Two of us very much enjoyed a week of immersive Spanish classes at Tecum Uman in the centre of UNESCO World Heritage Antigua. The teachers were skilful and taught us a lot in 4 hours a day. The school also organised an excellent homestay experience for us with a nearby family which helped us to gain some insight to local culture. The school also offered students local trips with a teacher so that we had opportunities to listen and practice our Spanish in different contexts (as well as socialising with other students).

Gracias por las 4 semanas. La profesora me enseñó español con mucho entusiasmo, así que me divertí estudiándolo. Pasó un mes en un abrir y cerrar de ojos. Además de las clases, existen muchas actividades que te permiten divertirte aprendiendo español. hizo. Todo el personal y el director fueron amables y alegres, y disfruté hablando con ellos. Te estoy muy agradecido

I enjoyed studying at his school. I like the fact that the owner of the school, “Don Mario”, is not only the director, but also a family man whom has worked out of his home and business for more than forty year. My teacher gave me attention I needed and was flexible to accommodate my schedule. I live in Antigua, and so walking to school was a joy. The space is verdant with plants and trees. The students come from allower the world and are of various ages. I felt respected as a student and know that I can return to chat with teachers whenever. Tecun Uman is a personable school and worth every investment you could make!

L’école de langue Tecun Uman à Antigua est pour moi une école exceptionnelle… c’est un lieu où l’apprentissage de la langue espagnole se transmet par des enseignants aimables, compétents, motivés et dynamiques. Dans cette merveilleuse école, dirigée par un directeur d’une gentillesse hors du commun, je ne garde que des souvenirs heureux. Pour y être allée 7 ans d’affilée, je la recommande sans aucune hésitation. C’est à cause de la COVID et de la maladie 🦠 que je n’ai pu y aller ces deux dernières années et je vous avoue que cela me manque beaucoup. Tout ce que je souhaite, c’est de pouvoir y retourner en 2025. Je me sens bien quand je vis là-bas… je prends 4 heures de cours dans l’avant-midi et, l’après-midi, à part faire mes devoirs, je me promène dans cette petite ville enchanteresse. J’en aurais encore beaucoup à dire sur cette école et ça ne serait que des louanges. Cependant, je veux aussi vous faire part de la famille de Blanqui Romero où je loge habituellement. Quand je suis là, je me sens dans un havre de paix. Je suis très attachée à cette famille et je n’ai aucune inquiétude. Tous sont présents pour vous accorder leur aide, pour vous soutenir si besoin il y a. Grâce à l’excellence des mets préparés par Elda, la cuisinière, vous êtes assurés d’avoir des repas de qualité… ce sont les mêmes repas qui sont offerts à la famille et, ils sont tout à fait sains et délicieux! Ce soir en vous écrivant, je pense à tous ces merveilleux moments passés à l’école Tecun Uman et avec la famille de Blanqui Romero. Toutes ces personnes ont contribué à rendre mon séjour extraordinaire, tant au niveau de la pratique de l’espagnol qu’au niveau relationnel. Je vous aime tous !

Every now and then you find something that goes far beyond your hopes and expectations…that’s TECUN UMAN. This language school just keeps giving; the amazing and generous owner, knowledgeable and kind instructors, exceptional homestay families, extracurricular activities and workshops… TECUN UMAN offers a winning combination which keeps me and my students returning for more! Having taken hundreds of students abroad to different Spanish-speaking locations, I recognize quality when I see it. This 5-star School experience is not about luxury but rather about the perfect combination for learning the Spanish language, the culture and history of Guatemala and rich personal interactions that only smaller language schools can offer. TECUN UMAN is a jewel that offers one –on one language classes in an interesting and tailor-made way and is nestled in the charming town of Antigua Guatemala, which is safe, culturally rich and surprisingly affordable. TECUN UMAN language School entices you to stay longer than expected and return more often than anticipated!

I have attended Escuela de Español Tecun Uman on many occasions over several years and whether the experiences have been long or short, I have enjoyed them all. Escuela Tecun Uman is one of Antigua’s founding language schools and their experience, support and programming individually tailored to meet the needs of a wide range of students, is evident every day not just in the school setting but also with cultural and social activities that provide a better understanding of all this beautiful country has to offer. The teachers are qualified, caring and fun. I recommend Escuela de Español Tecun Uman

Tecun Uman is a special place. Everyone was very friendly and clear. Teachers enjoy teaching students. The classrooms are very comfortable and beautiful. We loved all the plants! Thank you so much for your help when our plans changed and changed and changed! Jenny and I had a wonderful experience and have great memories, plus we know more Spanish. Thank you for making us feel so welcome.

Ma premiere impression de l’ecole s’est fait avec la recontre du directeur une personne accueillante qui m’a fait me sentir’a l’aise dès les premieres minutes. Le personal de l’accueil (Daniel, Jenifer) son tres sympatiques, patients, aidants. Le lieu des cours est different… Les cours se domment in plein air. Mais pas au soleil c’est tres agréalle d’avoir un proffeseur juste pour soi. Silvia est une institutrice souriante, minutreuse, comciencieuse. A pres avoir fait une evaluation de mes connaissances de l’espagnol, elle a préparé un plan de travail qui un a tres bien convence. J’ai apprecié son organisation du temps (varié): du vocabulaire, de la lecture, la conjugaison des verbes irréguliers, des expresiions particulieres l’urage de plusicars mots courrants bien utiles. La famille d’accueil: Telma’s house j’ai appreciê la vie de famille avec Telma. Mon mari a moi avions une grande chambre avec 2 lits, tout a côte d’une salle de bair complete. Le maison est bien tenue, propre edans un quartier tranquille a 8 minutes de l’ecole (a pied). Et que dire de la nourriture! Muy rico! Tres variée. Des plus, mon mari moi avions le privilége de parleu espagnol sux repas avec Telma au moins une de seu filles, un de ses petits-fils (Angel: 11 ans) deur aures etudiantes. Je recommande

My first time in Guatemala was in 1983, forty years ago. I crossed the border into Belize, visited the Mayan ruins in Petén and headed overland to Antigua. There was no bus or real road then, so I took trucks and hitchhiked. The trip lasted three days. When I arrived in Antigua I was greeted by a young man named Mario Castellanos. He told me that he had a Spanish school and wanted to know if I was in Antigua to study that language. In fact, I was planning to study Spanish for a month at a school while living with a local family. Mario's school was called Tecún Umán; He and I went there and I signed up for classes for seven hours a day for four weeks. It was the beginning of a great love and appreciation for Mario and his family, for Colegio Tecún Umán and for Guatemala. Over the next forty years I must have visited Guatemala and Mario ten times, and I also always headed to Petén to travel alone among the Mayan ruins and jungles. Now, at 70 years old, I have just returned from three more months of visiting Mario and his family, the school, and the northern jungles. The Tecún Umán School looks exactly the same as it did forty years ago when I first arrived in Guatemala. And what's more, now that I have been retired for five years, I will head south again, to Guatemala, but this time by bicycle from Oklahoma. And I'm taking my dog, Marvel. He will meet Mona, Mario's family dog. I will be turning 71 and it seems like only a few months ago that I crossed that border in 1983.