Washington House

Why choose Washington House?

Bienvenido a Washington House!

Merida has to be the best place to study Spanish or volunteer in Latin America. Voted every year as the best place to live in Mexico and as one of THE best places to visit by Lonely Planet. Merida has it all. It is safe, cheap, with an amazing Mayan heritage and of course the food. Merida was voted the best culinary destination in Mexico the last two years running and has twice been awarded the Latin American Capital of Culture.

Washington House is one of the most prestigious spanish schools in Latin America. Based in Merida, Yucatan, the best place to begin or continue your Spanish learning, our study and volunteer programs are personalized to your learning style and personal goals.

Washington House offers affordable high quality study and volunteer programs. Since 2012 we have been teaching Spanish to international students and offering a unique cultural experience that is truly unforgettable.

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learnspanishmerida.com

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Reviews

I signed up for 2 weeks of Spanish classes and this also included some cultural trips too. I had a great time in Merida. Everyone was very friendly and I felt really welcome in the school and in my homestay. (I stayed with a local family for the 2 weeks).
The classes were fast paced and had a lot of different types of activities so we could practice our Spanish loads. I made fast progress (I was a beginner with just a little Spanish before I went). I found the teachers to be patient and laid back so it didnt feel like a class like when you are at school! We were a small group too which helped.
Merida is a fun city and there is loads to do when you're not in class. We saw some cenote and went to the beach and also saw a working hacienda which was really interesting. I would like to go back and stay for longer if I can :-)

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?

Seeing how the henequen is picked and then goes through a process at the Hacienda to make it into rope was very interesting, I had no idea how it happened before!

I had a great time in Merida and think I improved my Spanish quite a lot. I had a few different teachers during my stay and at first I thought that was strange but it actually helped me as they all had slightly different accents and listening was one of my weaknesses.
We played games in our classes and we practiced all the skills like speaking, reading, writing and listening. We did grammar too and I really improved with my conjugations which I struggled with before. Living with the homestay family and being surrounded by Spanish made a big difference to my understanding so that was a big plus point of the programme.
The city of Merida is very friendly and there are some cool bars and cafes and stuff like that. The beach is close to and you can easily go for the day by bus :-)

What was the most nerve-racking moment and how did you overcome it?

Buses are kind of confusing here and I got on one going the wrong way! I realised after about 15 minutes and I had a mini panic! But I was with another student from the course and between us we managed to ask the passengers in Spanish where to get off to go back into the centre the right way! So we were proud of our Spanish skills and also everyone was very helpful so that made it easier.

I wanted to find a Spanish course based in Mexico that also included a bit of culture and I found it in Merida! I chose Merida after quite a bit of research as it has a really good reputation and is safe for solo travelers like me! I also liked that I could stay close to the school with a local family- my house was about a 10-minute walk away.

Included with the course we had 2 cultural trips- one to Paseo Montejo which is a famous street here with amazing old colonial buildings, a museum, lots of cafes, statues and so on. The other trip was my favorite and it was to a place called Dzibichaltun which is an archeological zone with ruins and an open cenote. Cenotes are basically sinking holes- like a massive natural pool (often really deep) that were created when the meteorite hit the peninsula of Yucatan! They are really fresh to swim in and this was something I had never experienced before.

What would you improve about this program?

I would include another cultural trip as this was such a good way of getting to know the real Mexico.

During my stay in Merida I had the opportunity to do lots of new things and experience the culture first hand which was one of my aims when I looked for a Spanish school. I really liked living with a Mexican family as it felt more authentic than a hostel where I would usually choose to stay and it meant I ate with the family and spent time with them and I could really practice my Spanish.
The classes at the school were very good and the teacher was always well prepared. We did a big range of activities to cover readng, writing, speaking and listening skills so I feel like I improved in all areas. Speaking was my biggest focus and I had lots of chances to practice when I went out at the weekend and after class.
My favourite trip was to the ruins at Mayapan as there was almost no one else there when we went and we could also climb the pyramids!

What would you improve about this program?

I thought everything was very well organised and I enjoyed myself. One thing that would be great is if the school had the option of additional classes on Saturdays.

Volunteering with the local community was great fun and I really felt like I had the opportunity to immerse myself in local culture and really get to know the community. Everyone was very kind and welcoming (and very patient with my attempts to become fluent in Spanish!!) - the language classes really helped me too!
Merida is a beautiful place to visit, and there are also amazing places in the local area too, including Chichen Itza (an incredible Mayan ruin). I highly recommend finding time to visit a local hacienda and one of the many beautiful cenotes too. There is lots to see and do all around Merida!
If you are looking for an opportunity to develop your skills, get to know Mexican communities and see some beautiful sights I highly recommend this programme!!

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?

Seeing a beautiful cenote - an oasis of calm in the middle of a tiny village

The Mayan Ruins at Chichen Itza are well worth a visit

This cenote is just one example of the oasis of calm you can find just outside the city

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Programs

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Staff Interviews

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

What is your favorite travel memory?

Taking a trip to a remote beach with some local people in the back of a truck carrying coffee beans whilst volunteering in The Dominican Republic. The local children were interested in our sun cream and enjoyed putting it all over themselves.

The views were stunning and the local people were incredibly friendly.

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

I have become more in tune with the needs of our volunteer placements and now more than ever appreciate how much they need support. My Spanish has improved and I have gained confidence working closely with the NGO's and charities.

I have a better understanding of how to help out in different ways due to the range of projects we offer.

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

I am always pleased to hear feedback from people who have enjoyed their stay and their host family accommodation, but those who leave with a genuine sense of having made a difference during their time here are my favorite.

For me, volunteering is about making a difference and seeing and feeling that change.

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

I would probably choose the animal shelter program which rehabilitates cats and dogs and helps them to become adopted by families here in the city and further afield. I love cats and dogs and I also see so many street animals here that need help that it would be good to be able to help them. Washing the animals and playing with them is also good fun!

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

We are a unique group because we are made up of a mixture of backgrounds and nationalities and all have different skills sets. I enjoy working with other British people as well as Yucatecans and also people from other parts of Mexico.

I am proud of how Jorge and I work together to organize events, I think we communicate well.

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

I think knowing what your company is working towards and sharing the same goal is essential in making a team be successful. If you don't share a common vision then I think it is difficult to know why you're doing what you're doing. I also believe that enjoying what you do is one of the most important factors for anyone working for a company.