Ecuador is a beautiful country in the Andean mountain range which has a large indigenous population.

Quito is the capital of Ecuador and has a population of approximately one and half million people. The city rises 2,850 meters (9,350 feet) above sea level, with an annual average temperature of 13C/55F. The dry season in Quito is May to October, and brief daily showers occur November through April. Nights are crisply cold, requiring a sweater or jacket, but the daytime temperatures, year round, rarely vary from the upper 60s to the low 70s F.

PROGRAM - 20 hrs/week Tutorial & 15 hrs/week Medical & Cultural Visits
This program is for students who wish to combine learning classroom Spanish, looking at some of the local health care facilities 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, hospitals and clinics, 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. You are encouraged to submit a list of medical vocabulary in advance for use in the class.

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.

A typical two week schedule for the daily trips follows:

WEEK ONE:

Day 1: Quito Colonial
Day 2: Visit to 'Santa LuceDa' orphanage
Day 3: El Panecillo
Day 4: Visit to a State health care center
Day 5: State Hospital Eugenio Espejo

WEEK TWO:

Day 1: Fundaci Guayasamin
Day 2: Visit to Coraz de Mareda elderly home
Day 3: Museo de la Ciudad
Day 4: Children Hospital Baca Ortiz
Day 5: Mitad del Mundo

LODGING
Another important component of this program 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 "Homestay" families are carefully chosen by the school. The student gets a private bedroom, 2 meals daily and laundry service.

Some of the families are located close to the school in the central part of Quito. Others are located a little further away, but public transportation is available and convenient. Students may request a family with special characteristics if they wish and should include this in their registration form.

The school 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.

Hotels - Optional hotel lodging is available but must be coordinated in advance. This option is on request and at additional cost.

ACTIVITIES
The school's methodology frequently involves "external activities" to enhance the learning of the language and to expand the student's Spanish vocabulary. These activities include cultural events: visit to museums, art galleries, churches in colonial Quito, Indian markets and video films.