Cancun vs real Mexico
Dear all! In my case the topic of Mexico will never end, it seems ;P My friend wants to go to Mexico for a short Spanish language course. She is very open-minded and would like to avoid commercial resorts of mass tourism (like Cancun, for example) which bustle with tourists all the time. Instead, her dream is to get to know indigenous culture but also see beautiful beaches there... On the other hand, she doesn't want to end up in the boondocks. Moreover, Mayan ruins are also worth visiting and she would like to see them. I hope that I've made myself clear 
Do you know such a place? If yes, what is it like? What its name? Will be grateful for any answer!
11 Answers
Tulum has the M O S T B E A U T I F U L beaches in the world~~~believe me, she will never want to leave. Oaxaca has a one month school that is to die for and there are also ruins there. 
Just not Mayan.
the best mayan place is Tikal in Guatemala.
This is it.....completely worth whatever the price may be....I went to school at the University of Costa Rica in San Jose....that was not to expensive and it was so much fun. That organization is call M L S A = Modern language studies abroad.
Here is another:
INSTITUTO CULTURAL OAXACA Mexico | Spanish Language School Mexico ...
The Instituto Cultural Oaxaca (ICO) is the ideal school for you to learn Spanish as a second language in Mexico. Since 1984, the Instituto has given ..
. www.icomexico.com/ - Cached - Similar
Another thought is Mérida - it's about as "real Mexico" as a person can get and it is very accesible to Mayan ruins.
You don't even know how much your suggestions will help. My friend and I have tried surfing the Internet, but all this in vain :( I am extremely grateful!!!! All I can do to repay you for them is to say THANK YOU and of course... you have my vote Saludos! 
I've heard a lot about Oaxaca and it sounds great. Anyone know about the beaches, water temp, etc. I've been to Panama and stayed on the Pacific side in Farallon. Visiting the indiginous people there (Embera) was truly the highlight of that trip but the scuba diving was dreadful. Well, you can't have everything.
I second Oaxaca. It's beautiful, friendly, safe, and rich with indigenous history. She could even visit indigenous villages in the mountains where she'd be welcomed and where she'd see folks living pretty much as they did 4 centuries ago.
She definitely has the right goal in mind which is to avoid tourist dives! They are artificial and, worse, exclusive.
¡Buen viaje!
Akumal, It is about 1.5 hours South of Cancun. Near Tulum, it is in the heart of Mayan culture (as far as having beaches goes).
Sunshinzmomm and Volpon, you do have powers of persuasion Bueno, thanks a lot! Now, sin duda, everything looks easier and more credible. My friend will be beside herself with joy thanks to you!! 
Here's more about Sunshinzmomm's fine suggestion - "INSTITUTO CULTURAL OAXACA Mexico | Spanish Language School Mexico ..."
It is superb, not only for learning the language, but also for its cultural activities during the afternoons. Which included, when I attended 6 years ago, visits to splendid ruins.
(One of our members, Marianne, is attending right now. Hope she can chime in.)
As for beaches, yes, some of them are dangerous, but I am under the impression that your friend is more interested in being "not a tourist" and more interested in exposure to culture. Further, the beaches are a pretty long way from Oaxaca city, which she should also take into consideration.
Finally, I can only say that my 3 months in Oaxaca are among the sweetest memories of my life. (So far.)
(Full disclosure: I'm not employed by the Oaxacan Tourist Agency!)
I do know that Oaxaca has some dangerous beaches. Such as Playa del Muerto. I lived there for a while and never dared the water. Tulum beaches are much prettier
