Learn Spanish In Guatemala

Learning Spanish in Guatemala

Learning a new language is always a challenging and scary, and deciding to learn it in a country other than your home country is even more complex. However, in most cases learning the language in a country where you have complete immersion in the language is a great way to learn a new language. So if you are in the process of making the decision, or if you're still considering studying Spanish in a Spanish speaking country, then Guatemala should be among your top choices.

Guatemala is one of the best places to study Spanish in the world. In this Central American country you will have a diverse variety of schools willing to teach you Spanish from scratch to become an expert. It is considered one of the cheapest countries to learn Spanish, and it is also one of the countries with an almost "neutral" accent, which will greatly benefit your learning of the language. Another advantage of the classes in Guatemala is that they are personalized, so you will have a personal tutor who will be in charge of your progress in the classes.

It is worth mentioning that if you are planning to travel in Latin America, speaking Spanish will open many doors, and will save you hundreds of problems since you will be able to solve the situations that arise in the local language. And you will not depend on someone who speaks or half-understands English to help you express yourself. Without a doubt, speaking Spanish will make your travel experience a hundred times better.

For all these reasons we have prepared a space where we give you some recommendations before making the decision to study Spanish in Guatemala.

Decide where you want to learn

In Guatemala there are many destinations where you can learn Spanish, mostly touristy and very beautiful. The decision of where you would like to go to study will depend on the type of program you are looking for.

Antigua Guatemala

This beautiful colonial city is one of the most visited tourist destinations in the country, and is considered by many to be the best preserved colonial city in Latin America, along with Cartagena de Indias in Colombia. In addition to its natural and architectural beauty, Antigua Guatemala has a wide variety of Spanish schools, with programs to suit the different needs you may have. Soon we will get to the different programs you could apply to, for the moment you should only know that in this city there is the largest offer of Spanish schools in the country. So if you are looking for a very specific program, you will surely find it in Antigua.

Atitlán

Lake Atitlán offers a wonderful view of the lake surrounded by volcanoes, along with an atmosphere of tranquility and peace that is conducive to learning a new language. Panajachel, San Pedro or San Juan La Laguna are some of the most visited towns and with more tourist services of the 12 towns that are around the lake. However, their visits do not compare to the number of people who visit Antigua Guatemala. This is beneficial when you are looking for a total immersion in the language.

In Atitlán you will find excellent Spanish academies as well as homestay or volunteer programs that will help your language development to be more advanced.

If you want to know more about Lake Atitlán you can check out our Top Destinations: Lake Atitlán section.

Xela

The city of Quetzaltenango, or "Xela" as it is colloquially known, is the second largest city in Guatemala, and one of the most traditional in terms of the lifestyle of the country's citizens. It is precisely this that makes it a very attractive city to learn Spanish in Guatemala, as you will have the opportunity for a much more real local immersion than you can have in tourist destinations such as those mentioned above.

In Xela you will have Spanish academies focused more on academic learning, which will help you in case you need to prepare for an exam, or you need to present an academic grade for a study entity.

Choose your type of experience

Learning is not a linear process, and not everyone is the same, and in Guatemala they are very clear about that. That's why they have a catalog of experiences that adapts to the type of learning you would like to have. Below you will find some of the most famous experiences that you can choose from

• Study and travel
• Study and volunteer
• Spanish for short time traveler
• Spanish for flight attendants
• Business Spanish
• Medical Spanish
• Formal course Spanish

Choose the school you want to attend

One of the advantages of studying in Guatemala is the diversity of schools to choose from. The choice will depend on where you are staying (as most are in one location) and the type of experience you want to have at the school. For example, if you are living in Antigua you will not be able to easily access a school in Atitlan, as you will have to travel more than 3 hours every day to attend classes. Therefore you will have to choose a school near Antigua with the program you want. The same is true if you are looking for a Business Spanish program that is only in Xela, or a volunteer program that is in Atitlan. Choosing your school is as important as the destination where you want to live.

As a recommendation, we advise you to visit the schools in person if you are in the country, or to check all the comments about the school before booking. This way you will avoid misunderstandings and surprises. We also recommend that you do not subscribe to a full program of classes, or at least that you do not pay in full. This will tie you to continue attending classes even if the program does not suit you, or the teacher is not to your liking. The Spanish schools in Guatemala are excellent, but you must choose the one that best suits your needs.

See more Spanish schools in our Directory of Spanish Schools

Find a place to stay

Finally you will have to choose where to stay at your destination. Spanish schools have different programs that you can choose from, here is a preview of some of the programs they offer

Home stay

Immersive experience in the culture. The idea of the homestay is that you stay with a local family to experience the language in its entirety. However, in many occasions, even though you are looking for a local experience, you end up staying in a house with multiple foreigners. As a result, you do not end up practicing Spanish as you would expect. Make sure that the school that offers you these services does not have this type of services, unless you are interested in meeting more foreigners in the area.

Student House

Stay at your school. As in a university boarding school you can stay in the facilities that your school has, but first check if it offers it, since it is not something generalized in all of them.

Hostels

They are usually very economical, and you will have a very fun experience with other foreigners visiting Guatemala. Although it is an attractive option from a cost perspective, you should consider that the hostel is not too noisy or with a party atmosphere. This may not help you in the process of learning a new language.

Vacation Rentals

Rent an apartment for long stays. If your plan is to stay for a long period of time and study Spanish in the meantime, an apartment or house rental is not a bad idea. It can be much cheaper than paying for a hostel, and you will have your own space and comfort.

If you need more support looking for Spanish services in Guatemala consult a Travelisimo Agent.