Hi, I’m Noah, a high school student from DC. After four years of Spanish classes, I felt stuck and frustrated with my progress. The large (sometimes more than 30 kids!), grammar-focused classes at school weren’t giving me the practice I needed. So, after lots of research I decided to try something different—a language immersion program at the Maximo Nivel Institute in Antigua, Guatemala.
On my flight over to Guatemala City, which was my first time traveling alone, I wasn’t feeling too confident about my decision. But this feeling didn’t last for long. From the moment I arrived at my host family’s house in Jocotenango, I knew this experience would be different from anything I had ever done before, and I was excited! My host family welcomed me with open arms (and a delicious plate of fruit), making me feel at home right away. My host dad even gave me a tour of the house and introduced me to my new “brother,” who shared my love for movies. By the end of that first night, I was already speaking more Spanish than I ever had before!
The next day my host dad showed me how to take the chicken bus to Antigua, and my first day was spent exploring the beautiful city and attending orientation at Maximo Nivel. The staff were just as welcoming as my host family, and they assigned me a schedule and my teachers. These classes were a game-changer. Instead of drilling grammar worksheets, I would start every class by talking to the teacher about my previous day. Through engaging and interactive classes, my teachers encouraged me to speak as much as possible. It turned out I knew more than I thought—I just needed the chance to use it. Surrounded by the beautiful volcanoes of Antigua, I was learning fast, having fun, and for the first time, excited to be in a Spanish class!
And the fun didn’t stop after class. I quickly bonded with two volunteer students who stayed at my host family’s house and met another Spanish student at the institute. Every day after we all finished our classes (or volunteering) we would go get lunch together at a new restaurant – my favorite was Ricon Antigueña – and then we would explore Antigua. We always had something to do and there were endless opportunities for us to practice our Spanish. We would spend hours browsing the market, which seemed to be endless. Some days we would even go see a movie in Spanish. One day we went to Jocotenango for a night festival. It was truly an unforgettable experience.
It wasn’t long before I felt confident in communicating and getting around on my own. I was ordering food at local restaurants and actively participating in conversations with my host family over dinner. My Spanish certainly wasn’t perfect, but everybody who I talked to was patient and supportive, and genuinely appreciated my effort in speaking their native language.
I wasn’t just improving my conversation skills, but I was slowly but surely becoming more chapin. Taking the chicken bus to Antigua, greeting people on my walk to school, striking up conversations with market vendors, and eating my host dad’s pollo guisado and pepían for dinner became part of my everyday routine. I felt like I was at home. Living in Antigua opened my mind and gave me a new perspective. My time in Antigua was so much more than just improving my Spanish. It was making lifelong friends, exploring a new and vibrant culture, becoming more independent and adaptable, and learning to see the world through a different lens. It was gaining a deeper appreciation for the rich traditions, warm hospitality, amazing food, and everyday life in Guatemala.
My trip taught me the value of stepping outside my comfort zone, and I know that the memories I made, the friends I met, and the lessons I learned will stay with me for life. This trip also showed me how important language is. It’s more than just words: it’s a gateway to connecting with people and understanding their way of life. I wished I could have stayed longer and was very sad to leave the extraordinary country of Guatemala, but I am extremely grateful to have had this experience. I never knew such a short period of time could be so influential and impactful for me, and I believe everyone should have the chance to immerse themself in a different culture.