Program Outline

The Medical Spanish Internship focuses on bolstering your vocabulary, conversational Spanish, and understanding of healthcare disparities facing our community by giving you an opportunity to work first-hand in our free clinic. We welcome healthcare professionals from all fields and hope you can apply your unique knowledge to provide the best care for our patients. 

What's included?
  • Homestay family: Enjoy a private bedroom, hot shower, and three home-cooked meals a day.
  • Spanish Lessons: 1-on-1 Spanish lessons from our experienced instructors to take your Spanish to the next level.
  • Cultural Competency: Your first week includes understanding the intricate Guatemalan culture to help you better understand the patients you will encounter in clinic.
  • Medical Clinic: 
    • Medical, nursing, and PA students will have the opportunity to perform physical exams and discuss assessments and plans with the attending physician.
    • Other healthcare professionals are welcome to interview patients, participate in our pharmacy, provide nutrition counseling, or even bring a new idea to the table on how we can better serve our patients.
  • Medical Conferences: Weekly conferences led by our in-house doctor regarding the latest medical issues facing our community and the role of healthcare disparities in exacerbating these issues.
  • Medical Presentations: Ever wonder how you would explain the effects of COVID-19 or any comorbid condition to Spanish-speaking patients? Prepare a medical presentation with the help of your Spanish instructor to present at the end of your internship so you will be able to share this knowledge with your patients!
  • Patient Simulations: Your instructors will role-play as your patients. Hone your conversational abilities and get live feedback on grammar, pronunciation, and comprehension.
  • Donations: Tuition for the Medical Spanish Internship includes donations to the clinic for the purpose of purchasing medications for the patients who visit this free clinic.
  • Safe Stove Project: Take a trip to nearby villages and help construct efficient cook stoves. Learn more here. 
  • Nutrition Project: Visit the local school of Chuicaracoj and educate kids on hygiene, nutrition and more. Learn more here. 
  • ​Weekly Field trips: Visit the Fuentes de Georgina, local textile factory, and more to add a little flavor of Guatemala to each week.​
  • Weekly Activities: Cooking lessons, cultural lessons, Salsa dancing night, student-prepared dinner, fútbol with your teachers, and more.​

Why Us?

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High Expertise

Learn from local native spanish-speaking Guatemalan teachers. We have worked with hundreds of visiting students from around the globe.
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Cultural Immersion

We make sure that throughout your lessons we incorporate some cultural competency so you learn a little about Guatemala too!
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Personalized Lessons

Tailored 1-on-1 spanish lessons (All levels welcomed—​ Beginner to Advanced). Our teachers are experienced with all learners.
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Affordability

Compared to most 1-on-1 tutoring programs, we are able to provide high-quality lessons at a fraction of the cost (your tuition also helps our community).
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Flexibility

Our program operates during most of the year with the exception of major holidays so that you can find time at your convenience.

Program Pricing

Medical Spanish Internship
350 USD
per week
*4 week minimum commitment
*One time registration fee – $150 USD
​Price listed above is cost if paid in cash in Quetzales (the Guatemalan currency) to the school directly. An additional $18 per week applies if students elect to pay with credit card. 
Not sure about traveling to Guatemala?
​Try our online Spanish courses and bring a little bit of Guatemala to your home!

Teacher Student Spotlight
Maggie Lee
Temple University School of Pharmacy '19
"As a volunteer in the Medical Spanish Internship, I was able to utilize my clinical pharmacy knowledge to be an effective member of the clinic team. My Spanish instructor, Zulma, prepared me well with mock patient simulations, increased my Medical Spanish vocabulary, and gave me the confidence to engage with patients with a minimal language barrier. I highly recommend Pop Wuj to anyone looking to challenge themselves and improve their Spanish, go outside of their comfort zone to learn more about a different culture, and make a difference in the lives of undeserved populations."
Siyoung (Kashi) Lee 
University of British Columbia Medical College '20
"I feel incredibly lucky that I was able to visit Pop Wuj for my med school research block. I knew very little Spanish when I first got there and I especially remember the first few days of clinic when I felt hopeless. After a couple weeks, I began feeling a lot more comfortable with the language, all thanks to my amazing Spanish teacher! In fact, the best part of the experience was all the friendships formed with different teachers and staff! I still keep in touch with them on social media and it is always heartwarming to get their messages. I miss them so much."
© 2020 Asociación Pop Wuj Spanish School