Hello
Learning a language in your home country is often an expensive and difficult exercise. The country I am about to introduce, has total immersion Spanish schools for a fraction of the cost if you were to study at home. Not only are they cheaper, but being in a Spanish speaking country means you will be speaking Spanish sooner than you think!
Guatemala is the absolute cheapest place to learn Spanish, and there are many parts of the country in which to do it. Within a fairly similar price range you can be in a small town, big city, or an idillic lake. Lago de Atitlan – A lot of travellers head here to learn Spanish, and although you will meet lots of people here, and get to enjoy the island lifestyle, the high amounts of travellers mean you might not end up speaking as much spanish as you’d like. If you want a mix of meeting people, partying, and a bit of learning than this is the place for you. Although you can organise home stays here, you’ll find a lot of people stay in a hostel and book their lessons separately. Antigua – Antigua is a colonial town close to the capital that is very walkable and has a lot of schools and homestay options. There’s more of a cafe culture, and it will still provide you with opportunity to meet a lot of travellers without being too confined. This is where most people come to learn Spanish inGuatemala. Quetzeltenango (Xela) – Xela (as it is known by locals) is a big city with a small town feel. Schools here are the cheapest and there are many great homestay options. This is the place for real emersion and learning. Of course you will meet people in your school, but not as many as you would other places. Xela has great treks and day trips near by for weekend excursions, and lots of great organic and artisanal cafes and shops. Guatemala cost per week including 3 meals a day, accommodation, and 20 hours of private Spanish lessons = $130USD – $200USD