Survive - Guatemala - page 606

for phone or internet reservations. All decent schools offer a variety of elective activities from salsa classes to movies to
volcano hikes. Many schools offer classes in Maya languages as well as Spanish.
Where to Study
Antigua is the most popular place to study. Quetzaltenango is second, perhaps attracting a more serious type of student;
Antigua has a livelier students' and travelers' social scene. Outside of those areas, there are Spanish schools scattered
across the country. On average, schools charge Q900 to Q1200 for four hours of one-on-one classes five days a week
and accommodation with a local family.
Studying in a small town has its pros and cons. On the upside, you may be the only foreigner around, so you won't be
speaking any English. On the downside, Spanish may be the second language of the inhabitants of the village (including
your teacher), meaning that you could pick up all sorts of bad habits.
REPORTING A CRIME
Reporting a crime is always a toss-up in Guatemala. If you're the victim of something really serious, of course
you should take it to the police - the phrase you're looking for here is ' Yo quisiera denunciar un crimen' ('I'd
like to report a crime'). If you've been robbed, get a statement filed so you can show your insurance company.
If it's a minor thing, on the other hand, you might want to consider whether or not it's really worth your while
reporting it to the police.
Specially trained tourist police (often English speaking) operate in some major tourist areas - you can call
them in Antigua ( 5978-3586) and Guatemala City ( 2232 0202; 11 Calle 12-06) .
Outside of those areas (and normal office hours) your best bet is to call Proatur ( in English 1500) , which
operates a 24-hour nationwide toll-free hotline in English and Spanish. It can give you information and assist-
ance, help deal with the police and even arrange a lawyer if need be.
Choosing a School
Choosing between the mass of Spanish schools in Guatemala can be tough. Many schools don't have in-house teacher
training programs, so there aren't so many 'good schools' as there are 'good teachers'. It's best to pay for as little time
as possible (a week, usually) so you can change if you're really unhappy. You should be completely up-front about what
your goals (conversation, grammar, vocabulary etc) are when starting, as well as any specialized interests that you have
(politics, medical, legal etc) so the school can design a curriculum and assign you a teacher to best suit your needs. If
you end up liking like the school, but not the teacher, ask for a new teacher as soon as possible - personality conflicts
occur, and four or five hours of one-on-one with someone you don't like can soon turn into hard work.
Here are some questions to think about when you're looking at schools. Some you can find out just by turning up,
some you should ask the school, others you'll have to talk to current and ex-students to get a feel for.
» Where do the classes take place - on a quiet, shaded patio or in hot classrooms with buses roaring along the street out-
side?
» What experience and qualifications do the teachers have in teaching a second language?
» Is Spanish your teacher's first language?
» What afternoon and evening activities are available?