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Na'atik Language and Culture Institute

Na'atik Language and Culture Institute

9.9 Rating
40 reviews
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About

We are located in the heart of the Maya Zone of Quintana Roo, Mexico. Through our online and immersion language courses of Spanish, Maya and English, our purpose is to inspire global citizenship while supporting the local community in our small city, Felipe Carrillo Puerto. Through our love of languages, the celebration of different cultures and the sharing and learning in an authentic, respectful way, we promote intercultural understanding.

Our name, Na'atik, is part of the Maya expression: 'To'on na'atik' meaning 'We're understanding each other'.

Website
www.naatikmexico.org
Founded
2010

Reviews

Default avatar
Karen
Female
United States
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Online Spanish Classes Blended with Mexican Culture
Mar 4, 2021

Na'atik offers classes in Spanish and Mayan for travelers who would like and immersion program. We lived in Felipe Carrillo Puerto where the school is located for 4 months and during this time both my husband and I took classes at the school. He took Mayan and I am still taking Spanish classes. When we returned home last March, I have continued to take Spanish classes twice a week with Pedro. Pedro is an experienced and skilled teacher, having both Spanish and English skills. He continues to be my Spanish teacher and coach. I appreciate his thorough approach to my learning and pronunciation. If you are interested in learning Spanish, there is not a better way to learn than from a native speaker!! I highly recommend Na'atik!

Default avatar
Hassan
56
United States
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Online Spanish Classes Blended with Mexican Culture
Jul 2, 2020

We value the experiences travel, learning about different cultures and languages bring to our lives. As a result of that priority for us and our kids, we enrolled them in the online Spanish program at Na'atik. They have weekly sessions with Jose, a native Spanish speaker, they discuss soccer, food, travel experiences, more soccer etc.. It is super fun to see their Spanish skills improve through active conversation over the internet (visual and audio), which is perfect as we are hunkered down in the pandemic. Our kids were not very excited about this new activity at first, but now enjoy the sessions with Jose as they can sense that their Spanish is improving weekly, and the method is not a traditional learning method like a classroom would be, rather it is much more aligned with how I learned different languages....immersion. The program is super affordable and fun-highly recommended.

What would you improve about this program?
Nothing-it is fantastic! I would actually consider offering different platforms such as Zoom so that people can participate from different locations or may be more familiar with another platform, such as Skype. Google Hangouts, the current platform, works well and is easy to adapt to. I'm a Zoom guy :).
Default avatar
Brittany
35
United States
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Online Spanish Classes Blended with Mexican Culture
Jul 1, 2020

Like so many people I have been quarantined and out of work due to the corona virus. I decided it would be a good idea to do something useful with this extra time and I knew just who to contact. About two years ago, I traveled to Mexico to study at Na’atik for two weeks. It was an incredible, life changing experience. Thankfully, Na'atik offers online classes. I decided to give them a try.
I was paired with my teacher, Cesar, who is amazing. The classes are fun and personalized to my level and my learning speed. We talk about interesting things while learning how to use the language. It has been a fantastic experience overall. So, fantastic, in fact, that I have re-enrolled and will continue to do so.
My hope is to return to Na'atik in person someday when travel is safe again. But, for now, I am happy that Na'atik is offering these incredible online classes.

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?
I always get nervous before a class because speaking and listening in a language besides English brings me some stress. I am a perfectionist and knowing going in to something that I am going to make mistakes is difficult. But, Cesar is always incredibly supportive and creates and atmosphere in which I can make mistakes and keep learning.
Default avatar
kerri
United Kingdom
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Online Spanish Classes Blended with Mexican Culture
Jun 24, 2020

I love my Spanish classes with Osmar. It feels like I am transported to Mexico every Wednesday evening, as we chat in Spanish and I can hear the birds in the background! A nice escape from rainy days in England :) I didn't want to learn to read or write in Spanish or have homework (my day job is quite intense), so I asked if we can stick chatting regularly to keep up my practice. I was grateful that Osmar was happy with this and every week we talked about big topics like the latest news (including Covid), politics, global warming, sustainable tourism and the environment. In just ten weeks of chatting, Osmar taught me how to use the different types of past tense (hurrah!) and at the end of each class he gives me pointers on what to correct and useful resources to practice more. 100% recommend picking up classes - so much fun and so good to escape the everyday rhythm of life with a taste of Mexico.

What was your funniest moment?
When Osmar and I both 'woop wooped' because I finally used the past tense properly!!
Default avatar
Molly
31
United States
10/10
Yes, I recommend this program
Program:
Online Spanish Classes Blended with Mexican Culture
Jun 16, 2020

My weekly Spanish class was everything I hoped it would be. I already have a strong Spanish foundation, and I wanted to brush up on my skills since I don't have opportunities to speak Spanish in my daily life. Na'atik and Maestro Pedro customized a conversation-based class that was perfect for me and my goals. Meeting via ZOOM was surprisingly easy, and Pedro made sure to create an encouraging learning environment where I felt comfortable making mistakes and learning new things. No matter what your level of Spanish, your Na'atik teacher will boost your confidence as well as offer you new challenges and areas of growth.

The fact that a percentage of my class fees went directly to providing English classes for the local Na'atik community was a special bonus. Na'atik will forever hold a special place in my heart.

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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Jo Ryan

Program
Study Spanish or Maya with Na'atik in Mexico!
Jo Ryan is from Sydney, Australia. She graduated from the University of New South Wales with a degree in Spanish and Latin American Studies. Currently she works in administration, as well as furthering her studies in Archaeology, which is why she travelled to Mexico and spent a week learning Maya at Na’atik in early Feb 2014.
woman standing in front of mayan pyramid

What made this study abroad experience unique and special?

What made my study abroad experience special was that it was tailored to my needs, I was looking to really immerse myself in the language and culture, and the staff at Na’atik made it happen. They placed me with a wonderful Mayan family, I was able to listen to their language, learn their traditions and take part in their day to day life. Backpacking around Mexico was a lot of fun and I visited some incredible sights, but living and breathing as the locals do allows you to see and appreciate a place from a different, more real point of view.

How has this experience impacted your future?

This experience has enriched my future in a big way. Academically it has fuelled my interest in the Maya language and culture, and I continue to research both now that I’m home. My aim is to continue building my knowledge of the language so that I can communicate with locals and learn more about the ancient and present day Mayas.

My professional development has benefited from this experience in that I’ve gained an even broader understanding of other cultures and communication, demonstrating initiative and an interest in learning to my employers. But most important to me, on a personal level, this experience has given me amazing new friendships and connections that I will treasure forever.

What was the best place you visited outside of your study abroad city?

Outside of Felipe Carrillo Puerto, the best place I visited would have to be Tulum. Just 1 ½ hours away and really easy to get to from Carrillo, Tulum is a Caribbean paradise. Mild, turquoise sea and white sand beaches, it took some serious willpower to come out of the water!

There is accommodation to suit all budgets and restaurants to suit all tastes. I stayed at a fantastic hostel, where the owner took us out on a memorable ‘taco tour’ of the town.

The highlight for me in Tulum was, of course, its magnificent clifftop ruins. The combination of ancient buildings set on a cliff overlooking that jewelled sea was simply magical.

If you could do-over one thing, what would it be?

I would make my stay longer! I experienced and learned so much in such a short space of time, to think what other treasures I would have come across and how much more of the language I could have picked up had I been there longer has me checking return flights...

Felipe Carrillo Puerto first comes across as a fairly quiet, slow paced town, but the more you get to know the community the more you learn, and the people are so friendly and welcoming, so proud of where they live, they want to show you everything. I was taken around the town, to the buzzing market, baseball games, a nearby farm, beautiful lagoons, an amazing seafood restaurant, nightclubs and a Mayan community village...just to name just a few!

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Blaiqe Allshouse

Program
Study Spanish or Maya with Na'atik in Mexico!
Job Title
ESL Teacher
River Crossing on Logs

What is your favorite travel memory?

Only one?! I think my favorite travel memory would be hiking the Tiger Leaping Gorge in Yunnan Province, China. It was one of my first solo travel trips and the gorge itself was a new experience for me as I had never done any kind of long-distance hiking or trekking. Of course, the internet had me scared out of my mind about being mugged or stabbed on the hike but I didn’t run into any of that. I had the most beautiful and peaceful two days hiking the gorge. I was on my own almost the whole way so I was able to take in every second of the serenity and calm that filled the gorgeous landscapes that surrounded me. I can’t wait to go back!

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

There are many qualities that are important for the success of any company. I think one of the most important factors is organization. Whether the company is a school a non-profit or a hotdog stand on the side of the street, organization is of the utmost importance for that business’s success. If a company is selling a product or providing a service, organization is something that is expected from customers as well as staff. As an employee of the company, organization is key when it comes to workplace expectations, consistent paychecks, and a general, pleasant working environment. Even though it seems like an easy thing to overlook, organization is a huge part of a company’s success as it affects everyone, in and out of the company itself.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

Since I began working at Na'atik I have grown both professionally and personally. As a teacher, this is my first experience teaching teenagers so I have had to adjust my teaching style to suit this new age group. After teaching young learners for two years previously, it has been fun to be able to have deeper discussions with older students. It is interesting to hear both their opinions and life experience on the topics we discuss in class. Also with teaching a higher level of English to ESL students, I have been challenged in creating more in-depth lessons with more of a conversational or grammatical approach than simply vocabulary. I am definitely a more well-rounded teacher having worked at Na’atik.

What unique qualities does your company possess?

Na’atik is definitely a unique company in several ways. I really like how we provide services both domestically (to the local community in Mexico) as well as internationally to students looking to learn Mayan or Spanish. The community and lifestyle in Felipe Carrillo Puerto is an incredible look into modern Mayan culture for foreigners to experience. And on the other hand, we are providing to local students an opportunity that otherwise would not exist for them in this small Mexican town. Overall, I think this creates very unique opportunities for both groups of learners. I also think Na’atik is unique in its size. We are a small company which fosters a laid-back, open working environment, which from a teaching standpoint, has allowed me to thrive.

What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

Na’atik seems to have a large percent of return students, unlike anything I was familiar with in my ESL work in China. It’s neat to see classes that have studied English together for years and their closeness. The best stories I have heard from students are in general the opportunities the school has to expand their learning. For example, each year the Na’atik staff organizes a trip for the teen groups to go to Playa del Carmen, or this year to Xcaret, an eco-archaeological park in Riviera Maya. They have scavenger hunts and enjoy lunch and shows together, using their English in new and fun ways. Our younger students are invited to a camp where there are games and snacks in another exciting way to use the English they have learned in the classroom. It is activities like this that students have come to love from attending class at Na’atik.