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San Pedro Spanish School
7a Avenida 2-20 zona 2
San Pedro, Lake Atitlan
(+502)-5715-4604, 5966-2072
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| Rank |
89.6% |
| Prices |
174 USD for 20
hours per week including host family
104 USD for 20 hours per week without host family
Study one hour daily more or less: add or subtract about USD 25 per week.
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| School Size |
10 to 30 students |
| Openings |
Since this is a popular school in the Lake area, it is recommendable to register early to assure your space in school! US$10 of your registration fee go to the schools Proyecto Niños del Lago. This project helps local children to study. |
| Summary |
San Pedro Spanish School is the most famous in the Lake Atitlan area due to its excellent location at the edge of the lake and its ample garden settings and a beautiful view to the lake. They also offer the best after school activities in San Pedro, teachers who have been trained and selected by the IGA, and a sincere management which does not hire emergency teachers, so inscribe on time (upper student limit is 20, school is nearly always full).
They also run a great social project Niños del Lago, aimed at helping the less fortunate children of the community. $10 of your registration fee go to this project.
Founded in 1997.
Total immersion in Atitlán is good if you dont hang out with other students which is hard to avoid. Very recommended! |
| Registration |
San Pedro Spanish School is always pretty full and certainly fills up during high season. You should enroll at least two weeks in advance to assure a space in school with a quality instructor. |
With a timely registration, the school can assign you the best teacher from its list. (Contact us for group discounts). |
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| Teachers |
Teachers earn about $45 (half day) / $90 (full day) per week.They have an average of six years of experience teaching Spanish as a second language to foreigners and have earned their teaching degree at the Rural University of Guatemala (URL). Also, the IGA (Instituto Guatemalteco Americano) is teaching English to the teachers so they can cope better with beginners.
See details for recommended instructors!
[Show Details] |
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School's specific Information:
Teachers are all in their mid twenties. New teachers study for one week first with an experienced teacher, for a second week they observe tuition, and in the third week they give classes under observation. This is a very practical approach to teacher training. The IGA (Instituto Guatemalteco Americano) is training teachers in methods, grammar and culture. The school is searching to upgrade teachers quality and downgrade the size of the school.
Recommended teachers: Eligio IV, Pedro Cruz III, Leidy, Lorenzo IV, Edwin, Ramon, Clara II, Manuela II, Lety III, Rafael, Estela II, Omar, Geovani, Andrea, Francisco, José-Luis, David Cox, Luis Canel II.
(Roman numbers refer to the numbers of recommendations.)
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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.
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| Methods |
The curriculum is the same as in most schools, one on one teaching. The teachers are also very flexible in regards to your interests and needs.
[Show Details] |
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School's specific Information:
The student can influence curriculum very much. If you opt to do homework in the school, you enjoy supervision.
Lectures: Every Thursday there is a lecture. Topics: A person tells about his being kidnapped during the guerrilla war, the Mayan calendar, nowadays politics of Guatemala, the Peace Agreement etc.
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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.
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| Materials |
The following textbooks are used: Amsco I,II,III, IV; Pensar y Aprender (think and learn) I,II,III; Planeta I,II,III,IV. Additionally, the teachers used the schools own text manual.
Library: good. Video library: good.
WiFi for students that bring their laptop!
[Show Details] |
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School's specific Information:
Teachers also use blackboards and some teachers develop their own study materials.
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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.)
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| Special Programs |
In addition to the regular Spanish course, they also offer Spanish courses focused on different professional fields like, business, medical, travellers and children from 7 to 12 years of age.
[Show Details] |
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School's specific Information:
Two of the host families have children. Because the vast garden, children wont interfere other students if they are noisy. They can also take classes or even accompany the children of the host family to public school. San Pedro is a safe place for children. |
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.
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| Location |
Study takes place on platforms with little thatched shadow roofs within a well groomed garden. The garden is a beautiful estate with bungalows and ornamental plants. There is a Cafeteria and a activity/movie room.
[Show Details] |
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School's specific Information:
The school is situated in the centre of the tourist part of San Pedro, right at the beach of Lake Atitlán. Probably the most beautiful school in Guatemala. In the close vicinity there are thermal baths, horse riding and canoeing. Since the water level of the lake has been growing recently, the volleyball court on the lake side has vanished. |
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.
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| Activities |
School activities free of charge include: talks on interesting topics in Spanish, hikes, videos, visits to local villages, volcanoes and attractive sites. Dancing: Salsa and Merengue.
[Show Details]
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School's specific Information:
Activities are for free: Monday presentation of new students, Tuesday a video, Wednesday there are Salsa lessons, Thursday there is a lecture on local topics like the growth of corn or the guerrilla war, or weaving classes, Friday night there is graduation party. On Saturdays you go on excursions: You climb volcanoes, walk along the lake or go to Chichicastenango (may incur a additional cost)..
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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.
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| Host Families |
Families earn about $70 per week. Students reports about host families are mostly good. Additionally the school offers accommodations for students that prefer to stay in a hotel at a cost of about $60 per week and includes equipped kitchen and WiFi.
[Show Details] |
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School's specific Information:
There is a maximum of three students per family. Families encourage you to talk Spanish. Host fathers are public school teachers. Host families have received training in order to prepare vegetarian meals, in hygiene, interior decoration and even Inglish language by the INTECAP.
Recommended host families: Juan Tuch y Rosalia III, Ruben and Lucia, Cecilia and Antonio, Juana, Paulina, Antonio and Vicenta Pop II, Pedro and Deborah Gonzales Chavajay, Elena and Juan Gonzalez II, Mario and Cecilia.
(Roman numbers refer to the numbers of recommendations.)
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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.
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| Volunteering |
The school offers the option of working with the "Proyecto Niños del Lago" which is run by the school and student volunteers. It is a program to assist health, welfare, and education of 37 very disadvantaged kids and teenagers from San Pedro that have been provided with an scholarship by donors (often ex-students).
[Show Details] |
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School's specific Information:
Since the water level of the lake has been growing recently, "Proyecto Niños del Lago" is not anymore at the lake side but in a house at 100 m distance from the school. By far the greatest need in the project is for self-starter volunteers who can stay for a while and help with morning/afternoon tuition of the kids in Inglish, computing and overseeing homework. This is a good additional opportunity to speak Spanish and to get to know more Guatemalan people. |
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.
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| Airport Pick-Up Service |
The school can arrange to meet you at the international airport in Guatemala City on request.
[Show Details]
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School's specific Information:
The school offers you a shuttle service from Guatemala City international airport to San Pedro for $25, if you arrive at the airport before 2pm.
If you arrive after 2pm, they can also pick you up in a private taxi for $80 per trip. Please contact the school for more information. |
General Information:
If you don?t want to worry about closed banks on the airport, late night hotel search or unsafe zones of Guatemala City, take advantage of the airport pickup service of your school.
For hotels in Guatemala City please see www.guatemalastory.com.
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How to get there 
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Send yourself an e-mail with information on how to get to San Pedro Spanish School.
Near Restaurant "Tzan Saqaribal" on the connection path between the two piers of San Pedro. Follow the signs.
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Robert Bruce
03 / 2013 |
Both the quality of the facilities and the teaching at San Pedro Language School far exceeded my expectations. We met every morning in a lush garden overlooking the edge of Lake Atitlan. Classes were one-on-one with instructors who clearly knew what they were doing. My Spanish skills were minimal beforehand so my goal was to increase my conversational skills as much as possible in a short amount of time. My instructor, Lorenzo, tailored my lessons to my existing level of knowledge and speed of language acquisition. Better still, the professors insist on total language immersion (no English spoken during lesson times). It can be exhausting forcing yourself to think and speak in another language for 4 hours but the payoff is worth the effort. My language skills increased exponentially!
The host family with whom I stayed was equally wonderful, opening their home and their family to me. On one afternoon I went with my host father up into the mountains and he showed me where he worked as a farmer, growing coffee, beans and corn. On another day, I went with my family to a local celebration in town. The cultural experience matched the high quality of the language training.
I would strongly recommend the San Pedro language school to anyone who is serious about learning Spanish- you will certainly get that, with the added benefit of studying in a beautiful place among beautiful people. FIVE STARS!!
I was given all of the information that I needed far in advance of my arrival and everything went very smoothly. |
Michael Stith
02 / 2013 |
This is a terrific school in a terrific location. Very professional and helpful staff. A great little restaurant on the campus. I highly recommend San Pedro Spanish School.
Check-in to the school was smooth and very helpful. |
Anonymous
12 / 2012 |
I studied at San Pedro Spanish School for 1 week along with my husband and 8 & 9 year old sons. We each loved our instructors and one-on-one tutoring.
The host family did not work out. We had hoped to stay with a family in their home, but it turned out to be hostel with other college students. It was not the level of comfort that we were hoping for. We moved to a hotel and all was well after that.
The transportation from the airport to San Pedro also did not go as plan. We were met by a tiny car that could barely hold the 4 us (even with all luggage tied on top). The car broke down about 1 mile from the airport. Everyone worked hard to help solved the problem and about 1 hour later we had another taxi. This poor taxi driver had never been to San Pedro. His car scraped over every speed bump and we went off the road once onto rocks.
Were physical conditions of the school ok? The learning sites were wonderful, especially the ones by the lake. |
Carmen Herz
carmenherz@gmx.de
11 / 2012 |
I spent a wonderful time in San Pedro Spanish School. For sure, I´ve learned a lot of spanish, but also so much more: my teacher Luis for example knew a lot about the history in Guatemala and about the Maya culture. He also shared a lot of interesting things about the life around Lago de Atitlán, things you would never know about if you just pass by. I´m very grateful for this experience and can totaly recommend the school!
My host family was amazing! They always talked slow and tried to speak in an easy way, like this it was possible to have small conversations from beginning, with great potential to grow, for sure. Rosalia is a great cook and she prepared delicious vegetarian food for me. We ate always together and had time to talk.
Correspondence with the school was smooth and helpful. |
Joseph Paonessa
10 / 2012 |
San Pedro Spanish school was an altogether positive experience. The teachers were friendly, and the curriculum is individually centered on each student according to your needs. I really liked the one on one tutoring. I hope to return sometime this year. I would definitely recommend this program. Me being value oriented, this program was just right for me.
The study materials were copies of sections of a Spanish Language course. |
Anonymous
01 / 2012 |
The San Pedro Spanish School is set in very beautiful grounds overlooking Lake Atitlan, a perfect environment for one-on-one learning. There is ample room for all student/teacher pairs, so there is no distraction. The administration staff were very friendly and efficient, even assisted in finding accomodation in Antigua. The teachers are very enthusiastic and use a variety of teaching methods to make the learning process fun. Extra curricular activities were organized in most evenings and on the weekend for those who wanted them. San Pedro is a perfect location, not too small with plenty to do outside of school. My host family, Mario and Cecilia were perfect hosts, welcoming me into their family, sharing their weekends and providing the best meals and comfortable accomodations close to the school.
Lake Atitlan is a very suitable location, reasonably priced accomodation and meals and lots of places to visit. Very friendly local people and interesting cultural activities. |
Charles Lightsey
generalcapgun@gmail.com
10 / 2011 |
I can´t say enough good things about San Pedro Spanish School. San Pedro is a great place to spend some time and learn Spanish. My instructor, Lorenzo was amazing- he pushed me to learn and try new things. Some days I felt like wandering around San Pedro for practical application of my Spanish skills and that worked well to break up the studying and try out some everyday stuff. The garden where you study is tranquil and exciting. Everyone at the school is really involved in their community and they have a way of sharing the concerns of the community and integrating that into the experience. If you want to work hard, push yourself and actually LEARN Spanish, try this school.
I elected to stay with a host family and that helped immensely. There was so much I gained from that experience that I would not have otherwise. Pedro is a famous Guatemalan painter and Deborah an amazing cook and compassionate person. I felt really welcome in their home and lucky for happening upon their home-stay. The only drawback was paying $85 and thinking I had a reservation only to learn upon arriving that I had paid to be a member of this site and had no such reservation, but rather an unnecessary membership to a site I will probably never use again- luckily the school was not too full when I arrived and I was able to register that day, but they should really clear up that link (hint to whoever reads) as I was not the only one who was confused about that!! Also, buy your books in advance as there are not many bookstores around San Pedro and finding a dictionary can be a bit of a crapshoot. I am still in Central America and using the knowledge I gained.
A+ to after school activities, Salsa, peliculas, y club de conversación. |
Jerry Hagan
jerryhagan82@yahoo.com
08 / 2011 |
This site is fantastic for doing all your "shopping" in one place. It offers a lot of info as well! The info I got from this site was right in line with the San Pedro Spanish School. The school was absolutely beautiful with nice weather (and no mosquitos)! The people were very accommodating and friendly. My teacher, Giovanni, was cool and was great to learn from! Really, I have absolutely nothing negative to say about the school. If I had more time I would have stayed much longer!
Study materials were very helpful. We used a book that we studied from at times, but I learned best through conversation and the white board. |
Sonja Lindberg
04 / 2011 |
I studied for four days during Holy Week at, San Pedro Spanish School in San Pedro, Lake Atitlan. My teacher, Lucas, was great and my Spanish progressed significantly while I studied there. I really enjoyed the full immersion method and all of the after-hours activities that gave me the opportunity to practice speaking and meet great people.
While I was there, I stayed with a family and had a wonderful experience being surrounded by the local Mayan culture. I would highly recommend San Pedro Spanish School to anyone who is looking to study Spanish and be surrounded by a great environment.
The staff was very friendly and helpful. Regards, Sonja. |
Charles Van Beke
c.vanbeke@comcast.net
03 / 2011 |
My teacher, Clemente at, San Pedro Spanish School was great. He was very animated, knowledgeable, and helpful. If I could return, I would like to have him as my teacher again, except this time for several weeks.
My family was delightful. While I do not remember their last name, I do remember all of their first names. The parents were Elena and Juan, and they have five children ranging in age from one year to eighteen years. Elena runs a small restaurant near the dock and Juan operates one of the boats. The meals were ample and very tasty. In their home next to the restaurant, I had a private room with bath, so my accommodations were quite satisfactory (but don't expect the Ritz).
The school facilities were outstanding -- a very nice cafe/restaurant, delightful grounds down to the lake, and enjoyable evening activities. I can't imagine going anywhere else to learn Spanish.
In San Pedro, you are truly immersed in your studies unlike being in a big city where English is spoken regularly. San Pedro Spanish School is outstanding. My correspondence with them was absolutely smooth and helpful. Thanks, Charles. |
Janet Gibbens
03 / 2011 |
I spent a week at the San Pedro Spanish School and had an excellent experience there. My teacher Francisco was great to work with, and was able to assess what I needed to work on quite appropriately. I was a little disappointed that the afternoon activities were almost non-existent, but there were evening discussion groups divided into levels of competency, which were helpful and allowed me to meet more of my fellow students. I had originally planned to spend 2 weeks there but had to leave suddenly after 1 week due to a family emergency.
My homestay was not satisfactory for me, but the school was very amenable to change when I requested it after 3 days.
The school is set up on beautiful grounds, teaching occurred in the gardens.
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Donald Nelson
donaldwnelson@yahoo.com
02 / 2011 |
I was happy that I chose San Pedro Spanish School, both the village and the school settings were beautiful. My teacher was excellent. I had been trying to learn Spanish for decades, the immersion experience was the key, also learning that I was hard of hearing was a big help, a hearing aid made it easier. |
Debbie Green
01 / 2011 |
San Pedro Spanish School is a very professionally run school. Everyone associated with them was very kind, courteous, and helpful. The outdoors environment was beautiful and stress free giving an added bonus to the experience. My teacher's name was Julio and I would highly recommend him. We was a very good teacher and succeeded in teaching me what I wanted to get out of the 2 weeks and more. He knew just enough English that when I needed to get a question clarified in English, he was able to do so. I went in at an intermediate level, so all my classes were conducted in Spanish. The beauty of San Pedro is they can accommodate your language level. If you know no Spanish, they can provide you with a teacher that knows more English. They ask what you expect to get out of the class before you start, so there is no set curriculum to follow, just what you want to learn!
My host family was awesome and I would highly recommend them. Super friendly and very accommodating as well. My room was comfortable and Olga did her best to fix me meals I liked, with quite a variety as well. The home wasn't very modern at all, but that was part of what made my experience in San Pedro such a pleasure! I even shucked dried corn in the evenings with Olga so she could boil it down that night and prepare it to be ground for masa the next morning to make tortillas! My family was also a great help furthering my Spanish. They only spoke Spanish to me, but spoke very slowly and were very patient. This really helped a lot to go home to living in a Spanish speaking environment after learning things in class. The whole experience was incredible and I would highly recommend it to anyone, especially for the price.
Each teacher has their own style, but in general all the teachers make sure they are teaching what you want to learn. They are patient and knowledgeable about teaching the language, no matter your level. They do not have books for the students, so bring writing materials with you. My teacher had his workbook copied for me at my expense (just the cost of copying) and that gave me something to walk away with and study in the future, as we didn't go through all the material. Again, you only learn what you want to learn. My class was from 1-5 in the afternoon with a break at 3 where you can gather with other students and talk. There are also activities every afternoon after classes that are free, and outings on the weekend for a fair price. If you would prefer morning classes from 8-12, I would suggest enrolling early during the busy season. San Pedro has lots of repeat business. |
Lee Thurgood & Friend
leethurgood@hotmail.co.uk
01 / 2011 |
Had a great time at San Pedro Spanish School. Didn't really take part in any of the other activities they offered as I had a lot of other friends staying in hostels in town. My teacher, Eligio was great. Would definitely recommend him, great teacher and a really nice guy and we had a lot in common. We got on really well and had a laugh as well as learning. As I knew a bit of Spanish already, just wanted to improve more and learn past tense, half the time we were just chatting in Spanish and telling stories.
My host family were great as well.... really sweet people and nice food, great room and really comfy bed. |
Barbara Slifer
11 / 2010 |
I loved the San Pedro Spanish School and my teacher, Rosa. She made the lessons interesting and enjoyable and I improved my Spanish considerably during my month working with her. The atmosphere at the school was friendly and their gardens were a delight to study in. I also volunteered and taught English to a group of 7 teenagers in the 'Ninos del Lago' program associated with the school. So my experience at the school was very positive.
My experience with my host family was not. I arrived around 5:30pm on a Sunday evening from the airport to a different family than I had requested and been told I would be staying with. I was shown my room and told there would be no water until 4:00. I could not flush to toilet or even wash my face. I didn't know where any shops or restaurants were, so I went went to bed hungry. The water problems continued for several days and although there was sometimes possible to flush the toilet and get water in hand basin, I was unable to have a shower. There were also two other students with this family.
The family was welcoming and very nice and the food was great, but after 4 days with water problems that weren't getting fixed, I moved to a hotel where I happily remained for the rest of my stay in San Pedro. I know of at least one other student who had a poor experience with their host family and moved to a hotel. I spent a month studying Spanish and living with a family in Ecuador last year, and really enjoyed it. So I think the school needs to evaluate that part of its program.
I have highly recommended the school to other travelers I've met and may even go back again. Regards, Barbara Slifer. |
Marie Moore
mariemoore56@gmail.com
10 / 2010 |
My time at San Pedro Spanish School was awesome! My friend and I stayed with a wonderful host family, Deborah and Pedro, and studied together with Javier. Javier is a great teacher and very friendly, I highly recomend anyone to study with him. San Pedro is a great place to study, there are many places to eat and heaps of places to go out at night. I recomend studying at San Pedro Spanish School!
My correspondence with the school was smooth and helpful. |
Jiantian Hall
10 / 2010 |
I loved my time at San Pedro Spanish School. My friend and I stayed with Pedro and Deborah who lived a 5 mins walk to the school, they were relaxed, laid back and were very patient with my lack of Spanish. Javier was my teacher he was passionate about the Spanish language and was able to change his teaching style to keep us involved in the lesson for the whole 4 hours.
I would highly recommend this school, it is very professional and in a beautiful location. Check-in to the school was extremely smooth and helpful.
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Naomi Segal
segal.naomi@gmail.com
10 / 2010 |
Wow! I have had a really good experience at San Pedro Spanish School. I was there for a month and enjoyed every moment. The school took care of me the minute I landed in Guatemala, and made sure I had a way to get there, and that I was picked up by my family as soon as I got there. I studied with David and Lorenzo, who where both amazing, in a very different way. David is an excellent teacher to talk to, and we had some really interesting conversations. He is clever and we spoke abuot many cultural aspects. Lorenzo was really didactic and really understood my didactic needs. I think he is an amazing teacher for advanced students. He is very patient, and I could feel that he was very experienced. All the other teachers I met there, were all very friendly, talkative, and it really seems like it comes from the heart.
The school is situated in the most amzing garden and every student had his own privacy.
In the afternoons they have an extra lesson which was very helpfull, and they have some nice extra activities. the only thing lacking was a library.
My first host family was not very communicative, but the school took care of it quickly and I moved to the best family- Flori and Hector. I had a big clean room with an amazing view of the lake. the food was excellent, and the family was really communicative and we really felt part of the family!
The only downside is that the native language spoken in San Pedro is Tzutujil, and Spanish is not the main language there. But it is also part of the cultural experience. Have fun!
Lake Atitlan is a beautiful location for learning Spanish. Lots of activities to do in the afternoons or weekends. |
Jamie Marshall-Lively
09 / 2010 |
I had a wonderful experience at San Pedro Spanish School in San Pedro, Lake Atitlan. Everyone there, both students and staff were friendly, helpful, genuine people. A very communal vibe - everyone mingling during breaks, drinking coffee and snacking and good conversation. I studied with Javier, who was awesome. Great sense of humor, very passionate and honest about his work. He is really into the idea of framing your study around subjects that you're already interested in - I found myself writing poetry and discussing politics in spanish within the first week. All of the other teachers were also lovely and any number of them were happy to help out with the odd question here or there, and even give informal lessons on Guatemalan slang. I stayed with the Mendez family, who runs Dulce Maria Restaurant. They were always great. Very hospitable and friendly in a genuine, caring way. They are a young family, very chill and easy to get along with. The food was not necessarily traditional fare, but was always delicious and filling. The teaching method was very effective for me. It was entirely conversational and very personally tailored to my interests and learning style, and I was also supplied with visual supplements, textbooks, and worksheets when I needed them. |
Michal North
michal76@hotmail.com
06 / 2010 |
Hello, I spent the first 2 weeks at San Pedro Spanish School in San Pedro, Lake Atitlan. My first instructor... lacked patience and the lessons always left me feeling overwhelmed, bored and frustrated. I was an absolute beginner, and felt I would have been better suited with a teacher who was used to students at my level. Before giving up completely, I asked to change teachers. My second teacher, Andrea, was much better. She was patient, and made me feel a little more confident with my learning abilities. I was given a text book to take home to study with, and felt my confidence was improved after only having 3 lessons with Andrea. I was only ever given one book to take home by my second teacher, Andrea. There were plenty of great activities to choose from at this school.
Unfortunately, I do not remember the name of my host family, but they were fantastic, extremely warm, generous, friendly and kind.
I would recommend the school with caution. I felt more of a number at San Pedro than a valued student. I would never not recommend the school though. Even though my experience was not relatively good, I know plenty of students who had a great experience there.
I would also like to add that although some of my comments are negative, my experience in Guatemala was nothing but positive. I only intended to stay in San Pedro for 2 weeks, but I ended up staying for 4 and a 1/2 months. The community on the lake was amazing, and I always felt so at home. The experience changed my life immensely, and I am saving all my money in the hope of returning next year. Regards, Michal. |
Ivan K.
pri00ce@yahoo.com
06 / 2010 |
I also attended San Pedro Spanish School in San Pedro, La Laguna. I studied for 3 weeks there. My teacher was Lety. She was very engaged and followed up on any questions arising from the study. A bit of a weakness was that the teaching solely based on general talk and to a lesser part on grammar. A more structured and varied teaching would elevate the course. A big plus is, the school really has lots of study materials and allows to take them home to use.
The after school activities though, were generally rather poor, except the reports from victims of the war.
My host family was Pedro and Debora Chavajay. They are very nice people and I liked every single day with them.
I can just confirm other students reports the school directly at the lake has an unbeatable environment to study at and I can honestly recommend it. It is well organized and the management gets out of its way to help their students along with their needs.
In addition San Pedro is a very attractive place to study for all nature lovers. Any enquires are welcome at, pri00ce@yahoo.com. Ivan. |
Sheena Hsu
04 / 2010 |
Hello, I picked San Pedro Spanish School by Lake Atitlan and I studied for 2 weeks there. I had 2 instructors while I was there. The first week I had a female instructure named Manuela. She was informative and made me feel very comfortable, however I felt my progress was slow. I requested a different instructor the second week due to change of class schedule from morning to afternoon. I had a male instructor named Clemente. He was very enthusiastic and had the push I was looking for in learning a language. I felt my learning progressed that week. I would of have stayed longer if I had, more vacation time, I had to return to work back home.
The study materials were limited in my opinion, since there is no set of textbooks and I have to write everything down. I have no problem writing things down since that's how I will remember the material. However, I actually prefer a set of materials so I can track my progress.
Since I went during light season, after school activities were limited. I did attend the afternoon conversation class practically everyday. I enjoyed a movie night at the school and that's about it. They did offer a hiking trip to Indian Nose, however not enough people signed up so it was canceled. But I was never bored, I made friends through the school and my house mates.
I stayed with a host while I was there and I loved the family I stayed with. I stay with Rosalia, Juan and their son Abner Gonzalez. They were a great family since Juan is an elementery school teacher, he has so much patience with all of us. Really took the time to correct our pronounciation, our tenses, and taught us new words. Rosalia is a baker by trade so all meals were great! Their son Abner is probably the most polite, sincere 18 year old boy I have ever met. He too helped all the house mates feel comfortable. I knew 2 weeks was not enough, but I definitely felt the improvement. I would totally go back to the same school and stay with the same family. This time for at least 4 weeks. Regards, Sheena Hsu. |
Angus
09 / 2009 |
Hello, I decided to go to San Pedro Spanish School in San Pedro, La Laguna. I studied for 3 weeks there. My instructor, was excellent, her name is Andrea. She had a textbook which was good, but a copy of it, was not available for me, so I could not write on it. It would have been useful to have more handout materials. My Spanish improved significantly. The conversation club was useful and other activities were fun. The host family were very nice and the food was excellent. Their names were Pedro and Deborah. I would definitely recommend the school to others. Regards, Angus. |
Sarah Goldberg
sarahgoldberg2@gmail.com
08 / 2009 |
I also studied at San Pedro Spanish School in San Pedro, La Laguna, for 5 weeks. I liked both instructors. My teacher in San Pedro was, Antonio. I think the instructors at this school, were better... Study materials were sufficient. I definitely recommend bringing your own English-spanish dictionary though. My Spanish improved tremendously. I spoke absolutely no Spanish before I arrived in Guatemala and when I returned home to Chicago I took a placement test for the extension school of ′Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico′ and was placed in Intermediate 2. I learned in 6 weeks, what took me 6 years of middle school and high school to learn in French. After school activities were great. At both schools, we had hiking and salsa dancing, both of which I loved. San Pedro have lots of opportunities outside of the school for exploring on your own. This school, also, has a volunteer-run school for under-privileged kids, where Spanish students can help out. If you like kids, I definitely recommend it--the children were friendly and adorable. If you plan to study at San Pedro and volunteer at the school, I would also recommend having some lessons in mind and possibly bringing some materials or donations--the school has limited resources. My host family here, was lovely--they were, Rosa and Benjamin and their three sons. We always ate together, they talked with me all the time and they did their best to make sure I was comfortable. I would definitely recommend staying with them. I would recommend both schools I studied at though--I had good experiences at San Pedro and the other school I attended, although they have different atmospheres. At San Pedro, the school is right on the lake and is absolutely beautiful. Classes are held in individual grass huts scattered on the property and you never mind studying, because it feels so tranquil and relaxing. However, it is a much bigger school than the school in Quetzaltenango and in a more touristy town. There are often 10-20 students at the school at once. It is really fun to meet other travellers and explore together, but, it means you make less of a connection with the local teachers. At break the teachers tend to gather in one area and chat, while the students gather in another. I am glad I had both school experiences, though, I′m not sure which I prefer, but they are definitely different and worthwhile. Sincerely, Sarah Goldberg. |
Robin Park
robin.park77@gmail.com
07 / 2009 |
Hi, I decided to attend, San Pedro Spanish School in San Pedro, La Laguna. I studied for ′una semana′ there. I asked for a teacher who can speak English. They assigned one for me. They have their own book and they offered handouts to me. My Spanish definitely improved. There were several after school programs, but it was not interesting for me. I did not stay with host family, as I was staying at hotel near the school. I would recommend the school, they are fine. Take it care and Thank you. Robin. |
Kevin McLean
hulagon@gmail.com
07 / 2009 |
Hello, we ended up studying at two different schools in Guatemala. We studied for one week in San Pedro Spanish School in San Pedro, La Laguna. The school was well organized and they found us an amazing family to stay with, which we thought was wonderful, considering there were 4 of us and a large dog. We all improved our Spanish. We did not attend any of the school organized events at this school, so I cannot comment on them. Our teachers were fine, but not exceptional. The family we stayed with was exceptional. They went out of their way to make sure that we were comfortable and happy in every way. Both schools were very helpful and I give them full marks for being able to accommodate our requests, sometimes with little notice. We were very appreciative that they found a home that would let us have our dog with us as well. We would recommend both schools to anyone interested. Kevin McLean. Calgary, AB. |
Brienne Thomson
raceher_b@yahoo.com
06 / 2009 |
I also, studied at the San Pedro Spanish School in San Pedro, La Laguna, for 11 days and stayed for 14 nights. Out of the 3 teachers from 3 different schools I had during my trip in Guatemala, Javier Mendez at San Pedro was by far the best! He had material and activities prepared, was creative, patient, energetic and had a sense of humour. I highly recommend Javier as a teacher. The school also provided daily conversational classes and weekend excursions, including hikes and kayaking; where we ended up at an awesome cliff-jumping location! My host family, Debora and Pedro Gonzalez were outstanding. The house was close to the school and it was an art gallery. Pedro is an artist. So I studied in the front room surrounded by paintings! and Debora made fresh tortillas on a special wood burning stove they had just outside the kitchen, yummy! They were also very interactive and had a "Spanish only’ rule at the dinner table, which was excellent practice. They took me to their corn farm, to a soccer game and to the beach ′Playa Finca′, for a picnic. I highly recommend both Javier Mendez and Debora and Pedro Gonzalez. My experience with them was so great I want to go back! Gracias, Brienne Thomson. San Diego, CA. |
Julianne Wiebe
juliannewiebe@gmail.com
06 / 2009 |
Hello, my husband and I attended San Pedro Spanish School in San Pedro, Lake Atitlan. We studied for 2 weeks with a home stay. Our instructors, Rosalia and Vilma were excellent. They gave us their full attention and taught us at our level. They adjusted the curriculum according to our needs. The study materials and resources were adequate, though it would have been helpful to follow a textbook. There were fun activities organized by the school on weekends, such as hiking, kayaking, and trips to the market in Chichicastenango. Everyday there was a conversation club where students would get together and talk, facilitated by an instructor. Our home stay couldn′t have been better. We stayed with Tula and Luis, the Mendez family. Their house and garden was beautiful, quiet and peaceful. We had our own room and bathroom with a hot water shower, and a gorgeous view of Lake Atitlan. The food was more than plentiful and absolutely delicious. They treated us like family. I would definitely recommend studying in San Pedro, as it is a beautiful, tranquil town, everyone was so friendly, there are a lot of outdoor activities to enjoy in the afternoon and most of all, we learned a ton of Spanish in a short time. We wished we could have stayed longer! Sincerely, Julianne. |
Lucile
lu.t@hotmail.fr
05 / 2009 |
I studied for 3 weeks at San Pedro Spanish School. I had three different teachers : Diego, Leti, and another young new one I really liked... but I don't know how I can't remember her name. I asked to have different teachers in order to try different methods and to get used to differents accents and I learned a lot with them. Even though I had some basis I learnt at school in France, when I arrived having a conversation was kind of hard, after only 2 weeks I was able to speak easily. Moreover the teachers were aware at my needs : that is to say they weren't giving formated classes but asked me what point I wanted to emphasize.
We didn't have special study materials (except pens and papers), but the teachers were very imaginative. Indeed, we were sometimes playing games in Spanish so that I could learn grammar in a funny way and, as I was there in order to work in a Human rights Organisation. Diego was focusing my classes on newspapers articles related to this field in order that I could have the adapted vocabulary. I didn't feel that I would have need special material: teachers were competent and knew how to give fun to their classes.
I had 2 host families. I stayed longer in the first one : at Deli and Venicio's. They welcomed me in a really nice way, were really kind with us trying to make meals funnies and educative and to make us discover our culture while being really interested in ours (we were about 4-5 people from differents countries). I'm still in contact with their nephew Juan Carlos.
While i was there there was a walk to the Cruz and salsa classes as "extra-scholar activities". But to be honest, I wasn't looking for a big school with a lot of activities so it was Ok with me. As for the relations after school activities, Diego -the one in charge of the school- was really kind to me, always helping when I needed something
I would really recommend the school for people who are not looking to a big school full of tourists.
It was more like an intimate school, with a beautiful and peaceful garden where to have classes, nice teachers and workers with whom you feel close. It was my first travel out of France, they sent me someone to pick me up at the airport , I arrived in the middle of the night and Diego was there to show me the family. So finally I was so comfortable that this first travel was a really easy one. I went to visit other schools while I was there, by curiosity, and finally decided to stay in Don Pedro cause I almost felt like in a family.
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Kurtis Weiman
kurtis_weiman@hotmail.com
04 / 2009 |
Hi, I attended the San Pedro Spanish School in San Pedro, Atitlan, directed by Ramon. I studied there for 3 weeks and would recommend it to everyone. I was interested in having a good time as well as learning Spanish and the school′s environment was very conducive to having fun while learning. My teacher was David, who I had for all three weeks as we got along well and I always enjoyed conversing with him. The activities in the evenings and weekends organised by the school were always a highlight. I stayed with a family, Cheto and Micaella, close to the school in San Pedro and they were very welcoming and a pleasure to stay with. I found Guatemala365 just by searching Google and found that it is a great, honest website and has all that you need to choose a school that is suitable. Regards, Kurtis. |
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