| Frequently Asked Questions |
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LODGING What kind of lodging does the school offer? Whether you choose to live with a Guatemalan family or stay at a youth hostel, hotel, or apartment, Guate Linda can help you find lodging that suits your needs and your budget. If you are looking for the ultimate Spanish language immersion experience, we suggest you live with a Guatemalan family. What is the cost of housing? What is included for the cost of housing? The cost to stay with a Guatemalan family is $80 per week. This includes a private room, shared bathroom, and three meals a day Monday through Saturday. Sunday meals will not be served. Guate Linda has 4 rooms available at the school. The cost to stay in these rooms is $7.25 per day, per person ($50.75 per week). Breakfast is included six days a week, Monday through Saturday. Meals are not served on Sundays. If you choose to stay in a hotel, hostel, or apartment the school can help you make arrangements. The cost to stay in a hotel, hostel, or apartment varies. How far is the lodging from the school and Parque Central? No matter where you decide to stay in Antigua most everything is located within walking distance of the school and the center of Antigua. SCHOOL When can I start my Spanish classes? We try to be as flexible as we can, so you can start any day of the week excluding Holidays. How much does one week of class cost? Study in the morning for:
If you would like to study for longer we offer package deals. To inquire about the package deals please send us an e-mail or call (502) 7832 0737. How do I arrange transportation from the airport? Call us at (502) 7832 0737 and we will have a driver waiting for you at the airport at any time of day. The cost is $10 for a collective shuttle and $30 for private transportation. Do I have to pay for my lessons and lodging before I arrive? No it is not necessary to pay for lodging or for lessons before you arrive in Guatemala. MISELLANEOUS How different is Guatemalan Spanish from that of other Latin American countries and Spain? Spain is set apart from Latin America in that it uses a different verb conjugate and is spoken with a distinct Spanish accent. However, the Spanish you can learn at Guate Linda would still allow you to communicate with native Spanish people. Compared with the rest of Latin America, Guatemalan Spanish, asides from some regional slang differences in each country, is very similar. What´s the best way to manage my money? There´s a number of ATM´s located throughout Antigua which you can use to withdraw dollars or quetzals from your foreign account. Banks will take travelers checks as well. However, many travelers simply use their debit or credit card to withdraw money. Are there a lot of tourists in Antigua? Does this make it difficult to learn Spanish? Tourists can be found almost everywhere in Antigua. There might be more during the months of June, July, and August and less in the following months. As for this making it difficult to learn Spanish it depends on your level of discipline. There are ways to maximize your opportunity to speak and to hear Spanish. We recommend staying with a family as well as avoiding places that travelers frequent. Is there Wi-Fi at the school? Yes there is free Wi-Fi at the school. If you do not have a computer there are many internet cafes located near the school and all around Antigua. The average cost to use the internet is 1 quetzal ($0.12) per 15 minutes or 4 quetzales for 1 hour ($0.50) though some places are more expensive than others. Can I find work in Antigua if I choose to stay for an extended period of time? Working in Guatemala offers you the opportunity to practice Spanish more throughout the day. Generally there are work opportunities for those that plan to stay in Guatemala for extended periods of time. It is easier to find work during periods of higher tourism because many bars, restaurants, and cafes need extra help.
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