Classes & Methodology
Study Levels for Everyone
INEPAS offers ten different study levels, ranging from Beginner to Advanced. Each level is designed and structured in a progressive system. To join the Beginner level, no previous knowledge of the Spanish language is needed. For the Intermediate or Advanced levels, the Beginner or Intermediate level must be previously approved through a placement test. Each level has its own evaluation which is optional.
The content of the program is varied, open and flexible, and the methodology adapts to the objectives, level of Spanish, rhythm and learning style of each student. Study hours are distributed between grammar teaching, oral and written exercises, conversations about daily life and discussions about social, political, economic and cultural reality of Guatemala and Latin America, always with emphasis on vocabulary and specialized expressions, according to the profession or interest of each student.
Each level takes a week of study for any student, which means that a Spanish student at INEPAS completes the entire course in an average of 10/12 weeks, studying 5 hours a day. However, it should be taken into account that each student learns at their own pace and speed. At all levels, personalized teaching is guaranteed and in a context that favors the exchange of cultures.
Obviously, the student is evaluated every week to verify if (s)he is able to advance to the immediate higher level or to make a previous reinforcement, which is done in common agreement with the student and the teacher.
Evaluations are realized through dynamic and creative dialogues, including reading comprehension, listening comprehension and expression and interaction activities (written and oral). Finalizing the course, students receive a DIPLOMA that accredits the Spanish level and the grammar content studied.
INEPAS aims to keep the student with the same teacher week by week. This way the teacher knows exactly what areas to study and what the student needs to improve on. However, if a student wants to change his or her teacher for the following week, this is possible in consultation with the administration.
Backed by more than 30 years of experience, INEPAS offers specific and specialized courses to satisfy communication needs of travelers, tourists, volunteers, retirees, entrepreneurs, diplomats, students and professionals of all degrees or professions.
| INEPAS | (CEFR) |
| Beginner: I – II – III |
A1 – A2 |
| Intermediate: I – II – III |
B1 – B2 |
| Advanced: I – II – III – IV |
C1 – C2 |
Our content guide by grammar levels EQUIVALES the new level systems of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) and the curriculum of the Instituto Cervantes.
Activities: Activate Your Spanish!
INEPAS offers its students different activities each week, from Monday to Friday. These include:
- Visits to places of cultural interest in and around Quetzaltenango, in order to gain a better understanding of the history, the customs, traditions and way of life of the people, e.g. textile factories, markets, churches, etc.
- Excursions to places of tourist interest, e.g. mountains, thermal fountains and natural saunas.
- Films and documentaries of political, socio-economic and cultural interest.
- Conferences and lectures covering a range of interesting topics.
- Grammar workshops, sports and international cooking evenings.
Note: Participation in the weekly activities and excursions is optional and free (with the exception of personnel expenses: such as transport, entrance fees, drinks and food).
Accommodation
INEPAS offers its students three different accommodation options:
1) Live with one of our home-stay families locally
The families provide private rooms and three meals per day, seven days a week. All have showers with hot water. Each family has-been carefully chosen by INEPAS appropriate to meet standards for our students. However, please take into account that living with a family home is not the same as staying in a hotel or hostel, and it is important that every student recognizes the conservative character of the family and treats its members with respect.
2) Live in an apartment
Here is our recommendation, a very quiet and well-equipped place at a 10-15 minute-walk from the school:
- apartment: www.airbnb.com/rooms/5268384
- house: www.airbnb.com.gt/rooms/22746107
For one week or more.
Former recommendations constitute trusted places; they do not belong to INEPAS.
3) Take your lunch with a local family, living in an apartment
You have decided to live in an apartment, but would like to share the lunch with a local family.
See Option 2 for the apartment or book your own one.
Distribution of Funds
INEPAS is an ideologically, politically and economically independent organization. That said, we consider the dialogue with and between other institutions, governments and non-governmental organizations as important if not necessary. This is because we believe that our contribution to the development of Guatemala shouldn’t just be an isolated series of initiatives, but rather it should be a series of co-operative and co-ordinated actions. In this way, INEPAS relies on the recognition of numerous national and international institutions, among which the United Nations Organization for Education, Science and Culture (UNESCO) stands out.
We are a solid and innovative organization with a strong philosophy and guiding principles. Our social aid programs are not made for the students: they are made by, for and with the local people. Nevertheless, every student who attends the Spanish School contributes to the maintenance and functioning of INEPAS and the development of its community programs, merely by choosing to study with us.
This is a breakdown of how our income is spent:
