How to Get Involved
Working Languages
Thousand of people travel to Guatemala annually to participate in Spanish language classes. In less than 2-weeks of time the same students who entered Guatemala not even able to greet others in Spanish are able to engage in basic conversations. The beauty and power of these classes are due to the fact that they are immersive, engaging and catered to each individual student. Teachers are native speakers, and have an array of experience teaching their language to a great diversity of students from all over the world.
Spanish schools have become one of Guatemala’s most profitable and abundant businesses. This past year, however, with a decline of tourism due to the economic crisis facing the US and rest of the world, many schools have gone without students for months, and thus, teachers without jobs.
One such school is Spanish Traveling, an innovative Spanish school located in the heart of Antigua. Locally-founded and locally-run, Spanish Traveling provides customized programs that meet essentially anyone’s needs. They provide 1:1 Spanish classes, group classes, even traveling classes (where you travel throughout Guatemala with your teacher). Despite the quality of Spanish Traveling there are many a months that the school remains studentless.
Rising Minds has been associated with Spanish Traveling for several years now, recommending them as an excellent source for Spanish language instruction for our volunteers. This year, we are excited to form an official partnership with Spanish Traveling. We will be contracting Spanish Traveling to coordinate the Guatemala side of our new program, Working Languages.
Working Languages employs experienced, native Guatemalan teachers to provide Spanish language instruction via video-chat (skype). Our customized one-on-one Spanish courses provide language instruction and immersion for students from the comfort of their own home. A Spanish curriculum is designed to cater to individual needs, goals, and learning styles. Classes employ Guatemalan teachers that otherwise struggle to find fair wages and consistent work, while simultaneously providing a virtual way to experience world-class language instruction.
