Spanish Language Schools....?

Question

I want to go somewhere relatively inexpensive. I want to stay with a host family and want to experience the culture not the tourist attractions. I was thinking about Guatemala. Any suggestions? cities? schools?

Answer 1

if you really want total immersion, i would recommend Paraguay. i have been to almost every country in south america and paraguay was the only one i didn't meet one singe tourist (of any nationality)! way off the beaten path

Answer 2

I was thinking that too until I read up on Spanish Schools in Honduras. The Copan area and Santa Rosa areas have schools that are away from the tourist areas. You stay with a family and the prices are good. The main thing is it is more total immersion as not alot of English is spoken in those areas. La Ceiba area is touristy and a party area and is not a better choice.

Answer 3

I've been to Colombia, Nicaragua, Panama, Costa Rica. From what I've heard and seen, Colombia (bogota & Medellin) and Costa Rica have some of the best spanish schools available. I do not know how to go about living with a host family. Wish I did. Might utilize the web sites offered to you in other responses to find a host family. Going back to colombia in Nov. The most friendly people in th eworld live there. Love it.

Answer 4

I'd recommend going to Panajachel, near Lake Atitlan, in Guatemala. It meets all your requirements. www.jabeltinamit.com/ is a good Spanish school in Panajachel.

Answer 5

Guatemala's the worst for learning a language.  It is fun and there are lots of foreigners, but you will spend your off hours partying and speaking English.

If you want to learn Spanish Venezuela and Colombia may be the best.  They have very little tourism, so almost no English.  Unfortunately, Venezuela is quite dangerous now, so Colombia is a better choice - medellin would be a great place and great climate.

Ecuador and Argentina are a bit more expensive and touristy, but not as much as Antigua, Guatemala is.

Uruguay is very cheap and very safe.  They have a slight different accent (similar to Argentina) but that is not really a big deal.

Bolivia is not touristy and cheap, but has a lot of political turmoil right now.  Santa Cruz has many independence minded groups and has all the wealth, jungle and tropical feel..  La Paz is desperatley poor, cold and very high altitude.