|
| Address |
ICA Spanish School
19 avenida 1-47 zona 1
Quetzaltenango
(+502)-7763-1871
|
|
| Rank |
83% |
| Prices |
190 USD for 25
hours per week including host family
147 USD for 25 hours per week without host family
Study one hour daily more or less: add or subtract about USD 20 per week.
|
| School Size |
15 to 50 students |
| Openings |
This school currently has openings! |
| Summary |
A big professional school with a beautiful teaching environment. You study on wooden verandas overgrown by plants. Predominantly American students. Teachers are very well prepared and are able to adjust her lessons to student?s needs and abilities. In high season you get second choice teachers. Teaching is very well organized, as are the social and environmental projects.
Founded in 1976 by Enrique Diaz.
Total immersion in Quetzaltenango is excellent, if you don?t hang out with other students. |
| Registration |
This school, is always pretty busy and certainly fills up during high season. You should enroll at least two weeks in advance.
During high season (June thru August), tuition price is $200 per week |
With a timely registration, the school can assign you the best teacher from its list. (Contact us for group discounts). |
|
|
| Teachers |
The 16 permanent Teachers took a course called "Teaching English as a Second Language to Foreigners". Teachers earn a good $53 per week plus social security.
See details for recommended instructors!
[Show Details] |
|
School's specific Information:
Depending upon the number of students there are rotating teachers who earn a bit less. The school has a rigid and tough qualification scheme for teachers, only 10% of applicants are accepted. They have to pass a 6-week intensive training course. Every week, students report on their teachers.
In high season the majority of teachers are less experienced university students, which may be a problem for absolute beginners or very advanced students (see students´ opinions).
Recommended teachers: Edwin, Josue, Miguel, Olga, Cuque.
(Roman numbers refer to the numbers of recommendations.)
|
General Information:
Spanish language teachers in Guatemala are mostly young people like University students who do this job for very little salary (US$30-$60 per week) and are trying to continue their education. Teachers in our recommended schools have undergone a formal training and know how to make students enjoy learning. By enrolling in advance, you are likely to get a better teacher. This holds especially true during high season.
If you are not happy with your assigned teacher, don’t hesitate to ask the director for another teacher. How to get a good teacher.
|
| Methods |
One on one teaching. The curriculum is the same as in most schools.
[Show Details] |
|
School's specific Information:
Teaching follows ICA′s own curriculum. At the beginning your Spanish is assessed with an elaborate exam. Then you get your assigned teacher and together you develop a plan for the week. At the end of the week there is another little exam (optional) which serves as measure of success. The teacher produces a report and the student also evaluates his teacher and the school′s services. The next week you get a new teacher (optional, you may choose as you like) and your old teacher′s report serves as base.
|
General Information:
Spanish Schools in Guatemala promote the most effective 'one student one teacher' method. You spend your time talking and listening with your own personal teacher. This is why Guatemalan schools are probably unmatched in the world. Go to a good school, and get the grammar right, too.
A typical school day:
8:00 to 10:00 Grammar and exercises
10:00 –30 -minute break for coffee, tea, and socializing with teachers and other students
10:30 to 12:00 - Conversation, pronunciation, reading comprehension
After 12:00 - lunch with your host family
Afternoons: previously scheduled activities and homework
(See your curriculum of learning Spanish)
Most schools offer a diploma stating the amount of time studied and the level of Spanish attained (minimum of two weeks).
See more information about diplomas and university credits.
|
| Materials |
No official textbook but verb and exercise lists. Teachers develop their own materials. Library: excellent. Video library: excellent. Internet gratis. Lots of computers!
[Show Details] |
|
School's specific Information:
Teachers use sheets instead of blackboards, and students receive these afterwards. I got a very extensive photocopy of the different cases where subjunctive is used, together with a handwritten colorful sheet that explained the functions of different tenses. You will have to do homework.
|
General Information:
At most Spanish schools in Guatemala, teachers write examples and grammar on paper; at others, blackboards are used. And at some, students receive a notebook for their own use. Teachers generally have to supply their own teaching materials. The most widespread book is AMSCO “Spanish Three Years” (Nassi, Levy), a very helpful grammar and exercise book in three levels, written in Spanish and English. A few schools have good libraries, video collections, and many have board games like Scrabble and others, to make teaching more entertaining.
If you are not an English speaker, you may want to bring grammar- and exercise books in your language. In any case a good and small dictionary is very helpful for homework.
(See recommendations on good Spanish Textbooks.)
|
| Special Programs |
Children?s program. We have no reports up to now.
[Show Details] |
|
School's specific Information:
The director Enrique Diaz was formerly a primary school teacher. He supervises the children?s program which involves games, art work and visits to a local primary school. Since every student - teacher team has their own room, children do not interfere with other students and can make a bit noise without having to feel bad. |
General Information:
Special Programs are available for medical students and nurses, lawyers, missionaries and business people. You study Spanish as any other student, but with emphasis on the vocabulary of your profession or interest. Schools also get you in contact with Guatemalan professionals of your field and organize practical courses upon request.
A few schools have good programs for children. Guatemala365.com recommends schools in safe places and with a garden or ample cubicles. This way the children feel free to play while learning.
|
| Location |
Study area: ample rooms with wooden walls, adapted to students´ needs. No garden, but a big patio. Well equipped kitchen with fridge, stove and microwave.
[Show Details] |
|
School's specific Information:
The school′s comfortable two-story building was constructed as a school. Every student-teacher team has its own room which opens onto a veranda overgrown with plants. You can look down on the ample patio where students spend the breaks and local women sell their woven guipiles. |
General Information:
Many schools have big halls or patios in a pleasant environment, with tables that seat two. You can often hear teacher-student conversations from nearby tables. Some schools have separate cubicles for each teacher – student team. Most schools have small patios or gardens to relax and get to know each other at break time. Some schools also have a cafeteria or even kitchens where students and teachers meet to cook local or food from their home countries.
|
| Activities |
Excellent: according to student′s comments activities live up to what they promise.
[Show Details]
|
|
School's specific Information:
Round table discussions, hikes, videos, visits to local villages and attractive sites, local food cooking course, board games, talks. There are activities in the afternoons and in the mornings. Dancing: Salsa and Merengue courses.
If you study in the afternoons activities are during the mornings..
|
General Information:
During afternoons, a school staff member takes you to the most beautiful places, interesting projects and Maya traditions of the
area, where you have the opportunity to practice your newly learned Spanish and get to know teachers and other students. These activities make your stay a real holiday. Some activities like weekend trips have an additional cost.
Note: small schools have fewer activities during low season.
|
| Host Families |
Families earn $45 per week. Usually only one student per family. br>See details for recommended families!
[Show Details] |
|
School's specific Information:
Recommended host families: Rosario.
|
General Information:
Generally host families provide each student with their own private little room and three meals a day/six days a week. On Sundays, most families provide no meals. There is nearly always hot water and electricity. It is recommended that you bring your own towels, soap, shampoo and other personal care from your country or you can buy it here. Your host parents help you with any problems and encourage you to talk Spanish. It is pretty interesting to see how people live in Guatemala.
A word on food:
By looking at what families earn at different schools you can assess the quantity of food given. The range is from US$30 to $85 per week. If you are in a $35 host family, please do not complain about beans every day. Just eat out now and then.
If you do not want to stay in a host family, we recommend you to visit www.guatemalastory.com for a list of good hotels in Guatemala City, Antigua, Atitlan, etc.
|
| Volunteering |
Excellent: School has several own projects like reforestation, bilingual education in Mam and Spanish, and a woman?s prison.
[Show Details] |
|
School's specific Information:
As everything, the development projects of this school are very well organized. Volunteering: 2 weeks minimum, Spanish Language. Many people work during the mornings and study during afternoons. They pay $10 less for studies.
Reforestation project: The school has a profitable contract with the department of forestry (INAB) to reforest 3 municipal and church areas. ICA has a big nursery and three fix workers. Apart from reforesting, the school actually earns money! This is good organization!
Schooling project in the community of Cabricán: ICA supervises a primary school with 40 students, with bilingual education (Mam and Spanish), with 2 computers and its own website. There are volunteering possibilities.
There is a project to visit women in a woman?s prison. The teachers donate some of their salaries voluntarily to this project. There are volunteering possibilities for woman. |
General Information:
Most schools have only loose contact to volunteer social projects or have only poor projects on their own.
If you want to volunteer, it is best to rely on PMG (Antigua, Rio Dulce and Cobán), or Entremundos (Quetzaltenango) or other non profit organizations in order to find an organization that suits students' interests.
More information on volunteering and jobs in Guatemala.
|
Helen Huber
huberh@gmail.com
07 / 2008 |
Hi, I studied at two schools. I attended I.C.A Spanish School in Xela, and had Cuque as my teacher who was excellent. The school is very thorough, organized, methodical. Good variety of trips and organized activities. Best, Helen. |
Josephine Oei
josephine_oei@yahoo.com
06 / 2008 |
I decided to study at Escuela de Español ICA in Quetzaltenango. I studied for 4 weeks there. I chose to have a new teacher every week and all my teachers were very competent. They names are Edwin, Josue, Miguel and Olga. I learned also many other things at ICA, not only all the Spanish-grammar. As school activities, they have interesting conferences, excursions and activities for fun and relaxing. I did all the school activities they offered. So, I learned in the conferences about the Mayan culture and Mayan calendar, the civil war in Guatemala, the oil pact in Centro America. The excursion to the bilingual school and to the women′s prison. Also we visited Mayan rituals near Panajachel and relaxing at the Lake Atitlan. The cooking activities with other students, were very nice. Also when we climbed the volcano Santa Maria, there was so much solidarity. I miss this school and I also miss my family in Xela. It was a great experience. I just wrote notes in my book, but I can tell that I learned so much Spanish and all other things in 4 weeks, this in comparison with some other schools. My host family was very nice. I loved to stay with them at home. Rosario have three children. I played with them and helped them with their homework. Also it was possible to use the kitchen and cook my food. The school have many social projects to do. They do many good things. If you study at ICA you can be sure that you also do something for the community. I will give the school 100%. Super. Thank you very much, Josephine. |
Carrie Kawahatsu
ckawahatsu@hotmail.com
02 / 2008 |
I studied at ICA Spanish School in Xela. I studied there for two weeks and had a host family. The first week, I didn′t like my teacher very much because she was inexperienced. However, the second teacher I had was great! We didn′t receive any study materials. The host family was kind, but could not accommodate my diet (vegan) even though the school claimed that they would. Overall, I would say the school is ok. Thanks, Carrie. |
Pascale Schuit
Pascale_schuit@hotmail.com
08 / 2007 |
I studied for 6 weeks at ICA Spanish School in Xela. I had 6 different teachers, one of them was not that good, I think she did not enjoy teaching at all and she lacked in knowledge about grammar. 1 teacher was average, she had excellent knowledge of grammar we had some nice conversations but also she did not have much passion for her job. The other 4 where great, all of them had excellent knowledge of grammar. The great thing of having 6 different teachers is that you talk about different subjects. Some know much about Guatemalan politics, others about Guatemalan culture and with some you have nice personal conversations about religion, living in Guatemala and living in Holland. Some teachers work with textbooks, others with self made material. For me this was nice, because if you change your teaching materials you learn different things. if they had no material they let me write short stories or let me make sentences, I learned a lot from that. One thing I noticed about the school is that there are a lot of American students and only a few Europeans like me. My host family was very nice, interested in my progress and I practiced my Spanish with them, during dinner etc. In the first 3 weeks the school was very busy and they had a lot of teachers that only worked during the busy period for ICA. Most of these teachers where not that skilled as the teachers I received later when there where less students at the school. The school has nice activities, visiting nearby villages, hot springs and weekend trips to Lago Atitlan or Monterrico; this is very nice if you like to travel a bit, but are afraid to go alone. Also the school has some nice volunteer projects; they support women who plant trees and have a medical clinic that provides free health care for the people of Xela. Kind regards, Pascale |
Joan & Christina Alvear Crounse
joancrounse@msn.com
08 / 2007 |
We decide to study at Escuela de Español ICA in Xela. We studied there for 1 week. We each had a very good teacher. I am an educator and feel that my teacher was very well prepared and was able to adjust her lessons to both my needs and my abilities. My teacher prepared materials for me according to my needs and abilities. We did not stayed with a family, but stayed at a hotel. I enjoyed the fact that we could adjust our hours and that we could practice our lessons outside the school building. I cannot sit in one place for 4-5 hours, so our teachers took us to local museums and to the market. In all places we practiced our speaking and listening comprehension. Thanks, Joan Crounse. |
Ross George
rbgeorgejr@gmail.com
10 / 2006 |
I studied at ICA Spanish School in Xela for a week. I would of have studied much longer if I had had the time. My teacher was GREAT!! Can′t remember his name. Overall I loved the school, although I did prepay for a few classes and never got refunded when I couldn′t attend. Really great people, really great atmosphere, really great teachers. I would go back if I had the chance. Activities were great although I didn′t attend a lot of them. Football with the instructors is a hoot. My family was great too. Only I gave them a loan and they couldn′t pay me back. All in all I recommend ICA. Ross |
Anonymous
drinksouthpaw@gmail.com
09 / 2006 |
I studied at Spanish School ICA in Xela, for 4 weeks. I had a new teacher each week. 1 of my teachers was excellent, 1 was very good, 1 was good, and one was average. At this school, you can request a teacher if you hear they are good, and you will usually get the teacher you request. I liked the activities for the most part, although if you study there for awhile you will get sick of some of them because some repeat a lot. But they are generally pretty good and offer a good opportunity to practice your Spanish with other students, while not worrying about making mistakes or not being understood. On the other hand, it is also an opportunity to speak in English or German or whatever your first language is, so that can hurt your Spanish progress. I changed families after 2 weeks, because it turned out my first family was running a sort of boarding house, and I ate meals with these Guatemalan high school girls who were staying at the boarding house. They had no interest in talking to me, and were much more interested in gossiping and often making fun of me in Spanish. The school made it very easy to change families, and I changed to a family who had a girl who was leaving the school, so I knew it was a good family from what she had told me. My 2nd family was great and I actually stayed with them again one night when I returned for a visit to Xela. I had a good experience at ICA and I would recommend it, although I think you will get much more out of your money if you go to a school for at least 6 weeks in a row. (I had 4 years of Spanish in high school, but I graduated 8 years ago and didn′t remember much). |
Clarence Sundram
cjsundram2000@yahoo.com
08 / 2006 |
My wife and I picked Escuela de Español ICA in Quetzaltenango. We studied for three weeks. We had different teachers each week, by design, although we could ask to remain with the same teacher if we wished. The school was also very accommodating if we wanted to change teachers. The social/cultural/educational activities offered were a definite plus. We heard lectures from people who recounted their experiences during the war, heard about the political climate, saw indigenous people demonstrate the manufacture of wool, dying with natural ingredients, spinning yarn and weaving blankets; visited a women′s prison; and did weekend tourist sightseeing trips. Our family was hospitable and friendly, and the living accommodations were comfortable. Initially, our lack of Spanish and their lack of English made communication awkward, but as we learned, it got easier. The site was helpful to us in learning about our options and doing research on various schools. Thank you for the assistance. Clarence |
Peter Wiley
petertwiley@yahoo.com
07 / 2006 |
I chose Escuela de Español ICA in Xela. I studied there for 3 weeks. My teacher Edwin was fantastic; I had him for all 3 weeks. In general, students at ICA seemed very happy with their instructors and quality of instruction. The school has a number of great activities each week. I took advantage of many of them. They do some smaller excursions during the week and then longer excursions on weekends. I particularly enjoyed visiting some of the villages just outside of Xela, as well as a hot springs nearby. I had a good weekend trip to Lake Atitlan and Chichi, organized by ICA. Adjusting to third world life was tough; I had a lot of stomach issues through out my time in Guatemala, I also had to deal with a number of water and power outages, apparently related to construction in the city, but I have a feeling they′re more common than my host family let on. My family was very welcoming and my wife and I had our own bedroom and private bathroom. Given that there were 3 daughters in the family, all with busy lives, we didn′t spend a great deal of time just relaxing with the family, but we had enough conversations over meals, that we were satisfied with the level of interaction we had. We stayed with a family very close to ICA, which made it nice. |
Milan Prochazka
mprochazka@molex.com
06 / 2006 |
We ended up at Escuela de Español I.C.A. in Xela, and studied only one week. All our teachers (mine, my wife′s and my daughter′s) were excellent. We participated in several activities; a trip to a festival in a nearby village, a trip to hot springs and a dance lesson. All these activities were great. My family was very nice. My son (2.5 years old) stayed with them during our lessons and he can be a handful, but they handled him beautifully. The food was great too. I found your site very helpful. There are so many Spanish schools in Guatemala, that it can be a challenge to pick and decide. Your site simplified all that. Thank you! |
Ragna Bergk
ragnasolskin@hotmail.com
10 / 2005 |
I picked the Escuela de Espanol ICA and studied there for 3 weeks. My teacher was really good and exüperienced even though he was quite young. My family wasn´t that nice. I didn´t like the food and I would have liked some more sisters or brothers for company and learning more Spanish |
Anonymous
gabriel.rebick@gmail.com
08 / 2005 |
Escuela de Espanol ICA in Xela for 3 weeks - An excellent school well run, with good excursions, and care of students. The quality of teacher varied a bit, but I think this is the same with any school. I really liked the family I stayed with in Xela, and think that the school did a terrific job of answering all of my questions, and responding to all my needs both as a student and otherwise. |
Jaime Clifton
jaimeclifton@yahoo.com
07 / 2005 |
I had an amazing experience at Escuela de Español ICA. Enrique, the director, and all of the teachers and staff were amazing. The excursions on the weekends were so interesting and well planned. Guatemala365 was a great resource in making my choice. I will use the site again when I go back to Guatemala. Let me know if you want further information. I got two great teachers. The first used the curriculum created by the school and the second took me around town and showed me all of the culture and history. It was a great mix. The school lets you request was kind of experience you want. I had a great family. They were very accommodating and had three wonderful girls. The family I stayed with also housed university students so I was able to speak with them often and find out about their experiences. |
William Wolf
wolf.william@gmail.com
03 / 2005 |
I studied at Escuela de Espanol ICA along with my dad. I studied K′iche′ for one week and my dad studied Spanish for 2 weeks. The teachers were extremely kind. The K′iche′ teacher was helpful, although not a native speaker. We both had excellent host families: kind, monolingual in Spanish, very open. |
Levent Ensan
Levi_Ensan@web.de
11 / 2004 |
Hola, My school of Espanol is ICA in Xela Guatemala... I stayed 3 weeks there, and it was really a VERY GOOD school, with good teachers. I learned a lot in this 3 weeks... My family was nice, but sometimes they didn′t have time to speak with me. Adios |
Bente Jürgensen
Bentejuergensen@gmx.net
10 / 2004 |
I studied Spanish in Xela in Escuela de Espanol ICA. I studied there for 4 weeks and I really would recommend this school. I had a really good Family and teacher. The school offers a lot of opportunities for volunteer work and has a lot of activities, in the morning as in the afternoon and at the weekends. I hope that I could help with this short description! |
Maxie Matthiessen
maxie.ma@gmx.de
10 / 2004 |
My second school was (as mentioned) in Quetzaltenango, Xela, and was called Escuela de espanol ICA I would strongly recommend this school as it offers activities besides the regular classes. Every day of the week (either in the afternoon or before noon) and often Saturday and Sunday "ICA" offers activities (dancing, soccer, volcano-hikes, kooking, and films about Guatemalan culture, expeditions to beaches or little villages...) and the director and the teachers were very helpful and nice. The school atmosphere is great and "ICA" offers a good "studying-Ambient". I learned very much about the culture of Guatemala, grammar, speaking, writing (through reading newspaper, talking etc.). Every week there is a dinner for the students who leave the school and a certificate of the Spanish level of each student that leaves the school. The ICA school offers a lot of volunteer projekts in which you can participate beside school or without attending the school. My family was very nice as well. I would therefore highly recommend Escuela de Español ICA. My comments on "www.guatemala365.de": The website was very helpful in looking for a school in Guatemala from Germany, getting the addresses and finding recommendations of the different school. I recommended your website to many of my friends. I hope this was a little bit of a help. If anymore information is needed, just write me and I hope i can full fill your needs. |
Erich Keefe
ekeefe@lmi.net
09 / 2004 |
We next went to Quetzaltenango and studies at the Escuela de Espanol ICA, InstitutoCentro America, where I had been three times before. I love that school. Really a good vibe and a nice community. The family did not work for us. Then we moved to a cheap hotel, where we were robbed on the second night. That was after my wallet waws stolen on the bus in Chimaltenango. I do not recommend staying at Casa Kaehler in Xela. That is where all our money, passports, credit cards, and travellers checks were stolen. Thanks. |
Anouchka Rachelson
11 / 2003 |
We ended up studying at I.C.A. in Quetzaltenango. We stayed in Guatemala for 3 weeks, but we only attended school for two weeks. Our teachers were excellent, and we were very satisfied with the progress we made in such a short time. The host family was friendly, but the living conditions (food, room, cleanliness) were disappointing. We would probably stay in a hotel next time. Overall, I would give the experience a "B". I hope this helps you. |
Steve Swanson
09 / 2003 |
Estudie a ICA por una semana. Aprendi mucho, y disfrute la escuela y los actividades. La estancia de casa estuvo asi asi. (I studied in ICA for one week. I learned a lot, and enjoyed the school and activities. My home stay was so so.)
Stephen Swanson September 2003 |
|
|
| |
|
