Belize Regional Language Center at the University of Belize.
Native English speakers traveling to Belize will have no problem communicating, as the official language is English. But as the Latino population has become the main ethnic group in Belize, Spanish is gaining widespread acceptance and in some areas it is even the first language, especially in the North and West of the country. Most Belizean’s are bilingual in Spanish and English.
For the visitor who decides to venture across the borders with Mexico and Guatemala, basic fluency in a second language such as Spanish will be useful – suddenly it is Spanish all the way. It is always good to have some fluency in a foreign language when traveling and that is why some visitors to Belize are keen to look into learning a second language.
There is a Regional Language Center at the University of Belize, and many students from Latin America come here for English Courses and to learn English as a second language . ESL (English as a second language), refers to the use or study of English by speakers with a different native language. The center also offers courses in Spanish.
The Regional Language Centre began with the English as a Second Language (ESL) programme in 1978 at the Belize College of Arts, Science and Technology, that later developed into the University College of Belize in 1986 and the University of Belize (UB) in the year 2000. In 2000, a $2.3 million building was sponsored by the Republic of China (ROC) Taiwan and set up in Belmopan, the central campus of the University of Belize. Today, the RLC is a well-equipped modern facility serving the region as the center for second language learning. Currently nationals of more than fifteen countries – ranging from North, Central and South America, Africa and Asia are students.
You may be interested to know that free Spanish Language courses are offered in Belize by the the governments of Mexico and Venezuela, These courses are offered at the Belize-Mexico Cultural Institute in Belize City and at the Phillip Goldson Center in Belmopan sponsored by the government of Venezuela. The Venezuelan Embassy in Belmopan also sponsors free computer education classes.
Visitors to Belize may like to know that the former capital of Guatemala, La Antigua, is a world-class center for those wishing to learn Spanish as a second language. La Antigua is an easy journey by road (one day) or air (one hour) from Belize. The current Prime Minister a month in Guatemala taking a Spanish Language course shortly before his successful run for electoral office.