Languages in Honduras

The Ministry of Education (Secretaría de Educación) anchors the development of listening, speaking, reading, and writing in the national curriculum in the mother tongue, Spanish, and a functional foreign language. Intercultural Bilingual Education (Educación Intercultural Bilingüe) strengthens Tawahka, Garífuna, Isleño, and Miskito, among others, in regions with the corresponding language community. For Pesh, Nahua, Tolupan, Ch’orti’, Lenca, and other languages, the focus is often on preservation, revitalization, and development; for Lenca, the availability of direct speakers and courses is particularly limited. The specific implementation depends on the region, assigned center, teachers, teaching materials, and cooperation with parents and communities. Children and young people mainly learn languages in preschool, primary school, and secondary school. Bilingual and international private schools also exist, but they differ by institution, location, and cost. Uniform nationwide provision of qualified teachers and materials has not been established. Depending on availability, adults can use public, higher-education, private, or digital courses. In 2026, the National Autonomous University of Honduras language center (CELE-UNAH) offered English, French, Honduran Sign Language, Miskito, and other courses at University City (Ciudad Universitaria) for students and the general public. The regular course cost L 1,500 plus a L 300 enrollment fee, included four hours per week and ten weeks per sublevel; one level took approximately seven to eight months. The intensive course cost L 3,000 plus L 300, included eight hours per week and five weeks per sublevel, so one level took about three to four months. Places were limited, regular courses started approximately every two months, and intensive courses approximately monthly. The Language Center (Centro de Idiomas) of the National Pedagogical University Francisco Morazán (UPNFM) offered nine languages: English, Korean, French, Italian, Mandarin, German, Portuguese, Japanese, and Spanish as a second language. The program was based on TESOL and the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, ran over five periods of 13 weeks each with ten hours per week, and lasted approximately one and a half years. Access was aimed primarily at active UPNFM students, usually with a recommendation from their department, an average of at least 80 percent, and typically in their second or third year; a laboratory and platform supplemented the instruction. A single national language test and a nationwide adult language school have not been established. TOEFL iBT is available in Honduras at a test center or as a Home Edition, and IELTS dates can be checked through the official center search. The UPNFM prepares students for TOEFL, Cambridge First Certificate, Goethe-Zertifikat, and DELF, among others. Whether a certificate is accepted is decided by the respective university, institution, or employer for the specific purpose. Digital offerings exist but are not uniform nationwide. In 2025, UNAH offered English courses in person and virtually; scope, prices, and arrangements may change periodically. The virtual Secretaría initiative IBERTEL with gamification was aimed at teachers and was not a general language course for learners. Internet access, a device, and available places therefore affect practical usability. Spanish is the necessary basic language nationwide. English facilitates global communication, academic mobility, work in tourism and customer service, and international employment. Garífuna, Miskito, and other local languages are highly important in their respective communities and regional areas. No uniform nationwide certification requirement for adults has been established; costs, dates, and access depend on the provider, location, and course.