Eurolingua Institute Guatemala

Activity/Tour

Antigua (28,000 pop) is a picturesque, cobblestoned Spanish Colonial City unlike any in the world. Once the capital of New Spain, it houses a wealth of impressive churches, palaces and colonial ruins. With its excellent examples of colonial architecture, Antigua has kept its original character, preserved its monuments and kept its original form intact. The United Nations declared it a World Cultural Heritage Site for its immense historic and cultural value. Its all year round springtime climate - "Land of Eternal Spring" - and charming medieval atmosphere make Antigua the perfect city in which to study. This charming region is just 45 minutes from Guatemala City Airport.

General Description:
Every year, students of all ages (16-75 years), and from many countries and professions, attend Eurolingua's numerous language, cultural, special interest and summer programmes worldwide. Students include private individuals, mature teenagers, university and MBA students, teachers, doctors, professional and business people, corporate executives, diplomats and embassy staff, government employees, military personnel and retired people.

One-to-One Homestays (16-75 years):
Live and study abroad for 1 to 4 weeks, on a full-board basis, in the private family residence of a Eurolingua tutor. You benefit from intensive one-to-one, professional language tuition, enjoy local excursions and share usual family social, cultural and leisure activities. Total immersion in the language, culture and way of life is guaranteed. We collect you at and return you to the nearest airport or railway station. Programmes are available all year.

Group Programmes (16-75 years):
You benefit from a minimum of 15 hours (20 lessons) per week tuition in small friendly groups at one of our Institutes, with cultural visits and leisure activities. In order to maintain linguistic and cultural continuity, accommodation is with a selected, local host family. Studio apartments are also available. Open all year, with and special programmes during the summer.

The Eurolingua Institute teaches 9 languages in 29 countries: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Ecuador, France, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Malta, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, USA and Venezuela.

Typical Day

The Programmes
Classes are held Monday to Friday 08h00-12h00 and 14h00-17h00, except for official holidays. Immersion study allows students at any level to speak Spanish from the very first minute. Even those with no prior knowledge will be completing Spanish phrases and sentences after the first day. No other language will be spoken with your teacher or host family.

Methodology
Students and teachers work one-to-one, allowing students to work at their own pace and level. Particular emphasis is placed in flexibility. Students select topics they wish to emphasise: conversation, comprehension, writing etc. The Institute offers a relaxed, tranquil environment with a choice of studying inside a colonial home or in a bougainvillaea-filled courtyard. Some students enjoy working in the park or strolling through town with their teacher. A few have been known to study over a beer on a local cantina!

Courses begin with mini-dialogues as a combined approach to learning grammar, vocabulary and survival skills. Experts claim that Guatemala is the perfect country in which to learn Spanish because the speech is pure with few adopted English words or slang. Students benefit from teachers being rotated each week.

Sleeping and meals

In order to maintain cultural and linguistic continuity, students are accommodated with a Guatemalan family in Antigua. All families are situated within easy walking distance of the Institute. Students enjoy a private room with three meals per day, a varied and healthy diet. Other accommodation options include hotels or bed & breakfast.

Other Information

Guatemala is a fascinating country to visit and the Institute organises weekend trips. Among the most popular destinations are the breathtaking Lake Atitlᮠand the colourful Indian markets and religious festivals of Chichicastenango. As eighty percent of the country is of Mayan descent, a trip to Tikal, once the greatest of all Mayan cities, is always a big hit with students, as are the surrounding jungle splendours of the Pet鮮 In addition, every week, we organise many after-hours activities so that students and staff can get to know each other, as well as optional excursions in the Institute's minibus to local points of interest. Volleyball, movies, ping-pong, field trips, visit to farms, small villages and ruins, fiestas and happy hours are all free.