At the MesoAmerican Academy, language instruction generates most of the income that supports our staff and our projects.  Nevertheless, we do not see the teaching of Spanish (or Maya languages) as simply an income-producing tourist-service.  We understand it, rather, as solidarity-building work in its own right. What better opportunity could there be, after all, to share Guatemala’s beautiful culture and tragic history with visitors than through individualized language instruction? 

We know, in other words, that language learning, by enabling face-to-face dialogue and making communication possible, will inevitably result in deeper mutual understanding between Guatemalans and the ‘foreigners’ who visit our country.  And we believe language instruction amounts to a process of human sharing that can offset the too-often negative processes of globalization. For that reason, we take great pride in our teaching mission, our pedagogical methodology, and the professionalism of our staff. 

Quetzaltenango is cool year around, so sweaters and hot drinks make for happy studying

All language instruction at the MesoAmerican Academy takes place in a one-to-one format in which each student has her or his own teacher.  In terms of learning effectiveness, this tutorial approach ensures each student ample opportunity to design and follow an individual curriculum. Each student and teacher team first works together to assess areas of weakness.  Instruction and practice is then provided by means of oral drills, written exercises and conversation designed to address those specific learning needs.  The student who arrives with a prescribed grammar study or reading list from their university can easily be accommodated, as can the nurse, engineer, social scientist, etc., who needs to study a particular occupational jargon.

The Academy's approach to individual learning styles is just as flexible as curriculum assessment.  Student and teacher work together to devise a regimen of study that emphasizes  how the student best learns.  Visual learning students who need to see and write new material, for example, can be accommodated as fully as those who learn more easily through directed conversation or repetitive oral drill.  Students prone to “language class stage fright,” meanwhile, can be at ease in the privacy of one-to-one dialogue with their teacher.

Perhaps most importantly for many potential students is that the Academy's individual instruction not only permits flexibility in ‘what’ and ‘how’ language is studied, but also permits complete choice about  ‘when’ and ‘for how long.’  With the exception of a very few holidays, la Academía Mesoamericana provides instruction every weekday of the year, and instruction may be initiated at any time.   Because there is no need to work around a preexisting institutional schedule, each ‘class’ begins and ends, quite simply, when the student comes and leaves.  Dates and duration are dictated only by each student’s preferences and available resources.

But the convenience and flexibility of curriculum, methodology, and scheduling are only relevant because the Academy's teaching staff are highly qualified, with years of experience.  All the directors of the Academy are university graduates or students in their last years of university study, with years of experience in teaching Spanish to foreigners.  Staff teachers, meanwhile, are also university graduates or students in the latter stages of study for the licenciatura in one of the liberal arts, or a professional degree in medicine, law, or engineering. 

Regardless of prior academic achievements or level of experience in teaching Spanish, however, all teachers undergo a rigorous program of training in teaching Spanish as a second language before coming to the Academy to ensure that they meet the high standards set by the directors of the MesoAmerican Academy.  As a result, the Academía MesoAmericana has among the best trained faculty of any private Spanish language academy in Latin America.