The program is designed to combine grammar with conversation, reading and writing practice. Furthermore, the school's books and teaching material will introduce students to the history, geography and culture of Ecuador.

The teaching methodology is fun, self-paced and ideally requires four to six weeks for students to develop basic communication skills. If the student has studied Spanish before he/she will start with an examination (written and oral) to evaluate at which level to commence study.

The focus is on spoken Spanish and is organized into seven levels with the vocabulary of about 500 new words in each one. Approximately 45 hours are needed for each level and students are evaluated at the conclusion of every segment. Books are provided by the school, and teachers are rotated weekly to give students maximum exposure to a variety of spoken accents.

Students are assessed and receive instruction at their appropriate level. Depending on the student's ability they will spend class time in any of the following activities:

Private Classes 20, 25, or 35 hours per week. The Tutor Program is held for 4 or 7 hours daily and consists of individual instruction with well-qualified teachers. It is ideal for those who want to be totally immersed and to learn faster in less time. This is the program that most students prefer. The students schedule is from 08.30 to 12.30 and from 13.30(1:30PM) to 16.30(4:30PM).

Activa Spanish Program Tutor 35 hours per week: 20 Spanish + 15 Fieldtrips. The Activa Program is for students who wish to combine learning classroom Spanish and experiencing the flavorful culture of Quito. The morning hours each weekday are allocated to intensive classroom instruction. The student and professor then spend the rest of the afternoon exploring sites in or near Quito such as: the city, museums, cathedrals and markets. This program is designed to equip a student with Spanish and allows her or him to integrate that knowledge with day to day cultural experiences.

One on one classes, emphasizing grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, discussion and background information needed for a good understanding of the cultural activities organized for the afternoon, are offered in the morning from 8.30 to 12.30.

The student and teacher then embark on their daily trips from 13.30(1:30PM) to 16.30(4:30PM). On these visits the teacher acts as a guide. All entrance fees to museums, art galleries, beverages/snacks (afternoon) and public transportation necessary for all excursions are included in the program cost.

Group + Rain Forest Group 20 hours per week. Turn Spanish learning into an unforgettable experience through an ideal combination of language learning and adventure at Cabañas Anaconda, a resort on Anaconda Island, one of the most beautiful places in the Ecuadorian Rainforest. This program uses a system of ecotourism where great effort is made to preserve the jungle from destruction while at the same time providing work to the local native people. In fact, the whole staff is comprised of native people. The program is one week long and includes four hours per day of Spanish in small groups. Each group is directed by a teacher from the school's staff and contains 3-5 students. Students are matched according to skill. If needed, individual tutoring for shorter periods of time per day is an option.

In addition to language instruction, there is a daily excursion that allows students to learn about and enjoy the ecology and culture of the rain forest. The language teacher, as well as one of a group of local guides who speaks only Spanish and Quechua, will take part in all the excursions and activities of the program.

In order to take advantage of the student's most advanced language skills, participation in the program is scheduled for the last week of Spanish study at the school.

Mindo Reserve
90 km Northwest from Quito, lays this fairly small village that is a world famous spot for bird watchers and for Nature lovers. Mindo's altitude ranges from 1200m to 4770m, the weather is generally nice, warm and humid.

Mindo was declared by Birdlife International, as First Area of Birds' Reservation in South America . Near the village is the Mindo Nambillo Protected Forest. This forest has more than 450 species of birds, including 39 species of hummingbirds. About 32 species of birds are endemic to Mindo, this means they live nowhere else in the world. Here exists a remarkable variety of orchids (around 300 species) and butterflies. Mindo is an ideal place for visitors who want to feel the relax that nature offers.

Program Duration: Weekly; five days (suggested Saturday through Friday)

Includes: 4 nights and 5 days lodging in cabins with private bathroom, two daily meals (breakfast and lunch), 4 hours daily of classroom group or individual Spanish tuition, library material, trip Quito-Mindo-Quito by public transportation, fees for daily excursions with teacher or guide. Also, includes two night with a host family in Quito

Price does not include: Tips, additional beverages.

This program usually starts on Monday morning and ends on Friday afternoon.

In a relaxed atmosphere, while listening and watching the Mindo river and the birds that abound in this region, you will have four hours daily of Spanish lessons.

Worthwhile activities include a visit to the Butterfly Farm and to Orchid Gardens; swimming beneath a waterfall in the crystal clear waters of the Nambillo river; early morning bird watching; going on a nature walk one hour or all day, and many other activities such as rafting and bike or horse rides, or simply relax alongside the river in a hammock with a good book.

Group + Beach
Program Duration: Weekly; five days

Schedule: Suggested Monday through Friday, 09h00 – 13h00

Includes: 6 nights and 5 days lodging in AEQ's beach house, 2 daily meals (breakfast and dinner), 4 hours daily of classroom group Spanish tuition, library material, transfer from city airport to beach house ( 35 km ).

Price does not include: Transportation Quito - Crucita and return, optional activities, tips, additional beverages.

Perfect blend of vacation and learning: this program for groups of 2 to 5 students, with 4 hours daily of Spanish classes and optional activities, takes place in the small beach town Crucita (355km west from Quito ).

Pacífico Program is designed for students willing to enjoy the warmth and beauty of long, sunny beaches, delicious and fresh seafood, to meet friendly and welcoming people, yet undiscovered by mainstream of international tourism.

Offers a clean and comfortable front beach house where students lodge and hold classes, while enjoying a full view of the ocean that is a few meters away. The house is located in Crucita, a small fishermen town near Portoviejo , the capital of the Manabí province. Average temperature in Crucita: 24 – 30ºC (76 –87º F).

Crucita's beaches extend for thirteen km. along the Pacific Ocean and also have a mangrove, a habitat of several species of birds such as pelicans, frigates, seagulls and sandpipers.

Winds at Crucita make it an ideal place for wind sports such as parasailing and hang-gliding. This is a must for lovers of these sports!

Crucita's location makes it a perfect headquarters for discovering Ecuadorian culture of this region. Nearby one can visit Montecristi, the genuine birthplace of Panama hats; Manta, an important international seaport; and many small villages inhabited by fishermen and craftspeople.

Excursions may be chosen by the student and include but are not limited to:


• Museo Etnográfico
• Congreso Nacional
• El Planetario: Función Astronómica documentada
• Monumento de Orellana
• Iglesias y Conventos del Casco Colonial
• Museo de Arte Colonial. Calderón Turístico
• Museo Arqueológico y del Oro del Banco Central
• Mercados Indigenas locales y ferias libres (por la mañana)
• Basílica del voto nacional
• Feria Indigena de Saquisili
• Feria Indigena de Sangolqui
• Balneario de aguas termales Papallacta
• Museo Religioso Colonial "Aurelio Espinoza Poli"
• Museo de Arte moderno y religioso de Filanbanco
• Museo de Ciencias Naturales en el Parque Carolina