La Ceiba Honduras- Language school in Paradise Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I was signed up for group classes, but more often than not I got a private tutor or classes with just myself and one other student. They tailored the sessions to meet my needs. As with all language schools, some teachers are better than others, some more qualified than others, and all with different teaching styles. The school let me request what teacher I wanted each week which was very nice. There was not a lot of teaching material, or structure to their system, which was the main drawback as compared to other language schools.

On-site administration of your program

Strengths include the flexibility and attention to the students' needs. The school had excursions set up each week, everything was set up for classes to take place at a new location on Fridays as well. The teachers felt like friends to us, and so did the director. They would help out whenever possible, and it really felt like a family when we left.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

We had an outstanding host family. She provided everything we needed and invited us into her family. The food was wonderful, and while there was no hot water, the cold showers were welcoming when the temperatures were hot or after a day of excursions in the ocean or rivers. All host families were located within walking distance to the school, and the main mall and cinema. Downtown and the ocean was a walkable distance, or taxis are extremely cheap and always easy to find.

While other students complained slightly, our food was wonderful. Following Latin American culture, breakfasts and dinners are usually smaller portions while lunch is the largest meal. The lunch was always our favorite, with meat, soup, plaintains, rice, corn, vegetables etc. Breakfasts varied with fruit, beans and eggs. Dinner usually consisted of eggs and beans.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Wonderful field trips were organized, to the beach, the jungle, national forests, nearby islands and cities etc. Especially enjoyable were the trips to the island of Utila and to the ruins of Copan. Some of these were organized by our program, others just with groups of students.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Health care was great, and many students took advantage of the cheaper prices in dental work, doctor visits and perscription medication. Our host mothers daughter was a doctor and daughter-in-law was a dentist and so our experiences with them and with other health care providers were as good if not better than what we would receive in the U.S. Safety on the other hand was a little more concerning. At times I did feel unsafe being downtown alone, or traveling on a local bus. Generally the major violence is directed toward the drug trafficking, however, it still made me uneasy.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

While many people speak English, our host mother did not, and many teachers would only speak Spanish. Also we had plenty of opportunities to speak Spanish in town and around the neighborhood.

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• Host Family

Select all that apply

• Americans
• International Students
• Host Family