OUR NAME
The name “Kie Balam” means “Good Jaguar” in the Mayan language and was created following the rules of the book “Reading the Past: Maya Glyphs” by author S.D. Houston. It is the union of the Mayan glyph “Kii” used as a prefix (which would later be stylized as “Kie”) and the glyph “Balam”.
Glifo Kii Glifo Balam Kie Balam
Bueno Jaguar El Buen Jaguar
OUR PROGRAM
The program is designed with the clear objectives and work plans of the student. We offer you an intensive language program. It offers you the opportunity to contribute your ideas and experience to the learning process. This provides the best climate for success in learning what is relevant to your needs. We are also registered with the Guatemalan Department of Tourism, which also acts in a supervisory capacity.
We are distinguished by our qualifications and facilities. The founder is certified as a Bilingual and Special Education teacher in the USA, with two minors in Linguistics and Spanish with an MA in Administration of Higher Education from Northeastern Illinois University. The director has a degree in Teaching Spanish as as Second Language. Our facilities are large enough for groups of 50 students.
Kie Balam's Puppy
In 2004, the school's director, Marlo Mora, rescued a puppy that was hit by a car outside Kie Balam. Unfortunately, the puppy was seriously injured and after recovering, he was never able to walk properly.
The puppy was adopted and named "Popy" (like the word puppy in English). Since then, Popy has lived in Kie Balam and met hundreds of students with whom he shared many fun moments. He made friends from all over the world!
In 2013, Marlo Mora wrote about Popy's story for the book "Aspas Literarias" published by the group of writers from Quetzaltenango "Los Quijotes".
You can see the original text of the book
Popy died in 2020. Kie Balam's entire family misses him very much, but we take comfort in knowing that we were able to give a second chance to a dog who was mistreated and abandoned to his fate. He lived very well and was given a lot of love until his last day.
He will always be "Kie Balam's Puppy."
