TESOL Course in Guatemala
Why TESOL in Guatemala?
The northernmost of the Central American nations, Guatemala is the size
of Tennessee. Its neighbors are Mexico on the north and west, and
Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador on the east. The country consists of
three main regions—the cool highlands with the heaviest population, the
tropical area along the Pacific and Caribbean coasts, and the tropical
jungle in the northern lowlands. It is called the land of eternal
spring. Its beaches are bathed by the Atlantic Ocean in its North
Eastern part, and by the Pacific Ocean in its Southern part, it takes
only 7 hours to drive from one Ocean to the other. It has 13 million
inhabitants and the 55% of the population are descendants of the Mayas,
speaking 23 different languages. It is a very rich, marvelous and
complex land. And simultaneously it is also one of the several training
centers of the globally recognized ‘TEFL
International’ where the native
English speakers are carefully developed into competent ESL teachers
through the internationally accredited TESOL
Certification
Program.
Despite its past turmoil and political instability, travelers are
returning to Guatemala because it offers Central America in concentrated
form: its volcanoes are the highest and most active, its Mayan ruins the
most impressive, its earthquakes the most devastating and its history
decidedly intense. The geo-diversity that Guatemala is identified with
can almost be paralleled with the diverse range of skills and ideas that
our TESOL is composed of.
What is the attraction of Guatemala?
Volcanic vistas, languid lakes, cloud forests and pristine jungles
bursting with bird and animal life are some of the natural wonders of
Guatemala. Ancient Mayan ruins, such as temple-filled Tikal, rise from
the lowland jungles, while highland villages host colorful markets and
fiestas.
The present Capital City was founded towards the end of the XVIII
century and has been inhabited since 600 B.C. by the Kaminal Juyu Mayas.
It keeps the architectural and urban characteristics of Spanish cities
intact. The Central Plaza, the National Palace or Palace of Culture, the
Metropolitan Cathedral with their colonial art museum, the Trade Portal
where the El Portalito bar (Che´s Guevara favorite) and the Parque
Centenario where Central American liberty was signed are places worth a
visit.
Guatemala is always an interesting spectacle for the
TESOL trainees
visiting the country on a drive to acquire the TEFL
certificate. The
layout and colonial style buildings of the historical center of town and
the older boroughs are octagonal or like a checkerboard. Many museums
guarantee the best prices and variety of handcrafts from all over the
country are found at the huge central market, at the central plaza.
Sundays one can really experience the multi ethnicity of the country as
no where else, you can see the young Indian women who work in the city
showing their best original and expensive handmade FIESTA; a dress worn
by the girls to attract the boys.
Taking a break from the TESOL
classroom and the demanding sessions of
preparing lesson plans and conducting practice teaching at the ESL
schools you can visit the remains of the pre-classic Kaminal Juyu ruins
and the fantastic Miraflores museum. Kaminal Juyu is the only Mayan
center known located at 1000 Meters above the sea level and did
specialize in the making and exportation of obsidian flints to all
Mesoamerica.
Religious festivals - both Christian and Mayan - abound in Guatemala.
The biggest is Semana Santa (Holy Week - the week before Easter),
featuring processions and celebrations throughout the country. Rabin
Ajau is a traditional Q'eqchi' (Kekchí) Mayan festival which takes place
in late July or early August. Chichicastenango commemorates Santo Tomás
in December. Clubbing your TESOL visit in Guatemala with the festival
can be a good idea to experience the country while diving deep into the
cores of the TEFL mode of teaching
What is in Guatemala for you?
Guatemala is an adventure land and everywhere you go, is like being an
ancient explorer discovering a new civilization. All one needs is a
positive attitude, do not expect perfection. Surprisingly it is very
easy for non-Spanish speaking travelers to enjoy Guatemala. Guatemalans
are very friendly and will enjoy teaching you their language and way of
life. Therefore, for the native English speakers, the choice of
Guatemala as a TESOL
location guarantees not only a
TEFL certificate but
also an amazingly rustic flavour which is so typically Indian. Guatemala
is the perfect place for those who are culturally oriented. One can go
bird watching; diving (scuba and snorkeling); fishing; golf; hiking over
mountains or through jungles; explore Indian arts and crafts; mountain
biking; multi-day white water rafting; pony trekking; sailing; take
Spanish language classes; volcano climbing; living cultures; archeology
and just about anything else that comes to mind (except snow skiing!).
Guatemala dishes are easy to find in the Capital city. There are dishes
from specific regions that reflect the true Guatemalan cuisine. Some of
these are: Sweet or Salty tamales, Jocon which is chicken in a green
sauce mainly of coriander and green tomatoes; Pepian, beef stew with
vegetables and a sauce based on a roasted seed, sesame and guaque
peppers; Subanik is chicken, pork and steak accompanied by rice and
guacamole , which is avocado mixed with onion, salt and oregano.
Occasionally hotels serve typical dishes on specific days. In the
interior it is easier to find them, generally the food is spicy but not
as much as Mexican food.
On the tourist map
The Living Native Highland is located to the North East of the Capital.
This is where the Indigenous Guatemala can be found. Beautiful
landscapes, the Atitlan Lake and the towns that surround it, and
magnificent religious constructions of the colonial era, typified by the
churches where Christian religious practices mingle with Mayan rites.
All these magnificent natural & historical wonders that Guatemala is
abound with make the TESOL
course even more worthwhile for the
TEFL teacher. And perhaps the best experience of all is to share with the
Indians of different ethnic groups their huipiles, cortes, tocados,
shawls and weavings. Each Ethnic group dresses differently with very
bright color textiles.
At a distance of only 63 km from the Santa Elena Airport is, Tikal
National Park, where one of the most important and best-conserved Maya
Cities, is located. This city was inhabited from 800 BC to 900 AD. This
park also has a magnificent museum, which must be visited. With more
than a day to spare, one can appreciate the real tropical rainforest
with huge Mahogany and cedar trees, Orchids, bromeliads and ferns, as
well as an impressive fauna of parrots, toucans, crocodiles, turtles,
monkeys etc. All kinds of lodging facilities are available as well as
tours of the major Maya cities.
200 Kms. from the Capital on Las Verapaces highway is the best-preserved
areas of the county and also the richest in bio-diversity. Among the
towns to visit, is Coban, where the main attraction is the Orchid
Greenhouse where more than 60,000 plants are kept. The Lachua National
Park has a lake that many believe was formed by a meteorite impact.
These are places for Nature lovers, since one can camp, hike, take
splendid photographs, do white water rafting, visit coffee farms and
have a life time experience by getting to know indigenous people who
still maintain their beliefs, traditions and folklore along with their
forest.
Evening and Nightlife
Night life in Guatemala can be enjoyed in a number of ways. Primarily
located in the center of town and in major hotels, entertainment for the
TESOL trainees and all other tourists can vary from quiet piano bars to
lively discos. In 'Zona Viva', you can mingle with both tourists and
locals to participate in an entertaining evening.... lots of restaurants
with mariachis music. There's also a bus that travels around 'La Zona
Viva' and has no seats inside.... all on board just enjoy the drinks
from the bar within the bus and singing while the bus is moving. The
Zona Viva comes alive at night and a stroll through the area is an
experience in itself. It is here that you will find the city's biggest
and best nightclubs with a fine mix of music and people. Guatemala
provides all ingredients for partying with co-trainees from the
TESOL classroom or celebrating the day you receive the
TESOL certificate.
Although it is some way from the main entertainment district, La Barraca
in zone four is well worth the trek if you are after local musicians
playing Guatemalan rock. Open every day of the week, it is also home to
the occasional theatrical performance.
Weekend Excursions
Close to the Capital, only 50 Km (2 hours drive) away is one the best
conserved cities in all of America, La Antigua Guatemala, which was
founded in the XVI century and partially destroyed by the earthquakes of
1773 and 1976. This is a city that is best explored on foot in order to
see all the architectural jewels remains it contains. The streets are
full of beautiful houses now converted into shops, bars and restaurants,
fine hotels and volcano views. Mostly everything in the Guatemalan
capital is tourist oriented conforming to the best standards of tourist
entertainment and accommodation, specially for those who might plan to
extend their stay even after the TEFL
course is over and the
TESOL certificate has been acquired.
Week ends can be spent shopping too. The market in Chichicastenango, has
many tourists, but Mercado Centro is the place to pick up traditional
Guatemalan gifts for anyone. This market has two levels, both have tons
of all the Guatemalan goodies but the bottom level also has stalls with
food items and flowers. Much less than anywhere else in the country this
market is more for locals and not so much for tourists so one gets good
prices. It can be best place for the wannabe TEFL
teachers to pick up
their knickknacks to carry back home as mementoes of a memorable
TESOL course.
The other area of significant interest would be Zone 1 (the Old Colonial
City) with some interesting architecture such as the city's main
cathedral. Just walking the streets is the best way to enjoy Guatemala
City. Street markets are very lively and more established inside ones,
too. Also, there are some parks and monuments that you don't want to
miss. Especially, the museum, cathedral, and the city hall, clustered
together are a must.
Volcan Pacaya can be visited from Guatemala City. The giant cone-shaped
and very active volcano is only 18 miles from the country's capital and
it's worth climbing to the top. Tours are fairly cheap and will include
transportation and the safety of hiking in a group. It takes about 3
hours to get to the top. The lava shooting out of the top of the cone at
8000 feet is well worth the effort! Wear a light jacket since the
weather can get cold and windy at the top and bring a scarf or something
to protect your face from the sulphuric fumes that you'll experience at
the top. Coming down on the lunar-like landscape is amazing!!
The La Aurora Zoo near the airport in Guatemala City is one of the best
zoos. Though the enclosures are small, the zoo has gone to great lengths
to make the habitats aesthetically pleasing to the visitors and accurate
to the particular animals habitat. The zoo is filled with beautiful
trees and other plants.
About our TEFL Location
The school of TEFL International is located one mile north of the
lake-side town of San Andrčs near the Parque Ecolňgico Nueva Juventud
(The New Youth Ecological Park), a 150-acre reserve owned by the
Municipal Government of San Andrčs.
It is seven hours by bus from Guatemala City, ninety minutes from Belize
and three hours from Mexico.
Connectivity
Currently, the only domestic flights are between Guatemala City and
Flores. The TESOL applicants should plan their traveling itinerary
accordingly. Buses link most places cheaply and relatively painlessly,
although roads in El Petén often turn into muddy mires or disappear
altogether during the rainy season. Chicken buses are the beat-up local
buses that stop for anyone, and there are more luxurious long-distance
buses such as the pullman class. Faster minibus shuttles operate between
some of the more popular tourist sites and major towns. Some national
parks, and the Caribbean town of Lívingston, are only accessible by
boat. River trips, such as the Río Dulce, can be great experiences for
the TESOL certificate seekers.
Weather
Weather conditions vary from season to season and region to region in
Guatemala. The dry season is from October to early May and the rainy
from late May until the end of September. Temperatures vary little
during the year. The average high temperature is 77°F and the low 55°F
in the highlands. |
It is a very compact experience. Extensive learning but
fun. A great experience with TEFL International and very
helpful to find placement
