La Escuela de Español Cooperativa was founded in San Pedro La Laguna in 2003 by a group of experienced, local language teachers with a shared dream: teaching Spanish while investing in, and giving back to, our community. In the past twenty years, the Cooperativa has proudly taught Spanish to over 8,000 satisfied students from across the world, created local jobs, fully funded the construction of seven homes for local families in need, and supported the expenses of an underfunded primary school in the area. Unlike larger, internationally-run programs, every dollar you spend with us is infused directly into the San Pedro community to pay our amazing, local teachers and support our various social projects.
At Cooperativa, our immersive learning model, which combines classes, cultural workshops, and homestays, emphasizes pushing students out of their comfort zone while giving them all of the necessary tools to succeed. Each of our trilingual teachers (Spanish-English-Mayan) has been extensively trained and certified by the Ministry of Education and Guatemalan Institute for Tourism (INGUAT) to teach Spanish as a second language. This certification differentiates us from other schools in the area and prepares our teachers to work with students of all levels (Beginner, Intermediate, and Advanced).
We offer individual classes, classes in pairs, and group classes which all take place in the peaceful, open-air environment of our beautiful and well-kept garden overlooking the mountains. Courses range from one week to one month or longer with students taking between 3 to 6 hours of class per day, 5 days per week. Our certified teachers also offer online classes over Skype if you prefer.
In addition to taking classes from the most experienced teachers in San Pedro La Laguna, students have the opportunity to live with carefully selected and vetted local families. While living with these families, students are able to experience the richness of our local culture, enjoy local cuisine, and practice their newly improved Spanish skills with native Spanish speakers throughout the day. The homestay package includes seven days accommodation, three meals per day (except Sundays), and five days of classes. San Pedro also offers a wide range of affordable guest houses and hotels for those who choose not to live with a family.
About San Pedro La Laguna
Regardless of your level, San Pedro La Laguna is the perfect setting to learn Spanish. Located on the stunning western shore of Lake Atitlán and at the foot of the San Pedro Volcano, our small town of under 20,000 Maya-Tz’utujil residents allows our students to immerse themselves in local Mayan culture and the stunning scenery of the mountainous, Guatemalan countryside. San Pedro La Laguna is a vibrant, colorful, and safe tourist town with no shortage of things to do. Some of our students’ favorite weekend activities include:
Zip-lining
Kayaking and Paddleboarding
Hiking up nearby volcanoes
Horse back riding tours
Swimming in the Lake
Exploring bustling, local markets
Much more