HEAD WEST FOR SPANISH IMMERSION

The school I chose in Xela was fantastic. Escuela Minerva & Cultural Center is run by Julio Rodolfo Lima, who is also an economics professor at the Univ. of Quetzaltenango and an avid student of all things Mayan. Julio gave optional lectures on everything from modern Central American economics to the Mayan’s use of chromatherapy. The lectures in Spanish, but Julio is such an amazing teacher that he is able to make even the most remedial Spanish speaker understand. He also would give impromptu lectures on virtually any topic requested.

The school organizes a variety of activities from which students can choose, and the teachers, all local residents, go with you. Volunteer projects include helping to reforest the local area. Many other ways to help to local community and get to know its residents are available too. Weekends are spent hiking volcanoes, visiting Mayan holy sites, or going to la playa (the beach). One of my favourite excursions was to a mist-enshrouded volcanic hot spring un the mountains, known as “Las Fuentes Georginas”. After our prolonged dip, we then had classes in the café. My host family did not speak English; with no Spanish experience myself, my first few days were challenging. Minerva screens its families and makes sure there is only one student per house to allow maximum experience in communicating in Spanish.

The wonderful programming and teachers at Minerva aside, one of the reasons my short time in Xela was so fruitful was because it is most definitely nor a tourist destination. The commercial center of south-western Guatemala offers a variety of Spanish schools to choose from, but the city is “untainted” by its non-Spanish speaking visitors.

Donia Lilly / artist & writer
www.donialilly.com
donialilly@yahoo.com


Cerra Ventana