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What We´re About
Greetings,
from the heart of Guatemala's tropical Petén region! We
would like to personally invite you to our community-owned
Spanish language school in San José for an exciting
intercultural, educational experience you won't soon
forget. Our unique program combines intensive language
instruction with informal environmental education and
cultural enrichment. Our mission is to immerse students in
the fascinating language, culture, and ecology of the
Petén region of Guatemala, an area renowned for its
tropical forest.
The San José
villagers who run the school trace their roots back to the
ancient Maya people. In fact, the Maya Itzá language was
originally the only language spoken in San José. Today,
only a handful of villagers know the language. Realizing
the need to preserve the foundation of their culture, the
village of San José is now dedicated to reviving the Maya
Itzá' language and other traditional practices.
Time spent in
San José will include intensive Spanish language
instruction and participation in projects of the Itzá
people. The school has developed a curriculum that
combines classroom studies with field trips and volunteer
work opportunities. While students focus on Spanish
language training, they are also introduced to the
traditional heritage of the local people by visiting the
Bio-Itzá Reserve, a conservation area of 36 sq. km.
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Spanish Instruction
Classes are offered in weekly intervals, beginning every
Monday throughout the year. Students have the choice of
studying 4 to 6 hours per day. Classes run Monday through
Friday, in the mornings or in the afternoons, and students
may stay as many weeks as they wish. The school accepts
students of all levels, from absolute beginner to advanced.
All classes are one-on-one, providing you with intense
individual attention. Upon arrival, you will be given a
written exam to assess your ability and to help us
identify the most appropriate teaching materials and
techniques for your level. Thereafter, your experienced,
certified teacher will work with you at your own pace to
develop and strengthen reading, writing, conversation and
comprehension skills.
At Bio-Itzá,
classes are held in a comfortable room with many windows
and ceiling fans, a second room with a beautiful view of
lake Petén Itzá, and a spacious garden area for those who
want to maximize their time spent outdoors.
In addition to
Spanish training, the town of San José is committed to
recovering the foundation of their culture which is the
Maya Itzá language. For this reason, the town supports the
teaching of Maya Itzá in the local schools. Students
attending the Bio-Itzá school have the opportunity to
attend talks given by the Guatemalan Mayan Language
Academy about projects to conserve and teach the Maya Itzá
language. Furthermore, in San José, there is "La Academia
de las Lenguas Mayas de Guatemala" or "The Academy of the
Mayan Languages of Guatemala" which is devoted to
investigating the origins of this language. Students are
welcome to visit the Academy and participate in its
activities.
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Homestay
Living
with a local family is a very special experience. San
Josefińos are friendly, generous and welcoming to visitors.
They are proud of their indigenous heritage and enjoy
celebrating cultural dances and festivals and wearing
traditional clothing. In addition to daily language
interaction outside the classroom, homestays provide a
unique opportunity to participate in the lives and customs
of the people of these two neighboring communities. These
living arrangements also allow students to observe how
local families depend on the forest and its resources as
part of their day-to-day existence.
Each family is
carefully selected. All homes are located within walking
distance of the school. Accommodations are modest, but
comfortable. Each student has her/his own room and usually
shares a bathroom and shower with the family. Students are
provided with three meals a day. Laundry is an additional
cost. Living arrangements for couples, friends and
families can be accommodated.
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Extra Curricular Activities
Language classes are usually held in the morning so
students can enjoy a relaxing afternoon in the outdoors
conversing and spending time with the locals. Depending on
the weather, our students can take part in a variety of
activities from cooking lessons to visiting the Mayan
Languages Academy where the elderly work to keep the Maya
heritage alive by teaching younger children the Itzá
language. Students can also accompany the local people as
they to gather species.
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Volunteer Opportunities
While
studying at the Bio-Itzá school, you will be provided with
an opportunity to do volunteer work. This volunteer work
will not only help the development of the town and the
conservation of the surrounding environment, but will also
enhance your learning experience at the school.
Specific
volunteer opportunities for the Bio-Itzá school include
Traditional Uses of
Medicinal Plants:
Until the
latter part of this century, San Jose's inhabitants
utilized medicinal plants to cure illnesses. Local
knowledge of the medicinal properties in these plants was
not written down but transferred verbally from one
generation to the next. Today, various social factors and
the introduction and promotion of modern medicine is
threatening to extinguish the wealth of knowledge about
these plants that has accumulated over the past 1000 years.
Furthermore, many of the medicinal plants that were
traditionally found in the area no longer exist due to the
growth of surrounding communities. Only a few remaining
community members still remember receiving natural
medicine treatments as children
It was the Bio-Itzá Women's
Group in San Jose that came up with the idea to rescue the
knowledge and use of San Jose's medicinal plants. They
have established a garden with an interpretive path and a
production center for extraction of medicinal properties,
and for processing the plants into the form of dyes and
dried plants that can then be sold in local markets. The
School curriculum includes voluntary opportunities to work
with the women's group and learn about the use of
medicinal plants. If you are interested in participating
or would like more information about these activities,
please contact Ecomaya at
ecomaya@guate.net.
If you have
special interest in learning about the of Medicinal Plants
there is available you can participate in a weekly program
to do voluntary job and work with the Women's Group . If
interested, please contact Ecomaya at
ecomaya@guate.net.
Traditional
uses of Non-timber Forest Products (NTFP) are forest
products (other than lumber) such as leaves, seeds,
branches, vines, etc. These products were used by ancient
communities in the Petén for subsistence and ceremonial
purposes. , in addition to hunting and gathering
agriculture. Forest communities were dedicated to
protecting these natural resources as they were the
economic foundation of their way of life.
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The Bio-Itzá Reserve
Located 24 kilometers to the
northeast of San José, is the first Cultural and
Etnobotanical Reserve in Guatemala. Bio-Itzá Reserve
promotes the preservation of Maya Itzá culture as well as
the sustainable use of natural resources by local people.
Managed
directly by the Bio-Itzá Association, the reserve offers
opportunities to learn about the forest, its six
archaeological sites and the work of the local guards who
patrol the perimeter of the area and maintain the trails
A very basic "ecocamp"
has been built near the Reserve in the traditional style
of the tropical forests. The School also offers tours to
the Reserve at reasonable prices. Tours include last one
day and one night and include overnight with the option of
horseback riding.
PROGRAM COSTS
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USD175.00
per student/per week |
Includes:
4 hours/day of one-on-one instruction
$20 each additional hour
7 days of lodging with three meals a day, staying
with a local family
Extracurricular activities |
Does not
include:
Visit to the Bio-Itzá
Reserve.
Arrangements made through Bio-Itzá School, in San José.
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Safety in Our Region:
The political situation in Guatemala has improved
significantly over the last several years. In 1996 a U.S.
State Department travel warning for Guatemala was lifted
and a peace accord was signed, bringing to an end many
years of political unrest throughout the country.
Tourism is a foundation of the Petenero economy, and the
local people are welcoming to tourists. As when traveling
to any foreign country, individuals should always use good
judgment and take necessary safety precautions.
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