Updated on: 7/Apr/09

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

SPANISH SCHOOL ECUADOR

BRIEF PROGRAM DESCRIPTION The Spanish Language School was founded by a group of professional teachers based on the fact that the demand for Spanish has multiplied greatly in the last ten years. The teachers are all native to Ecuador, have university degrees, and years of experience working with students from a wide variety of countries. At the present time, Spanish is one of the most commonly used languages in the world. Spanish is the official language in 21 countries and is spoken by more than 300 million people. The Spanish Language School offers participants the opportunity to submerge in the adventure of learning and enjoy all the social and cultural benefits that come with the process. Participants will not only be students, but also travelers and explorers, part of a new family, and friends of the Ecuadorian people. Participant can pick between morning or afternoon classes.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS For an extra cost enjoy the beautiful sight seeing spots that Quito has to offer: * Enjoy the Old Town-churches, government, squares and shopping. The historic old town of Colonial Quito is the jewel in Ecuador's crown. The city was designated the first UNESCO World Heritage City in 1978 in recognition of the importance of its colonial architecture (ahead of cities like Bath and Venice). * Quito is the city that has the best-preserved, least altered historic center in Latin America. The monasteries of San Francisco and Santo Domingo, and the Church and Jesuit College of La Compañía, with their rich interiors, are pure examples of the 'Baroque school of Quito', which is a fusion of Spanish, Italian, Moorish, Flemish and indigenous art.

* The Teleferico takes visitors almost to the top of the Volcano Pichincha. It is worth putting aside a few hours for the trip, and day or nighttime is equally interesting. The cable cars will take you up to almost 14,000 feet and the views are stunning.

* Visit the "Middle of the World City" where the monument that divides the Northern Hemisphere from the Southern is located. It was built during the XVII century when a French Expedition defined the precise location of the equatorial line. The Ethnographic Museum can be also be visited.

A DAY AT THE PROGRAM

HOURS ACTIVITIES

7:30AM-8: 15AM Breakfast at your host family/residence

8:30AM-12: 30PM Morning Classes (option 1)

12:30PM-1: 30PM Lunch at one of the many restaurants that Quito has to offer

1:30PM-5: 30PM Afternoon Classes (option 2)

5:30PM-7: 30PM Free time to sight see in Quito

7:30PM-8: 30PM Dinner at your host family/residence

8:30PM-on Enjoy Quito’s nightlife

*This is just an exemplary daily itinerary. All activities scheduled above are subject to change.

PROGRAM FOCUS LOCATION (Province and Town) Animal Rescue Center ______________ ______________ Social ______________ ______________ Adventure ______________ ______________ Environmental ______________ ______________ Construction/Building ______________ ______________ Education Spanish Language Pichincha, Quito Sports ______________ ______________

PROJECT/ORGANIZATION/INSTITUTION DESCRIPTION Organization Spanish Language School Location of the Organization North area of Quito Non-profit/private/public organization Private Number of employees 12-15 Teachers 1. DESCRIBE THE POPULATION/COMMUNITY THAT THE INSTITUTION PROVIDES ITS

SERVICES TO. IN CASE OF RESCUE CENTERS OR ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDE THE TYPE OF ANIMALS AND ENVIRONMENT IT WORKS WITH.

The Spanish School focuses on making their students feel comfortable with the use of Spanish as a second language. The School works with students from all ages, mostly from 18 to 56 years old from all different nationalities. 2. SERVICES THAT THE ORGANIZATION/INSTITUTION PROVIDES (DESCRIPTION) The student participates and is responsible for the learning process. The school emphasizes communication of the language, taking into account the development of the four skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. All of this is cultivated with exposure to Latin-American culture through various lectures, videos, and guest speakers. The Spanish School organizes for its students once a week: a cultural visit within Quito, Ecuadorian cooking lesson

and salsa and merengue dance lessons. It is through these activities and the great effort of the teachers that volunteers practice Spanish and immerse themselves in the Ecuadorian culture. Participants will enjoy learning Spanish, while sharing every day with other students form all over the world.

VOLUNTEER INFORMATION

3. How many volunteers can the Project employ monthly? There is no limit on the amount of students that the school can have. 4. Has the organization received volunteers in the past? The Spanish School works with volunteers, tourist, and foreigners who live in Ecuador. 5. If it has received volunteers in the past, please write since what month and year: The Spanish School has been opened for ten years. 6. Are there any special features to which the volunteers have to pay attention to when

working at this project? (Religion, illnesses, extra-vaccination, etc) No. 7. Are there any requirements to attend this program? Great Interest in working in learning the Spanish Language. 8. The project receives volunteers all year round? The Spanish School closes on Holidays. 9. Please specify holidays or other dates when the project closes and can not receive

volunteers: December 24, 25, 31 and January 1st. 10. Is there a minimum amount of weeks volunteers can work at the project? One-week minimum. 11. Is there a maximum amount of weeks volunteers can work at the project? 12 week maximum. 12. Please give detailed description of tasks and duties of the volunteer: Based on the participants’ language level, the participant will be working on the following: Beginner Level • Introduce yourself and other people • Describe people, animals, or things • Identify objects • Give descriptive narrations in the present tense • Express likes and dislikes • Give orders • Tell what happened yesterday, last week, last year, etc.

Intermediate Level • Compare and exaggerate • Describe people, animals, or things in the past tense • Express habitual actions in the past • Tell a story • Talk about future events • Express probability or conjecture • Express hypothetical situations • Articulate expressions of courtesy • Express future actions Advanced Level • Understand and develop more complete sentence structures • Give commands and express desires • Express surprise, disappointment, and probability • Express doubt, share opinions, or give advice • Fabricate events of the future or past spontaneously • Express grief Superior Level • Transmit information • Express condition, cause, and consequences • Make comments on newspaper articles • Use idiomatic expressions • Pronounce correctly • Write different types of correspondence • Analyze literary texts • Participate in debates • Make a presentation in front of other students 13. Indicate the times and days the volunteer will be working in the week: Participants will be taking classes from Monday to Friday 4 hours a day. The participant can pick between morning lessons 8:30am to 12:30pm or the afternoon lessons 1:30pm to 5:30pm. Participants can also pick between group or individual lessons. Weekends are free for participants to travel in Ecuador.

LOCATION OF THE PROJECT 14. PLEASE INDICATE THE CLOSEST CITY OR TOWN TO THE PROJECT. The Spanish School is located in the Mariscal Area in the heart of Quito. 15. INDICATE WHAT TYPES OF TRANSPORTATION THERE IS FROM THE CENTER OF

THIS CITY TO THE PROJECT, ITS COSTS AND APPROXIMATELY TIME THAT WILL TAKE:

Public Bus transportation is $0.25. From most of our home stays and residence it take approximately 20-30 minutes to get to the Spanish School. 16. DESCRIBE THE SORROUNDINGS OF THE PROJECT (country side, urban, town) The Spanish School is located in the Mariscal Area. This is the main tourist hub of Quito. It

runs from Parque El Ejido in the South up to Avenida Orellana in the North, and is centered around the roads Juan Leon Mera and Reina Victoria.

Walking through this area will take you past restaurants featuring every cuisine possible. The are has popular bars and clubs that stay open until dawn, as well as numerous Internet cafes and other basic services like banks, laundromats and mini-marts.

ACCOMODATIONS AND MEALS 17. Type of Accommodation?

Volunteers will stay at a host family or residence. Host families and the residence are located in good residential neighborhoods in Quito. Home stays have been selected after an application process to make sure they have everything participants need. 18. Are meals included?

Breakfast and dinner is included at the host families. No meals are included with the residence option.

WHAT IS INCLUDED? • Accommodation throughout your program at a home stay/residence • Home stay option includes breakfast and dinner • Orientation upon arrival • Airport transfer on arrival to Quito

• Transfer back to the airport at the end of the program • Full on-site support and assistance • On-site 24 hour emergency contact number WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED? • Lunch is not included with the home stay option • Meals not included with the residence • Personal travel insurance • All items of personal nature • Any extra activities and excursions not described on the planned itinerary • Alcoholic beverages/extra snacks

PICTURES OF THE PROJECT