Guatemala is a Latin American country situated in Central America and is the most heavily-populated country of Central America with 13 million inhabitants. Although it has a greater population, Mexico, which is bordered to the north is officially in North America and not Central. Since 1996, the country has been relatively stable and has enjoyed enormous economic growth and development. The country has a history dating back to the arrival of first human settlers more than 12,000 years ago, in which the area was dominated by the Maya civilization for nearly 2000 years until the Spanish journied here in the early 16th century. The country remained a Spanish colony for nearly 300 years, before it its independence in 1821. At that time it was a part of the Mexican Empire until gaining complete independence in the 1840s. The history since has been plagued by civil war and unrest, but as mentioned, has been stable since 1996. The region has a tropical climate enjoying warm, sunny temperatures year round. Rain is expected at intervals during the year, especially during the Wet Season. Antigua is an attractive city in Guatemala's Central Highlands. The city is famous for its historic Baroque architecture, has many spectacular ruined churches, and has been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With a population of 33,000 inhabitants it is medium in size, but wholesome in character. The city's backdrop is dramatic, with three volcanoes dominating the landscape. The volcanoes are still active and it is not uncommon to see smoke escaping from them, although bigger eruptions are rare. There are also numerous attractive, bars, restaurants, streets and squares and is an ideal city in which to do a language course.
Our partner school in Antigua
The language institute Academia Sevilla is located just 3 minutes walk from the central square, the "Parque Central". There are colourful markets in the immediate surroundings of the language institute. The school has all the necessary facilities for teaching and learning Spanish. There is also an attractive garden and terrace where students can come together for a cup of coffee as well as sharing their experiences with one another. An enthusiastic team of teachers makes sure you will enjoy your language course and learning Spanish, with a relaxed but professional atmosphere. The accommodation on offer is in the form of a host family or in an apartment with other students. Both are an excellent way of practising Spanish and for meeting new people. The host families are very friendly and have a lot of experience in looking after foreign students and allows students to immerse themselves in the culture. All accommodation used by students has been selected by the school and has an excellent location with the appropriate facilities. The accomodation is also cleaned and inspected regularly to ensure standards are being maintained.
Social programme
Do you want a bit of relaxation during your language course? As an additional bonus, group activities are organized three afternoons a week, and students can participate free of charge and get to know each other better. The activities consist of dance and cooking lessons, feasts, films, excursions to Antigua or immediate surroundings and sports lessons, just to name a few. You can also take part in a horse-riding or mountain bike tour, but excursions of this nature incur a fee. There is also the possibility to visit traditional festivals and / or weaving events.
If you require further information or would like to find out more about StudyTravel, please follow this link or contact us via the following telephone numbers:
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Impression
The one-to-one lessons help to create a strong bond between the student and his or her teacher. On completion of my language course I worked at a school as a volunteer. I helped with the lessons and even taught drawing and handicraft. It was so nice to see those satisfied and proud little faces of the children... I would like to go back straight away!
Cornelia Schramme, Germany.
