English As a Second Language (ESL) Program

Start Date:   March 2005
Main Contacts :   Local School Directors
Project Manager:   Mateo Paneitz, E.D.
Current Status: In Progress

Purpose

To develop language education and cultural exchange between Guatemalan children and international volunteers.

Description

Many Comalapans are beginning to recognize the value of speaking English in addition to their native languages, and are expressing a need for English teachers in their primary schools.   Long Way Home volunteers are working to meet this demand by teaching English classes to local students.

As it becomes increasingly common to see Anglophone tourists passing through Comalapa's market, galleries, and Internet cafes, it is a powerful and lucrative tool for locals to be able to communicate in English.   Where children in some parts of the world see foreign language acquisition as a challenging burden, the children of Comalapa are generally excited by the prospect and are eager to learn and practice this valuable skill.   By providing English language education within the community, Long Way Home aims to open lines of communication between Comalapans and foreign travelers, increase cultural exchange between these two groups, and inspire young Guatemalans to seek their own adventures abroad.