Antigua
Antigua, Guatemala is a beautiful Spanish Colonial City located just 30 minutes from Guatemala City. In 1965 Antigua was named Monument of the Americas by the Pan American Institute and is now recognized as a center for Spanish language study.
The School
Centro Linguistico Maya (CLM), established in 1979, is an educational institution accredited by the Guatemalan Government. The Central building of CLM is located in downtown Antigua, two and a half blocks from the Central Park and one and a half blocks from the bus station. This location affords students easy access to the Central Market, the Post Office, various restaurants, churches, hotels and local craft shops.
The Program
The program is ONE-ON-ONE. Every student has his or her own teacher. The individual instruction of CLM means that you are receiving the attention necessary to learn Spanish. The highly qualified instructors teach students according to the student's needs, with special consideration given to an individual's personal interests. The program includes grammar, conversation and written exercises.
The instructors are very experienced and have completed studies to teach Spanish. Generally, the instructors possess a minimum of 5 years experience, and many are also working on other professional studies at the University of San Carlos. Many of the teachers have been with the School since it was founded.
Should students ever feel that their instructor is not fulfilling their needs, they can request a change of instructor; this request will be honored immediately.
Upon arrival, the student's level of Spanish will be evaluated. Based on this evaluation, the instructors plan individual teaching programs. At the student's request, the teachers make periodic evaluations to determine progress. Books and materials are provided.
As part of the Program and at no extra cost, CLM offers excursions twice a week to different places in and around Antigua, such as museums, colonial houses, and ruins of special interest. The most important idea of these excursions is to practice Spanish and to learn about the architecture, culture, religion and customs of Guatemala.
Living Accomidations
While enrolled in the School, students may choose to live in any of the hotels in Antigua. However, we strongly recommend living with a Guatemalan family because of the opportunity to practice Spanish and learn about the Guatemalan culture and customs. Living with a family offers total immersion and is a great way to gain the maximum efficiency of learning. The homes that you would live in are located downtown, near the School (Between 1 and 8 blocks from the central building). You will be placed with a family upon arrival.
When living with a family students are provided with a private room and 3 meals a day from Monday through Saturday. You will need to bring personal items, including a towel, but your family will provide you with blankets and sheets. If, for any reason, you are not comfortable with your family, CLM will move you to another.