Celas Maya Spanish School

I spent two weeks at Celas Maya and highly recommend this Spanish language school in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. The one-on-one classes, the setting and the surrounding community were perfect for leaning and perfecting Spanish. If you can’t get there in person, they also have extraordinary online one-on-one classes.

I just finished 10 weeks of studying Spanish at Celas Maya and I cannot recommend it more highly. The teachers are all incredible – clear, patient, caring and knowledgeable. The administration is incredibly helpful and friendly as well. The entire school really feels like a family, which makes the experience so much more comfortable when you’re living in an unfamiliar place. Oh and Joel plans the best activities – there is always something fun and interesting to do after class and on weekends to learn about and explore the region and its culture – as well as reinforce your Spanish classes. All in all, if you are serious about learning Spanish, you won’t be able to find a better place than Celas Maya.

I improved my Spanish here for two weeks as part of my educational leave. Celas Maya is a professionally run school. I felt very welcome and safe here. My accommodation was also beautiful. Last but not least, I was able to significantly improve my Spanish. Many thanks to the excellent teachers.

Overall an outstanding experience. Excellent communication from the school administration from my first contact through my safe arrival and settling in at the school and homestay. I had the opportunity to work with two different teachers during my two week stay, both were kind, patient and effective instructors who kept things fun and interesting during the one-on-one classes. The level of instruction and focus of the class is highly individualized to your needs. Based on my experience with my classmates the school clearly attracts serious and professional students. There was a nice variety of well organized afternoon and weekend cultural/social activities that provided the opportunity for informal language practice with teachers and fellow students. The homestay arranged by the school provided even more opportunity to learn about the country, the culture and to practice the language. The accommodations were comfortable and secure and the meals provided were very delicious. The school is in an historic building near the center of Xela. The town itself is a great place to study, very walkable, not touristy at all, with lots of interesting sites. I am looking forward to returning to Celas Maya to continue my studies.

I studied Spanish at Celas Maya for two weeks. I had a wonderful experience at this school. Prior to arrival, the communication was professional and the school was very helpful in organizing and setting everything up. The teachers at the school were kind and engaged. The atmosphere is warm and social. I felt very comfortable the moment I walked in. Generally speaking, all classes are private one-on-one. Thus it is very easy to tailor the classes to one’s level and interests. My lessons felt challenging enough to lead to progress but at the same time were still fun. The school offers daily activities for all students in the afternoon. The activities are interesting, diverse and ensure that you explore different aspects of Guatemalan culture (from watching a movie, to visiting museums, cooking, salsa classes to longer weekend excursions with overnight stays). I greatly enjoyed meeting and spending time with all the other students and their teachers during these activities. It was the perfect blend of individualized study and socializing while having fun and learning more about Guatemala. I highly recommend Celas Maya to anyone looking to seriously improve their Spanish while meeting wonderful people and experiencing a different culture!

I’ve had the opportunity to study at Celas Maya twice: once on my own twenty years ago and again recently for two weeks with my wife. Both experiences were wonderful! The teachers were a joy to be with and professional, speaking and teaching extremely clear Spanish. The administrative staff—Leslye, Federico and Gloria–were very kind and supportive when we needed to make adjustments to our class schedule. The one-on-one format of classes were customized to our specific learning needs and teachers made sure to identify our goals each week with a structured lesson plan. My 4 hours a day went by very fast. Every afternoon there was an optional activity–trips to nearby towns, cooking classes, and lessons on Guatemalan slang—all of which helped immerse us into Guatemalan culture. Finally, the space is a beautiful colonial building with a lovely courtyard and a new espresso bar where we enjoyed a nice cup of coffee or tea during the breaks. If you want to learn Spanish, I highly recommend Celas Maya!

Just finished an 8 week stint at the school and I had a wonderful (and educational) time! I highly recommend it if you’re looking for a serious language school in Guatemala.

I really enjoyed my time learning at Celas-Maya. My goal was to learn about Mayan cultures in addition to use my Spanish at a higher level, and my teacher was Kich’e. Even though I was only there for two weeks, since each student works one on one with a teacher it is intense, and I learned a lot. Everyone was very nice and the administration is organized and professional. Many of the students are beginners or intermediate students, and the afternoon activities and home stays give students an opportunity to utilize their language skills in real life situations. Xela is not touristy so one will not run into people on the corner with whom to speak English–it can be a true immersion experience. My favorite trips were to Las Fuentes Georginas, Cantel and to the Museo Ixkik (mayan clothing).

My Spanish improved tremendously at Celas Maya. The entire experience (staying with a host family, 1-on-1 teaching, afternoon activities) was incredible. The teachers are kind and very knowledgeable when it comes to teaching Spanish. I got a lot of practice in speaking, reading, writing, and listening/understanding. We were able to tailor my lessons to revolve around medical Spanish, and the lessons they designed were incredible practice for me. I used so much of what I learned at Celas Maya at a clinic later on in Guatemala. I especially enjoyed the optional afternoon and weekend activities!