Landing the job of one's dreams requires more than ever before deep knowledge of what's out there. Meanwhile, Spanish is the fourth-largest language in the world and spoken by almost 340 million people worldwide. Many in the business world are catering to the Spanish-speaking population, including learning to speak the language.
For some, a Spanish immersion program in Guatemala sounds challenging and exciting. Schools offer one-on-one classes with experienced instructors—from beginner-level to advanced, learning at one's own pace, for two weeks, six weeks, six months, or a year.
Group classes are also available, but less effective than individual attention.
Getting to know the Guatemalans and their culture adds another dimension. Living with a family and listening to only Spanish sounds from morning to night helps—it will sink in because it is either sink or swim, make oneself understood or be lost.
Stay in a dorm, or rent an apartment or house. Live in a hostel that caters to the old and the young. Stay in a hotel or bed and breakfast. Why not stay with one of the teachers? You choose what your budget allows.
"We have up to 6,000 students a year," commented Rigoberto Zamora, an instructor at Bienvenida a de La Fuente in Antigua, Guatemala.
"Most U.S. students take the program for credit," he added. Many universities allow one to earn credits through immersion programs.
Diving In
Stuart Levy took a plane one Thursday night to Antigua, Guatemala, while a doctoral candidate at a business school in Calgary, Canada. He shopped for a Spanish program on Friday and started on Monday at Bienvenida. This was the second time around for him. He was hooked during a five-week Spanish immersion class in Costa Rica in 1997.
"I wanted to achieve fluency within two weeks and studied close to 30 hours a week for two weeks," he said. "I chose the homestay experience; I wanted to take a closer look at the culture through insider eyes.
"It was great … speaking Spanish all the time with students from around the world and the Guatemalans, watching a live volcano in the evening and salsa dancing all night. I recommend such a program to everyone. It is a once in a life-time experience."
Ron Convey, from Houston, Texas, has has gone back to Antigua more than 18 times, studying Spanish at the Probigua school. "My Spanish has improved to the point that I can take part in more complex discussions," he said.
"I met an 80-year-old man who studied only one hour in the morning, and then he and his teacher went to a café for coffee and cake and spoke Spanish until the allotted time was over—he was doing great."
Everything I'm learning here is practical and useful," commented another student. "… It took me only four weeks from a few words in Spanish to having a great conversation."
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