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(I liked) the friendliness of all the teachers, and the efforts to place us with suitable families... (I) enjoyed the afternoon activities tremendously - thanks to all.

(My school experience) was a grand adventure for me, both culturally and linguistically. I attended classes five hours a day for four weeks and learned much more than I ever would have taking evening classes at home. My teachers were very attentive and I particularly want to commend (one of them) for her diligence and professionalism - she got more Spanish into my head than I would have thought possible. She was a stickler for verb conjugations, which I really needed. The home experience was also a big help. They involved me in their activities, especially on weekends, and (the) great cooking was a bonus!

Excellent instructors ... - they were flexible, yet prepared to lead the classes. Activities were thoughtful and helped me understand the culture more comprehensively. I like that the school is evaluated each week by students. Fantastic memories... I'd like to go back.

I found the program at Miguel Angel Asturias an amazing experience, both as a student of Spanish and a traveler looking for a cross cultural experience. I was impressed by the staff's willingness to accommodate my level of Spanish by providing a university educated teacher with knowledge of language teaching methods, as well as a command of complex Spanish grammar. The warm staff and unforgettable family host while in Xela will be remembered forever.

I had a wonderful experience in Guatemala!

I definitely loved Xela and the school and miss it quite a bit. The teachers were great and Xela's really charming. I think that living with a host family is a really important component of the experience - grounds you in the city. My host mom and I started every day together with a walk around the neighborhood and through the cemetery. I learned a heck of a lot of Spanish and how to meringue and salsa dance. And I met some really beautiful people.

Everyone at the school was wonderful. I really liked the field trips with our teachers and the walks to the bakery...some of the best conversation came on those walks.

I liked the welcoming atmosphere that the teachers, coordinator, and administrators created for the students. I really appreciated the emphasis on cultural and social activities. I think the classes, extra-curricular activities, and host family were excellent. It?s spacious it compared to other schools, has a great roof for breaks and sunset views, and the dinners, especially the graduation part of the dinners, seem to make the school stand out from the rest as well.

My time at Miguel Angel Asturias was much more than I ever expected. The entire process of living with a family, one on one lessons, school activities, etc. was incredible. I was surrounded with people who cared about my experience and the quality of the school. I can't wait to go back.

I learned very quickly and deeply. Everything was completely satisfying!

I loved the one-on-one experience. I really enjoyed my teacher ... and felt that I was able to work exactly at my level. I liked the freedom of being able to study while walking around the town, visiting shops (especially the Mennonite bakery!), etc. I celebrated my birthday while I was there and a party was held for me. That made me feel really special. The graduation parties were fun. I really felt like the school was a tight-knit group and I made instant friends whom I still communicate with.

I really appreciated how organized the school was, and how helpful they were if there were any problems. I always felt safe and comfortable at the school and overall it seemed to be very well run. Also, it would have taken at least one year of classes in the US to equal the Spanish I learned there in three weeks--it was amazing. Thank you for helping me to have such a great experience!

Absolutely loved Guatemala!!!! The teachers were great, the school was lovely, not too big so it was easy to get to know everybody. (After class activities were) fabulous! The guest speakers talked about really interesting subjects. (My family was) absolutely fantastic! The daughter Karin was always correcting me and talking to me a lot! She was great! I celebrated Christmas with them, they even bought me a present, they were so lovely!

I had a really good time at the school. Everyone (was) great and more than happy to help us out with anything we needed. The dinners were a lot of fun and I made friends I will keep for a long time. I think the projects are very good - better than at the other schools I saw and the activities were always a lot of fun. I would recommend the school to anyone, especially people who want to emphasize community service. They have connections to a lot of excellent organizations.

I certainly did have a wonderful time at MAA. It was a terrific experience, exceeding my expectations for what I would encounter by a long shot. I found my experiences volunteering as a primary school teacher to be tremendously rewarding, if difficult at times. And, of course, my Spanish skills increased astronomically.

Miguel Angel Asturias, in my opinion, is the best Spanish immersion school in Xela. I had a great experience. I learned more Spanish in five hours of one-on-one tutoring five days per week than I learned in four years of Spanish classes in high school. Talking with the teachers about Guatemalan culture and politics aided in better understanding the country. The various social activities that the school hosts provided further insight into the culture and allowed students at the school from around the world to bond in common experiences. The home stay further amplified the experience. The family with which I stayed was a wonderful family and conversations with them helped with my Spanish and allowed me to observe how many Guatemalans live their daily lives.

... the administrators as well as the teachers there are all so friendly and caring that makes for a great experience. I volunteered at the orphanage. It felt good to help out in whatever way I could. The experience really opened my eyes to the situation of those less fortunate. I (also) worked at a centro de salud ... and helped out with vaccinations in the rural areas.

MAA was one of the best and more rewarding experiences of my life, I would do it again in a second, only in the future, I would spend more time down there! I absolutely loved it. Guatemala is a beautiful country, with an exquistely rich culture, warm people, and a wonderful little Spanish school called Miguel Angel Asturias in Xela.

I had a great time at (the) school. The teachers I had were very good, friendly, helpful. They were open to teaching me specific things I wanted to learn (medical Spanish). I stayed with a family as well which was a valuable experience. I learned more about the culture, and was able to practice my Spanish around the clock. I volunteered in the clinics ... (and) had a great time.

I had a great experience at MAA, going as a 3rd year medical student to learn medical Spanish and do medical volunteer work. The teachers were friendly and knowledgeable and spent as much time as I wanted focusing on medical vocabulary (some even pretended to be patients so that I could practice my medical Spanish skills). There were always fun activities going on at the school, and the other students were awesome and we had a lot of fun together. I started volunteering in the mornings at a clinic and it was an incredible experience. I would recommend MAA to anyone interested in learning Spanish.

I'm a physician in a hospital that serves many Spanish speaking patients. I had such a good experience.

It was an awesome experience all around. I loved the family I stayed with. I was fortunate to have found this particular school!

I had a good time and learned a lot. I was ... put in a great clinic situation.

I liked EVERYTHING! I loved the welcoming environment of the school. I was also impressed with the way they went above and beyond to provide extra learning activities and outings. The experience living with the host family was another of my favorite experiences.

The one on one setup of the school was amazing. It was great to have the classes personalized to fit my needs and desires. My homestay was also great ... as they were very helpful and accommodating, and lived close to the school. I was able to work in the clinic, which was a great experience for me.

I had a really really great time at the school; lovely teachers and directors, learned a lot of Spanish and nice activities.