Ixchel Spanish School

Learning Spanish

Additional Services

Travel Information

Student Comments

The family home-stay is a brilliant way to experience the Guatemalan lifestyle. I hope to return someday.

Sarah Bell
Australia

My homestay really embellished the whole experience, with tasty and interesting meals. The family were helpful, kind and always willing to chat to help me out with practicing my day's work. I did not meet a right-minded individual who would not highly recommend Ixchel to anyone.

Malcolm Lorimer
Manchester, UK

This has been a great learning experience. Living with a Guatemalan family has also been incredible. You can do all the travelling you want but if you don't immerse yourself in the culture you are always missing out. I recommend this type of experience and especially this school to anyone.

Kim Trudel
Canada

I am having an amazing experience in Antigua. Living with a family is one of the best ways to get an inside look into the culture of Guatemala and practice Spanish.

Lauren Johnson
USA

When I arrived at Ixchel three weeks ago I spoke no Spanish. Living with a local family and taking four hours of classes each day I have learnt a lot, and had many opportunities to practice speaking in Spanish outside of school as well as in it. My teacher and the family have been very supportive in helping me learn, and I am now able to communicate effectively with them.

Susan Kendall
UK

More Comments ...

Spanish Immersion Courses in Antigua Guatemala:

Family Homestay

Spanish immersion courses in Antigua Guatemala — or anywhere else in Latin America, for that matter — are all about having contact with the local population and practicing your Spanish with native speakers as much as possible.

Therefore we recommend that you participate in our homestay program and live with a local family while you study Spanish at the Ixchel Spanish School.

Advantages of a Family Homestay

A homestay with a local host family has several advantages over other accommodation options:

you will have close contact with native Spanish speakers, what will give you plenty of opportunity to practice your Spanish in realistic everyday situations
you will participate in your host family's daily life and gain valuable insights into the life and mentality of average Guatemalans
you will learn about and experience the customs and culture of Latin America
you will have your meals with the host family, what will save you the hassle and expense of eating in restaurants all the time

Guatemalans are famous for their hospitality and will make you feel welcome in their homes. They will be happy to help you to practice your Spanish, give you tips and advice to make your stay in Antigua even more memorable, and will do their best to provide you with a pleasant "home away from home."

The Host Families

We select our host families very carefully to make sure you will receive good service and be comfortable. The families we work with are located within a few city blocks from the school, so no lengthy walks or bus rides are necessary. Walking from the house to the school and vice versa typically takes no more than about five to ten minutes.

Our host families are middle class by local standards. Their houses and the rooms they provide to Spanish students are nice and comfortable, but not luxurious.

Private Single and Double Rooms

Since almost all students want to live within Antigua's historic center and the number of families in that area is limited, Spanish schools in Antigua usually place several students with the same family.

Unlike other schools, however, we do not expect you to share your room with anyone unless you want to. You will have your own private room and the host family will give you a key to the house so you can come and go as you please.

Of course we also have double rooms available for couples who want to stay together.

Host families in Antigua Guatemala typically provide only rooms with shared bathroom, although in most houses there are several bathrooms and having to stand in line is the exception rather than the rule.

We do have a limited number of rooms with private bathroom available too. They are very popular with our students, though, and if you'd like to have a room with private bathroom, please sign up as early as practical.

Meals Included

A family homestay includes breakfast, lunch and dinner from Monday thru Friday, breakfast and lunch on Saturday. The host family does not provide meals on Sundays and national holidays.

The host families serve mostly typical Guatemalan dishes, although they are often adapted to the taste of foreign guests. In any case, meals are tasty and much more varied than just beans and tortillas three times a day.

Vegetarian and vegan meals are available upon request.

At each meal at least one family member, sometimes the entire family, is present and happy to chat with you. This way, you will not only practice your Spanish in realistic everyday conversations, but also learn about Latin American customs at the same time.

Other Accommodation Options

Considering the advantages of a family homestay, we believe that it is the ideal complement to your Spanish course in Antigua Guatemala.

However, if you think that a homestay is not for you, we can also offer you a room in a student guesthouse or recommend a hotel according to your taste and budget.

Whatever your preferences, just let us know on the registration form and we will be happy to arrange the kind of accommodation you will be most comfortable with.