Faces of Na'atik: Abi & Brian, MaS Coordinator & Assistant

Towards the end of 2024 we were delighted to welcome two new members to the Na’atik Maya and Spanish (MaS) Immersion team. Abi and Brain, who joined us as Program Coordinator and Program Assistant respectively, joined us at an exciting time where we have been expanding the team of people focused on ensuring that students joining us for immersion programs have the best possible experience. They will be working together with the Program Manager, Dafne, our teaching team, homestay families and the rest of the Na’atik team to make 2025 the best year yet to visit Na’atik.

This month they both took some time out from working hard on the program to tell us a little about themselves and why they have chosen to join us here at Na’atik.

Abi, MaS Program Coordinator

Abi, or Abigail, is from Felipe Carrillo Puerto and has been involved with Na’atik for over a decade as both an English student and also as part of one of the very first homestay families to receive immersion students. Her family, the Tus Kus, still receives students to this day, so students who are staying with them will see even more of Abi!

Abi studied Business Management Engineering at a local university here in Quintana Roo and won a competitive scholarship to do a semester at Lakehead University in Canada as part of her studies.

What is your role as part of the Na’atik team?

I am the Program Coordinator for immersion, working with the Program Director to deliver the best possible experience for immersion students. I am the point of contact for students during their time at Na’atik and also handle a lot of the administrative work behind the scenes. I also liaise with the homestay families and teachers.

How long has Na’atik been part of your life?

Well, I have been a student since I was 13, so maybe a little over 10 years. As the child of a homestay family, I received a beca (scholarship) which meant I was able to enjoy classes and all of the other activities Na’atik offered. It was very strange for me at first having so many different people from different cultures in my family home, but it did make it much easier for me to learn English. My parents have always loved welcoming people and giving us the experience of learning from new people. I always enjoyed helping the students with their Spanish and adapting to the way of life here.

How did you find the process of learning English?

I found learning the language a little difficult, and it took many years, many teachers and a lot of effort. But I have been able to get there eventually. I was able to spend some time in Canada and this helped me learn a lot, including from other people from other cultures who were also learning English. I think it really helped my progress and also my accent.

Why did you choose to join the MaS team?

I thought my experience and my skills would be a good fit for the team. I have a good understanding of the homestay experience and the challenges students can face adapting to the way life works here. I also enjoy being organized and that is a big part of the role. More than anything I believe in the value of the opportunities this program offers to language learners from all over the world.

How do you think your experiences as part of a homestay family will help you in your role?

I know the value of the homestay experience and understand how it exposes students to Spanish (or Maya) language they may not hear in the classroom. I have also seen how the culture shock here differs for some students and understand the expectations of visitors from different countries.

Why do you think students learning Spanish should choose Na’atik for their immersion experience?

Here at Na’atik the school and the homestay families are like one big family. There is a unique blend of Mexican and Maya culture, and the teachers and families all work to give the best possible experience to students.

What do you hope to achieve in your role?

I want to help students have the best possible experience with as few problems as possible. 

For my own point of part I want to develop my skills as part of a great multinational and multicultural team.

Where do you see yourself in the future?

I would like to work abroad in Canada or the US or even some other country in the future as I think it would be an interesting experience.

Thank you Abi for taking the time to speak with us and for all of the great work you are doing. Welcome to the team.

Brian, MaS Program Assistant

Brian is from Tijuana, Baja California, although he was born in California near the US/Mexican border. He grew up as a child of the border region spending time in both countries and is both a US and Mexican citizen.

Brian studied both Social Sciences and Latin American Studies at the California State University Chico, and spent time during his studies in both Mexico and Santiago, Chile. He has always moved around a lot and believes strongly in the importance of mobility, and says this is reflected in his personality. He has worked in a few different industries and brings diverse experience to his role at Na’atik

His role is to assist Abi in ensuring that students have the best possible experience with a particular focus on pre-arrival preparation.

Why did you choose to join the MaS team?

I had been thinking about working in the tourism industry for a while, but I specifically wanted to find something that was different to the normal resort-based kind of tourism. Something that had some kind of positive impact, something more responsible. I was also really interested in coming to this part of Mexico. Mexico is so diverse in terms of culture and environment, and this region has always interested me.

As someone who grew up in an area where I always needed to be translating things, both in terms of language and culture, I felt like I had skills that would be very useful in this role. I have a good understanding of the differences between the US and Mexico and thought this would be helpful when assisting students with their immersion experiences.

How have you found being part of the team so far?

This part of Mexico is very different from where I have lived before. The climate, food, culture, nature and even the way people speak is quite different. It is almost like a mini culture shock. This is a good thing though because it means I am learning and having new experiences. It did take a few weeks to adapt and feel at home though. I am excited to learn even more about the region.

I have worked in multicultural environments before, although the team here is particularly diverse with people from all over the world. The team has people from four continents. I think having such a varied team is great. I get to spend all day hearing three different languages and hearing different ideas and perspectives. This includes those from different parts of Mexico. It is a very enriching experience.

Why do you think students learning Spanish should choose Na’atik for their immersion experience?

More than anything it is the fact that we have a team that is both international and inter-regional. Many schools teach either a very formal version of Spanish or a very local version. Here, while yes, the majority of teachers are from the region, students hear accents from different places. The homestay part is also really important. The immersion here is real. We have great and fun teachers who really make the process of learning engaging and enjoyable. I think dynamic learning is key to comprehension and retention of less exciting subject matter like grammar.

What do you hope to achieve in your role?

I would like to find innovative ways to bring together our Spanish, Maya and English programs and to work together as one organization. I would also like to work on ways to continue

improving and using the feedback we get from our students.

Speaking personally, I would love the opportunity to share more about my region of the country and the diversity across Mexico with MaS students, especially those who are visiting Mexico for the first time.

Thank you Brian for taking the time to speak with us and for all of the great work you are doing. Welcome to the team.

Na’atik’s MaS program is an award-winning experience for both Maya and Spanish learners, giving students the opportunity to reach their language goals while experiencing the incredible Zona Maya of Mexico away from the tourist trail in a small, safe city. Not only do students take classes with expert native-speaking teachers, they also live and eat with local homestay families and explore the culture of this unique part of the world. Contact us today at mas@naatikmexico.org to learn more about the program.