Immersion Abroad
Ixchel School, Antigua, Guatemala
from the website: "When we founded the school in 1999, we didn’t want to be just another Spanish school in a town where there were dozens of Spanish schools already. We wanted to be the best!
We made it our goal to work only with the best Spanish teachers, select our host families and other service providers very carefully, and offer a full range of additional services to make our students’ stay in Antigua Guatemala as enjoyable and hassle-free as possible.
We have developed and perfected our own class materials based on a wide range of textbooks and our teachers receive continuous training, allowing them to further improve their knowledge of the Spanish language and use the latest teaching techniques."
Our friends took their family, including kids, to Antigua and studied at this school. They loved everything about it.
Antigüena Spanish Academy, Antigua, Guatemala
from the website: "We at the Spanish School Antigüeña provide the best Spanish language teaching since 1985. We have been highly recommended by some of the best travel guides and a lot of satisfied students from all over the world. We are authorized by the Ministry of Education and INGUAT (National Institute of Tourism of Guatemala). All of our teachers and homestay families, as well as the school’s director and owner are 100% Guatemalan to ensure complete immersion experience when learning Spanish here in Antigua Guatemala. https://www.spanishacademyantiguena.com/.
My friends and I spent a week studying at the Antigüena Spanish Academy for five hours a day (each with a private instructor). My language skills improved immensely, and the city and people of Antigua were amazing. Classes are held outside in a park. A few of their instructors weren't flexible enough with their lesson plans, and couldn't adjust up to my friends' levels. That being said, we all felt our language skills increased at the end of the week.
Recommendation: Five hours a day is a lot. Four would have been perfect.
Mérida, México
The city of Mérida on the Yucatan Peninsula is a fabulous place to visit and study the Spanish language. The city is a 30-minute drive from Mérida International Airport. You can walk everywhere, the locals are friendly, and the weather is nearly perfect year-round. It is also incredibly safe and more affordable than many other destinations. The city offers a rich history and vibrant culture, creating an immersive environment for language practice. There are several schools and immersion programs to choose from.
Our group booked an Airbnb a few blocks from El Museo Regional de Antropología. We stayed for a week and hired a local professor to give us classes for a few mornings. We learned all about the city, the Yucatan and Mayan culture. It was absolutely fabulous. We will go back.
El Instituto Español de Puebla, México
The Spanish Institute of Puebla is renowned for it's 35-year legacy of balancing a rigorous academic curriculum with authentic conversation practice. Located in a restored 17th-century ex-convent only steps from the main plaza, the Institute offers a historic, immersive environment. They employ native-speaking instructors with advanced degrees in Linguistics, Teaching Spanish as a Second Language, etc. and offer a structured 8-level curriculum designed to help students achieve fluency. www.sipuebla.com
Our group spent a week in Puebla, balancing morning language classes with afternoon exploration. The Institute expertly coordinated our entire experience—including transportation, itineraries, and guides—and facilitated day trips to Tlaxcala, Cholula, and Atlixco. Their willingness to create a customized program was outstanding, directly helping us achieve our goals for improving speaking and listening comprehension.