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- Guatemala: Spanish Language Intensive (Summer)

Guatemala: Spanish Language Intensive (Summer)
At dawn, a howler monkey cries from the branch of a giant cieba tree. In the Cuchumatanes Mountains, a young woman rises to grind corn on a stone petate. Along Avenida Reforma, street children juggle oranges for change as businessmen tuck into air-conditioned office buildings. Investigate issues of social justice amidst Guatemala’s diverse landscapes and communities while improving your Spanish ...
At dawn, a howler monkey cries from the branch of a giant cieba tree. In the Cuchumatanes Mountains, a young woman rises to grind corn on a stone petate. Along Avenida Reforma, street children juggle oranges for change as businessmen tuck into air-conditioned office buildings. Investigate issues of social justice amidst Guatemala’s diverse landscapes and communities while improving your Spanish language skills through personalized instruction. Our summer abroad course begins in Antigua, where we explore colorful markets, hike through coffee plantations, and begin our first Spanish lessons. We ride the infamous Chicken Bus—a colorful and chromed-out version of a 1990s Blue Byrd school bus—to the sparkling shores of sacred Lake Atitlan and settle in for a week of homestays at our program b...
Program Highlights
Attend one-on-one interactive instruction for four to five hours a day, with language immersion throughout.
Experience a homestay with a local family, including language school.
Witness the syncretism of Catholicism and Maya spirituality, Maya cosmovision, and cycles of time.
Support community projects and social justice movements through a range of learning service initiatives.
Learn about modernization and globalization, impact of education and tourism on indigenous culture, free trade, and exploration of minority empowerment issues.
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Quick Details
- Quetzaltenango, Guatemala
- 2-4 Weeks
- Community Service & Volunteering
- Experiential Learning
- Language Immersion
- Outdoor Education
- Student Exchange
- All Nationalities
Awards

Program Reviews
Hear what past participants have to say about the programs
Overall Rating
Total Reviews
A Summer in Paradise
by: Sarah JuddProgram: Guatemala: Spanish Language Intensive (Summer)My summer in Guatemala was an amazing experience. The Program Where There Be Dragons provided fantastic opportunities with many learning experiences and awesome instructors. The living situations were at times difficult, but I also think that enhanced our full cultural immersion. I loved this program and would recommend it to any teen interested in learning more about not only spanish, but themselves.
An interesting and rewarding look into Guatemalan culture and life.
by: djc.changProgram: Guatemala: Spanish Language Intensive (Summer)Over the course of 6 weeks, we trekked for 4 days, learned Spanish at a Guatemalan school, and learned about everything from a Guatemalan weaving to their Mayan ceremonies. Academics: Over the course of 6 weeks, we did not simply walk around Guatemala, but actually were taught the sad yet very interesting history between the United Fruit Company and Guatemala. We also learned about being social activist and also worked at a microcooperative. Cultural Immersion: The cultural immersion was okay, but I felt that there could have been more Spanish spoken. However one of the leaders of the group was someone who actually lived in Guatemala his entire life and so it was immersive in other ways than language. We also were at a homestay program which was really fun.
Global citizenship and personal development in a culture immersion program
by: Delia LaJeunesseProgram: Guatemala: Spanish Language Intensive (Summer)Dragons programs provide a truly unique and unforgettable experience. The focus on self in the global context provides students the opportunity to see tremendous growth within themselves as they encounter difficult situations and are immersed in a world that is so wholly different from what they know. Where There Be Dragons causes students to recognize their role in the world and take in the interconnectedness of the globe. As they observe the culture around them there is an opportunity to reflect on your own culture and lifestyle and really question the place you want to have in the world. Dragons inspires students to become agents of social change and to continue to engage in and question the ever-changing, globalized world. Academics: We each had independent study projects which we focused on throughout the trip. In addition we had several speakers share their experiences with environmental concerns, wars, government and immigration. Living Situation: We stayed in a variety of places which gave us a true feel of all aspects of the country. We did two treks, one in which we slept in tents, the other we stayed in a family's house as a group. We stayed in an old abandoned church one night over the trek and then a few hotels in between homestays and treks. We stayed with families in a very very remote village with only one room per house, families in a city apartments and families in a rural village. Overall the living situation was diverse, varied and provided a great cultural perspective over the entire course of the trip. Cultural Immersion: The only time of the trip that intense cultural immersion wasn't the focus was the first few days when we were establishing ground rules, and developing our own community. Even during this initial period we had dinners with families and helped locals collect macademia nuts. We got exposed to many different portions of the country and got glimpses to the way that people live throughout the country. We also got to spend time in nature and see the environmental portion of a country in order to better understand the cultures and traditions. We got to help prepare foods, go to the market and work with community started service projects. Finally we did a language school and spent individual time with teachers in two towns. Program Administration: Every instructor and administration person is personable, efficient and dynamic. They are all focused on creating the best possible experience for students and are committed to providing the most diverse and inclusive program.
Program Details
Learn all the nitty gritty details you need to know
Locations
- Quetzaltenango, Guatemala
Types and Subjects
- Focus Areas
- Community Service & Volunteering
- Experiential Learning
- Language Immersion
Availability
Years Offered: 2025, 2026
- 2-4 Weeks
Age Requirement
14-17
Guidelines
- All Nationalities
- This Program is also open to Group
Cost per week
Program Cost Includes
- Tuition & Fees
- Accommodation / Housing for Program Duration
- All Program Activity Costs
- Weekday Meals (Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Accommodation Options
- Group living
- Home-stays
Qualifications & Experience
- High School Freshman (1st Year)
- High School Sophomore (2nd Year)
- High School Junior (3rd Year)
Accepted Education Levels
Application Procedures
- Phone/Video Interview
- Physical Exam/Health Records
- Online Application
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