Spanish Programs Ecuador, Peru Spanish Programs, Bolivia Spanish Programs

METHODOLOGY

The focus of the Academia Latinoamericana de Español is on communication and our methodology involve a natural approach, total physical response, language experience approach, directed reading thinking activities, and the writing process. An integrated, topical curriculum approach reinforces vocabulary.

TYPICAL DAY SCHEDULE

FIRST SESSION

This first session will be specifically dedicated to studying Grammar and to practicing Reading, Comprehension and Writing style.

GRAMMAR:   Each student will study linguistic structures, grammatical functions and rules of Spanish. It has a very pragmatic approach in combination with a wide range of consolidation activities that are selected to reinforce the lesson of the day.

READING COMPREHENSION:   The development of this skill will be carried out with real texts or didactically created ones that are coordinated to the lecture.  With the help and guidance of the teacher, each student interpret the texts orally and in writing to further aid their comprehension. Orthographic rules, vocabulary and punctuation will also be reviewed.

SECOND SESSION

This second session will be dedicated to studying oral comprehension and expression.

ORAL COMPREHENSION:  The development of this skill will be carried out with real and didactically created documents that are designed to coordinate with the lecture.  The student, with the help of the teacher and different comprehension activities, will then interpret the audio visual documents orally and / or in writing.

ORAL EXPRESSION:  The student will participate interactively in a variety of different activities conducted by the teacher, such as presentations, debates, mini-plays, etc.  These activities will be carried out with different materials proposed by the teacher or the students, depending on the everyone's necessities or interests. Spanish Phonetics (pronunciation, rhythm of the sentences and so on) will also be studied.

This new program is based upon cultural elements as well as the language itself, thus adding a valuable dimension of the Latin American Culture.

Short field trips will be hosted to different sites within Quito, Cusco, Sucre or close by the city (markets, museums, cathedrals, historical monuments), along with dancing classes, cooking lessons, lectures, etc. Every arriving student will have a welcome orientation and Quito/Cusco/Sucre city tour.

PROGRAMS

Nine levels of proficiency  (ACTFL) are available and students must pass tests at each level in order to progress to the next.

LEVELS

Lower beginner, medium beginner, high beginner, lower intermediate, medium intermediate, high intermediate, advanced, high advanced and superior.


COLLEGE - UNIVERSITY CREDITS

For college and university students, our courses and credits are essentially the same as those in most Universities around the world. The amount of credit is based upon the number of contact hours, lectures, laboratory hours, reading assignments, and required papers. All of a students exams and papers are forwarded to the students college or university at the end of the students stay in Quito.

CLASSES

Academic Hours are 55 minutes in length. Students may enroll for 4 hours a day of classes. Students may enroll for as many weeks as desired. Courses lasting for more than 3 months will require a visa from the Ecuadorian government which the Academia can easily help the student secure.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

The very first day everyone takes the placement test (oral proficiency interview and grammar test), this has no other purpose than place the student on the right group and the right level.  Students are also evaluated every week.

After placement test, student depart with the Student coordinator, for the city tour, to the sorroundings of the Academia and then to the colonial site and important places and services around Academia. The city tour is practical and very interesting for the students because it has a lot of historical information and plenty of suggestion on what to do and see during their stay.

ORIENTATION SESSION

Students return to the Academia for the orientation session. Director of Spanish program will explain all the little things students have to know about the program, classes, host families, the city, etc.  Everything is covered during this time and then we provide the student with the teaching material and a map of the city, marked with the location of the Academia and the host family.

HEALTH RESOURCES

Yes provided during orientation session.  Important to mention that Academia Latinoamericana in Ecuador, Peru and Bolivia has their own bilingual medical doctor to check our students in case they need it.

ANY OTHER SERVICES

Transfer in, mail service, money exchange, safety box; luggage storage, counseling, immigration assistance, tourist information, use of facilities are also included.