The Escuela Scoop: Spanish Language Schools in Nicaragua

Choose from Central America’s Best Bargains

Article and Photos by Joshua Berman and Randy Wood

Nicaragua boasts a strong and growing network of independent Spanish language schools. With few exceptions, most schools follow the same basic structure that involves a combination of language instruction and cultural immersion activities. That means two to four hours of class in the morning, followed by community service activities or field trips in the afternoon.

Competition constantly forces major changes in the schools listed below, making it difficult to recommend one school over another. Moreover, to a certain extent, your choice of school is as much a question of geographical preference as anything else. If possible, visit some of the schools before committing. By hanging around at lunch time you can get a chance to chat up the current students, ask the teachers about their credentials and personalities, and gauge the professionalism of the business.

Prices quoted below are subject to change, and note that at any school, the more weeks you commit to, the lower your weekly rate drops. Most schools provide airport pickups if requested.

Spanish Schools in Granada

Granada is a natural choice for many students who love the city's aesthetic as much as its central location on the tourist trail. Roger Ramirez's One-on-One Spanish Tutoring Academy (tel. 011/505/552-6771, oneonone@cablenet.com.ni, www.1on1tutoring.net) has received rave reviews and a constant stream of students since its humble, one-room beginnings. One-on-one's classrooms are a bit cramped, but their eight full-time (mostly younger) teachers rotate every hour, so that students are exposed to different personalities and accents as they switch between grammar, conversation, and other topics. A week of 20 hours of instruction costs US$95, plus US$70 for room and board with a family. Custom, group, and cultural activities can also be arranged, as can shorter lessons, or class by the hour. Casa Xalteva (Nica tel. 011/505/552-2436, US tel. 505/254-7535, communit@nmia.com, www.casaxalteva.com) offers a similar package, US$125/week, with a stress on volunteer activities; highly recommended by former students, quiet location, and part of a small group home for boys which is supported by your tuition. The experienced teachers that used to work in the beautiful Palacio de Cultura on the central park now own and operate the Cocibolca Spanish School (tel. 011/505/889-9375/865-1340, esc_cocibolca@yahoo.com, pages.prodigy.net/nss-pmc), which offers full packages from US$195, and also weekend classes.

Spanish Schools in Laguna De Apoyo

If you prefer to avoid the distractions of the city, the Proyecto Ecologico (eco-nic@guegue.com.ni, www.gaianicaragua.org) is the only Spanish school in Nicaragua in a purely natural setting--the lakeside lodge is in the crater of an ancient volcano. The spot is incredible, only an hour from Managua, less to Granada, yet still tucked away in its own green world. Lodging and food are excellent; students are placed in a one-on-one and/or group learning context (max. 4 per teacher) for five hours per day, five days per week. One week costs US$190, includes classes, activities, room and board in their lodge. The weekend program has Spanish classes Saturday and Sunday, with all meals included, and room Saturday night.

Spanish Schools in San Juan Del Sur

One of the best deals around and easy to recommend is Doña Rosa Silva's Spanish School (tel. 011/505/621-8905, spanish_silva@yahoo.com, www.spanishsilva.com), offering four hours of daily instruction, up to six days a week for US$100--plus US$60 for a homestay; several of her students had nothing but good things to say.

There's one school in the Casa de Cultura, across from the beach (they may still be unethically using the old NSS name and logo), but it is under brand new management and we have not heard anything about it. Down the block across from the bank (right on the beach!) is the San Juan del Sur Spanish School (tel. 011/505/568-2432, sjdsspanish@yahoo.com, www.sjdsspanish.com) with all-inclusive packages for US$195/week; very experienced teachers.

Latin American Spanish School (tel. 011/505/820-2252; info@latinamericanspanishschool.com, www.latinamericanspanishschool.com) is a recent start-up headed by a half dozen entrepreneurial and professional Nicaraguan Spanish instructors with, on average, over 8 years' experience teaching foreigners. They offer a basic 20-hour instruction and activity package for US$120, plus US$90/week for lodging with private bath and three meals a day.

Spanish Schools in León

Schools are in flux in León, with a few new ones being formed at press time, and the oldest one being disbanded. Ask about Spanish schools in the Casa de Cultura, or check the bulletin board at the Vía Vía Hospedaje for private tutors and lessons. Also, Va Pues Tours (tel. 011/505/606-2276, info@vapues.com, www.vapues.com) recently began offering an intensive, full-immersion Spanish course: US$195 for 20 hours of one-on-one class (over five days), includes room and board.

Spanish Schools in Estelí

Estelí's advantage over other schools is the deliciously cool climate and a number of natural excursions accessible as brief day trips from the city. Estelí has lots of experience hosting and teaching internacionalistas and its schools have been around for over a decade. Escuela Horizonte Nica (tel. 011/505/713-4117 or 836-5943, horizont@ibw.com.ni, www.ibw.com.ni/u/horizont) has one of the longest track records in town, and has an afternoon activity program that includes visits to local cooperatives and community development programs. One week of class, with 20 hours of intensive study, afternoon activities, and homestay with a family costs US$165, but they offer discounts for groups.

The CENAC Spanish School (Centro Nicaraguense de Aprendizaje Cultural, tel. 011/505/713-5437, cenac@ibw.com.ni, www.ibw.com.ni/~cenac) also gets high marks and has been around since 1990. They offer 20 hours of class plus room and board for US$140 a week. The Spanish School Gueguense (tel. 011/505/713-7172) is located 250 meters east of the Shell Esquipulas. Its afternoon activities include trips to Jinotega, Quilalí, San Juan del Río Coco, and local Estelí attractions. Class and homestay cost US$120 per week.

Spanish Schools in Managua

Viva Spanish School (tel. 011/505/877-7179 or 270-2339, vivaspanish@btinternet.com, www.vivaspanishschool.com), offering intensive classes (20 hrs per week), catering to students of all ages and backgrounds--one week of instruction, including all materials is US$125. Also offers evening classes for people who live and work in Managua (4 hrs per week). Modules of study are available for missionaries, medical students and businesspeople, covering specialized vocabulary in each area; also advanced courses, tourist Spanish, a Literature Class, and a specially developed Childrens Program which includes games, art and other activities.

Private lessons, tutoring, and guide services are offered by friendly bilingual Managuan, Raul Gavarrette (tel. 011/505/233-1298, cel 776-5702, aige@tmx.com.ni), and you may be able to find similar services at Nicaragua Spanish Schools (NSS, Managua tel. 011/505/244-1699, US tel. 805/687-9941, nssmga@ibw.com.ni, pages.prodigy.net/nss-pmc).

Another highly rated option is The Ave Maria International Language Institute in Managua (AMILI, tel. 505/278-6885, www.avemaria.edu.ni) and its sister school on the main Ave Maria College campus in San Marcos, Carazo: The Ave Maria Language Institute (AMLI, tel. 505/535-2314, www.avemaria.edu.ni).

Staying With a Host Family

If you'd like to live with a Nica family, most schools are eager to arrange a host family (or "homestay") for you, as many maintain a network of families that specialize in this. The fees for this service are usually very reasonable, ranging from US$60-90 for a room and three home-cooked meals a day. Homestays are a great introduction to Nicaragua. They the offer the opportunity to scope out the neighborhood form a Nica point of view, and to assess your commitment to living longterm in country. You'll get a taste of daily life and the chance to practice chatting with your soon-to-be neighbors. Many Nicaraguan families involved in these programs have received training in how to host foreign guests with strange habits and weak stomachs; others haven't. It's difficult to judge what kind of deal you are getting, but if possible, visit the home before committing--make sure you've got your own room with a door that locks, and that things are generally clean. Foreign women will feel more comfortable in a home with lots of sisters, aunts, and grandmothers rather than one dominated by drunk and loitering brothers and uncles, so clarify exactly who is responsible for you and who lives there (Nica homes are often overflowing with a confusing array of visiting family and friends, who are often hard to distinguish between the immediate family).

Joshua Berman and Randy Wood are the authors of Moon Handbooks Nicaragua (moon.com/catalog2/nicaragua.html, Avalon Travel Publishing) which offers a great deal more information about traveling to Nicaragua. Joshua’s website is joshuaberman.net; Randy’s is therandymon.com. For more info please visit GotoNicaragua.com, a site created by Wood and Berman for fellow Nicaphiles to come together, plan their trips, and ask questions.