Comments on: Studying Spanish in Guatemala: Quetzaltenango vs. Antigua

By: emily

emily — Sat, 14 May 2011 22:27:02 +0000

Definitely agree – Xela all the way!
If you want to volunteer around Xela, the best way to do it is through the NGO Entremundos, as they have the same contacts as the schools use, plus many many more. I think over a hundred different organizations, and they update their info regularly and visit the projects. Their website is http://www.entremundos.org

I studied on a friends recommendation at Utatlan Spanish School ( http://www.spanishxela.com ) and loved it. A small but v. professional school by central park. Great if you don’t want to have to walk far around the city! I switched teachers several times while i was studying, not because the teachers weren’t good, but it was to get a different style, and get to know different people. I recommend it.

By: Beth

Beth — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 16:06:05 +0000

I could not recommend Xela more as a great place to learn Spanish & soak up the culture of Guatemala. I spent 2 weeks there staying w/ a host family & attending classes at Pop Wuj (http://www.pop-wuj.org/). It’s a sustainable teachers cooperative who have worked on developing meaningful partnerships with community outreach and they teach one-to-one.

I can also highly recommend Quetzal Trekkers, we had a great trip up Volcano Tajumulco, with them. Although I don’t necessarily recommend doing it the day after you walk off the plane. Getting used to the high altitude while climbing was intense.

Have a great trip!

By: Guatemala article published on Matador Travel — Matt Bigelow - Freelance Writer

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:18:13 +0000

[...] I just wrote and published an article on studying Spanish in Guatemala over on MatadorAbroad.com, part of Matador Travel, an online community for travelers. An excerpt: Studying Spanish in Guatemala: Quetzaltenango Vs. Antigua [...]

By: Audrey

Audrey — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:42:29 +0000

My husband and I studied Spanish in Xela earlier this year and can attest that it is a great place to study. The town has a lot of services for foreign students – cafes with wifi, foreign restaurants, shops, etc. – but the town is big enough to absorb this so there is still a local feel. And, the opportunities to volunteer and get involved are endless.

I also agree that you should change schools/teachers/home stays if something isn’t working out for you. Some homestay families have been housing students for 15 years, so if you want a different experience ask the school to place you with a newer family. Same goes with teachers – my teacher the first week really wasn’t great, but my teacher the second week was fantastic. It’s your learning experience, so try to get the best of it.

I’d also recommend checking out Quetzal Trekkers (in Casa Argentina). They organize day or multi-day trips to nearby volcanoes and the Georgina hot springs. Everyone working there is a volunteer and 100% of the proceeds to go a school for street kids – a great organization.