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Testimonials and References 1
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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.A Merci
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.) |
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