Finding the right Spanish language school can make all the difference in how quickly and how deeply you learn a new language. While apps and textbooks have their place, nothing compares to learning directly from native speakers, especially in an immersive, in-person environment. That’s where Na’atik Language and Culture Institute stands out. Nestled in the heart of stunning Quintana Roo, Mexico, Na’atik offers a unique opportunity to study both Spanish and Maya with local instructors who bring language to life through culture, conversation, and real-world connection.

Whether you choose to learn on-site or join their flexible online programs, you’ll experience a more meaningful, authentic path to fluency. Best of all, Na’atik Language and Culture Institute gives back to the local Maya community, making this program a win-win situation for both the traveler and the locals (which rates high in my books). While I’m a huge fan and daily user of Duolingo, nothing is better than practicing with a live person.  Learn more in this Q&A with Na’atik Language and Culture Institute founder Catherine Gray.

Interview with Catherine Gray, Founder of Na’atik Language and Culture Institute, a Maya and Spanish language and cultural center in the heart of Quintana Roo, Mexico.

1. Tell me briefly about yourself, and what led you to Mexico?

I’m originally from Alexandria, Virginia, near Washington DC, and went to James Madison University (JMU) in Harrisonburg, Virginia. I majored in Political Science with minors in Environmental Studies and Anthropology. After graduating from JMU, I moved to Seattle, Washington, and began working at a few local nonprofits.

I wasn’t able to study abroad in college, so I figured my 20s were a great time to get that experience and learn Spanish. I connected with an organization in my current town of Felipe Carrillo Puerto, Quintana Roo, Mexico, and came down to volunteer with them in 1996 for a year, but 10 days in, I met Pedro, a local Mexican-Maya teacher, and the man I would marry.

In 1997, as a favor to a friend, I begrudgingly began teaching English at the community Casa de la Cultura. To my surprise, I fell in love with teaching. I returned to the US to get a teaching certification, and then Pedro and I moved to Korea to teach English. After traveling in Korea and Asia, we were married on the Tulum beach in 2001. We raised our two beautiful, bilingual, very tall children in Carrillo Puerto.

Why did you start the Na’atik Language and Culture Institute?

After teaching at the local university for several years in the early 2000s, I had a vision of bringing high-quality English language education into our town while also welcoming foreigners from abroad to learn Spanish or Maya and to live and learn about the Mexican-Maya culture of the region. I wanted to create something that would always support and uplift our community. Local students didn’t have quality English classes, and I had learned that intermediate English is required for acceptance into and graduation from competitive universities.

My dream was to have an intercultural organization where the Spanish and Maya immersion language courses subsidize the local English language program. I wanted an accessible school for all local students, and that is why I created a US nonprofit to help offer scholarships and reduced class fees for local disadvantaged students. Pedro and I came up with the name ‘Na’atik’, which is short for the Maya expression, ‘Toon Na’atik’, meaning ‘We’re understanding each other’.

Tell me about the different services you provide?

Na’atik is more than just a language school. We are an intercultural hub that understands that language is much more than classes. Today, our Na’atik Projects 501(c)(3) fundraises for English program scholarships for 62 students, supports our beautiful lending library, which is bustling with free activities and workshops, and funds English class fees for more than 150 students. All of this makes Na’atik an inclusive, safe, beautiful place to be.

Our Maya and Spanish (MaS) language immersion and online programs pride themselves on being authentic, sustainable, and immersive. We offer excellent homestay experiences, our excursion and activity partners are small cooperatives and businesses focusing on language and cultural preservation, our language teachers are qualified professionals, and our school is bright and spacious.

Our personalized, one-on-one MaS online classes offer a fun, professional way to learn from afar. As a part of our immersion programs, we offer Family Adventure Packages and our annual Janal Pixán or Maya Day of the Dead Experience. We are currently developing a one or two-week Spanish immersion course for medical professionals who wish to learn basic Spanish in order to have improved communication with Spanish-speaking patients while also experiencing Mexican culture.

I see you offer classes in the Maya language, which is unique. Why did you start this?

We are located in the Maya Zone of Quintana Roo, Mexico, and currently, only 20 percent of our municipality speaks Maya. Where most identify as Maya, the younger generations often do not speak the language; with support from Maya-speaking elders and engaged Maya youth, we are working to preserve the Maya language and to show the world that the Maya people still exist and their culture is still alive.

When our local students see foreigners interested in their culture and learning their language, they feel a sense of pride that generations of discrimination have destroyed. We are encouraging these students to take back their language and to learn and practice it here and at home.

How does your stay or classes benefit the local community and promote sustainable tourism?

Studying with us directly benefits the local community. Our MaS programs, along with donations, highly subsidize our local English language program. Our intercultural activities build student self-confidence, and most continue to higher education. Local students are following their dreams and helping their families and community.

Furthermore, each stay subsidizes the cost of our local English language classes. We employ over 20 local staff, one-third of our leadership team is from Carrillo Puerto, and all of our excursions and activities bring in revenue for local organizations and individuals who are sharing local knowledge and culture. Five local students are Na’atik Student Ambassadors; they learn leadership skills by welcoming new students, leading student participation in events, and sharing their experiences on panels and orientations for groups and partners. They also work with our team to improve our programs. We work with 10 homestay families who receive income for hosting our students,our foreign MaS students spend money in town on purchases and transportation, and our community is exposed to foreigners wanting to learn more about the language and culture of the area.

What is the community like there? What are the wonderful things visitors can experience?

Although the municipality of Felipe Carrillo Puerto has over 80,000 people, the city of Carrillo Puerto is home to approximately 50,000 inhabitants. The community is bustling, tight-knit, respectful, active, safe, and loves to learn and share about their languages and cultures. Locals are excited to know that people from around the world want to spend time here and immerse themselves.

The city is walkable and bikeable, and with a simple ‘Buenos días’, smiles break out. Our MaS students are always surprised at how kind and patient our homestay families and community are, even if their Spanish is basic. It’s easy to strike up a conversation with a small store owner or taxi driver, and we encourage these interactions.

What are some of the challenges the community faces, and how can sustainable tourism help?

Although we are a stone’s throw from some of the most expensive and exclusive tourist regions in the world, our community is facing a high rate of poverty. Local students do not have the opportunities or exposure to the global world like those in other cities in the region. Na’atik is adding to the economy by providing employment to people from Carrillo; working with homestay families so they can invest in their homes, families, and higher education for their children; and working with local, small-scale providers to keep them growing their businesses and expanding their reach. What we do is for the community, by the community.

Anything else you want to add?

All of what we’re doing at Na’atik has happened organically, sustainably, and with care. Our dedicated team loves interacting with people from all walks of life, from here and around the world. If you are interested in joining one of our MaS programs or donating to our work, we would love to hear from you.

How to get there

The Yucatán Peninsula has several international airports that receive flights from all over the world. The majority of Na’atik students fly into Cancun, the region’s largest airport, which is between three and four and a half hours away from Felipe Carrillo Puerto, depending on traffic and how you make the journey. In December 2023, the new Tulum-Felipe Carrillo Puerto airport began receiving flights from all over the United States and Canada. This new airport is less than an hour away from Na’atik. There are also international airports in Chetumal, Cozumel, and Merida within travel distance. You can also reach the city by train or bus. Click here for more details on transportation and booking your stay.