Testimonials
If you would like to communicate directly with past students from Holland, Sweden, USA, and Switzerland, please follow this link. Here's what recent Guacamaya students have to say about their experience:
"I would highly recommend the Guacamaya Spanish School to anyone interested in learning some Spanish and having fun at the same time. The school combines one-on-one professional teaching with a casual and friendly atmosphere. Copan Ruinas and the surrounding countryside are beautiful areas to explore. It was an all-round wonderful experience."
- Alice Dixon, Brownsville, Maryland
"My experience in Copan is one that I will always remember. From Day One it was easy to see why so many people visit; the laid back attitude towards life and the friendly locals are two of many attractions.
For the duration of my trip Guacamaya Spanish School not only helped with Spanish lessons, but also organized trips, and took me to the school where I did my volunteer work. It was a great center of resources as the teachers were always willing to help and give advice. Enrique was always accommodating to everyone's needs and made me feel welcome. I had a super time - thanks to everyone at Guacamaya!
- Clare Williams
"You can´t help but feel a little nervous knowing you´ll be spending 6 weeks in small town Honduras but from the moment I arrived, from the program director Kike´s welcoming smile to my host mother's warm embrace, I immediately felt at home.
People come here to learn Spanish but leave having experienced so much more.
Not to belittle the educational aspect. The lessons are extremely organized,
highly instructive and, most of all, fun
! Breaks spent eating tortillas and
learning with Spanish Scrabble and top notch individual attention, were
instrumental in taking my Spanish to the next level, the conversational level.
For me, however, whattruly ¨made¨the experience was the chance to live as a
Honduran, a Copaneco. Living with Dona Reina was interesting, enlightening and
always entertaining. She typifies Guacamaya host families in that she's as
excited and happy to have you as you are to be there (and one hell of a cook!).
I was also lucky enough to do some volunteer work with the local indigenous
people which was as challenging as it was rewarding (and can easily be
arranged).
I recommend Guacamaya without reservation and can pretty much guarantee you´ll leave a changed person and all the better for it!"
Joanna Mantello (mantello@utoronto.ca)
My Experience at Escuela Guacamaya-- July 2005
I recently returned after spending two weeks in Copan Ruinas, Honduras, studying Spanish at la Escuela Guacamaya. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience and found it very worthwhile.
I am an ESL teacher in the Arlington, VA public schools. I have many students from Central and South America. Communicating with their parents is very important. I went to Honduras with a good basic knowledge of Spanish, but hoping to improve my listening comprehension and fluencyin speaking. I thought the school was excellent. Enrique Carrrillo, the director, runs a very efficient program, suited to the individual needs of students of all ages. He was very helpful in providing information before I decided to enroll and while I was there. He even saw to it that I had transportation to the bus station at 4:45 a.m. the day I left!
I felt an immediate connection with the instructor I was matched up with. Like me she was a public school teacher, wife, mother, and woman with a mind of her own. I worked with her for four hours each morning. She assessed my needs very accurately and the instruction was just what I needed: a bit of fine-tuning of grammar, but mostly conversation. We discussed articles in the daily newspaper, other reading that I did, and myriad topics of mutual interest. I learned a lot about Honduran life, culture and politics from our daily conversations. Afternoons, she welcomed me into her classroom—she taught the afternoon session at the local public elementa
ry school—and I had a fascinating look at education in Honduras and the joy of interacting with her third graders.
I lived with a local family, where I had comfortable accommodations and felt warmly welcomed. Meals were an additional opportunity for conversation and a window into family life in Honduras.
Copan Ruinas is a beautiful small town. In and around it I found many interesting sites, all accessible on foot, and not the least of which are the very spectacular Mayan ruins that the town in famous for. The school also organizes excursions. I enjoyed an overnight visit to Gracias Lempira, another mountain town. We witnessed its annual celebration in honor of a local hero and took a memorable hike on Monte Celaque, Honduras’s highest mountain.
I found inexpensive internet access at several locations in Copan, so that I was able to maintain daily contact with my husband and children in the U.S.
All in all, I had a very positive experience in Copan Ruinas and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the Escuela Guacamaya to students of any age who are interested in learning Spanish and getting a taste of life in Honduras. I would suggest good walking shoes for the steep, uneven pavement and a rain parka or umbrella for the frequent late afternoon or evening downpours (if you visit in July as I did), but those are a small price to pay for an otherwise outstanding experience.
If you’d like to contact me for further information concerning my experience, my e-mail address is lmcdermoj@erols.com I’d be happy to answer any questions.
Laura McDermott
Commentaires de mon voyage à Copán / juillet-août 2007
Dès notre arrivée à Copán, le contact avec Enrique et avec notre famille d’accueil a été très agréable.
Et cela s’est poursuivi tout au long des trois semaines que nous y avons passées : chaque personne rencontrée nous accueillait d’un HOLA accompagné d’un beau sourire. Ce que j’ai aimé le plus? La simplicité des gens, leur chaleur, leur bonheur rayonnant et leur générosité malgré des conditions de vie parfois bien difficiles… Les paysages à couper le souffle et marcher, marcher, marcher dans les rues de la ville et dans la campagne environnante. Les excursions à cheval, aux eaux thermales, à la Casa de Mariposa, la visite des ruines, du musée, la Hacienda San Lucas, au Parque de Aves, l’activité de Canopy (Wow! D’arbre en arbre au dessus de la jungle) et bien sûr, les cours d’espagnol!
Ce qui est fantastique à Copán, c’est qu’on peut se promener à tout heure du jour ou de la nuit en toute sécurité.
Mais ce que j’ai encore plus aimé, c’est mon expérience au Jardin d’enfants avec Bessie (la prof de maternelle) et mes visites à l’école San Juan Ramon. Les professeurs ont tellement besoin de matériel et d’aide (il n’est pas rare de voir des classes de 40 enfants!) C’était pour moi un privilège de contribuer. Ici, on réussit à faire des miracles avec presque rien.
Je ne peux passer sous silence l’amitié que j’ai développée avec l’équipe de l’école Guacamaya, avec ma super famille d’accueil ainsi que toutes personnes que j’ai eu la chance de rencontrer sur ma route tout au long de ce voyage. Je n’oserais les nommer car j’ai peur d’en oublier! De nouveaux amis qui resteront gravés dans ma mémoire mais surtout, qui me donnent le goût de revenir bien vite à Copán!
JMerci beaucoupJ
Agnès Boisvert, Sutton (Qc) / CANADA
agnes.boisvert@sympatico.ca
Comentarios de mi viaje a Copán / Julio-Agosto 2007
Cuando llegué a Copán, el contacto con Enrique y nuestra familia fue muy agradable.
Y estuve así por las tres semanas que pasamos en Copán: cada persona que encontramos nos dijo HOLA con su bonita sonrisa. ¿Lo que me gusta más? La simplicidad, el calor, la felicidad y la generosidad de todas las personas que encontré, no importa sus condiciones de vida que alguna vez parecían difíciles. El paisaje, caminar por la ciudad y por el campo, las excursiones a caballo, la Casa de Mariposa, las Ruinas y el museo del Parque, la Hacienda San Lucas, el Parque de Aves y sobre todo, el Canopy Tour, y las clases de español.
Es muy agradable de caminar por la ciudad a todas horas del día.
Pero lo que me gusta mas, fue mi experiencia en el Jardín de niños con Bessy (la maestra) y mis visitas a la Escuela Juan Ramón. Los maestros necesitan tanto material y ayuda (¡Hay clases de 40 estudiantes!) Fue un privilegio de contribuir un poco. Aquí, hacemos milagros con nada…
Yo no debo olvidar de mencionar la amistad con todas las personas que encontré en la escuela Guacamaya, en la familia de Tito Cueva durante este viaje. ¡Yo no quiero nombrar todas las personas porque tengo miedo de olvidar unas! Nuevos amigos que todavía voy a recordar y, sobre todo, que me da las ganas de regresar pronto a Copán.
JMuchas gracias.J
Agnès Boisvert, Sutton (Qc) / CANADA
agnes.boisvert@sympatico.ca
Pricing and reservation information.
More Info: info_guacamaya@hotmail.com