Frequently Asked Questions 1) Q) When do the language courses begin? A) Every Monday through Friday for the entire year 2) Q) What courses do you offer? A) We offer group classes that consist of 2-5 students and individual training lessons. Students can choose between the standard course of 4 hours a day, the intensive 6 hours per day courses and the super intensive 8 hour program. You can combine these different modalities to have 20 group and 10 individual lessons per week. Each lesson lasts for 60 minutes. Additionally our language program offers specialized (individual) courses for various subject areas that will help you prepare for your career path. We will be happy to adapt our Spanish lessons to your needs. 3) Q) Where do you students come from and what is their average age? A) Our students come from all over the world and sharing class with them will be an international experience. Most of them are between 18 to 35 years old but we don’t have an age limit. You can learn Spanish at any age and enjoy the experience that we offer. 4) Q) Do I require an accommodation to book a language course? A) Booking a language course without an accommodation is entirely possible. You may find the price for this option on our price list. 5) Q) Can you help me find an internship and when is the best time to apply? A) We will be glad to find a volunteer opportunity for you to complement you language lessons. We focus most of our work on environmental issues working with biological reserves across the country. The main objective of our work is in the conservation of ecosystems and cultural diversity, environmental education, sustainable development projects and research that will improve the lives of people that inhabit the reserves. You can volunteer from two weeks to six months. Volunteers can start anytime of the month, but all volunteers need to attend a half day orientation session in Quito before traveling to their reserve of choice. Orientation sessions take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays only. A special visa is required to remain in Ecuador for more than 90 days. Volunteers are expected to work 22 days per month. Volunteers are expected to work an average of 6 to 8 hours per day, depending on the activities they carry. 6) Q) In what part of the country will my internship take place? A) Your volunteer experience can take place in biological reserves across the country. Ecuador is full of geographical contrasts, extending from the Amazon rainforest of the Orient, the high altitude forests of the Inter-Andean region, the forests and beaches of the northern lowlands and the Galapagos Islands. Biological reserves are located in each of these different regions, many in extremely threatened areas, where the land in the reserve is among the last remnants of an area high in biodiversity. 7) Q) Will I earn money in this internship? A) At most internships you will not earn money but will receive work experience and the gratification of doing something meaningful. However there are exceptions and it is possible to find an internship that will pay you. 8) Q) Where will I live? A) Most students choose to live with one of our carefully selected host families. You will stay in a single room with bathroom access, laundry services and a meal plan. This is also a great opportunity to practice your Spanish skills outside the classroom. If you desire to do so, we will be glad to find a hotel or hostel accommodation at a convenient proximity from the school. 9) Q) Can I live with a friend in the same host family? A) It is possible to stay at a host family with a friend if you request this on your registration form. 10) Q) Will I receive the address and telephone number from my host family? A) Yes you will receive all of the necessary contact information such as the name, address and telephone number of your family in Ecuador. 11) Q) What should I consider when booking a flight? A) First of all you should time your flight correctly as you will find much cheaper prices if you book a flight early. Prices rise very quickly during the summer so we recommend you anticipate your flight with a couple months in advance. Flights with a stop-over in the US (Delta, American Airlines and Continental) will allow you to bring luggage that weighs up to 64 kg. For all other flights the common weight limit for your luggage is 20 kg. This is good to know if you are planning to stay for a long period of time. 12) Q) Where can I find a reasonably priced flight? A) It is often cheaper to book two separate flights to your destination such as London to Atlanta and then Atlanta to Quito. The Latin American Circle of Friends in Bremen can help you find flights at very reasonable prices. We can also help you find a flight at a good price. 13) Q) What about schedules? A) The schedules are open for the student to choose between early morning and afternoon studies. Classes are given Mondays to Fridays and the school opens from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm. Regardless of when you prefer to receive your lessons, you will always have class for the hours that you paid for. We also work on national holidays if you do not want to interrupt your Spanish lessons. 14) Q) How many hours can I study in a day? A) This depends on the type of course you chose. If you are taking individual lessons you can take 4 to 8 hours of class per day. On the other hand if you are having group sessions you will have 4 to 6 hours of class. You can therefore choose the level of intensity that you desire for you lessons. 15) Q) What payment methods do you accept? A) We accept cash, traveler’s checks and (credit cards)!!!! 16) Q) How far from the school do the host families live? A) Our host families are located at a convenient distance from the school. (You will reach us in 10-15 min. if you take a bus and 20-25 min. if you walk.)!!!!!!! 17) Q) Do I need a student visa to study Spanish at you school? A) It is possible to study Spanish without a visa for 3 months; if you wish to stay longer then we will help you obtain a student visa. 18) Q) What part of Quito is your school located? A) Our school is located in the “new town” part of Quito that is near to the most trendy restaurants, cafes, bars and hotels. The school is in the business district of Quito and is at a convenient distance from most entertainment and tourism sectors.