One on One

Classes are held five days a week for five hours daily, with the opportunity to practice outside of class with your Guatemalan family. At the beginning of each week, the trainer develops a plan of grammar points to work on with the student. In classes the students are presented with grammar, exercises, lectures, dictations, vocabulary, conversation, etc. During the week trainers will work on areas of particular interest to students.

At the end of each week your "maestro" will elaborate on the main points which will be focused on the following week. In each subsequent week, the student builds on the previous week's progress, either with the same trainer or with a different one, according to the student's request.

In addition to language study, various aspects of Guatemalan life: political, cultural, social, environmental and others are incorporated into the classes. In general, classes are held in the morning from 8:00 to 13:00. Each session includes a half-hour break, where you are free to relax in our kitchen or go outside and buy a snack from a traditional street vendor.

To offer complete immersion, classes will not only be held inside. You and your trainer will visit local markets, shops, parks and places near the school, according to your interest.

It is important to us that you are completely satisfied with both your host family and us in Ulew Tinimit at all times. We therefore carry out an evaluation on a weekly basis which gives you the opportunity to air your views and make any suggestions, which we always welcome! Library: The school's library of books and materials both in Spanish and English is constantly expanding. Students may borrow materials such as textbooks, dictionaries, magazines and novels.

However, you are advised to bring your own dictionary for your own convenience

Cost: $150 Per Week

Specific Programs

We offer the opportunity to study Spanish along with alternative medicine/traditional medicine of the indigenous Mayan communities.

The course requires a minimum commitment of four weeks:

The first two weeks will be devoted to an intensive course in Spanish, then to the language of general, alternative, and traditional medicine, with the consultation of experts in the field.
In this space the student will cultivate cultural as well as language fluency which is essential to any thorough and respectful pursuit of the vast medical traditions of the local Mayan communities.

Schedule: 8:00 am to 13:00 pm

In the remaining two weeks the student will learn in the field, applying local treatments and techniques in the community.

This program offers the possibility of learning about alternative medicine, bio-health, and much of the practice of healers of the region, as well as how those theories and skills are integrated with the traditional cosmology of the communities.

Cost: $175 Per Week

Special course for retired persons

This program is for people who have free time and love to travel and have new experiences, but also would like to learn Spanish as a second language. You will combine the study of Spanish with the study of another aspect of Guatemalan culture.

The course consists of 3 hours each day for a total of 15 hours a week. Options for courses of study include:

Spanish and traditional textile weaving
Spanish and dance (Salsa, Merengue or Marimba – the traditional music of Guatemala)
Spanish and Guatemalan cooking.
Spanish and regional tourism.
Cost: $ 175 Per Week.

Spanish classes for law students

This is for law students who do not speak Spanish.

The objective of this course is to assist law students interested in Latino studies as well as International Law to develop their basic skills in reading comprehension and writing legal documents (laws, codes, statutes, contracts, etc) in Spanish. It will focus on legal concepts and technical vocabulary of the law and specifically there will be on opportunity to learn about the judicial system in Guatemala and to focus on Human Rights of Immigrants and the rights of Indigenous Mayan Women. The student can practice legal writing through the development of various documents such as applications, extensions, notaries, administrative documents, trade, labor, civil, etc. They may have the opportunity to participate in local law offices, so they can read files in different areas, as well as the opportunity to visit local courts and observe public hearings in their study time.

Semester abroad

This full immersion program is set up for the long-term students interested in improving their Spanish skills, while at the same time learning the culture of Guatemala. The first three months are dedicated toward the principles and structure of the language. In addition, students participate in a broad range of social activities focused on Guatemalan life and culture, past and present. The following three months students work on application of the language as well as social involvement. Students carry out a community investigation on a topic of their choice and present an essay to the school on their discoveries and conclusions. Many students have earned university credit for this individualized program.

All of our trainers have a professional background and are university educated with a wide range of specialties such as education, economics, social work and politics. The teaching is personalized: for each student one trainer - which allows the pace and the material studied to be tailored to the needs of each student. Our basic principles are:

• To provide effective education of Spanish as a second language.
• To give students and volunteers an insight into the local culture and communities and to create and support new and existing jobs.
• To coordinate and encourage groups, cooperatives and communities in their self-development.