Guatemala365 - A Survey of Spanish Schools - Learn Spanish in Guatemala

Spanish Academy Antigüeña

Spanish Academy Antigüeña
1a Calle Poniente # 10
Antigua
(+502)-4416-6998

Registration $ 50
Write to the school

Rank

97%

Prices

180 USD for 20 hours per week including host family
100 USD for 20 hours per week without host family
Study one hour daily more or less: add or subtract about USD 25 per week.

School Size

20 - 40 students

Openings

If you plan to study here, it is best if you make your reservations in advance, as the school is small and it tends to fill up quickly.

Summary

This school located near La Merced church receives students from all over the world. The director Julio Garcia himself gives classes. Teachers are experienced (minimum 10 years) and motivated. Tuition is to the point, cubicles are neat and you get an excellent value for your money. However, there are not cushy chairs, plant decorations and fancy books.
The school was victim of its own success and got too crowded in 2008. The director decided to put a limit of forty students (twenty in the mornings and twenty during afternoons) in order to avoid hiring "emergency teachers". Stick to the recommended teachers! Free Internet service from 8 am to 4 pm (limit of 30 minutes per student).
"Antigueña" has the most recommended home stays of any school. Home stays with a private bathroom + $25 per week.
The school was founded in 1985.
Total immersion: You get very near to it with this school, but you are in touristy Antigua.

Registration

Secure Enroll
$ 50 per student.

Spanish Academy Antigüeña ranks top and for this reason it fills up frequently. During the end of the year, March, April and the summer months it is recommended that you enroll at least one month in advance, in order to secure your space in the school.

Need more information?
Write to the school!

With a timely registration, the school can assign you the best teacher from its list. (Contact us for group discounts).

Photo Gallery of Spanish Academy Antigüeña (click here)

Spanish Academy Antigüeña - Details

Teachers

20 excellent teachers have an average of 10+ years of experience and earn an excellent $55 per week. Student´s reports praise teachers of this school.
See details for recommended instructors! [Show Details]

Methods

One on one teaching. The curriculum is the same as in most schools: [Show Details]

Materials

The school gives each student a copy of its home made instruction book. There are blackboards. Director and teachers have personal libraries. Video library: a variety of movies and documentaries. Free Internet (30 minutes per day, per student). [Show Details]

Special Programs

There are programs with instruction focused in the fields of medicine, lawyers, literature and special instruction for children 5 to 12 years (the cost is the same as for adults). Since all students have separate cubicles, children will feel at ease. [Show Details]

Location

Every student teacher team has their own neat cubicle. No garden, but rooftop with a view of volcanoes and Antigua. Kitchen: simple. [Show Details]

Activities

There are four afternoon activities per week, the school pays all expenses. Dancing: Salsa and Merengue courses. Weekend trips are also organized with the students paying most expenses. [Show Details]

Host Families

Host families receive praise in student reports. Good and ample food. Generally the families earn an excellent $80 per week. There is also the option of choosing a host family with a private bathroom for additional cost of $25 per week. Students praise host families, although during high season most of the families give the students somewhat of a boarding house type of treatment, providing mainly food and the room and offer little actual normal family-like interaction to the students. Living standard is simple.
See details for recommended families! [Show Details]

Volunteering

The School refers you to social projects. [Show Details]

Airport Pick-Up Service

The school offers safe and reliable private airport pick up transportation for $35 per person for one-way trip. Discounts for more than two persons. [Show Details]

How to get there How get there

Send yourself an e-mail with information on how to get to Spanish Academy Antigüeña.

From the bus terminal you walk the "Alameda Santa Lucía" up north until you hit a wall, turn right a

Students' Feedback
Alycia Puttcamp aputtcamp@hotmail.com 08 / 2009	Hi, I attended the Spanish Academy Antigueña. This was not my first trip to Antigua, but it was the first time I had any formal type of Spanish instruction. I knew very little basics before my first day. My instructor was Maria Josefa, and I would highly recommend her. Everyone I encountered at the school was very pleasant, helpful, and professional. They made the booking process very easy and accommodating. I studied at this school for 2 weeks, and I was amazed that during the beginning of the second week, I actually had an hour-long conversation with my teacher in Spanish! I was actually speaking a foreign language. Of course it was an elementary subject and in present tense only, but nonetheless I was excited. My only regret was that I didn′t spend more time there. I stayed with the Sactic family, and they couldn′t have been more generous and welcoming. I felt my study materials were adequate and more than helpful. The school′s activities were ok. I most enjoyed the Cerro de la Cruz and the city tour, although I would recommend taking the tour after you′ve had a good base of Spanish, so you can understand it. I plan to return to Antigua later, and if I have time for another week of Spanish, I would definitely go back to this school and recommend it to anyone. Thank you, Alycia (Puttcamp) Brock.
Catherine Orr h.catherine.orr@gmail.com 06 / 2009	Hello, I would be happy to provide feedback. I decided to go to Academia de Español Antigueña in Antigua. I studied for two weeks at Antiguena. My instructor, at Antigueña was Julio, the director of the school, for both weeks. Besides being hilarious, Julio was extremely organized and had a clear and effective teaching method. He was very good about balancing conversational practice with structured instruction. Study resources were fine at this school. This school offered a lot of after school activities, many of which I took advantage of; there were after school trips including a bike tour of the city, tour of the jade factory, etc, which were interesting and worth doing. There were also in-class field trips once a week to places like a coffee farm and a presentation on indigenous dress that were particularly interesting because your teacher went with you and used the trips as a teaching tool. In Antigua I stayed with Rebecca, Olga′s mother. Rebecca and her family were warm and gracious. Rebecca sits with the students while they eat and is eager to help you, practice your Spanish and share hilarious stories that often leave her and the students in stitches around the table. I would recommend this school 100 percent. My time in Guatemala was wonderful (but too fast), and the schools I attended were both great. Thanks to Guatemala365 for helping me find them! If anyone has specific questions for a former student you′re welcome to give him/her my email address. Sincerely, Catherine.
Rachell De Guia rachell.deguia@gmail.com 06 / 2009	Hello, I decided to attend Spanish Academy Antigueña, in Antigua. I studied for 4 weeks (mid June - July) there. I had a really good instructor. Her name was Mayra Sanchez. I enjoyed every lesson with her. Study resources were good, mainly provided by the teacher from a range of books at the school. There was also a range of activities, which was a really good way to practice your spanish and get to meet all the other students. Host family was with Joanna Hernandez. I was the only student there. Meal times were usually with me and her two sons (5 and 12). I would recommend being the only student in a home stay if you already know a bit of spanish to begin with. I found it difficult at first, as I had not learned Spanish beforehand, but towards my last 2 weeks, I was able to communicate a lot more with the family. I would definitely recommend the school. It is a nice small school where you get a chance to get to know the students and the teachers. If I get the opportunity to go back again, I would definitely go! Thanks, Rachell.
Kim Friedman kcfnyc@gmail.com 06 / 2009	Hello, I decided to attend, Academia de Español Antigueña in Antigua. I spent a total of three weeks there - two weeks, then I went travelling for a week and then I returned for another week. I had two different teachers - Maria for the first two weeks and then Alma for the last week. Both were good and pushed me to speak in Spanish which was a challenge, since I had never studied the language before. Their English was good enough to help me figure out how to say things in Spanish, yet, not so good that we ever ended up in English conversations. Maria had the challenge of teaching me the very basics - days of the week etc - by the time I got to Alma, I asked to be pushed hard and to get through as many verb tenses as possible and that′s exactly what we did. I had homework every night that was appropriate to the lessons and Maria made vocabulary more fun by playing games (memory with flashcards etc.) during the final hour of the lesson. The school had photocopied study guides and homework assignments that we followed quite literally for the first two weeks. In my last week, my teacher had some of her own books and I did many exercises from those workbooks as well. I do think students would benefit from bringing additional study resources that they can use for their homework and independent study in the afternoons - just like it was when you were in college, you only get what you put into it. A Spanish/English dictionary was a must, and many of the more advanced students brought verb books and other Spanish workbooks with them that they used quite regularly outside of class time. The school offered activities pretty much every afternoon of the week including films on Thursdays and field trips to different pueblos outside of Antigua. It was a great chance to listen to a guide in Spanish (they all spoke slowly enough and regularly checked to make sure we understood) and see parts of Antigua and the surrounding areas that I might not have seen otherwise. I enjoyed a salsa class offered by the school so much, that I ended up taking salsa lessons for the rest of my time in Antigua. I stayed with two different host families; the first was fine, although not overly friendly. When there were some challenges there Olga from the school was amazing - she has a motto that "anything is possible with Olga" and she lived her motto. She immediately moved me to a new home that was absolutely incredible with a family who was really interested in spending time with the students, talking with us (in Spanish, of course) and sharing more about their lives. I would absolutely recommend this school. I found the teachers good and everyone I met, from the school staff to the other students, to the families, to be friendly and helpful. I came away after only three weeks of classes with a working knowledge of Spanish and while I would hardly say I′m completely fluent, I have been able to have basic conversations with native Spanish speakers since I arrived home. I had a wonderful time and I′m happy to share my experiences. Best, Kim.
Brienne Thomson raceher_b@yahoo.com 06 / 2009	I studied at the Academia de Español Antigüeña in Antigua, for 6 days and stayed with my host family for 9 days. The school offered excellent activities from bike rides around Antigua to tours of local pueblos to salsa lessons. My teacher, Olga (not the office coordinator who has the same name), was certainly a sweet woman, but certainly not on the ball when it came to classes. I suggested many of the activities that we did; something I feel that the teacher should guide. However, other students I spoke with said they were happy their teachers. I did learn the lesson to request a teacher change in a subsequent school as a result. My host family was excellent! I stayed with Olgy and Juan Carlos Rodriguez. They had a little community store in their house, which allowed me to buy detergent and an occasional beer with dinner. They also taught me some amusing Guatemaltequismo slang vocabulary! I would recommend the family and suggest you specify the type of teacher you’re looking for when you apply to this school. Gracias, Brienne Thomson. San Diego, CA.
Gary Phillpott grphillpott@yahoo.co.uk 06 / 2009	Hello, I attended two schools. One was Spanish Academy Antigueña in Antigua. At first I stayed for 5 weeks at this school, went to other school for a while and finally came back for 2 more weeks at Spanish Academy Antigueña. All instructors were very good at both schools. I′m still in contact with Marta at this school. Study resources at the school were more than adequate. After school activities were fine at this school. Host family was very good in Antigua. I definitely have recommended both schools I attended. Thanks again for your original recommendation. Sincerely, Gary Phillpott.
Larry L Schulman LLS2@columbia.edu 05 / 2009	Hello, I studied at Academia de Español Antigüeña, in Antigua. I stayed there for 1 week in May 2009. I wished, I could of have stayed longer. I loved Antigua, and I learned a lot from my 2 teachers Byron and Iliana. The price is very cheap for one-on-one lessons of such high quality. A few minor suggestions for improvement though: 1. There is a pot of black coffee but nothing else (no milk, no sugar). 2. There is no wireless in the building. 3. The building is VERY noisy. (I recommend sitting in a cafe with a garden along with your teacher and ordering dos cafes con leche). Perhaps, it was just when I was there... We stayed in a fabulous hotel called Posada del Angel, but it is quite expensive. We climbed the Pacaya Volcano and stood about 10 feet away from a river of flowing lava. Don′t miss it!! Larry.
Renee Wilson nightowlspirit@hotmail.com 04 / 2009	Hello, I attended Academia de Español Antigueña in Antigua. I studied for one week there. My instructor′s name was Claudia. She is an excellent teacher, very professional and sweet. She told me, she loves teaching and it shows. She gave me a beginner′s pamphlet which we studied from, and it was very helpful. All of the teachers were very nice and very professional. My host family was very nice, and lived fairly close to the school. Their names are Cesar and Eva. I would recommend the school to anyone who is interested in learning. Anyone who wants more information can write to me at nightowlspirit@hotmail.com. Sincerely, Renee Wilson
Frank Biasiolli nebaj06@gmail.com 03 / 2009	Hello, I attended Academia Español Antigueña because I did not get a reply to my emails from other schools. I studied for 5 weeks there. I enjoyed working with Maria. I would have liked it even better had she pushed more to see that I was the one doing most of the talking. My personal goal, was to improve my ability to improve my conversational skills. Study resources seemed, ok. I brought several of my own that we worked with. After school activities were fine, again my focus was on spanish studies, so, I was not a very active participant in the activities. Dr.Otto and Maestra, Maria Mazariegos, were the couple that I stayed with in a very attractive and well appointed home in a Colonia about a 10 minute walk from the school. Internet access was available in the house. I had my own room and private bath and well prepared and varied meals. I would recommend the school, as quite good though, occasionally overcrowded and a bit noisy when crowded. Sincerely, Frank.
Henry Bartsch henrypsbartsch@aol.com 03 / 2009	Hi, I chose the Spanish Academy Antigüeña in Antigua. On the one hand because of the good reputation and, secondly, because I had previously contacted schools (through Guatemala365) which did not respond. So, I booked my stay at this school on the website. I studied for 3 weeks and 6 hours daily. I had (3) good teachers, and I draw attention to the teacher, Silvia Carolina Flores, which was a highlight. She understood perfectly to analyze my language level (advanced) and to tailor the learning to my needs and this in a varied and knowledgeable manner. I have not only done a leap in terms of language learning, but I also experienced very much about the history and culture of Guatemala. This is because Silvia has profound knowledge. Her reading tips were excellent. Furthermore, she is a very pleasant person. The study materials (textbooks, grammar tables) were sufficient, with the teacher - at least in my case - including News/Games and current events in the classroom. Is not a disadvantage, if you bring an English/Spanish dictionary or a grammar book. The other school equipment was totally fine. Extracurricular activities; there was a sufficient degree of activities, but many students in this school prefer to study, so that the low participation in activities does not reflect quality, but rather the "aspiration" of students. My host family was an absolute stroke of luck! I lived with the family of Gil Rodriguez, Col El Manchen No.97. There are two rooms for students, the equipment is simple, but quite sufficient. Olgui, immediately gave us the feeling to be in our home. We were at once a part of the family, they had "much" time for us and we often experienced the day "together". Incidentally, we had a variety of typical Guatemalan dishes received which is not self-evident when you look at other student′s comments. I want to say Olgui was not only a good hostess, but also an excellent cook, who takes sincere joy in spoiling us with her cooking. Obviously, the family is absolutely trustworthy. I′m still in doubt whether to stay in this family was the greatest enrichment of my stance in Guatemala. I would like to recommend the school without any doubt, however, this is a very small school which quickly encounters limits in respect of working space. A number of pupils by 10 or 15 is ok, with more, the teaching suffers, so it is the best not to book for high season. I hope my comments have helped somewhat. Sincerely, Henry
Yeshua Moser-Puangsuwan 02 / 2009	Hi, I decided for Antigüeña Spanish Academy in Antigua. I studied for one month at the school. My teacher was excellent, her name was Elsi Romanti. Study resources were available, but teachers used their own as well, quality of the photocopies was poor (′I′ looked like ′l′, etc) when requesting clearer copies, the management showed their master copies, which were clearer and said the teacher could take another copy, but that did not improve the copies we received whatsoever. After school activities were catered to varied interests and accepted suggestions from students, we participated in one or two a week. The host family felt a little like a dormitory with at least 4 students staying at all times, somewhat sequestered from the rest of the family. Family was related to the office staff and a full house seemed to be necessary to fund several expansion projects the family had underway. Most of my complaints are small ones and since I felt I had an excellent teacher the time was very rewarding, but my gratitude is solely for my teacher, who was well prepared for every class, kept the pace, switched tasks when I was tiring, and was perfect in every respect. My attitude toward the school is not nearly so positive. The management seemed to exert themselves to develop excuses rather than solve problems. Since the teachers seem to move from school to school or teach at more than one location I would feel ambivalent about recommending the school. I would neither recommend nor not recommend this particular school. Students gossip a lot and compare family environments, teachers and schools constantly. If I were to go again, I would try to assure that the family did not house more than one student (or couple in our case). I would probably initially try a teacher at a school, then arrange to pay them direct for courses later so that they receive full pay. A good teacher is certainly worth it. Peace, Yeshua.
Sue Agranoff 02 / 2009	Hello, I decided to attend, Academia de Español Antigueña in Antigua. I studied for 1 week there. I was not happy with my instructor - Gladys. I was not impressed with the study resources, there did not seem to be any standard text book. Activities were fairly good. I did not stay with a host family. I did not really like the setup at this school. Students really did not mingle a lot. Thanks, Sue.
Wendy 02 / 2009	Hi, I studied for 4 weeks at Academia de Español Antigüeña with Chiqui. She was a very good teacher and I enjoyed learning with her. Study resources were lacking at this school, they would of have been of much help. Academia de Español had wonderful after school activities included. I don′t remember the family′s name. I would recommend this school. Sincerely, Wendy.
Jo Ellen Reaves 12 / 2008	Hi, attended Academia de Español Antigüeña in Antigua. I studied for two weeks there. My teacher, Lili, was good. I did not stayed with a host family, I stayed at a hotel. I would recommend the school with some reservation: I indicated that I was at an advanced level and asked if the school could still help me improve my Spanish. The answer was yes. However, we spent over a week of my two weeks reviewing basic and intermediate Spanish (present tenses, etc.). My teacher kept assuring me that I had a good grasp of all of this type of grammar. I had asked if the school could help me "master" the subjunctive (my area of weakness) and was assured that they could. We only spent 4 days on the subjunctive. My teacher was very, very good but I felt that we could have concentrated more on the specifics of grammar that I needed. I would also hesitate to recommend the school because they say that you get 4 hours of one to one Spanish each day. I observed that one day per week was spent on field trips (which were optional) and the second hour and a half which was conversation was often given to the teacher and the student shopping, running errands, etc. (also optional) but most students took advantage of both of these activities. I realized that conversation took place during field trips and shopping, but not as concentrated as it would have taken place in the classroom. I was expecting four hours of concentrated Spanish-grammar and conversation. I would recommend this school for beginner and intermediate Spanish students. I am sure that they would greatly advance their Spanish in a typical time frame. Thanks, Jo Ellen.
John Flores jafloresster@gmail.com 12 / 2008	Hi, I decided to go to Academia de Español Antigueña in Antigueña. I studied for 3 weeks there. My teacher was very good, probably the best. Her name is Sheny (Eugenia) Flores. My host family was Excellent. The name is Silvia Gonzales Pellecer. I would truly recommend this school to others. Regards, John.
Darren Glynn dazzaplastic@aol.com 11 / 2008	Hi, I decided to go with Academia Español Antiguena, because of price and reviews. I studied for 4 weeks there. I think all the teachers were of a good standard, I had two, Mollie and Loretta, both of whom were fantastic. My host family were lovely, in fact Olga my host mother was a teacher at the school I was attending and had over 20yrs experience teaching English. Dinner time was always a hoot and good place to try out new vocabulary or grammar. I would definitely recommend the school to anyone! Thanks, Darren.
Timothy Tower ttower8889-pc@yahoo.com 11 / 2008	Hi, I also spent 2 weeks at Antigueña Spanish Academy in Antigua. This school was rather noisy and often, during the first week, I had difficulty hearing my teacher. We moved around quite a bit to find a quieter place..., when I was studying, the place was rather a zoo. The were more than 10 students, and many students had to share study areas. This was often distracting. For example, there were two study tables in the main communal area which housed the 2 PCs. We tried one of these tables one day, and I found the chatting around the communal PC area rather distracting. Another time we were studying on the porch and a guy was using a power saw right next door. Not conducive to study. There are several more relaxed spots on the roof but one day I tried to use one and was kicked out by another teacher, without explanation. Later we were able to get one of the 4 private rooms which was quiet but a bit like a prison cell. The reason is that it was a busy time and therefore the staff and director were a little hassled. At one time I tried to ask the director if I could change my afternoon study hours from 12-4 to 1-5, but was dismissed with a curt "No´ and no explanation. Later I discovered that the school closed at 4 pm hence the response. But a short courteous explanation might have helped. The school′s teacher works with the student on the first day of lessons to figure out his or her Spanish level. Antigueña had many activities for which one could sign up. Those, I attended, were a class on Candies of Guatemala, another on Corn and its uses, an hour long bike tour of the city, led by a staff member who spoke slowly and clearly and who was well informed, and an afternoon visit to the nearby Organic Macadamia farm. The food classes were well done, although the corn one, was overcrowded (30 persons?) and many of us had to peer though the door. A larger room, or two sessions, would have been appreciated. The organic farm and the bus trip with our teachers were informative and fun. I enjoyed the families in Antigua. The Sactics, had the best food of all, including breakfast cereals and pancakes and strawberries/pineapple several times. The dinners were also the most fun, with the Mom and Dad and sometimes the 2 teenagers joining us. Eva the Mom has a great sense of humour and we would all get lots of laughs. They get full marks for helping us with our Spanish. Eva also provided us with children´s books and newspapers in Spanish. The one downside of the Sactics family was the noise from the jewellery workshop, which was located next to the dining room. This had a rather noisy grindstone which ran several times during mealtimes, making it hard to hear. I asked to have it turned off but to no avail. Sometimes if one returned to study during the day, it would be on, and even earplugs had a hard time drowning it out. However, I learned to live with this and ended up going to the public library to study, which was great. Antiguena was the cheapest and had good activities, but it was noisy, lacked ambience and the staff were not as friendly. I would not recommend Antiguena, despite their activities. I did like the Antiguena family (the Sactics). But then, these things are personal and will of course vary between travellers. Regards, Tim.
Chelsea Vander Kooi chelseavanderkooi@gmail.com 11 / 2008	Hi, I decided to attend Antigueña Spanish Academy in Antigua, based on the cost and the reviews. I have completed 8 weeks of study there. I had three good teachers, my favourite was Marta Lizette. The host family was good. The rooms and bathroom were very simple, but the food was excellent! It is by far the best I have had anywhere. Yes, I would truly recommend the school. Thank you for your help, Chelsea.
Julie Bauerband JBauerband@aol.com 10 / 2008	Hello, I spent three weeks at Antigueña Spanish Academy in October 2008 and enjoyed my time there. The teachers were very knowledgeable about Spanish grammar, history, culture, etc. They were very flexible in adjusting to what I wanted to study or explore. For example, my instructor Julia, was sensitive to my time constraints and really prioritized certain grammar that I would need for my future job. She was patient in repeating information, slowing down when necessary, adjusting her voice to my hearing loss, etc. I LOVED doing listening exercises with Spanish songs and other games that we played, as well as talking about things that were of interest to both of us. Julia was very gracious in helping me find a good hairdresser for a cut and color. That´s really important!! Julio, the director was very helpful and patient with my low level of Spanish. The activities in the afternoon were mostly enjoyable, especially the visits to the coffee farm, the music museum and El Cerro de la Cruz. The school is small, but the price is right and the staff is quality. If there had been a central place to hang out and some free coffee, it would have been perfect! Julie Bauerband, English Teacher. USA.
David Barth dbarth@worldacord.org 09 / 2008	I decided for Academia de Español Antigüeña in Antigua. I studied for 2 weeks there. My teacher Brenda was a good teacher. My host family was good. The food was local, simple, fresh and never once had problems with it. The family was friendly and always helpful with the language learning. I would really recommend this school to others. Thanks, David.
Joseph Lance phenom_jl@hotmail.com 09 / 2008	Hello, I write from Antigua, Guatemala to express satisfaction with a language school here. I studied for two weeks at Academia de Español Antigueña (directed by Julio Garcia) and had a successful, happy time. My teacher was well suited to me from the beginning, though I know that the school is able to change teachers for the preference of a student. My teacher, laid out an effective course of study for my time here and provided pertinent materials. Exercises and discussions were beneficial and challenging. All of the staff at the school that I was in contact with, were very pleasant. Several extracurricular activities were offered, though I found them to be a little bit topical and would have liked more information on Guatemalan culture and society. Thank you, Joseph Lance.
Gary Nederveld garyneder@yahoo.com 09 / 2008	I attended Academia de Español Antigueña for one week. My teacher Byron Barrios, was excellent. I had a good experience with the family, but the family was not ready for me, and the living conditions were minimal (but meals, helpfulness and friendliness were good). I would only recommend AEA if they improve their organization a bit more. Thanks, Gary Nederveld.
Margaret (Meg) Hobbins meghobbins@gmail.com 09 / 2008	I decided to attend Academia de Español Antigueña in Antigua. I studied for one week there. My teacher, Claudia, was fantastic. My host family was fine - very nice, but not great food. I would absolutely recommend it. The school was wonderful. We were very pleased with our experience. I focused on grammar and also on legal terms as I am an immigration attorney. Claudia, my teacher, had been through several years of law school and was extremely knowledgeable. If we return to Guatemala, I will be returning to this school. I loved it and highly recommend it. Thanks, Meg.
Stan Torgunrud storgunrud@hotmail.com 09 / 2008	Hi, I just wanted to share my experience at the Antigueña Spanish Academy in Antigua. I studied for four weeks there and at the end of every week I had the opportunity to change teachers; although, I stuck with the same teacher, Mavi, for three of these weeks. The program is very comprehensive, and though I didn′t have time to cover all of the material, I now feel comfortable conversing in Spanish. The school′s environment is very dynamic. I met many people of all ages and professions and everyday there were activities such as futbol (soccer) and museum tours, organized by the energetic school administrators, Julio and Olga. It′s my belief that learning a language depends very heavily on the relationship you develop with your teacher, regardless of the school. But, as far as providing an organized and fun environment for learning, I thought that the Antigueña Spanish Academy was top notch. Thanks, Stan.
Samantha Holler samantha_holler@yahoo.com 08 / 2008	Hi, I was recently a student at the Antigueña Spanish Academy in Antigua, Guatemala. I would recommend it as a good place to study as well as meet other students from around the world. The staff is friendly and they have a good curriculum (I was a total beginner). The school also has fun activities throughout the week like trips to museums and coffee plantations. Thanks for your consideration, Samantha.
Tara Sieling tarasieling@hotmail.com 08 / 2008	Hello! My name is Tara Sieling and I am writing this e-mail so that I may recommend The Antigueña Spanish Academy to other possible students. Although, I was only able to study for one week at the academy, I definitely felt that it was worth every second. I′ve studied at other language schools, so I feel I have enough experience to be able to truly appreciate when an organization is successful. My teacher, Claudia, was very professional, kind, and quite intuitive to my personal needs. From the beginning, she was able to analyze my strengths and weaknesses as a Spanish speaker, and quickly make decisions regarding our one-on-one lessons. The academy itself provided a wide variety of materials and practice exercises for me to better all four aspects of my Spanish ability: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. I am very thankful for my time at the Antigueña Spanish Academy and I would highly recommend this school to all people interested in beginning or perfecting their Spanish. Thank-you for you time, Tara Sieling.
Karl Tuite celikarl@hotmail.com 08 / 2008	I enjoy my time at the school Academia de Español Antigüeña in Antigua. They can change their lessons to accommodate your style of learning, there are many students to practice your Spanish, no matter your level. The home stay family was very friendly and has great food; the house I was staying at had 8 students staying in it, so there is always something to do. Yours sincerely, Karl Tuite.
Andre Chaisson andre.c@gmail.com 08 / 2008	My two weeks at the Antigueña Spanish Academy in Antigua, were truly, terrific. The one-on-one instruction with Liliana Garcia has been extremely valuable for refreshing my Spanish skills. On the first day, she assessed my present abilities and decided in which areas I needed help. The morning lessons consisted of practicing grammar and engaging in conversation which reinforced what I had learned that day. Lily was sincerely interested in me as a person, and we were able to share many stories about ourselves, which also helped me practice my skills. The location of the school was very convenient for grabbing a coffee during the midway break, and for heading out for shopping and getting more money. Our stay with a host family was great as well. The three (delicious) home cooked meals per day were combined with entertaining conversation with Rebecca, master chef and conversationalist. The numerous travel agencies allowed us to venture outside of Antigua (itself a very intriguing place to visit) to Lake Atitlan and Tikal. Overall, this trip has given me more confidence to converse with my mother and grandmother (both Cuban) in Spanish and has also helped me get in touch with my roots. Having had previous experience and education in Spanish helped, but I think the environment would be equally accommodating for someone without any previous experience in Spanish. I can tell that all the instructors here (my own included) are very nurturing and friendly. I would recommend studying here to anyone. Thanks, Andre Chaisson. A 30 year-old, High School English Teacher and Dodger Fan from Seattle, WA., USA.
Laura Lvaccaro3@nyc.rr.com 08 / 2008	I studied at the Academia de Español Antigueña for 3 weeks. I loved my teacher, she was absolutely excellent--patient, knowledgeable and personable. Her name was Clara. sorry I don′t know the last name. I also studied with Sheny---she was equally wonderful. I was a lot more happy with the teachers than the administrators and the way the school was run, but it was not terrible. The teachers made it worth it. I stayed with Sara and Juan Alegria. They were very friendly and caring and interested in my learning. For these reasons, I would recommend the school, even though the administrators were rude and didn′t really seem interested in the student′s needs. Hope this is helpful. Laura Vaccaro.
Katie Maggard kmaggard@gmail.com 08 / 2008	I studied at the Antigueña Spanish Academy in Antigua, for 2 weeks in the month of August, 2008. Signing up with the school was very easy through Guatemala365 and the email responses from Julio, the school director, were quick and helpful. I came here with about 2 years of past Spanish schooling, and I felt this was very important. However, it appears that the teachers here can handle any level of Spanish learning. There are teachers of all ages, personalities, and specializations there at the school. On the first day, my teacher assessed my present abilities and decided in which areas I needed help. The morning lessons consisted of practicing grammar and engaging in conversations which reinforced what I had learned that day. My teacher was very young and relatively new to teaching Spanish, but I felt that every day she was business-like and intent on helping me improve my Spanish. Because she was unable to speak English, I was forced to only use Spanish, even if I did not know a word. I felt this was as important as the one-to-one instruction that you get at this school. There is no better way to learn Spanish. The host family stay has been an important part of the overall experience for me. The accommodations were very simple. Our second floor room made out of cinderblocks and metal room, is typical of the houses in Antigua. The room contains only a bed, dresser, and desk. To use the bathroom we have to either go downstairs and enter the main house, or use a second bathroom that is at the base of the stairs outside. This has been inconvenient on very rainy nights, but it is just part of living with a family here. I travelled with my husband and we had the room to ourselves, and it was nice to have a private spot to rest in the afternoons after very busy mornings. The shower, though fitted with an electric heater, has been refreshingly cold on hot days, but a little shocking on the few colder nights that we had. The 3 meals a day Monday through Saturday that are provided by the host family were great, especially breakfasts and lunches. It is so nice to, not have to worry about where to eat each day and mealtime gave me an opportunity to practice Spanish with one of the host family members who sat with us during every single meal. The school also helped set up the ride from the airport in Guatemala City to Antigua the night I arrived, and though it is possible to obtain this ride for much, much cheaper from a local agency, it is worth it to pay a little more when it is your first time in country. The driver was waiting for me when I walked out of the airport and it was such a relief. Thanks, Katie Maggard. 29 years-old from Seattle, WA, USA.