You are planning to invest your time and money in learning Spanish. Make sure you select the school that is best for you. There are hundreds in Ecuador. Ask questions. Plan and investigate.
1. Does the school have a qualified faculty?
2.Is every member of their faculty a university graduate?
3.On their website, has the school proved the university degree and date of graduation for each instructor?
4.Does the curriculum include understandable course descriptions?
5.Does the school describe its courses in plain language that clearly states what the student is going to learn after completing the course?
6.Will I be placed at the right level with the right instructor?
7.Does the school assess or evaluate each student to ensure his or her placement with the best available instructor and correct curriculum to enable the student to take advantage of and build upon their current knowledge of Spanish?
8.Is the school serious about quality?
9.Does the school administer a questionnaire that students complete at the end of their instruction to gain feedback about the quality of their programs and what they might do to improve?
10.Is there a clear procedure to students to complain and express their concerns?
11.Does the student have someone they can speak to if they have a complaint or are not satisfied? Is there a procedure in writing that a student can follow to make sure their concerns are listened to and addressed and resolved, including concerns the student may want to state in writing?
12.Is there an employee known to all students with the specific responsibility of looking out for their welfare?
13.Is the school's advertising truthful?
14.Are the claims a school makes credible?
15.Do they make common sense? Do they have a "ring of truth"? If the combination of "excellent instruction" and a low price sounds too good to be true, then it most likely is not true.
16.Is there a proper learning environment?
17.Are there classrooms, academic material, and a lounge area where students and faculty can meet and get to know one another?
18.Are there scheduled activities that relate to the school's mission, for example, organized visits to local museums, parks, and other venues to learn, in Spanish, about national culture and lifestyles?
19.Does the school screen accommodations for quality?
20.Does the school evaluate home stay families, hostels, hotels, apartments and other accommodations to assure reasonable health standards, safety and security, convenient location and a warm welcome?
21.Is the school a legal entity in Ecuador properly registered with the Ecuadorian Ministry of Education?
Student COMMENTS
Estimado Eugenio,
Finalmente volví a Inglaterra. Le agradezco por haber organizado mis viajes y mis estudios con mucha paciencia. Las 6 semanas en Ecuador
fueron unas de las más interesantes de mi vida.
I can whole heartedly recommend your language school Instituto Superior de Español. The concept of learning Spanish while travelling
is superb and your organizational talent in working out individual itineraries is admirable! For some spoilt visitors from rich countries
it might be hard to fit in with an Ecuadorian family, but it gives a unique opportunity to learn more about the country than the superficial impressions usually granted to tourists.
Many thanks to you, your team and the host families for the courtesy, patience and good humor which made my trip so enjoyable!
I can also recommend the very friendly and comfortable jungle lodge and rafting or kayaking excursions who's safety standards were better
than some European organizations I have encountered.
Monika Lloyd-Burton
Poole England
monikarcadia@ntlworld.com
Further comments...
