Eurolingua Institute Ecuador

Activity/Tour

The Programmes
In our Intensiva, Activa, Optativa and Pacific programmes classes are individual. The directors have developed a versatile programme of instruction that adapts to each individual. Each student is the only focus of each instructor and all materials are tailored according to a student?s needs. In this way, students do not have the pressure of different ability levels, educational backgrounds, or any other issue.
In the Anaconda programme, classes are held in small groups. The small group setting provides the student with the advantage of socialising with his/her fellow students while learning. It is an environment that stimulates discussion while challenging and improving Spanish speaking skills.

Typical Day

Activities and Excursions
To complete the language teaching programme, we offer an exciting variety of cultural and tourist activities to expand the Spanish vocabulary and diversity of the instruction. These activities are offered on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. Our staff organises small group excursions to interesting and entertaining places. All activities are optional and supervised by the teachers. Students pay their own transportation and entrance fees.
Some of the country's finest climbing and trekking is found just 60km south of Quito in Parque Nacional Cotopaxi whose volcano, VolcᮠCotopaxi (5900m), is the world's highest. Further south, the town of Ba񯳠makes a good base for walking and visiting the thermal springs. More strenuous hiking in the southern highlands near Cuenca with its beautiful lakes and Ecuador's highest peak, Chimborazo (6310m).
Other possible activities include swimming in the warm coastal waters, scuba diving in the Galᰡgos Islands, snorkelling, jungle excursions in the Oriente and bird watching in the national parks. Cooking classes and Latin dancing lessons can also be organised.

Sleeping and meals

Accommodation
An important component of this programme is the opportunity to enjoy all the comforts and advantages of living with an Ecuadorian host family in one of South America?s most beautiful cities. These families are carefully chosen by the school. The student is provided with a private bedroom, two daily meals and laundry service. If the student is vegetarian, has preferences for certain kind of food, or has to follow a special diet, the family will be pleased to provide those foods according to our traditional Ecuadorian hospitality.
Our families are suitably located and public transportation is available and convenient. AEQ places only one student per host family in order to guarantee each student unlimited opportunities of practicing Spanish.This allows a total immersion and enables students to participate in the dynamics of family life.

Other Information

Modern Ecuador
Today, Ecuador is a lively tourist destination. A day?s journey from Quito takes you to cloudforests on the tumbling slopes of the Andes, mangrove forests, sandy beaches of the emerald coast or to the Amazon basin, with its intricate latticework of rivers, lagoons, myths and magic. Dividing it all is the Avenue of the Volcanoes, the central valley, where over half of Ecuador?s 11 million inhabitants till the rich soils as their ancestors have for centuries.
Quito, surrounded by beautiful scenery, hills and several snow-capped volcanoes, is well known for having a treasure of colonial buildings, paintings, sculptures and carvings. From Quito you can explore the indigenous market in Otavalo, one of the largest on the continent, or the hot springs gurgling from the base of a nearby volcano. Beaches are close, with excellent surfing. Nightlife is very active, with salsa clubs and fine restaurants. Quito is also a metropolitan city that offers almost unlimited opportunities for recreation, relaxation and learning Spanish.
One thousand miles off the Ecuadorian coast - but still only a day?s journey away - are the Galapagos Islands, the most fascinating archipelagos on our planet, simultaneously a modern-day Garden of Eden and a living laboratory of evolution.