Apoyo Spanish Language School and Environmental Volunteer Program

These students from Goshen College participated in a Study Abroad Semester in Nicaragua, part of it in Apoyo Spanish School.

At Apoyo Spanish School and Volunteer program, we provide Spanish language instruction to volunteers, cooperants, researchers and travellers. Ours is the oldest continously operating Spanish language school in Nicaragua. Our teachers teach the teachers at other schools! Whether you are working or volunteering in Nicaragua, or simply wish to study Spanish abroad, we would like to work with you.

Mario Montenegro is a renowned children's singer in Nicaragua and a cultural icon nationally. Here he is singing to students of the Laguna de Apoyo Spanish Language School  Photo Jeffrey McCrary

Students at Apoyo Spanish School participate in several activities, including environmental volunteering, such as natural forest reforestation, and flora and fauna monitoring. We consider volunteer work to be a vital component of our program, because our students get to "give back" to Laguna de Apoyo Nature Reserve and the people who live in and around it. Lots of people have studied Spanish with at Apoyo Spanish School, and some of them have chosen to write about it!

Volunteer-students at Laguna de Apoyo Spanish Language School depicted some of the marvelous local nature in a mural at our center. Photo Jeffrey McCrary.

Classes are one teacher to one student, providing the most intense and engaging learning experience. We also offer study options for groups of up to three with a teacher.

Margit is learning Spanish in the best classroom-beneath the trees. Photo Jeffey McCrary.

Activities included in the program price:
Monday: Nature hike including birds, monkeys and native flora.
Tuesday: Nicaraguan cooking lesson.
Wednesday: Discussion of an environmental/cultural topic with topical video presentation.
Thursday: Volunteer day: Reforestation or nocturnal fauna monitoring with our scientific staff.
Friday: Visit to Catarina overlook, San Juan de Oriente pottery makers, Masaya artisan markets, or the Coyotepe historic fort/museum.

Reservations:
We accept reservations based upon payment, which you can make to our account (apoyo@ gaianicaragua.org) via paypal. We request 50% of the program payment for reservation, the remainder is due in cash upon arrival.

Spanish language homework can be done in the relaxing, informal enviroment at Estacion Biologica in Laguna de Apoyo.  Photo Jeffrey McCrary.

For many people, on-site lessons are not always practical. We offer Spanish lessons via SKYPE, for live, expert instruction with a professional educator, and we also offer classes in Managua through Managua Spanish School. Skype is a great way to improve your Spanish while staying at home. You can interact with your teacher in both English and Spanish, although the same immersion conditions apply for maximum learning! And for those who need to be working in Managua, getting classes at a convenient time with a professional teacher is what we do. 

We look forward to meeting you, and we hope you come to study Spanish with us. Come and visit us and many other places in Nicaragua while you are here. We have programs for individuals, small groups, and large groups as well. Please contact us for more information.

Click on the "escudo" to contact us.