Has anyone taken language classes in Quito? I am looking for recommendations of language schools for an upcoming trip. I'd love to do some volunteer work as well, so a school that had that element would be wonderful.

Thanks!

Kate

I have taken several courses from here:
http://www.guayasaminschool.com/

I highly recommend the school in general and Luis Mena in particular.

Hi

I am currently in Quito at the Academia Latinoamerica de Espanol. This is my second time here so I can highly recommend the school. I haven´t done any volunteering but many of the student do do volunteer work.

In fact there is one other student staying at the same family with me and she has been volunteering at a hospital and with an ecuadorean doctor who works in the clinics.

The following is a link to their website. They also have schools in Bolivia (Sucre) and Peru (Cusco)

http://www.latinoschools.com/

Let me know if you have any questions I can answer for you.

Pamela

great quality. I did their Anaconda Jungle program a couple of years ago. Very high quality teachers:

http://www.academiaquito.edu.ec/

Pamela, were you at Academia Latinoamericana de Espanol last July? That's when I was there, and I met someone named Pamela. Wondering if it was you.

Julie

Julie

Yes, I was there July of last year for about two weeks - in the early part of July and the name Julie sounds real familiar. I am in my fifties - went horseback riding and ziplining in tierra del vulcan, and also went to Otavalo, Cotacachi and Cochasqui, besides attending the school.

Any of this sound familiar? I just returned (this morning) from a return visit to the school followed by a one week side trip to Cuenca and Bellavista.

Pamela

Hi Pamela,

We went horseback riding and ziplining together. I was the one who got stuck halfway across the canyon on my first attempt at ziplining.

I was considering going back to La Academia this summer, but decided on a school in Mexico because I haven't been to that country yet and I have a friend who lives there. I leave on Sept. 30. I tried to find a school in Mexico that is similar to La Academia, but we'll see how the Mexican school compares. La Academia would be tough to beat.

I really miss Ecuador and still reminisce about it. There's just something about that country that sticks with you. I know one day I'll go back.

How are things at the school? Which teachers did you have? What fun things did you do during your time in Ecuador? I'd love to hear about your trip!

Julie

P.S. If you give me your e-mail address, I can send you a couple of pictures that you're in.

Hi Julie

This time I had Wagner for the first two days ( I started mid-week to avoid being sent off on the Monday tour ) and then the next week I had Mery and the final week Monica the Gordita

My e-mail is [email protected]
and I would love any photos you could send.

This time I went back to the Hacienda Porvenir for the 3 hour ride. It was wonderful with great views of Cotapaxi. It cleared in the afternoon and the snowcapped peak was against a blue sky backdrop.

I had such a good time I went back the next weekend for a five hour ride which had even more spectacular views of Cotapaxi - nothing betwwen us and the volcano except a very wide valley.

I would love to hear what you think about the school in Mexico. How long are you going for?

Pamela