Ecuador is a relatively unexplored country located in northwestern South America between the Pacific Ocean and the Amazon jungle. Ecuador was named after its position on the Equator and is bordered by Colombia, Peru and the Pacific Ocean. Few countries as small as Ecuador has such diverse geography and climate.
The country has the tallest active volcano in the world, great beaches, tropical rainforest, and deep valleys, colorful Indian Markets and of course the enchanting Galapagos Islands. Ecuador is also rich in culture and architecture due to its Spanish and Inca heritage, vast indigenous population and broad ethnic diversity. The country of Ecuador is well known for its social and political stability.
Located in a beautiful valley and surrounded by snow capped peaks of the Andes, the Franciscan city of Quito is a surprisingly friendly and considerably safer than other large Latin American cities. Furthermore, the city has kept its colonial charm in spite of growing to the size of 1 million. The temperature is determined by the altitude and averages 60-75 during the day and 50 at the night.
It is an excellent program for those who wish to quickly develop a working proficiency in Spanish. In addition to the four hour a day language classes, taught by native speakers of Spanish, students may participate in cultural seminars, field trips, and grammar and conversation classes. About half of our students are professional adults, with various reason for studying Spanish, mostly related to their work interests and the other half are mostly college students
* Programs: Course Philosophy - upon arrival, students take a placement test. As we are aware that students know their particular educational needs, we evaluate the test and assist students in creating the most profitable customized program. There are nine levels of proficiency (ACTFL), and students must pass tests at each level in order to move on to the next.
* Levels: Lower beginner, medium beginner, high beginner, lower intermediate, medium intermediate, high intermediate, advanced, high advanced and superior. For college and university students, our courses and credits are essentially the same as those in most universities around the world. The amount of credit is based upon the number of contact hours, lectures, laboratory hours, reading assignments, and required papers. All exams and papers are forwarded to a student college or university at the end of his or her stay in Quito.
* Classes: Classes are 60 minutes in length. Students may enroll for a minimum of 4 hours a day up to a maximum of 7. Students may enroll for as many weeks as desired. Courses lasting for more than 3 months will require a visa from the Ecuadorian government which the Academia can easily help the student secure. In order to make sufficient progress and gain the maximum benefit from the course we recommend the following minimal duration: Beginner (2-12 weeks), Intermediate (4-8 weeks) and Advanced (2-8 weeks).
Handling of advanced and superior levels of Spanish: Pre-approved subject material is possible for both advanced-superior students who need specialized vocabulary (lawyers, doctors, teachers, etc). If the student wants to study literature they should try to bring texts with them and give advanced notice.
* Courses: Methodology: The focus of our school is on communication and our methodology involve a natural approach, total physical response, language experience approach, directed reading thinking activities, and the writing process. An integrated, topical curriculum approach reinforces vocabulary.
This is a landmark year for us as we are going to present several new programs:
- Standard Course: All classes will be in groups with a maximum 4 students per class, 20 hours per week. They will have highly structured grammar lessons, interactive activities, conversation and written exercises. Specific homework assignments are given daily and every student is evaluated and tested on a weekly basis.
- Upper Intensive Course: In the morning 4 hours of Spanish classes in small group with a maximum of 4 students per class, and in the afternoon 2 hours on a one-to-one basis. 30 hours per week.
- Individual Lessons: This is our one-to-one course. Every weekly rate includes 5 days of classes (from Monday to Friday), 7 days with your host family, 2 meals (breakfast and dinner), laundry service, airport transfer upon arrival, and weekly activities with the school. Mail service, money exchange, safety box, luggage storage, and use of sports facilities are also included.
- Cloud Forest Program: Word is just starting to get out about the - Cloud Forest - our school academic program at a lodge and reserve tucked on the western doorstep of Tandayapa reserve, protecting one of the most unspoiled and beautiful tracts of cloud forest in the country.
Now is time for nature lovers, researchers, biologists and Spanish students to begin studies here in Cloud Forest in order to better understand the roles western slopes cloud forests play in the evolution and maintenance of vast amounts of tropical biodiversity. Students will be participating in the highly regarded Spanish program and also helping to preserve this beautiful natural area by providing the biological information on which ecotourism thrives.
- Active Lessons: A full day's fun is scheduled for this course, combining morning classes with afternoon activities to museums, cathedrals, fruit markets, etc.
Faculty Information:
The focus of our school is on communication and our methodology involve a natural approach, total physical response, language experience approach, directed reading thinking activities, and the writing process. An integrated, topical curriculum approach reinforces vocabulary.
Our teaching program has been designed under the guidelines of the Instituto Cervantes, the placement testing of the OPI (Oral Proficieny Interview), in combination with the ACTFL model of 9 levels of proficiency: absolute beginner to superior. Highly structured grammar lessons, interactive activities, conversation and written exercises. Specific homework assignments are given daily.
Superior teaching staff. All have a University Degree in Spanish Philology and have been carefully selected because of their qualifications and experience in teaching Spanish as a foreign language. Some of them are Doctors or have Master Degrees in teaching Spanish and literature, history or Latin American culture. They refresh their teaching skills, receiving special courses every year from our International Academic Director in Spain and Peru.
The Academia chooses the teachers for their ability to listen their enthusiasm, kindness and patience, but most of all for their love of teaching Spanish to foreign students. All of them know how to motivate, develop and support the student´s curiosity and interest in the Spanish Language, Ecuadorian culture and social life. They also know that the learning process continues outside the classroom.
Academic Coordinators:
- Dr. Diego del Corral, Education Program Director. Doctor in Political Sciences. Languages: Spanish, Portuguese and English.
- Dra. María José Gelabert, International Director of Studies, Master in Spanish Filology. Education: Doctor in Philologia de la Universidad de Oviedo. Languages: Spanish and English.
- Lic. Alberto Chavez, Cloud Forest Program Coordinator. Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science. Education: 1997 Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science majoring en Ecotourism, 1989. German High School of Quito, School-leaving exams in Physics and Mathematics. Languages: Spanish, English and German.
- Lic. Lidia Tipán, Academic Director in Quito, degree in Education and Literature. Education: Degree in Educational Science with a major in Spanish and Literature, Universidad Central del Ecuador. Languages: Spanish.
Other Activities:
Short field trips will be hosted to different sites within Quito, Cusco, Sucre or close by the city (markets, museums, cathedrals, historical monuments), along with dancing classes, cooking lessons, lectures, etc.
Facility Information:
Our school in Quito, is set in the residential area of La Carolina. The Carolina park is located at Avenidas Amazonas and Republica, is a large recreational park where Quito goes to relax outdoors. On weekends the park is buzzing with soccer matches, volleyball games, skateboarding, outdoor aerobic classes, paddle boats, family games and picnics. A botanical garden and dinosaur museum have also been recently added to the park.
Several of Quito's major shopping centers surround La Carolina including the Megamaxi, Plaza de Las Americas, Quicentro, El Caracol, CCI and El Jardin. These shopping malls offer a variety of both local and imported goods as well as supermarkets.
The Academia has a beautiful colonial building, with interior patio, 21 classrooms, video room with amplification equipment, library, teachers room, auditorium, solarium, cafeteria, a multipurpose indoor court (racquetball, wally ball, speed soccer and basketball field), internet service, access and bathroom for wheelchair users, elevator, nine classes with digital connection for interactive participation between the schools in Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia.
Member discount:
10% discount for InfoHub customer. Request a free gift certificate.
Notes:
Every weekly rate cost 265 dollars and include:
- 20 hours of Spanish classes from Monday-Friday, homestay with 2 meals/day;
- laundry service;
- host family and immigration assistance;
- transfer in;
- city tour (map of the city);
- teaching material;
- certificate;
- mail service;
- money exchange, safety box, luggage storage;
- counseling, grades and evaluations;
- use of facilities are also included (courses start every Monday).
* Standard Course (20 hrs/week):
- 1 week - $265
- 2 weeks - $530
- 3 weeks - $795
- 4 weeks - $1060
- 6 weeks - $1590
- 8 weeks - $2120
- 12 weeks - $3180
- 16 weeks - $4240
- Extra week - $265.
Also see Vacation Schools in:
Language Schools
South America
Ecuador
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