REFERENCES
Gracias Elva.
Learning spanish at la Escuela Cooperación has been a great experience spanish lessons were not easy for me but Elva know how to help me learn. She was very creative in her teaching methods to ensure that I understand complety the Spanish verbs. She is a very kind and understanding teacher. I would strongly recommend her as she understands different teaching techniques which makes learning fun and interesting. I learned a lot about Antigua and the surrounding areas. She is a great tourist guide.
In 4 weeks, Elva helped me learn the impossible verb, verbs and more verbs, this school has a strong emphasis on grammar it is important to understand the language structure before you start speaking – in the long run it allows you to speak properly.
While in Antigua we stayed with a host family for 4 weeks. I would recommend a home stay- it allows you to practice your Spanish during mealtimes.
Thank you again Jorge Mario for all the arrangements this was a fantastic experience for our family.
Mostl,y thank you Elva for your patience and kindness- without it I probably wouldn`t have learned Spanish.
LESLEE OUDMAN, CANADA, NOVEMBER 2009.
GRACIAS POR ESTA BUENA EXPERIENCIA—Yo aprendì mucho español en solo 4 semanas.
The lessons were very interesting, and I was never bored. They use many different techniques in teaching, and I enjoyed the variation. Sandra was a great teacher, She would always correct me when I said one little thing wrong. Only speaking in Spanish during lessons helped me learn the language faster. 4 weeks of spanish has taught me a lot. I understand a lot more than when I started, and now I can carry on a conversation.
While we took lessons, I stayed with a host family. This allowed me to practice my Spanish outside of class. The family we stayed with was very understanding, and very patient when we were trying to speak Spanish. They took time out of their day to help us practice and study. I really enjoyed being fully immersed in the language everyday.
After 4 weeks of Spanish it is hard to go back to English. I really liked having the opportunity to come to Antigua to learn this amazing ( a little difficult ) language. I enjoyed challenging myself. THANK YOU ESCUELA COOPERACION.
REBECCA OUDMAN, TABER, ALBERTA, CANADA. NOVEMBER 2009.
My husband and I were both looking forward to learning spanish in Antigua. We had been travelling in Mèxico and Guatemala and had many more countries to visit in Latin Amèrica. We decided to take 2 and a half weeks of lessons with the Escuela Cooperacion.
From the start, our experience was great; we were able to start right away the next day and also decided to stay with a local family for a better inmersion. My husband is a true beginner and I had more of an intermediate level, so; it was essential to have different teachers. We felt that the solid methodology based on grammatical knowledge worked very well for both of us. We also liked a lot the games and informal conversations with our teachers that made us progress really fast. Our learning programs were super adapted to our needs and our teachers open to our requests or preferences for studying style and schedule.
We also recommend staying with a family; not only did we have daily opportunities to speak Spanish but we also got a more personal glimpse into the culture and gastronomy of Guatemala. Our family was super friendly and the food awesome.
Thank you Pedro and Eddy; we have learned so much and in a fun way. We will miss you dearly. Thank you to the school as well for providing such an overall amazing experience. We wish we could have stayed longer.
CAROLINE AND CHAD, FRANCIA+ ESTADOS UNIDOS, NOVEMBER 2009.
I have studied for just under four weeks and live really enjoyed the experience. The teachers here are excellent and really take the time to work with you at your level. Having one on one teaching is something I highly recommend because it allows you to work at your own pace.
Mily was my teacher for the full three and a half weeks. She is strict but she really knows her stuff. For me it was good to have someone who pushed me along, I have learned so much. I am greatfull for Mili`s patience when I really wasn`t getting the pronunciation, I highly recommend Mily.
When I had had enough of studying in the school, Mily was excellent at touring me around Antigua and neighboring towns. It was nice to see farms, museums and the countryside while practicing Spanish. The program they have at “Escuela Cooperacion” is well organized and it allows everyone to learn lots in various ways.
While I was here, I stayed with a family, it was really good practice talking with them at mealtimes and it also allowed you to learn more vocabulary. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND SPANISH SCHOOL COOPERACION AND STAYING WITH A FAMILY FOR AN EXTRA BONUS. GRACIAS POR TODO.
ALISYN OUDMAN, NEW ZEALAND, NOVEMBER 2009.
I studied here at Escuela Cooperacion for 4 weeks, with Ceci for the first week and Mily for the last 3 weeks. Both are excellent teachers and fun. Mily gave me more homework and this was very helpful to me. The handonts she gave me will be good resources in years to come. I specially enjoyed my classes with Mily because we conversed about topics that interested me, for example: Guatemalan culture and politics, current events, religion, customs and I felt that she became a good friend. I was a beginner when I came, and now I understand most of what I hear and converse regularly with my host family and others I meet.
THE HIGHLIGHT OF EACH DAY WAS MY DAILY SALSA LESSONS WITH JORGE MARIO. HE IS AN EXCELLENT SALSA TEACHER AND IT WAS THE MOST FUN I HAD IN ANTIGUA GUATEMALA.
MUCHAS GRACIAS ESCUELA COOPERACION, HASTA LA VISTA.
TINA GAUD, UNITED STATES, DECEMBER 2009.
Muchas gracias a la Escuela de Español COOPERACION por esta buena experiencia!, I`ve studied for 4 weeks here with my family- my wife and 2 teenaged daughthers- and each of us have had a great experience learning spanish here. Carlos has been my teacher these 4 weeks and I have appreciated him immensely. He had just enough discipline for me to push me along with my studies and We`ve enjoyed getting to know each other and our cultures through much conversation as I practiced my spanish. Each of my family members having their own teacher has been a big part of our good experience here. Each of us would work at our own pace, and at the end of 4 weeks, each of us had been able to do our best individually. A great way to learn. This school has a strong emphasis on grammar but I believe its been a great way to learn as the vocabulary just fills in naturally through conversation and personal study. Our family enjoyed a homestay here in Antigua, the friendship we have will stay with us a long time!! I would recommend the homestay program to anyone, since it offers more opportunity to practice your spanish, plus experience real family life in Guatemala. Thanks Jorge Mario for all your arrangements. Escuela Cooperacion has many good experienced teachers, if you come here, you`ve got best spanish!!
ROBERT OUDMAN, ALBERTA, CANADA, NOVEMBER 2009.
I've really enjoyed studying spanish for a month at the"Cooperacion" School, The lessons were enjoyable, there was plenty of oportunities for conversation ( once I had learnt the basics) and this gave me confidence to speak and learn about Guatemalan culture and ways of life. The excursions were enjoyable and it was helpful to put our conversations to the test. The trips to San Antonio Agua Caliente and to the temple of San Simon were my favorites. Thanks to all the staff for their help and support, in particular our teachers for making lessons fun and helping us to improve both our knowledge of vocabulary and confidence in conversation.
Alice and Tony, October 2009.
My 16 years old daughter and I spent a month with Escuela "Cooperacion", We each had our own teacher, who did a really good job responding to our different needs and styles. My spanish was already pretty good, but I felt like my use and understanding of grammer improved a lot. My daughter came with a little high school spanish and was understanding a lot and speaking quite nicely. sometimes She and I and our teachers would sit around and talk in spanish, but mustly We studied separately. The whole scene was prety nice relaxed, low-key which was a good fit. We rented a house which I enjoyed a lot, going to the market to buy food and all that. I also really apreciated the help I got from Jorge Mario who is the coordinator of school in arranging the trips. So, I felt very relaxed coming down, its a nice place, good teachers, good materials, great spanish school.
Judy Fleishman, Boston, USA. August 31, 2009.
I was very pleased with my experience at Escuela"Cooperacion", teachers with years of experience, the school also makes a great effort to inform students about Guatmalan's history, culture and social isshes. The school arranges very useful and interesting field trips, and during some classes, I had the opportunity to watch Guatemalan's documentaries that gave me a much broader idea of real life in Guatemala. The teachers were also all very friendly and capable ; I really enjoyed learning from them.
Courtney, from USA. Julio 2009.
We have been at Spanish School COOPERACION, for 7 weeks and never imagined how much spanish we would learn whust having so much fun!!! We can highly recommend the school if you are looking for good teachers, well planed lessons, the chance to meet great people and most of all confidence to speak spanish, whatever level you are at.
We had seperate lessons which was important for us, the teachers were great at adapting and planing lessons to suit our different needs. We are very happy with our teachers and had several opportunities to give feedback on them and how we fell, to the coordinator Jorge Mario.
We arrived with no spanish at all and we are very happy to be leaving with the ability and confidence to speak spanish.
Thank you !!!! Sara and Simon hogg, N yorkshire. U. K. 13 May, 2009.
I would highly recommend Spanish School COOPERACION, to others hoping to learn spanish. The school`s approach to teaching grammer really ensures the student gains a solid understanding of each tense before moving on to the next. I also really enjoyed the one on one teaching style. I had studied at other schools previously, though I feel I learned more in my two weeks at COOPERACION than I had in more than a month of group classes in Mèxico.
I am thrilled to say I am leaving Antigua feeling much more confident in my ability to speak and understand spanish. I hope to return to study here again in the future. Muchas Gracias.
Laura. Philadelphia, PA. USA. 03 April, 2009.
Let me tell you about my 3 months studying at the Escuela de Español "Cooperación" – it may be of some help in deciding if this school is a good fit for you.
About the teachers: I spent my entire time studying with Mily. Of course, I got to know the other wonderful teachers, but my personal learning experience is limited to Mily. All the teachers, except one, have many years of teaching experience and they all seem to treat each other like a family. As for Mily, she is one of the most experienced teachers in the entire city, having taught at many other schools before co-founding the Cooperación. At first, I had thought it would be a good idea to change teachers occasionally to get exposed to other accents, teaching styles, etc. But, I felt comfortable with Mily from the very beginning and it was obvious she was an exceptional teacher so in the end I decided to study with her for the entire 12 weeks. What set Mily apart was her flexibility and overall experience. For example, she created the system of instruction used in the school, which usually progresses as follows: special verbs, phrases and core vocabulary, present tense, irregular present tense, past tense, irregular past tense, imperfect tense, perfect tenses, future and conditional tenses, and finally the subjunctive. I had studied a bit on my own before arriving, including the basic past tense so Mily combined the study of present and past rather than covering them separately. It was more work for her, but it helped me greatly. Another example of Mily’s experience is that she didn’t correct me excessively early on. I never really noticed it, but after I started making real progress, she started correcting me more, even keeping a list of my mistakes for us to review and refer back to. Likewise, even after learning some of the grammar, I was still making some simple mistakes. While we continued on with our lessons, she found special extra homework exercises to help work on the old material that was still causing me problems. Mily was also great about mixing conversation with grammar study. Even though I started at a low level, she tried to engage me in conversation from the beginning. As I progressed, not only did we continue and expand on the conversational part of class, but she made a habit of correcting me when I made mistakes with material I should already know. She also pointed out structures that I used which, while not incorrect, weren’t natural.
About the School: After 3 months in Antigua, I feel like I have a basic idea of the school universe there, especially since I asked most other students I met for opinions about their schools. Obviously, with so many schools in town, there is a wide range of opinions, quality, etc. What I have concluded is that the following are the primary issues to consider in choosing a school:
Teachers – Ultimately, this is the single most important issue since a bad teacher will ruin an otherwise good school and vice-versa. I think the biggest concern is usually experience. That 22-year old may be the nicest person you’ve ever met, but if they don’t know how to teach well, have a firm grasp of grammar, etc. you won’t get the most out of your learning time. Again, refer to what distinguished Mily in my discussion above for some thoughts on teacher differences. · System – As far as I can tell, there are only a handful of schools that seem to actually have a well planned system of instruction. I’m not trying to argue that one is necessary to have a good school. It really depends on your goals. If you are interested in starting from a beginner level and mastering all the grammar, then I think a good system of materials, ordering of learning principles, etc. is a huge advantage. If you only want to spend a week studying survival phrases or if you are an advanced student trying to refresh, learn a specialized vocabulary, or generally advance to the next level, such a system is probably of little use. Having said that, the Cooperación is one of the schools that has a system. I found all their materials good, but in particular I found that their materials on the subjunctive were far superior to any others I came across.
Other students – It’s not difficult to meet other folks in Antigua, but naturally, it is easier meeting them in school. In this regard, schools differ principally on size and nature of the student body. Since some schools have associations with foreign groups (nonprofits, travel organizations, universities, etc.) their student population often is skewed toward a representation of those associations. Some don’t seem to have these associations, but still seem to have a predominance of certain nationalities, etc. Likewise, some schools are very large and some, like Cooperación, are fairly small.·
Homestay – I did not stay with a family for several reasons, but most other students I met did so this may be a big consideration for you. I heard stories of wonderful and horrible experiences and various in between. I think some of this is a simple function of having a good fit between the personality types, but some families and homes truly do excel or come up short. I didn’t notice any pattern associated with schools, but generally I heard good things about the families that the Cooperación has relationships with. Two things I would consider with homestays are location (how close to the school, whether the house is in town or a well-lit area, etc.) and whether you can easily change if you are unhappy. You might also wish to consider the size and makeup of the family, presence of pets, etc. ·
Specializations/Intangibles – There are a few schools which try to separate themselves by having specialized courses (e.g., for doctors), a social mission, or like the Cooperación, good treatment of the teaching staff. Others have exceptionally nice facilities. The only warning I offer is to do your homework thoroughly as I heard rumors that some of the schools make false claims. · Price – There are certainly a few rather expensive schools in Antigua, and quite a bit of variation, but many schools are more or less in the same price range. Some schools offer discounts for extended studies, extra hours, etc. The price including a homestay also can add variation to the overall cost. I think you will find the Cooperación to be a good overall value.· Location – Antigua is not a big city so I don’t see any real advantage to having a school in one location versus another but I suppose some might. The Cooperación is located in the Northwest section of town, close to La Merced. ·
Activities – Most schools offer some form of extra-curricular activities. Standard ones include a visit to La Azotea coffee farm and museum, a hike up the cerro de la cruz, a trip to a local macadamia farm, local museums, etc. Some, including the Cooperación, offer occasional salsa lessons. The Cooperación is fine, though doesn’t excel in this area, but since the school is so flexible, if there is some activity that you want to do, it can almost certainly be arranged.
About Jorge Mario: Jorge Mario is an experienced teacher, but primarily he runs the school administratively so he doesn’t teach much. Before arriving I was in contact with Jorge Mario and he was very helpful and his correspondence gave me a sense of confidence in the professionalism of the school. On the day I arrived Jorge was sick but he sent someone in his place to transport me from the airport. Despite being sick, he did meet me at the school when I arrived and even gave me a quick tour of the town and showed me where I could find an ATM. But, don’t think Jorge is just a paper pusher. The other teachers and Jorge are like family and he often makes appearances in the classroom. He is very friendly and always willing to engage in conversation. I had the chance to attend a soccer game with him and some of his friends, which was a learning experience on several levels!
How Much Did I Learn? It’s hard to evaluate one’s own progress in learning, but I can say a few things. First, I covered in reasonable depth all of the core grammatical points of Spanish in 3 months. I don’t consider myself a naturally gifted language learner but I was a moderately diligent and serious student. I studied 4 hours a day and I did the homework Mily assigned me. During my last month or so I fell in with a group of students from a nearby, much larger school that has a good reputation. This group had regular gatherings at local bars to drink and practice conversation. With the exception of one or two, I found myself to be as good as or better than most others who had studied the same amount or even more than I had and I received some compliments. Now that I am back in the U.S., I have joined a meetup group to continue practicing my Spanish. In that group I am one of the least experienced and lowest level speakers, but even so I have received many compliments about my level, especially after the others heard that I learned it all in just 3 months.
Conclusions: It’s impossible for anyone to say what school is “the best”. It depends on your goals, your personality, your current level, your budget, etc. I found Escuela de Español “Cooperación” to be professional, reasonably priced and friendly. If you are looking for a “party” school, this isn’t your choice, but otherwise I recommend you give it a try. The great thing about most schools in Antigua is that you can take lessons for as long (or short) a time as you like. Give the Cooperación a try and I think you’ll be pleased, but if not, you won’t have any problem finding a different school to suit your tastes. Jeff Blum, Austin, TX, USA
(I have authorized the school to provide you my email if you want to contactme).
This school provides everything you could want from a spanish school.
The lessons are well organized and fun and the teachers are both friendly and patient.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here with SPANISH SCHOOL COOPERACION, and feel confident when speaking spanish.
I would definitely recommend staying in a homestay, its cheaper and its a great place to practice the day`s lessons. All in all, I could not have been happier with my choice of school and I doubt THERE IS A BETTER ONE IN ANTIGUA !!!.
Ed Procter. UK. november 2008.
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AFTER SPENDING 4 WEEKS AT SPANISH SCHOOL COOPERACION, I HAVE NO HESITATION IN RECOMENDING IT STRONGLY !!! AFTER THE FIRST WEEK WE LEFT TO STUDY AT A DIFFERENT SCHOOL IN SAN PEDRO LA LAGUNA, BUT- WE QUICKLY CAME RUNNING BACK. THE TEACHERS IN SPANISH SCHOOL COOPERACION, ARE FANTASTIC, THEY HAVE A SYSTEM THAT REALLY WORKS AND WE HAVE LEARNED FAR MORE THAN WE EXPECTED. WE HAVE SPOKEN TO STUDENTS AT OTHER SCHOOLS IN ANTIGUA AND KNOW THAT QUALITY CAN VARY GREATLY.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND " SPANISH SCHOOL COOPERACION", IF YOU REALLY WANT TO LEARN OR IMPROVE YOUR SPANISH.
COBA, HOLLAND, NOVEMBER 2008.
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MY THREE WEEKS AS A SPANISH STUDENT AT ESCUELA DE ESPAÑOL COOPERACION.
I always thought it would be scary to study a new language in a new country and school while living with a new family. But it has been a rich and intriguing experience to be here in Antigua- not scary at all !!.
My teacher Elva, has been patient and unfailingly kind, as well as highly qualified working with me at my own level. Jorge Mario and the other staff and students have all opened the doors wide to make me feel at home. THE TEXTBOOK HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL.
My local family has open their home and hearts, giving me a secure place from which to venture out.
I have learned much about the country and its people through the family and my. My room and the food have been fine.
The time has been crammed with beauty and new experinces, I speak and understand much more spanish than when I came ( though I am still only beginning ). I would like to return for more.
Thanks to all and may your lives be blessed.
CRIS COFFEY, USA. NOVEMBER 2008.
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I chose this spanish school from a highly recommedation of THE LONELY PLANET.
The recommendation was excellent the one on one instruction is very flexible. I knew a lot of grammar and wanted to mainly concentrate on speaking and listening and some rewiew of the grammar.
My teacher was great at accomodating my wishes, also the coordinators chose a wonderful family for me. I will always consider them my friends, the extra trips were marvelous and helped me get to know Antigua and its surroundings.
When I return to Antigua, I will definitely continue with SPANISH SCHOOL COOPERACION, also Jorge Mario is an excellent SALSA TEACHER.
SALLY CARGILL. USA. NOVEMBER 2008.
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I have had a terrific 7 weeks here at, Spanish School COOPERACION.
I highly recommend this school to any prospective students. During my first day in Antigua, I looked at 8 different schools and chose to study here.
The teachers have been terrific, and the school is well run by Jorge Mario and Mily. I have learned a great deal of spanish and had fun in the process. The materials here are strong, class scheduling is flexible, and everyone seems to care about you here. Plus, my host family has been wonderful.
If you are serious about finding a good school, you have to come to the SPANISH SCHOOL COOPERACION, this is your best choice, this is the right place.
AARON, USA. NOV. 2008.
I highly recommend, Escuela de Español COOPERACION, to students of all levels of spanish.
On many ocasions students simply enrol in the first school they come across and fail to realize the vast differences of quality of the schools- teachers on offer.
After studying 3 weeks in another school, I felt that my spanish was not developing as it should have been. I heard about the REPUTATION OF Spanish School COOPERACION, and decided to switch for one week.
The difference in QUALITY WAS INMENSE AND I STAYED A MONTH HERE. All of the teachers have outstanding experience and an excellent teaching methodology and all available for a highly reasonable price.
I studied with Mily and Jorge Mario, both outstanding teachers and every others student in the school was thoroughly satisfied with their teachers during my time here too.
If you are looking to meet 50 other students and social life is your priority, then a larger school may be for you. However, if you want to receive spanish lessons of EXCELLENT QUALITY in a friendly atmosphere where the teachers actually care about your development, THEN ESCUELA DE ESPAÑOL COOPERACION IS THE PERFECTO CHOICE.
THANKS TO ALL FOR A WONDERFUL TIME!!!
TIM PERMAN, NOV. 2008.
When I arrived in Antigua, I tried several schools but couldn`t find one that kept me interested for more than a week. When I found the Spanish School COOPERACION, I inmediatly enjoyed the atmosphere and the positive energy of all the teachers. I ended up staying here for 3 months taking classes for 7 hours a day when was only possibility due to the creativity and professionalism of all my teachers. I have worked with Maribel, Mily, Jorge Mario, Elva; and have enjoyed them all as teachers + friends.
I highly recommend this school to anyone who is looking for positive people who take pride in their teaching.
MARK RAIA, USA. june 24.
I highly recommend the Spanish School COOPERACION, for the following reasons:
PRICE: I found it to be USD30$, cheaper per week than most of the other established schools.
TEACHING QUALITY: From my experience and those of my classmates we were all very happy, learned a lot and no one left to attend another school - YET PEOPLE CAME FROM OTHER SCHOOLS-.
HONESTY: The school offers you exactly what they advertise - learning from a cooperative of teachers. Most of the large schools posted on the internet have directors that say they help the community when they use donations for persona gain.
FLEXIBILITY: I was able to do exactly what I wanted and while the teachers helped me figure out exercices their worked for me it was my choice of what and how I wanted to learn.
FRIEND SHIP: I formed bonds with my teachers and participated in activities with them. Without out this I couldn`t have gotten through 7 hours of spanish a day for 6 weeks.
I LOVED THE EXPERIENCE SO MUCH, I PLAN ON RETURNING.
ISABEL, USA. MAY 15.
October 21th. 2008.
Probably one of the best spanish schools in Central America !!! Very friendly staff and a great learning environment. I would gladly recommend this Spanish School to anyone wishing to start from scratch or to improve their existing skills.
I really enjoyed all of the afternoon activities, the lessons are well structured and well tailored to the individual, using very creative method.
Thanks Mily, Maribel, Ceci, Marta, Jorge Mario; for all your help in improving my confidence in spanish.
Stuart. U.K.
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