fishee

Hello -- looking to do a 4 week Spanish immersion program and as I'm a beginning diver, I'd love to be near Roatan, Honduras. However, I checked out some of the sites/programs in that area and they sound very "non-rigorous". It also occurs to me that being in an English speaking diving tourist zone isn't exactly immersion.

Does anyone have suggestions about how to proceed? (hopefulist, glover?) I've heard that Guatemala is an excellent place to learn Spanish and I'd be willing to stay somewhere that is conveniently located to transportation that would get me to good diving spots if I wanted to go on weekends. At some point, my bf is likely to visit for a week so I can use that as my vacation time to dive, if necessary. Any reputable schools/programs that are convenient to access Roatan (or any other area with nice reef structure)? I was hoping for an apt attached to a family's home type of living arrangement although I realize that's getting a bit specific....

I was considering Cuba just for the historical/cultural experience but some people have told me that it's a very difficult Spanish to learn so I kinda nixed that although I'd love to hear otherwise.

tia

hopefulist

I've attended schools in 3 places in Honduras - La Ceiba, Utila, and Copán Ruinas. The 1st 2 were with the Central American Spanish School which also has a branch on Roatán. My teachers were excellent in both La Ceiba and on Utila but the islands are a very poor immersion environment; if you really want to learn Spanish they're not a good choice. The school in La Ceiba was terrific - homestay, activities, teachers - but it was HOT and I'm not much of a city person. It might be a good compromise, though in terms of immersion + proximity to diving on the week-ends.
www.ca-spanish.com

Copán Ruinas is a GREAT place to study Spanish and the Ixbalanque school is wonderful. There are a lot of cool things to do in the area and the town is cute and safe - highly recommended.
www.ixbalanque.com

From Copán, it's about 6 hours by road to La Ceiba where you catch a ferry to the islands.

Guatemala has lots of great schools in different areas but almost no diving except in Lake Atitlán where there's not much to see. There's some awesome schools, there, though. My favorite is the Cooperativa School:
www.cooperativeschoolsanpedro.com

Antigua is a popular place to study but is not as good in terms of immersion. I enjoyed the Academia Antigüeña there:
www.spanish academy antiguena.com

That should get you started! My photos, blogs, and travelogues are below if you're interested. Happy trails!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/staceyholeman/collections

Jeff_Costa_Rica

I've never been to Cuba, but Cuban Spanish is spoken more rapidly than in Central America and people tend to clip off a lot of final letters, especially the S. I agree with whomever told you it's a bad idea to study beginning Spanish there.

fishee

thx so much hopefulist for responding. I've been going through your photo galleries all night. Could I ask your advice on timing? I'm on sabbatical May-Dec, have never taken Sp language classes (French was my language requirement), and I'll start Rosetta Stone next month. Do you think given weather and that I ought to cover Rosetta Stone I and II prior to the immersion program, that I should schedule this for Nov or Dec rather than June? I'm guessing July will be outrageously hot and then there's hurricane season, etc.

I'm trying to acquire basic conversational and reading skills in a 4 wk program. Also -- any thoughts on Cuba?

fishee

Thx Jeff CR! (You've answered my questions about CR trips in the past....

OK, will put Cuba as just a place to visit...

hopefulist

I don't have experience with Cuba but have heard the same language comments. One of our sons studied there for a semester a few years ago and, though he was nearly fluent when he arrived, had trouble understanding conversation-speed Cuban Spanish for awhile. I'd like to visit some day but haven't been tempted to study Spanish there.

The rainy season in western Honduras (Copán) is similar to Guatemala and Belize, starting Junish with rains usually in evenings and at night. In La Ceiba and the Bay Islands the rains start more typically in the fall. Technically it's hurricane season June through November and I believe October/November have typically been the worst months for hurricanes. During the late spring and summer it will be HOT in the lowlands, especially in La Ceiba. It hasn't been too bad for me in Copán during the summer months - a bit higher elevation. The locations of the schools I've attended in Guatemala are all above 5000 feet and I've found that springlike weather helps my brain absorb more Spanish than steamy hotness day and night. I typically split between highlands and islands on my trips - Guatemala and Roatán for a month this summer.

The summer months are the busiest for the Spanish schools with families and college students taking advantage of summer breaks; fall and winter would be quieter which might be an advantage.

I think the more Spanish you have under your belt, the more you'll have to build on, too, so later in your sabbatical probably makes sense. I always study in the summer and have no regrets about that. Keep us posted!

fishee

The Cooperativa School in Guatemala looks really great. Maybe their 3 wk program, 6 hrs/day makes more sense for me, and then I can fly to Roatan for a full week of diving. The fees for the school ($566?) are unbelievably low -- am I reading that correctly? thx again for all these resources, appreciate it.

hopefulist

That would be intense - 4 hours/day is a lot for my brain to take. Yes, that price sounds right - despite the fact that part of the tuition goes to their community programs! That includes homestay with 3 meals/day except on Sunday. If you contact them, tell them Stacey says hi and misses them. I'll be back there in July, then fly to Roatán.

fishee

hi hopefulist - I'm trying to determine whether June or September/October would be better at Cooperativa in Guatemala. Sounds like you've stayed all the summer months at some point - could you tell me about the weather conditions I could expect in either month? I've heard the temps dip at night because it's in the mountains -- will it already be raining quite a bit in June?

Also, what are your thoughts on homestay? Some tell me it's critical, others tell me that an apt would be fine and it's more important to commit to not read/write in English during the 3 weeks I'm there. Finally -- what kind of bug situation should i be prepared for in terms of mosquitoes and roaches?

thx!

hopefulist

Hi again -
I've never been there later than August but my guess is June you'd have mostly beautiful days with occasional rain starting in the late afternoon/evening. You could have spells of a lot of rain but mornings should be beautiful. Sept/Oct might be the same, though your risk of hurricane would be statistically worse then. There would likely be fewer students at the school then. I take a really lightweight fleece and a lightweight goretex rain jacket. It will be mostly in the 60s and 70s day and night, really comfortable.

I love staying with host families; I've stayed with 3 in San Pedro and loved them all. It helps me hugely with my Spanish. This summer my husband and I will stay in the apartment at the school; he doesn't speak any Spanish and wants a bit more privacy so that's a good compromise. It's a personal choice. I don't remember any mosquitoes there but you may see some roaches. No matter how fastidious the housekeeper, they happen in areas where the temps are so mild, never near freezing.

You can check the packing and health information links on the website below which also has the blog of my 2009 group trip. I'm excited for you!! Let me know if there's more I can do.
www.liveandlearninguatemala.blogspot.com

fishee

thx so much. So is Guatemala City the airport with easiest access? Would you suggest the shuttle that Cooperativa suggesrs or should I try to make my own arrangements as I won't arrive until later afternoon.

hopefulist

Yes, Aurora airport in Guatemala City (GUA) is the closest option. The Coop shuttle might be easiest. If you're arriving in the late afternoon I'd just grab a shuttle to Antigua (they hold signs by the exit, $10/pp), spend the night there, and head to the lake the next day. You can either go by road to San Pedro or to Panajachel, ask to be dropped at the dock, and take a lancha to San Pedro. From the dock you can hire a mototaxi (golf cart taxi) to take you to the school since the town is a bit confusing until you have it figured out.

qwovadis

utiladivecentre.com

seagraperoatan.com

will have your best diving language options there.

Guatemala no decent diving good schools though you

may pick up a Mayan dialect.

In summer Colombia nuevalengua.com or Ecuador

Bolivar2.com Donquijote.com better good diving

language options there around Puerto Lopez

hosteriamandala.info exploradiving.com

Was there last fall had a great time cheap discounts

there for me with guanguiltagua.com.

Usually visit CA only in winter for less rain.

Happy Planning,

fishee

hey hopeful - I think we might overlap as I'm going to shift into a homestay my last week after being in the apartment a couple of weeks. I have one logistical question regarding the flight home - is it logistically better to schedule a Sat afternoon departure vs. morning or a weekday?

The school sounds like they send a shuttle in the morning to GUA if people are coming in, so a 2 pm departure would be doable? I'd rather skip the Antigua leg on my way home if possible and go straight from San Pedro to the airport.

hopefulist

Hi, again - I pick my flights based on cost as much as schedule. I'm not really familiar with how the school does shuttles but my guess is they just set them up as needed. You should be able to make it to the airport by noon for a 2pm flight Saturday but I'd leave plenty of time for the trip since problems on the road or with the weather might mean more than the usual 3-4 hours. If you have a morning flight you'll have to overnight in Antigua or Guatemala. Traffic may be lighter heading into GC on weekends but otherwise I don't think the day of the week matters.

Looks like I might see you in July! Last July there were more than 20 people at the school that I either knew personally or who had read my recommendations on the forum - crazy! Happy trails!

fishee

20? Wow, the school must really appreciate all your efforts. My airfare is being held til tomo night, prices are the same (as in equally not cheap) regardless of day.

One question -- if I adjust my stay +/- few days before notifying them is that a problem or are there enough teachers on hand to accommodate? Last time I waited for their confirmation of specific dates and lost my airfare since I can only hold it for 48 hrs. They know I'm coming around June 7-ish and leaving around July 2nd-ish and I'm hoping that's close enough.

hopefulist

I'd just tell them specifically what your dates are the second you've booked flights and you know. If you just showed up without reservations it might be a problem but booking a month or so in advance should be fine.

Looks like I'll just miss you! Yeah, they're happy to have word of mouth advertising but believe me, they earn every bit. Happy trails!

thevisuallady

Hello, I plan to go to Antigua, Guatemala this Summer... anybody else going? I plan to attend Cima Del Mundo but that's not set in stone yet... Decisions Decisions. Hopefully I can leave in 2 weeks I'll be coming from Texas.