterempfehlen und hoffe selbst, dass ich noch mal zurückkommen kann! Stefanie Speh, Germany
Cher Rolando, Tout d abord, j’ai découvert l’existence de votre institution par le biais de votre site Internet et ce, à l’automne 2004. J’ai beaucoup apprécié la correspondance que nous avons eue, à travers les courriels que nous nous sommes transmis, car vous avez su répondre rapidement à toutes mes questions de façon très claire et avec une rigueur peu commune.
En ce qui concerne
l’accessibilité du site, votre encadrement m’a permis d’atteindre la
municipalité et ensuite votre école, via la Capitale du Guatemala, sans
aucune difficulté. Difficile de passer sous silence votre implication dans les projets sociaux. Par exemple, vous et votre épouse m’avez épaté par votre implication pour la survie des familles défavorisées de votre quartier et je trouve extraordinaire que vous puissiez remettre tous les maigres profits que génère votre entreprise à des familles locales. Aussi, je vais conserver d’inoubliables souvenirs de la fête de Noël que nous avons organisée ensemble pour ces familles, tout comme cette autre fois où nous nous sommes rendus enseigner quelques notions de mathématiques aux enfants démunis, qui n’ont pas accès à l’école, donc aux enseignements de base. Du coup, je vous remercie aussi de votre implication personnelle qui a pour but de donner la chance à vos « élèves » de visiter certains sites touristiques de la région, tels que le volcan « Santa Maria » et autres endroits aussi impressionnants les uns que les autres. Enfin, mille mercis et, encore un fois, félicitations pour votre beau travail. Soyez assuré que je n’hésiterai pas un instant à recommander votre institution à quiconque serait intéressé par une aventure aussi extraordinaire que celle je viens de vivre. Au plaisir de vous revoir très bientôt, Denis Castonguay, Canada Guatemalensis Spanish School I can only recommend Guatemalensis Spanish School for anyone wanting to learn Spanish and experience Central America, not only for its excellent teaching methods and school infrastructure, but also for the almost daily occurring activities and excursions, the city and its surroundings as well as the friendly host families! In only three weeks that I was able to attend the school, I learned an enormous amount of Spanish, and was able to implement it at school, with my host family and in my daily life and activities in Guatemala. For anyone that wants to learn as much Spanish as possible, and at the same time see and experience Guatemala and its culture, Guatemalensis is an excellent choice. Guatemalensis Spanisch Schule Für alle, die Spanisch lernen möchten und zur selben Zeit Zentralamerika erleben und sehen wollen, kann ich die Guatemalensis Spanisch Schule nur empfehlen. Die Lernmethoden und die Lehrer sind ausgezeichnet, die Nachmittage sind gefühlt mit Exkursionen und Aktivitäten, die Stadt Xela und ihre Umgebung bieten einiges an, und die Gastfamilien sind freundlich! In den nur drei Wochen in denen ich die Schule besuchte, habe ich aussergewöhnlich viel Spanisch gelernt, und konnte die Sprache in meinem täglichen Leben einsetzten und verbessern. Wenn es darum geht, soviel Spanisch wie möglich zu lernen, und zur selben Zeit Guatemala und ihre Kultur kennen zu lernen, ist Guatemalensis eine ausgezeichnete Wahl. Eric Schwaninger, Switzerland I have studied at Guatemalensis twice. Both times, the school offered an ideal setting for learning Spanish and knowledgeable teachers willing to design classes to fit my needs. The host family provided additional help and great food. David Emery, U.S.A. Guatemalensis is an awesome school run by quality people. The instructors are well qualified and extremely helpful. The excursions were fun, organized, as well as educational. I fully enjoyed my time at Guatemalensis and I would, without a doubt recommend this school to anyone seeking a fun, safe, and quality place to learn Spanish. Jessica Hua.Vietnam One month was not enough. My experience here was truly unforgettable. I came here travelling on my own but I never felt alone of the whole trip. Guatemalensis has qualified staff members, dedicated to their work. You will study in a friendly atmosphere and learn a lot having tremendous fun at the same time. I've enjoyed a lot my homestay to. It felt like having a second family. I would come back anytime. I'm sincerely grateful for the opportunities the school has given me. Pascale Laverdure-Archambault. Canada I highly recommend the Guatemalensis Spanish School in Xela. The teachers are professional, friendly and very patient. They tailor the lessons to your needs to make sure you get the most of them. The atmosphere of the school is really open, friendly, and the school's directors are very welcoming and friendly. The activities organized by the school were a lot of fun while also being a good chance to practice spanish. As a smaller school, Guatemalensis was able to give the personal touch to all aspects of my stay in Xela. I really enjoyed my time here and am sad to leave!. Penny Davis. Australia
That's great that you are going to Guatemala to
learn Spanish, and studying at Guatemalensis. I originally became involved in
the school as a student myself. I spent almost 3 months studying there, stayed
in Xela for an extra 3 months, and am now returning in August to work and live
there. So, let me get to your questions...
Concerning the school activities, there is one most days of the week, and
there's a great variety. Off hand, I remember going to
Laguna Chicabal (a volcanic, sacred Mayan lake), Santa Maria (the Volcano
that looms over Xela), the beach on the Pacific coast at Champerico, local towns
with interesting history and cultural sites, such as Zunil, Salcaja, and San
Francisco, etc. Local activities are in the afternoon, and longer ones are on
Saturdays mostly. Also, once or twice a week the school visits a little group of
residents of a poor neighborhood in Xela, with sacks of food, and everyone plays
with the kids and helps them with their homework. The school sponsors the
education of a bunch of the children from the 5 families that make-up the group.
Also, any sort of health or educational seminar you would like to put together
for the parents, the mothers alone, or the children is greatly welcomed. For
example, I did a little workshop with another student about basic cleaning and
self-hygiene practices, and it was really successful and fun. Of course, there
is also no obligation for any of the activities. About getting picked up in Guatemala City and spending the night, yes, please book in advance, with Rolando and Nora. Their email is gssxela@yahoo.com. They are wonderful people, and they take really loving care of everyone in the school. I always go back to hang out with them when I am in Xela. Have a lovely June. If you have more questions, please don't hesitate to contact me. Cheers, Lee A. Hopkins U.S.A./Canada Six weeks can be a dreadfully long time, or it could also be an awfully short time, depending on your perspective. I spent six weeks in Guatemala, studying spanish with Guatemalensis Spanish School. Needless to say, I found the six weeks way too short, and that time passed way too quickly. Arriving in Xela with absolutely no spanish whatsoever, I'll be lying if I said I had no doubts or fear. However, as soon as I stepped into Guatemalensis, everything fell into place and I immediately felt at ease in this lovely school in the middle of a centroamerican country I know so little about. The teachers here not only have incredible aptitude and attitude for teaching, they are also encouraging and patient. I started off reciting numbers and fruit names in spanish to now carrying out conversations and cracking jokes with locals with decent ease in these short six weeks. Never would I have expected such rapid progress and I have no one other than Guatemalensis to thank. Of course all work and no play makes a dull boy. The school curbs that by organizing many activities and trips, not only to help us gain insight into the rich culture and heritage of Guatemala, but also to render us with more opportunities to practice the spanish that we have learnt. With soaks in hot springs that resemble paradise from the movies, natural saunas and visiting immensely interesting mayan villages and breathtaking lakes, what is 5 hours of spanish classes?. Homestay with a genuinely amazing family was also a great experience, and yet another opportunity to further practice and improve in spanish. It also aided me in feeling more belonging, albeit temporary, to Guatemala. To sum it up, time is simply too short when one is having fun and with a heavy heart I had to bid Guatemala and Guatemalensis goodbye. However the wonderful time and fulfilling experience I had with Guatemalensis in Guatemala will always, always bring a smile to my face when I reminisce about it, crowded "chicken buses" and all. The knowledge I have learnt, the insights that I have gained, the friendships that I have bridged, and the fun I have savoured, I hope one day soon I could go back, and meanwhile I recommend this experience to every one. Jessica Yuan Xi. Singapore Guatemalensis has been a wonderful place to study. The teachers are patient and explain everything very well. Nora and the family I stayed with were both very flexible and accomodating to changing plans. Having a one to one student to teacher ratio allowed us to spend alot of time actually conversing in spanish, and also meant our teacher knew exactly what level we were at and what we needed to work on. And the activities were great, allowing us to explore the area, adjust to the different culture, and speak spanish outside of the classroom. Staying with a local family was a great experience as well. I only wish I had the time to stay longer. Hajar Courteau. Vancouver, Canada I stayed for 7 weeks in Xela and studied Spanish in the School Guatemalensis. When I started my only known words had been: "vamos a la playa" y "gracias". So not that much. But the nice and familiarly atmosphere at the school and my family made me learn very quickly. Although the activities in the afternoons had been very interesting and showed a good mix of cultural, social and funny sides of Xela and Guatemala. The school had been very flexible with my wishes for having times changed or making a break in between. Every time I had questions or problems somebody had been there for talking with and help my out. My family I stayed with is now deep connected in my heart. Now I am travelling on my own and I can express everything I want to say in Spanish, and it helps me a lot. Thank you for everything and I will come back!!! Ich lernte fuer 7 Wochen in Xela in der Schule Guatemalensis spanisch. Als ich anfing waren meine einzigsten Worte: "vamos a la playa" und "Gracias"! Nicht gerade sehr viel. Doch die nette und familiaere Atmosphaere in der Schule und in der Familie mit der ich lebte liessen mich sehr schnell lernen. Ebenfalls die Aktivitaeten am Nachmittag waren gut geplant und zeigten ein vielfaeltiges Bild an kulturellen, socialen und lustigen Seiten von Xela und Guatemala. Die Schule hat sich ebenfalls als flexibel erwiesen und meinen Wuenschen nach Zeitaenderungen oder Pausen entsprochen. Jederzeit gab es offene Ohren fuer Fragen und Probleme meinerseits. Die Familie mit der ich zusammen wohnte habe ich fest in mein Herz geschlossen. Nun reise ich selbststaendig und kann mich jederzeit richtig auf spanisch ausdruecken, es hilft mir enorm. Gracias fuer alles und ich komme wieder!!! Sonja Harms, Germany "Even though I was going to Xela for several months to study spanish, I decided only to sign up of two weeks at Guatemalensis. It was a school that I had come across on the internet. I liked the school and ended up staying at Guatemalensis for three months. I had a very full schedule but they were willing to work with me and were extremely flexible which enabled me to work on my master's in the morning and still be able to take spanish classes in the afternoon. " To, madala. Heather Vezina, U.S.A. Guatemalensis is a great place to study Spanish! The staff are wonderful -very helpful and accomodating. The trips that are arranged by the school are informative and fun as well. The Spanish spoken in Guatemala is easy to understand and that makes it easier for the students who are studying here. I was very impressed by the knowledge of both the language and the culture that the teachers have. I would recommend this school to anyone looking for a high quality school in a safe location. Nancy Sparacio (Spanish Teacher, U.S.A.) Guatemalensis Spanish School is a well run institution. The teaching is entirely one-on-one, and while the teachers know English, the teaching is in Spanish so that students can practice hearing and comprehend the Spanish language. After the five hour morning session there are extracurricular activities, such as trips to the near by volcano, or 16th. century church. Students are housed with local families to further facilitate their practice of Spanish. Students are also provided with free internet services if they wish to communicate with friends and family. All in all it is a great learning experience. Michael DeSonier. U.S.A. This School is the best school in the world. The one on one instruction is really beneficial and the staff creates a very friendly and welcoming environment. Very Good! Josh Meyers, Australia This School has a great friendly and fun atmosphere. They make learning Spanish less difficult due to the one-on-one teachers, and all the teachers are understanding and patient with you. James Manning, Australia. Guatemalensis provided me with one of the best expeciences of my life! Nora and Rolando are some of the kindest people I have ever met and the staff of teachers were all incredibly helpful and intelligent. There is no better way to get a quality Guatemalan experience than through Guatemalensis. I would recommend this school to anyone who expreses even an inkling of interest in learning Spanish. Stenn Jedele, U.S.A. There’s nothing that I didn’t like about the school. If there’s anything I would recommend to any newcomers, it would have to be to come with a mindset to learn Spanish. If you’re really not wanting to learn, then don’t go to this school. The teachers here are amazing. They will teach you all you need to know about Spanish. It is your responsibility to study and learn yourself. The people ahead of this school, Rolando and Nora, are amazing people. They will take care of you. They will always make sure of how you are doing. They make learning Spanish fun . They plan excursions and activities for the school. On those excursions, you will have the chance to practice speaking Spanish. This is also an opportunity to explore God’s creation. Carmen Bradford, U.S.A. Thank you for a great experience. Everything from my host family to the school activities/excursions was fun and adventurous. My Spanish teacher was very patient with me and I learned more than I thought possible in 5 days. My host family was also wonderful and very accomodating and generous. The GSS social project was particularly rewarding -my favorite part of the trip. Rolando and Nora are also great and I think it is wonderful that they take part in the afternoon activities with the students. The teachers at GSS are all very friendly and helped make my experience at GSS even better. Thank you for a wonderful time! Nora Graber. U.S.A. I found my experience at Guatemalensis very rewarding. The teachers and organizers were organized extremely well every day and always had the Spanish lessons planned properly. Several times a week, the student would go on field trips in and around Xela. For example, we went to hot springs, a glass manufacturing factory, a family run carpet manufacturing business and hiked up a volcano. I would like to return to Guatemalensis soon to continue my Spanish studies. Quetzal Johnson. Canada I studied at Guatemalensis Spanish School for three weeks this year. The school is run perfectly by the charming and funny Rolando and Nora. It is their baby and it shows. They put all their efforts into maintaining the quality of the institution and making the students feel at home. They also come on many of the numerous field trips run by the school. The teachers are all very friendly and patient. The courses are run at each students' pace and adjusted to their needs. I have learnt enough Spanish to continue my trip through Central America with the ability to catch transport, book rooms and have simple conversations with locals. These excursions are well organised and extremely affordable with only the costs for transportation. They are also highly varied, from volcano hikes to hot springs and even roof top barbeques. They offer fantastic opportunities to see the area as well as a chance to practice your new linguistic skills. I would highly recommend Guatemalensis to anyone wishing to study Spanish in a friendly environment with qualified teachers within a well established school. Lucy Hurrey Australia My experience at Guatemalensis was a very positive one. The staff here is very kind and accomodating. They welcomed me warmly, and saw that I was always provided for. When I was sick one day they called the house where I was staying to check on me. I would definitely recommend Guatemalensis to anyone who wants a small, thoughtful Spanish School with plenty of caring people. Meridith Owensby, U.S.A.
This was my first trip out the USA and I couldn't have asked for a better or more complete experience! Getting to Xela was easy and not nerve racking by any means because of the clarity and complete directions and involvement of the school and directors. Though it wouldn't have been impossible it was a great relief for both me and my mom to know how I would be getting from Guatemala City to Xela beforhand. I think it makes coming here an option for young students as well! My homestay family are great. they are willing to offer anything they can and they correct my spanish, and that's what I'm here for. Taking the students to different places makes the experience whole. As far as the classes, I learned the conditional and got a great review of most of the other tenses as well as much practice. Other that I really enjoyed the very relaxed atmosphere and personalities of the Directors! and Teachers. Wonderful..I might have to return! Lizzie Steinert, U.S.A. I would tell people I see that this school is very good. I would recommend this to other people. I have learned more here then I have back in the U.S. That is what I would say to other people. Thank you for teaching me Spanish. This trip here has been fun. I hope to see you again. Kyle Sparacio (18, U.S.A) Two years ago I took a group of my high school Spanish students to this school for a two-week interim program, and it was one of the best educational experiences I've ever had as a teacher. Nora and Rolando became good friends of ours. They are incredibly caring and devoted to their work. I have nothing but positive memories from the experience. We had no trouble at all as far as safety issues with our students. They all stayed in host families (one student per family), as did I, and this helped enhance the experience. We also enjoyed cultural events at the school in the evenings and beautiful hikes to see the nearby volcanoes. I can't wait to go back with another group of students. B. Schletty, U.S.A. 5 semaines absolument ideales a la Guatemalensis Spanish School : une prof ultra competente et sympathique, une famille adorable, des activites variees et interessantes et des rencontres enrichissantes... De plus Rolando et Nora, les responsables de l'ecole sont toujours la pour aider un etudiant qui en a besoin. En bref, je recommande chaudement cette ecole a qui veut apprendre rapidement et agreablement l'espagnol tout en decouvrant le Guatemala!! Caroline Bourgeois, France Guatemalensis Spanish School is a great place to be not only to learn the Spanish language, but to be in good company as well. I came into the school with a basic knowledge of the language, solely the present tense, and I am leaving after 9 days with a comfortable grasp ot the preterite and imperfect past tenses, future, nouns, pronouns, prepositions, and much more. The one-on-one teacher student set up is ideal for learning at the pace you want, asking questions when needed, and creating a wonderful relationship. My time at Guatemalensis has been invaluable because of the Spanish I have learned, the comfort zone harnessed in a foreign country, and the teachers and staff. Not to mention, the fact that it is a non-profit school that supports impoverished families helps to make Guatemalensis the place to learn Spanish in Xela. I would, and will, recommend Guatemalensis to anyone with a will to learn spanish or travel to Guatemala. Thank you for everything. Joanna Hoffman, U.S.A. Registration was very easy, and the staff friendly. I appreciate the extra services, free internet, etc. Over all, a very worthwhile experience. I would like to have had more time to stay at Guatemalensis. Gene Trantham, U.S.A. I had a wonderful time at Guatemalensis. I studied spanish here for 5 weeks and feel that I learned a lot. I enjoyed the activities in the afternoons and weekends as well. All of the teachers were very nice and helpful, and it was great to receive one-on-one instruction. Xela, as well, is a nice place to stay. I think it is better to study here, as opposed to Antigua, because there are not as many tourists, and you are forced to speak more spanish. I would highly recommend Guatemalensis to anyone waiting to have a fabulous time in Guatemala and learn spanish too! Meghan Hunter Bell, U.S.A. Guatemalensis Spanish School is a well run institution. The teaching is entirely one-on-one, and while the teachers know English, the teaching is in Spanish so that students can practice hearing and comprehend the Spanish language. After the five hour morning session there are extracurricular activities, such as trips to the near by volcano, or 16th. century church. Students are housed with local families to further facilitate their practice of Spanish. Students are also provided with free internet services if they wish to communicate with friends and family. All in all it is a great learning experience. Michael DeSonier. U.S.A. This School is the best school in the world. The one on one instruction is really beneficial and the staff creates a very friendly and welcoming environment. Very Good! Josh Meyers, Australia This School has a great friendly and fun atmosphere. They make learning Spanish less difficult due to the one-on-one teachers, and all the teachers are understanding and patient with you. James Manning, Australia. A friend of mine heard of this Spanish School in Guatemala from friends who had visited this school some years before. They liked it very much and because of that we decided to go there, too. At the beginning I couldn't speak spanish at all, but 5 weeks later I was able to make a conversation in Spanish.The time at the school was very funny, too. We have only been three students because it was out of season. Because of that we could always decide which activities we wanted to do. There are a lot of diferent things you can do around Xela and it has always been very funny with the teachers and the owners of the school, Nora and Rolando. Now I can say that the time I spent at the school was very nice and the spanish I learned was more that I espected. Cheers! Martin Guddy Gutmann, Germany. Guatemalensis Spanish School has been a great place for me to study and improve my Spanish. I have been studying Spanish in University and never spent the proper time studying Spanish because I always learned for the test. In GSS I was able to concentrate on my personal mistakes with Spanish and work at my own speed, learning what I found useful for daily functioning in a Spanish speaking country. The activities were interesting and Nora was open to ideas about what we wanted to do. Also the family I stayed with was wonderful, they were good about speaking slowly in Spanish, creating a nice interactive environment. The food was also very good. Overall, I can say my time in Xela at GSS was time well spent. Alaina Robertson. U.S.A. My wife and I studied at Guatemalensis for three weeks and highly recommend it. Our teachers were very knowledgeable and professional, and the school's family-like atmosphere provided ample opportunity to practice Spanish. Thomas & Kelly Okie (U.S.A.) This is the best way to get to know the Country and its people, the directors could not be more helpful and the teachers are brilliant and very patient. The excursions are varied, inexpensive and a lot of fun. This is an amazing country and I would recommend the school to everyone. Andrew Keogh, Australia Guatemalensis Spanish School has been a great place for me to study and improve my Spanish. I have been studying Spanish in University and never spent the proper time studying Spanish because I always learned for the test. In GSS I was able to concentrate on my personal mistakes with Spanish and work at my own speed, learning what I found useful for daily functioning in a Spanish speaking country. The activities were interesting and Nora was open to ideas about what we wanted to do. Also the family I stayed with was wonderful, they were good about speaking slowly in Spanish, creating a nice interactive environment. The food was also very good. Overall, I can say my time in Xela at GSS was time well spent. Alaina Robertson. U.S.A. "Even though I was going to Xela for several months to study spanish, I decided only to sign up of two weeks at Guatemalensis. It was a school that I had come across on the internet. I liked the school and ended up staying at Guatemalensis for three months. I had a very full schedule but they were willing to work with me and were extremely flexible which enabled me to work on my master's in the morning and still be able to take spanish classes in the afternoon. " To, madala. Heather Vezina, U.S.A. Guatemalensis is a great place to study Spanish! The staff are wonderful -very helpful and accomodating. The trips that are arranged by the school are informative and fun as well. The Spanish spoken in Guatemala is easy to understand and that makes it easier for the students who are studying here. I was very impressed by the knowledge of both the language and the culture that the teachers have. I would recommend this school to anyone looking for a high quality school in a safe location. Nancy Sparacio (Spanish Teacher, U.S.A.)
|
|
Adults, Professionals, Educators
|
|
click here for the English website Klick hier in der Deutschen Site
Tours, Hikes, Treks and Excursions are supported by:
Experience May Term in Guatemala Experience May Term in Guatemala 2015
Certified and Authorized Tour Guides
Founded in 1990
|
|
COPYRIGHT ©1990-2025 GUATEMALENSIS SPANISH SCHOOL. GSS, Xinka Tours, spanland, www.spanland.com. All rights reserved.
Authorized and Registered
by the Ministry of Education of Guatemala
and by
the Guatemalan Tourism Institute. Certified, Authorized and Registered Tour Operator and team of
guides. |
