We are a Spanish language school in Quito, Ecuador offering intensive Spanish language instruction and Spanish immersion programs. With all the Spanish schools in Ecuador and throughout the world, you may be thinking, "Why should I learn Spanish at the Vida Verde Spanish School?" Well, the answer to that is easy. It's because we offer something other schools don't: Learning with a conscience.
By simply attending our Spanish school in Ecuador, you'll be helping to support sustainable conservation programs and community-based projects in Ecuador. We donate a minimum of 10% of the profits from each and every class hour to support socially and environmentally-responsible programs.
In addition, our school prides itself on the personalized level of treatment that we offer our students. Our programs are flexible and can be tailored to meet your needs and our teachers work together as a team to ensure the best Spanish education possible for each individual student.
While studying with us, you'll not only receive quality Spanish instruction, you'll also have the opportunity to live with an Ecuadorian family, learn about the various Ecuadorian cultures through innovative lesson plans and embark on excursions that emphasize the richness of the diverse Ecuadorian environment and its people.
While participating in our language program, you'll have the chance to visit one of South America's largest and most famous open markets, learn how to cook classic Ecuadorian dishes, dance the meringue and learn to salsa. You may also choose to combine studying Spanish with eco-tourism by participating in our study on the coast or study in the jungle programs.
Our Spanish program is divided into 3 levels: Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced. No previous knowledge of Spanish is necessary to study at the Basic level. Upon enrollment, students with some previous Spanish knowledge are given a placement exam (both written and oral) to determine at what level they should begin classes and also to identify areas of weakness.
The professor and student then work together to design a customized study plan. Most all of our students who start at the basic level can communicate with basic fluency after 5-6 weeks (100-120 class hours), though you have to do your homework!
At the completion of each level students must satisfactorily pass a written exam in order to advance to the next level. A brief description of each level is given below:
- Basic Level: Upon completion of the Basic Level students have the ability to construct simple sentences, form questions and answers, and give simple opinions using the present and future tense;
- Intermediate Level: Upon completion of the Intermediate Level, students are able to carry on conversations about activities encountered in everyday living. Students will have a reasonable degree of comprehension in both written and spoken form of the topics presented in the first two levels. Pronunciation will have improved notably;
- Advanced Level: Student will have the capability of conversing and discussing comfortably on most any theme. Student can listen and understand to a high degree both written and spoken forms of Spanish. Spoken accent will have begun to develop a latin accent and tone.
- Learning One to One: It’s no secret that the best and quickest way to learn Spanish is through intensive, one-to-one individual instruction. This is the primary teaching method used here at our Spanish Center. One-to-one instruction allows students to learn at their own pace and enables teachers to custom-design study programs to best meet the needs of their students. By using this method, teachers can provide immediate feedback, minimizing the formation of bad habits.
- Small Group Lessons: We offer small-group instruction for groups of 2 to 4 students. Students wishing to form a group may be required to take our placement exam so that we may determine the exact experience level of each student. For the group program, the same teaching method and content is used, just in a group setting. The group program is suited for students desiring increased interaction, a slightly slower learning pace, and/or a more economical means of study.
- Rotation Method: In order to expose students to slightly different teaching styles, accents, dialects, and help them to recognize the variations of spoken Spanish, we have designed our program so that students generally study with a different teacher each week. This rotation method also allows students the opportunity to build relationships with more of the staff here at our Spanish Center.
- Flexible Schedules: We offer flexible study schedules, though most students prefer to study for 4 hours in the morning, from 8:30 to 12:30, leaving the afternoons free for other activities. Please note that we must give priority in the mornings to those students studying for 4 or more hours per day. Tell us what you would like.
- Prepare for the DELE Exam: The majority of the teachers at Vida Verde are certified to prepare students to take the DELE exam. The "Instituto Cervantes" only recognizes the D.E.L.E. (Diploma for Spanish as a Foreign Language) as a certificate for foreign students that wish to study in Spanish universities or even work in Spanish speaking countries. This course basically prepares you to pass the exam. This exam can be taken at 3 levels:
* Nivel Inicial: Certificate of an elementary level of Spanish;
* Nivel Basico: Diploma of an intermediate level of Spanish;
* Nivel Superior: Diploma of an advanced level of Spanish.
- Study in the Jungle/Study on the Coast Programs: We designed both our Study in the Jungle and Study on the Coast programs as a way for students to both study Spanish and participate in responsible eco-tourism at the same time. By creating the Study in the Jungle program option, we have found a richly rewarding and remarkably inexpensive way for students to experience the Amazon region of Ecuador while taking Spanish classes.
Professors from the school accompany students to serve as teachers and to coordinate activities. Students receive lessons for 3-4 hours per day and use the remainder of time outside of class for exploration in the form of hikes, outings, and organized activities. 2005 Jungle Program prices: ratio from 1:1 to 3:1 - $420/$495/wk - $350/$361/wk; 2005 Coast Program prices: ratio from 1:1 to 3:1 - $475/$605/wk - $340/$452/wk.
We also offer specialized advanced study programs in the following five topics:
- Environmental Science;
- Anthropology;
- Business and Economics;
- Latin American Literature;
- Medicine.
These advanced study programs allow students to focus on a career-related or personal topic of interest. Programs are available for students who have demonstrated proficiency at the Advanced Level. Professors for these specialized programs have specific knowledge in the selected topic in addition to proficiency in Spanish language and grammar instruction.
Accommodations:
- Homestay program: Our school has a relationship with a number of Ecuadorian families who are interested in hosting international students for a reasonable price. If you wish, we can arrange for you to stay with one of these Ecuadorian families in a residential area close to the school. We call this our "homestay" program because when you participate in this program, you are not only renting a room in somebody's house; you are being welcomed into their home as if you were a member of their family.
The homestay gives you the opportunity for additional practice speaking Spanish outside of the classroom, as well as the opportunity to experience some of the cultural aspects of Ecuadorian life, such as food, family life, and holidays. We prefer to place only one student per family because when students live together we have found that the temptation to speak their native language -instead of Spanish- is too great.
However, if it is important to you to live with other students or with a traveling companion, arrangements can be made to accommodate your needs. Now you can choose your family that you homestay with when registering with our school. Note that this would be your preference, and we will do what we can to place you accordingly.
The cost for our homestay program is $16.00 per day. This includes three meals per day, a private room with desk, and laundry service. Though we do our utmost to ensure that students are placed with compatible families, in the unlikely event that there are personality conflicts or the homestay is otherwise unsatisfactory, we will immediately place you in a different family or in alternate lodging. To ensure your safety and the best immersion experience possible we have carefully screened and selected all host families.
- Assistance finding alternative housing: We believe that speaking Spanish with an Ecuadorian family is an integral part of the immersion process and thus encourage students to take advantage of the homestay program.
However, should you prefer other accommodations, such as a hostel or an apartment (for stays longer than a month) we can provide recommendations and assist with the necessary arrangements. In fact, because of our excellent location in the heart of the Amazonas tourist district there are a wealth of hostels and hotels to suit any budget just a few minutes walk from the school.
Faculty Information:
All of our teachers are native Spanish speakers with a minimum of 6 years of experience teaching Spanish as a second language (Avg. is 10 years per instructor). Teachers regularly attend training seminars and short courses in order to improve their teaching methods and grammatical knowledge of Spanish.
The majority of our teachers are certified to prepare students for the DELE exam. Collectively, our teachers have instructed hundreds of students in the Spanish language using the one-to-one system, which has proven to be the most rapid and effective way to learn Spanish.
Rosa is the Administrative Director and a co-founder of our Spanish Center. She has over 19 years of experience in language school administration and working with international students. Rosa insures that everything at the school runs smoothly and is available to help students with whatever they may need. This includes everything from airport pickup to classes in traditional cooking.
Other Activities:
- "One-on-One": Quito and the surrounding area provide a boundless outdoor classroom in which to study and practice Spanish. This has inspired us to develop a program in which students have the option of spending a day out in Quito accompanied by their professor. We find that the students who participate in this program enjoy the opportunity to study Spanish outside the confines of the school, as well as appreciate the chance to get to know the city.
Some of the most common excursions are listed below. Please remember that this is only a partial listing of things to do. We encourage you to suggest other excursions based on your own interest.
- Museums: (Banco Central Cultural Museum, Fundacion Guayasamin, Casa de La Cultura, Mariscal Sucre Museum, Museo de Ciencias Naturales), Churches (Iglesia Basilica, Convento de San Diego, San Francisco Monastery), Parks (Parque Carolina, Parque Metropolitano, Parque El Ejido), local markets (Mercado Artesanal, Santa Clara, Mercado Central).
- Group excursions: Once or twice a week, we also offer organized group excursions in and around Quito. These are based on student interest, with one or two professors organizing and accompanying a group. Students are responsible for their own trip costs. Outings include all of the possibilities listed in the “One-to-One Excursions” with some additional suggestions given below. Students may propose and organize their own excursions as well.
- Weekend excursions: When the weekend rolls around, students are usually ready to get out of town and visit some of the sites outside of Quito. The school typically organizes a weekend trip for any students interested in participating. These are strictly for fun and camaraderie and are not part of the academic program per se though students will have plenty of opportunity to practice Spanish.
Facility Information:
Our school is located in a colonial style house located in the heart of Quito, Ecuador. This clean and comfortable house offers a perfect location to learn Spanish. We have computers for the students to use and a large patio for students to study outside if they wish.
Our teachers use a selection of modern Spanish textbooks and reading books to cover the topics in our program. Students are also issued a workbook containing grammar and lecture exercises that accompany daily lessons.
However, in order to add variety and excitement to our program, we use a variety of other teaching tools as well. These include watching participatory teaching videos, reading magazines and newspapers, watching movies, listening to audio cassettes, group discussions, taking excursions into the city, and preparing and presenting expositions. Consistent with our principal focus, cultural and environmental themes are woven into our curriculum.
Notes:
Prices for individuals:
- 0 to 99 hours - $6.00 per hour;
- 100 and up - $5.75 per hour.
Prices for classes in a group:
- ratio from 2:1 to 4:1 - $4.00 - $3.50.
Price includes:
- Airport pick-up and transportation to coast/jungle;
- All excursions & park fees;
- All materials (books, paper, exercises, etc.);
- Very experienced and professional professors;
- Week of Spanish instruction (between 16-20 hours depending on the program);
- Map of Quito.
Also see Vacation Schools in:
Language Schools
South America
Ecuador
Email it to a friend:
Click here to email this vacation to a friend
 |
| Check out these similar vacation offers: |
|
|
