Central America, a land of mystery and excitement, indigenous culture and culture clashes, is also a great place to learn to speak Spanish. Three countries that offer Spanish language schools and immersion programs are Honduras, Panama, and Guatemala.
Honduras is host to some of the greatest ruins from the expansive Mayan civilization. The Copan ruins, located in western Honduras are known as the best remaining testament to Mayan culture. The Copan of today is a small, quaint city just a few miles from the Guatemalan border. This can be an excellent place to learn Spanish, as the programs tend to be small with a lot of personal attention. La Ceiba is another Honduran city where travelers flock to learn Spanish. Located on the Caribbean, La Ceiba has a fun atmosphere and is close to world-renowned scuba diving and snorkeling sites.
Panama, the southernmost country in Central America, is home to the Panama Canal. This beautiful country offers excellent bird watching, fishing, surfing, and snorkeling from its beaches. Panama City has an interesting mix of old-world charm and modernity, with its old district of San Felipe and new sector of modern skyscrapers. With its newer edge, Panama City can be a good choice for a student that isn’t quite ready to delve into living in the small village atmosphere of many cities in Central America.
One of the best locations to study Spanish is Guatemala. Often overlooked because of past political upheaval, Guatemala’s safety issues have improved dramatically over the past several years. There are many locations within Guatemala in which to study, with the most popular being Antigua, Flores, Hueheutenango, Panajachel, and Quetzaltenango. Each city has different strong points for choosing them as a place to study and live. More reasons to study in Guatemala are the pleasing accent spoken there and the inexpensive, high quality instruction to be found here.
Each country has good reasons to choose them as a place to live and study the Spanish language. Honduras’s ties to ancient Mayan culture make it a fascinating destination for any traveler, but especially the Spanish language student. Panama has a great mix of old-world charm with modern amenities and wonderful outdoor activities. Finally, Guatemala has strong reasons to study there: inexpensive living, a beautiful setting, and a pleasing Spanish accent.
A great site to compare language programs is All Study Abroad.
Comments