The Yucatec Maya Summer Institute offers beginning, intermediate, and advanced level instruction of modern Yucatec Maya,a living language spoken by one million people living in the Yucatán Peninsula and northern Belize. Students in the Intensive Yucatec Maya Courses will have the unique opportunity to take a comprehensive look at the Yucatán through a combination of classroom and field activities.
Students visit a range of important historic and cultural locations. Trips to archeological and colonial sites as well as other Mayan villages are led by Mayan scholars, who will introduce them to the cultural importance of each site. Mérida, the beautiful capital of the Mexican state of Yucatán, offers its visitors both modern and historic aspects of city life. Valladolid is home to an innovative Maya culture and language program that promotes intercultural learning and trains a new generation of Maya-speaking students. Xocen, situated 12 kilometers southeast of Valladolid, is located in the milpa area of the Mexican state of Yucatán. Xocen is an ancient town that played a key role in the Caste War and was the original home of the Talking Cross.
