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 Situated in one of the oldest and most
historical buildings in Xela, (Quetzaltenango)
Miguel de Cervantes School of Spanish gives you the opportunity to taste
the culture of Guatemala while you learn.
How you study Spanish is your choice. You
have the option to learn the Spanish language with private instruction,
outdoors in one of the quaint courtyards, upstairs on a balcony or deck,
or take your Spanish lessons indoors amongst the tall ceilings
surrounded by art.
At our school you won’t be trapped in some small stuffy classroom in the summer.
Our instructors are certified and
experienced in teaching the Spanish language. They design the teaching
programs to accommodate the needs and desires of each student. We
encourage our teachers and students to get outside the classroom to
visit the historical, cultural, inviting places of Xela, the jewel of
Guatemala.
Or perhaps take a couple hours to visit one of
the many marketplaces sprinkled throughout the city. Learning to speak
Spanish can simply be a part of your vacation to our great city, there
is lots to see.
The city is safe. There is very little
crime in Xela. The reason for this is that our
major industry is education. Xela boasts 5 universities more than 25
trade schools plus 30 language schools. People from all over the world
come here to get educated. The colonial atmosphere plus the blend of
education and old world values makes Xela one of the safest destinations
in all of Central America.
Why Study Spanish?
Why study Spanish? Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages in
the world. It is estimated that upwards to 400 million people speak the
language, with the vast majority of those people living in North,
Central, and South America. With a little work and effort on your part,
you can learn and speak a new language and thus be able to communicate
to millions of new people.
If you already want to speak Spanish, you need to choose a language
school in order to learn the language. Perhaps you are traveling to
Mexico or Central and South America and need to learn the essentials in
order to communicate. Maybe you are trying to learn the basics for
language development in order to become fluent in the future. Maybe you
need to improve your writing and conversational skills in order to
volunteer at any number of worthwhile organizations and projects.
Whatever your reasons for learning the language, the teachers and staff
at Miguel de Cervantes believe this is the correct place for you.
Why Choose Miguel de Cervantes School of
Spanish?
Why choose Miguel de Cervantes Spanish School? We are not going to lie.
There are fine Spanish language schools in Xela (Quetzaltenango). Of
course, at the same time, there are more than a few unqualified Spanish
language schools throughout Xela and the rest of Guatemala
What sets us apart from other schools is the emphasis our teachers and
staff put on each individual student. The teachers and staff at Miguel
de Cervantes provide the highest quality Spanish language education. We
have qualified, well-trained, and professional teachers and staff. Our
learning environment is intimate, friendly, and always one-on-one.
Attention on our students is, of course, our number one priority.
If it is your interest to learn, improve, or perfect your writing,
reading, speaking, and comprehension skills, then look no further than
Miguel de Cervantes. If it is your goal to experience and understand
Guatemalan culture, Guatemalan society, and Guatemalan politics, then
look no further than Miguel de Cervantes. If it is your interest to
immerse yourself in everything that Guatemala has to offer, then look no
further than Miguel de Cervantes Spanish School.
At Miguel de Cervantes our staff takes an active interest in your life.
We are a smaller school when compared to some of the large schools that
call Xela home. However, bigger does not mean better. There are a fair
number of Spanish schools that treat the students much like a business
commodity. Often the student will rarely, if ever, meet the owner or
owners. The owner and much of staff will almost never take an active
role in the students´ lives. With so many students at these schools, it
is easy to be lost in the crowd. It is easy for the students´ opinions,
questions, and problems to be ignored. However, these same schools will
have no problem taking your money.
This is definitely not the case at Miguel de Cervantes. The teachers and
staff take great pride in getting to know each individual student. The
students most definitely matter to us. We encourage you to read our
former students´ testimonials. We are a small school that will work with
your interests, whether Guatemalan culture, politics, history, or
anything else. At the same time you will improve your Spanish
conversational and comprehensive skills.
Our teachers have years of experience teaching Spanish to language
students from around the globe. Our teachers are all certified to teach
Spanish. Our teaching staff also receives periodic teaching courses and
refresher courses within the school. Basically, our teachers are
certified and well-trained to teach Spanish to language students. We
realize that your experience at a language school will be at the center
of your Guatemalan experience. Thus we are dedicated to offering our
students the most effective language study program.
Here is how we offer you a chance at a great education as well as a
great Guatemalan experience closely approaching the ideal of true
cultural immersion:
" We offer our students five hours of one-on-one Spanish classes. There
is always the option for three to four hours of one-on-one classes.
However, we suggest five hours, especially for new students. This
ensures that the student becomes acclimated to the language.
" We offer you a home-stay with a Guatemalan family. We have carefully
selected our families to ensure you will be treated like a member of the
family with ample opportunity to speak Spanish. You will not be treated
like a business commodity. Staying with a Guatemalan family is an
important part of your language and cultural experience. Although for
true Guatemalan immersion we suggest a home-stay with a family, we
understand that sometimes students like the freedom of living on their
own. We can help students find a guesthouse, hostel, or hotel that meets
their budgetary demands. If there is available space, the student can
stay at our guesthouse.
" We can help students with the many worthwhile volunteer opportunities
in the Xela area. There are dozens and dozens of organizations and
projects that need volunteers. We will do our best to place you with an
organization of your choosing. One should remember, however, that in
order to be placed in some organizations or projects, the volunteer
often must commit to a minimum amount of time (from just weeks to a
year) and must possess a minimum "level" of Spanish in order to serve
them. It should be noted that there are plenty of organizations willing
to work with volunteers for short amounts of time and at any "level" of
Spanish.
" In order for a student to become truly immersed we also lead
activities about the culture, politics, customs, and history of
Guatemala and its people. These activities could include documentaries
and movies, conferences, discussions, presentations, dance classes,
cooking classes, and daytrips within Xela or to neighboring villages.
And we are always open to planning special activities around your
particular interests.
On the first day of class the teacher and student will evaluate your
Spanish comprehension skills. However, we DO NOT separate our students
into "beginner," "intermediate," and "advanced." We believe these are
vague and artificial titles. The teacher and student will evaluate
together what the student needs improvement on. Afterwards the student
and teacher will develop a study plan for the week that reflects the
needs, interests, and expectations of the student. To expose the student
to different teaching styles and different accents, the teachers are
rotated every week or every other week.
Miguel de Cervantes School of Spanish has various materials for your
use, including grammar and exercise books and reading books in Spanish
for your pleasure. Of course, these materials are for your use as a
supplement to your classes. These and other materials may be used for
homework or for additional help with lessons.
It should be noted that Miguel de Cervantes School of Spanish
continually evaluates the staff, teachers, and host families in order to
provide the best services to the students. In fact, the students are a
key component to this evaluation process.
Why Visit Guatemala?
Guatemala is the ideal choice for Spanish language courses and cultural
immersion. Guatemala sits at the Northern end of Central America. It
borders Mexico to the North and West, Belize to the Northeast, Honduras
to the East, and El Salvador to the Southeast. Guatemala also sits in
between two massive bodies of water. The Caribbean Sea lies to the East
and the Pacific Ocean lies to the South. For many travelers, Guatemala
is the quintessential destination, being the gateway connecting North,
Central, and South America.
Just as Guatemala's strategic location is important for many a traveler,
its topography is equally important and quite diverse. In fact, it is
impossible for a country to have a more diverse landscape. Guatemala is
around sea level at its beautiful and warm Caribbean and Pacific coasts.
Its elevation climbs to over 4,215 meters (13,800 feet) in the highlands
at the summit of its highest inactive volcano, Tajumulco (the third
highest volcano in the world). The jungles, rain forests, beaches,
valleys, and the mountains are accessible and are often only hours from
one another.
For many, the best reason to travel and study Spanish in Guatemala is
the people. The culture of over 12 million Guatemalan people is as
diverse as the landscape. This cultural diversity sets Guatemala apart
from the rest of Central America. In fact, Guatemala is one of the most
culturally diverse countries in the entire world. Guatemala has around
24 different languages and ethnic groups, of which 21 are of the Mayan
peoples. Since it is quite difficult to communicate to others in
different Mayan languages, the vast majority of people need to
communicate in Spanish.
Of course, another popular reason people come to Guatemala in order to
travel and study is the price. Guatemala makes perfect sense for the
budget-conscious traveler. Money stretches far in Guatemala, which is
why so many travelers stay in Guatemala for months at a time. Language
schools, hotels, hostels, guest houses, restaurants, little sidewalk
eateries, outdoor markets, and tiendas are cheaper in Guatemala than the
rest of the Americas and Mexico. Guatemala, not surprisingly, is a
central destination for backpackers and serious language schools
students and volunteers since it is not difficult to survive on a few
dollars a day. Added to this the extremely cheap and efficient
transportation system and the numerous hiking and exploration
opportunities, it is no wonder many travelers are confident traveling in
Guatemala.
What Can I See in Guatemala?
Guatemala's rich history, spectacular terrain, and diverse people and
culture have ensured a steady flow of travelers, backpackers, students,
volunteers, and academics. Guatemala is home to dense jungles, rain
forests, and wildlife reserves. Guatemala is home to hundreds of birds,
plants, insects, and animals, some of which are almost extinct.
Guatemala is the home of gorgeous oceans, seas, rivers, turquoise
lagoons, waterfalls, lakes (including the world's most beautiful lake,
Lake Atitlán), sulfer baths, and other breathtaking natural wonders.
Guatemala is the home of fertile valleys, dense forests, caves,
mountains, and volcanoes perfect for hiking, climbing, and exploring.
There are active and inactive volcanoes in Guatemala, especially in the
highlands. Guatemala is home to Central America's highest mountain peak
(La Torre), highest volcano (Tajumulco, the highest point in ALL of
Central America), and its most active and hence ¨dangerous¨ volcano (Santiaguito).
Guatemala is the home of wonderful cities with vibrant cultural scenes,
showcasing wonderful museums, churches, theatres, music cafes, and
traditional fiestas. Guatemala's towns and cities have active night
scenes with fiestas, active night-clubs, traditional, international, and
vegetarian restaurants, bars, coffee houses, internet cafes, movie
theatres, and live local music.
At the same time, Guatemala is the home of traditional Mayan
(indigenous) villages and towns with large outdoor markers, vibrant and
traditional traje (clothing), day and week-long festivals, unique and
authentic religious practices and ceremonies, and traditional customs
still unchanged since the ancient Mayan civilizations.
Guatemala is the home of some of the world's greatest archeological
sites, thanks to its great Mayan civilization. The Mayan ruins, many of
which still have yet to be excavated, are nothing short of spectacular.
And, of course, Guatemala is the home of a dark and troubled political
past and present, usually targeted against the indigenous Mayan people.
For more information on Guatemala's troubled past and present, including
its atrocious civil war, which left over 200,000 dead, check out these
books:
" Oakah L. Jones Jr.'s Guatemala in the Spanish Colonial Period
" Paul Dostel's Doing Business With the Dictators: A Political History
of the United Fruit Company in Guatemala, 1899-1944
" Victor Perera's Unfinished Conquest: The Guatemalan Tragedy
" Rigoberta Menchu's Ï, Rigoberta Menchu: An Indian Woman in Guatemala
" Robert Wright's Time Among the Maya
" Daniel Wilkinson's Silence on the Mountain
" Jennifer Harbury's Searching for Everardo
The movies El Norte, La Hija del Puma, and Men With Guns are all very
good, yet sad movies pertaining to the Guatemalan civil war and the
military and paramilitary role within it. Some good books on Mayan
history and culture include Robert J. Sharer's The Ancient Maya; Michael
D. Coe's The Mayan; and David Freidel, Linda Schele, Jay Parkers' Maya
Cosmos: Three Thousand Years of the Shaman's Path.
Is it Easy To Stay for a While?
While it is easy to stay in Guatemala for months at time due to its
great diversity and its economic prices, it is also easy to stay for
long periods in Guatemala due to its lenient visa policy towards the
citizens of many countries.
Citizens of Canada, the United States, Switzerland, Israel, Japan,
Australia, New Zealand, Norway, and the EU countries do not need visas
for tourist visits to Guatemala. Visitors from some countries, including
Eastern European countries, Iceland, and South Africa do need visas in
order to visit Guatemala. Thus it is suggested for those who need visas
to inquire at a Guatemalan embassy months in advance of travel.
For the majority of privileged travelers, however, a 90-day stay is
given upon entry into Guatemala. One simply needs to present his or her
passport to the Guatemalan immigration officials and the number "90" is
either stamped or written inside the passport.
This can easily be extended for another 90 days at the Departmento de
Extranjeria (Foreigners Office located in the Inguat Headquarters) in
Guatemala City or simply by traveling to one of the many countries
bordering Guatemala. Hundreds of foreigners have been repeating this
process for years as it is almost impossible to receive dual-citizenship
in Guatemala.
The height of the tourist seasons are from June to August (when
foreigners fly to Guatemala to travel and study the language), and
during the Christmas, New Year, and Easter Holidays.
Why Choose Xela (a.k.a.
Quetzaltenango) to Study Spanish?
Xelaju, or Xela (pronounced shay-lah), is the original site where
Spanish conquistadors built their town and slaughtered many of its
inhabitants. Xela is the center and home of the K'iche' Mayan people.
K'iche' Mayans incorporate perhaps over half of Xela´s 250,000 to
300,000 people. Unlike its more famous sister, Guatemala City, Xela is
relatively clean, orderly, friendly, polite, and safe. This is thanks to
it being a center of education and art. Xela, unlike towns closer to the
capital, Guatemala City, is mountainous and thus less frequented by
regular tourists. The second largest city in all of Guatemala, Xela is
surrounded by volcanoes and mountains. The scenery is nothing short of
breath-taking.
In fact, within a short distance to Xela sits Volcán Tajumulco (4,220
meters), the highest point in all of Central America and third highest
volcano in the world, Volcán Santa Maria (3,772 meters), which towers
over the southern part of the city, and the active Volcán Santiaguito
(2,488 meters), which sits next to Santa Maria. All of these volcanoes,
as well as others within a short distance away, such as Volcán Zunil or
Laguna Chicabal, are possible to climb.
Living in Xela allows one to be a short day-trip away from wonderful
lakes, hot springs, and steam baths. Within a short distance away from
Xela are steam baths at Almolonga, hot sulfer springs at Fuentes
Georginas, sauna and steam baths at Los Vahos, and natural and hot
sulfer springs at Los Baños. Within an hour by bus (and a couple hour
hike) is the gorgeous and sacred Laguna Chicabal, which is a small lake
that sits in the middle of Volcán Chicabal´s crater. This area is quite
sacred to the local Mayan people and is especially gorgeous since fog
and clouds continually approach and rest on top of the water. Lake
Atitlán, which many folks believe is the most beautiful lake in the
world, is only two and half hours away by bus (and costs only $2 to
travel to by "chickenbus").
There are literally dozens of amazing open-air markets selling local
produce, traditional or Western clothing, hand-made artisan products,
woven and colorfully died products, and an array of other things in and
around Xela. Thanks to the chaotic, yet efficient bus system in Xela and
Guatemala, it is easy to get around Xela or to the many small villages
in the area. Within a small day-trip are dozens of wonderful and often
traditional Mayan villages with authentic markets, unusual churches,
can´t-miss deities, religious festivals, ceremonial hills, and a whole
array of other discoveries.
There are wonderful traditional markets in the nearby villages of
Momostenango (famous for its heavy woolen blankets called chamarras),
Zunil (which includes a women´s handicraft cooperative), San Francisco
El Alto (literally Guatemala´s garment district), and Totonicapán
(famous for its artisan's crafts and tours). One can take a two and a
half hour road trip to Chichicastenango, which is full of wonderful and
world-famous handicrafts. Xela has a number of fine outdoor markers as
well.
Xela holds a number of museums as well, including the "infamous" Museo
de Historia, located on the south side of Parque Central. This museum
has wonderful exhibits on the Mayan people, Central American politics,
the history of Xela, and a bunch of other things. It is a must-see for
many, however, not for its wonderful exhibits, but for its stuffed
animals and freaks. With animals incorporating too many legs or heads,
with a collection of the meanest looking birds, with creatures of the
sea many visitors cannot believe exist, and for the pure fact that one
can see a stuffed quetzal, it is easy to see how the majority of
visitors leave more perplexed than when they entered.
Xela has a lively night life and a wonderful cultural scene often
centered around its art, activist, and international volunteer scenes.
Restaurants, bars, clubs, cafés, coffee shops, and internet bars are in
abundance. Xela, however, is not primarily a tourist city and continues
to retain its traditions, much like many of the small villages in the
area. Many of the residents continue to speak in their native tongue and
dress in traditional and colorful clothing.
The most important reason to visit Xela, of course, is to study Spanish.
The environment in Xela closely approaches the total immersion ideal of
Spanish language study, unlike some of other language centers in
Guatemala. There is also a lively volunteer scene in Xela, with many
people studying Spanish and volunteering on a daily basis.
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