June 21 - August 2, 2025
Funding Deadline (Vanderbilt FLAS and Stone Center Summer Intensive Language Study): February 1, 2025
Students interested in studying Kaqchikel should visit the Graduate and/or Undergraduate Resources pages for more information. Students interested in studying K'iche' should visit the Vanderbilt CLACX website for more information and to apply for FLAS funding.
Please contact sclassum@tulane.edu with any questions about the program or application process. If we cannot answer your question directly, we will forward it to the appropriate member of our faculty or staff.
Program Overview
The Mayan Language Institute is a 6-week program to train students in either Kaqchikel or K’iche’ Maya, two of the most widely-spoken Mayan languages in Iximulew (Guatemala) today. Thanks to collaboration between U.S. American faculty and Maya teachers, participants can study at the beginning, intermediate, or advanced levels of either language. The program’s highly individualized classes combine language immersion activities, lectures, one-on-one conversations, guest speakers and cultural excursions. The intensive nature of these classes, along with students’ daily immersion in Maya communities, enables them to enhance their language skills rapidly while interacting with the Indigenous Peoples who sustain them.
About Maya Languages and Communities
The Mayan language family encompasses approximately 30 different languages currently spoken by communities in Guatemala, Mexico, Belize and Honduras. Iximulew (Guatemala) is home to speakers of over 22 different Maya languages. K’iche’, with approximately one million speakers, and Kaqchikel, with around a half million speakers, are among the most widely spoken and along with Mam and Q’eqchi’ are considered part of “The big four.” Between European colonization and the middle of the twentieth century, these languages were sustained primarily within the intimate spaces of home and community. Starting in the 1930s, a push for bilingual education began promoting public use of the languages and creating a need for greater standardization of the languages. This trend gave rise to collaboration between missionaries, government agencies, and non-profit organizations to train linguists and create pedagogical materials. The PLFM, founded in 1972, was an early and active participant in this literacy campaign, as it trained local Maya language speakers to write and analyze their native languages. It was the alphabet developed by their scholars that was approved by the Second National Linguistic Conference in 1984 and is currently the official orthography for all 22 local Mayan languages.
The violence and discrimination historically suffered by Indigenous peoples, especially during the nation’s civil war (1960-1996), has resulted in a complex relationship between many Maya people and their languages. On the one hand, some remain ashamed to speak them in public or reticent to teach them to their children. On the other hand, decades of activism have led to greater visibility, acceptance, and promotion, at least in the official state rhetoric. Since 2010 the Guatemalan Ministry of Education has required all schools to teach both Spanish and the local Indigenous language, though enforcement and resources remain spotty. Meanwhile, the works of writers, artists, and activists have increased their visibility and respect.
For more information about courses, housing, and cost, choose the language you plan to study:
Program Cost: $7,250
Tuition: $5,000
Housing and Logistics Fees: $2,250
Tuition and fees include 6 Tulane graduate-level credits, course materials, transportation to/from the aairport in Guatemala City, full room and board, in-country excursions, group activities, and celebrations. Program costs do NOT include travel to/from Guatemala, airport transportation, some meals, or personal expenses like souvenirs, laundry, etc.
Financial Aid
The Mayan Language Institute has been designed to meet all requirements of the federal FLAS grant, which may cover much of the cost.
Students interested in K’iche’ should apply for funding through their home institutions or through Vanderbilt University (link to the application will be posted soon). The Vanderbilt FLAS Application Deadline is February 1, 2025.
Students interested in studying Kaqchikel should apply for FLAS funding through their home institutions.
Tulane students may apply for Summer Intensive Language Funding through the Stone Center. You’ll find more information on our resource pages for Graduate and Undergraduate Students. The Stone Center Funding Application Deadline is February 1, 2025.
Tulane students may also check out this chart of undergraduate funding opportunities across Tulane's campus.
Registration and Billing
Students will receive admission decisions within 3-4 weeks of the application deadline. Once admitted, they will be asked to pay a program deposit of $500 to secure their spot. This deposit is REQUIRED to secure participation and will not be waived except under extenuating circumstances. Students facing severe financial hardship should communicate with both sclassum@tulane.edu and their FLAS coordinator to request accommodations.
All MLI registration will be processed by Stone Center staff. Students will initially be enrolled in one 3- credit Latin American Studies placeholder course, used for billing purposes only. After students’ language placement in Guatemala, they will be enrolled in their respective culture and language courses.
Tuition and fees are charged to Tulane student accounts in the late spring. Students are responsible for making sure that the bill is paid in full according to the policies outlined on the Accounts Receivable website. Students can access their accounts through the Gibson Portal.
FLAS Students: The Stone Center works closely with FLAS coordinators at other institutions to apply these grants to student accounts. However, every school has a different policy regarding the issuance of funds: some pay the full bill directly to Tulane, some pay tuition directly to Tulane and issue the living stipend to individual students (the student must use the living stipend to pay housing/logistics fees), and others issue the entire award to students to pay their own tuition and housing/logistics fees. Each student is responsible for making sure that his/her bill is paid in full and on time. If you have questions or foresee potential issues, please contact the Program Manager sclassum@tulane.edu, cc’ing your FLAS coordinator.
Refund and Cancelation Policy
Applicants to Stone Center and CCSI Summer Abroad Programs are required to pay a non-refundable commitment deposit of $500.00 by the commitment deadline indicated in their acceptance letter. This deposit will be subtracted from the total program fee at time of billing. If an admitted student decides to withdraw from the program after commitment but before the program start date, the student must send written notification of the withdrawal to program administrators. This notification must be in writing and sent to sclassum@tulane.edu. The effective date of cancellation is the date this official written notification is received by the Stone Center/CCSI. The refund schedule below applies to all students regardless of the date of application or the circumstances of the cancellation
- Withdrawal or cancellation from 31 to 59 days prior to the Program start date - the cancellation fee is $500 plus all non-recoverable costs.
- Withdrawal or cancellation from 1 to 30 days prior to the Program start date - the cancellation fee is 50% of the published Program fee or the total amount of non-recoverable costs, whichever is higher.
- Tulane will be entitled to retain the entire Program fee for withdrawals or cancellations occurring on or after the Program start date.
Accessibility and Accommodations
The MLI is a strenuous program that challenges its participants physically, emotionally, and academically. Nevertheless, the Stone Center is committed to making all its programs accessible to all students. Persons requiring special facilities or accommodations should notify the Stone Center as soon as possible. All effort will be made to accommodate their needs, but students should be aware that reasonable accommodation may be required.
Medical Insurance and Travel Emergency Assistance
The Stone Center enrolls students in a comprehensive study abroad medical insurance policy provided by GeoBlue. This insurance is included in the cost of the program.
Tulane also provides travel emergency assistance through Crisis24. Information about this program is available on the Tulane Global website.
Applicant Eligibility
Both Tulane and non-Tulane students at the graduate and undergraduate levels are encouraged to apply. Applicants must have a GPA of at least 2.5 and hold a passport valid for at least six months following the program end date.
Application Materials
Application available through the Tulane Study Abroad portal.
Application requires one Faculty Recommendation. Students who have studied the language previously are encouraged strongly to include a recommendation from their most recent language instructor.
Application Deadline: February 5, 2025.
Questions?
Contact the Stone Center
Phone: (504) 862 – 8629
Email: sclassum@tulane.edu
100 Jones Hall, Tulane Uptown Campus
