Vida Verde Spanish School

We are a Spanish language school in Quito, Ecuador offering intensive Spanish language instruction and Spanish immersion programs. With all the Spanish schools in Ecuador and throughout the world, you may be thinking, \"Why should I learn Spanish at the Vida Verde Spanish School?\" Well, the answer to that is easy. It\'s because we offer something other schools don\'t: Learning with a conscience. By simply attending our spanish school in Ecuador, you\'ll be helping to support sustainable conservation programs and community-based projects in Ecuador. We donate a minimum of 10% of the profits from each and every class hour to support socially and environmentally-responsible programs. Our spanish school is located in a spacious, yet cozy, colonial house near the Mariscal tourist district of Quito. While studying with us, you\'ll not only receive quality Spanish instruction, you\'ll also have the opportunity to live with an Ecuadorian family, learn about the various Ecuadorian cultures through innovative lesson plans and embark on excursions that emphasize the richness of the diverse Ecuadorian environment and its people. While participating in our language program, you\'ll have the chance to visit one of South America\'s largest and most famous open markets, learn how to cook classic Ecuadorian dishes, dance the meringue and learn to salsa. You may also choose to combine studying Spanish with ecotourism by participating in our Study on the Coast or Study in the Jungle programs. Whatever you choose to do, while studying Spanish at the Vida Verde Spanish Center you\'ll not only be learning Spanish, you\'ll be living it!

Nestled in a long, narrow valley between the lush base of the Volcano Pichincha to the west and the precipitous canyon of the river Machángara to the east, Quito enjoys an unmatched natural setting. In the night from above Quito is an oasis of lights against the absolute blackness of the forested mountains and volcanoes that surround it. By day the city is equally as impressive. Quito\'s classic architecture and modern structures work with the timber and vegetation that ring them to produce South America\'s most beautiful capital city. Quito is the perfect place to begin exploring Ecuador. See the historic sites of Quito\'s Old Town and the city\'s dozens of museums; visit its hundreds of shops, cafes, and restaurants; and take advantage of the plethora of excursions, hikes and climbs in the surrounding area. If you haven\'t seen Quito, you haven\'t seen Ecuador!

Our Spanish program is divided into 3 levels: Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced. No previous knowledge of Spanish is necessary to study at the Basic level. Upon enrollment, students with some previous Spanish knowledge are given a placement exam (both written and oral) to determine at what level they should begin classes and also to identify areas of weakness. The professor and student then work together to design a customized study plan. Most all of our students who start at the basic level can communicate with basic fluency after 5-6 weeks (100-120 class hours), though you have to do your homework! At the completion of each level students must satisfactorily pass a written exam in order to advance to the next level. A brief description of each level is given below. For a more detailed description of the content of each level, review the Programs Table at the bottom of the page. Basic Level. Upon completion of the Basic Level students have the ability to construct simple sentences, form questions and answers, and give simple opinions using the present and future tense. Intermediate Level. Upon completion of the Intermediate Level, students are able to carry on conversations about activities encountered in everyday living. Students will have a reasonable degree of comprehension in both written and spoken form of the topics presented in the first two levels. Pronounciation will have improved notably. Advanced Level. Student will have the capability of conversing and discussing comfortably on most any theme. Student can listen and understand to a high degree both written and spoken forms of Spanish. Spoken accent will have begun to develop a latin accent and tone. Our teachers use a selection of modern Spanish textbooks, magazines, newspapers, cd’s, and other types of media to cover the topics in our program. Learning One to One It’s no secret that the best and quickest way to learn Spanish is through intensive, one-to-one individual instruction. This is the primary teaching method used here at the Vida Verde Spanish Center. Small Group Lessons We offer small-group instruction for groups of 2 to 4 students. To form a group, it is necessary that the students are at relatively the same level. Students wishing to form a group may be required to take our placement exam so that we may determine the exact experience level of each student. For the group program, the same teaching method and content is used, just in a group setting. The group program is suited for students desiring increased interaction, a slightly slower learning pace, and/or a more economical means of study. Environmental Science Anthropology Business and Economics Latin American Literature Medicine These advanced study programs allow students to focus on a career-related or personal topic of interest. Programs are available for students who have demonstrated proficiency at the Advanced Level. Professors for these specialized programs have specific knowledge in the selected topic in addition to proficiency in Spanish language and grammar instruction.

Our school has a relationship with a number of Ecuadorian families who are interested in hosting international students for a reasonable price. If you wish, we can arrange for you to stay with one of these Ecuadorian families in a residential area close to the school. We call this our \"homestay\" program because when you participate in this program, you are not only renting a room in somebody\'s house, you are being welcomed into their home as if you were a member of their family. The homestay gives you the opportunity for additional practice speaking Spanish outside of the classroom, as well as the opportunity to experience some of the cultural aspects of Ecuadorian life, such as food, family life, and holidays. We prefer to place only one student per family because when students live together we have found that the temptation to speak their native language -instead of Spanish- is too great. However, if it is important to you to live with other students or with a traveling companion, arrangements can be made to accommodate your needs. The cost for our homestay program is $16.00 per day. This includes three meals per day, a private room with desk, and laundry service. Though we do our utmost to ensure that students are placed with compatible families, in the unlikely event that there are personality conflicts or the homestay is otherwise unsatisfactory, we will immediately place you in a different family or in alternate lodging. To ensure your safety and the best immersion experience possible we have carefully screened and selected all host families.

One on One Excursions: Quito and the surrounding area provide a boundless outdoor classroom in which to study and practice Spanish. This has inspired us to develop a program in which students have the option of spending a day out in Quito accompanied by their professor. We find that the students who participate in this program enjoy the opportunity to study Spanish outside the confines of the school, as well as appreciate the chance to get to know the city. Some of the most common excursions are listed below. Please remember that this is only a partial listing of things to do. We encourage you to suggest other excursions based on your own interest. Group Excursions Once or twice a week, we also offer organized group excursions in and around Quito. These are based on student interest, with one or two professors organizing and accompanying a group. Students are responsible for their own trip costs. Outings include all of the possibilities listed in the “One-to-One Excursions” with some additional suggestions given below. Students may propose and organize their own excursions as well. Weekend Excursions When the weekend rolls around, students are usually ready to get out of town and visit some of the sites outside of Quito. The school typically organizes a weekend trip for any students interested in participating. These are strictly for fun and camaraderie and are not part of the academic program per se though students will have plenty of opportunity to practice Spanish. We have been doing this for years and can organize everything and provide tips to ensure you get the most out of your visit.