STUDENTS

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The school is conscious that the atmosphere of the institution and the opportunity you have to practice the language with other people , meet new friends and get to know about different cultures is very important when you make your choice to study. In the school you are going to find people from all over the world.

“Diversity” is the word that best defines the people who study in Terracentro Spanish School. Ecuador is a country that receives hundred of tourists each year generally from North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and Brazil. You will find in the school travelers who chose Ecuador to learn Spanish before they start their travels in South America, volunteers who have come here to get to know the country reality, students who are here to fulfill internships and need the language for their jobs, and professionals who are going to spend years in Ecuador working in Ecuadorian international high schools, universities, multinational companies, etc. You will find here an interesting group of people with whom to share the classroom and to get to know during our daily breaks and schools activities.

We want our students to feel the Latin culture in the school. The relationship that the students have with their teachers and the director is excellent. Students always feel free to ask us for further information about the school or life in general in Ecuador, or just have someone to share traveling experiences or different point of views during the coffee-breaks. We invite you to join this family!!.

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Find below some of the comments that our students have shared with the school:

I came to Ecuador with nothing more than a few awkward Spanish phrases. I knew I wanted a bilingual teacher, and I knew I wanted someone who I could find an easy rapport with. I also knew that I wanted someone who followed a curriculum with set objectives. In these regards, I was extremely lucky to encounter my teacher, she has a mastery of the pedagogy surrounding language education. I can confidently say that I speak Spanish because of her. The school uses an internationally recognized curriculum that moved me from a bumbling gringo with a bad accent to an intermediate level of Spanish confidence! Professionalism, good humor, knowledge, and enthusiasm are contagious in learning, and the teachers in the school spreads these qualities with verve.

T. Henkels USA

I have a wonderful teacher who tailors her Spanish program to fit your individual needs.

Whether it be a one day survival crash course or a two year long term program, the school program will get you speaking Spanish quickly and correctly. I have been very pleased with my classes and feel that my Spanish has come a long way through mi teacher experience and dedication.

K. Lee. USA

Studying Spanish at Terracentro has been todo bien! I enjoy my lessons based on the varios activities and discussions we have each time.In less than a year , I´ve learned a great amount and feel more confident speaking Spanish everyday.Learning Spanish through doing exercises and discussing social and political issues in Ecuador has proven to be a fantastic cultural experience for me.

Andy J. USA

QUITO, THE CAPITAL OF ECUADOR

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Besides its amazing landscapes, it is known for its treasures of colonial churches, palaces, convents, paintings, sculptures, and carvings, which is why it has been declared a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO. Located in the Andean mountains at the foot of Mount Pichincha 9200 feet above sea level, making it the second-highest capital in the world. Quito is the only site on the planet where the Equator crosses over highlands.

Quito´s old town is one of the biggest and best-preserved old towns in Latin America. Old Quito has many colonial buildings and a huge market with a lot of hustle and bustle. Go north and you end up in the new centre (La Mariscal), where tourists will find many hotels, restaurants, travel agencies, and nightlife.

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INFORMATION

CLIMATE: http://tour.in-quito.com/quito-tourist-attractions-modern.htm In Quito the temperature ranges from 7 degrees C (55 F) at night to 26 C (78 F) at noon, and averages 15 C (64 F). There are two seasons, wet and dry. Quito's summer lasts about 4 months, from the end of June to September.

Arrival: Most tourists will arrive in Quito at the airport (Aeropuerto Mariscal Sucre), located in the north part of the city and very close to the central area of the city so it won´t be a problem to get a taxi to get to your hostel and the taxi wont charge more than $10. We have basically tree metro buses lines; comfortable, modern and fast transportation that only charge you 0.25 cents.

Where to stay: As befits a capital city, Quito has a wide variety of hotels and hostels (in Spanish also called hospedaje or hosteria). Most hotels can be found in the new city centre. The area around the Amazonas/Colon junction, called La Mariscal, is the place where most foreigners hang out, since it also has many restaurants, internet cafes, travel agencies, and bars.

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PLACES TO VISIT

Plaza de la Independencia. This is the main square in Quito´s old town, located in the center of town just in front of the Presidential Palace. It is surrounded by churches and government buildings.

Plaza de San Francisco: Its name comes from the city´s full name, “San Francisco de Quito,” . In this square you will find a church and a monastery. Its construction began 50 days after the foundation of the city (1534), which is why the church is considered the oldest on the continent. The complex, with 104 Doric columns, emphasizes images of the sun (the Inca god in the ceiling of the church).

Iglesia La Compañia: This church has been catalogued by UNESCO among the hundred most important World Heritage Site Monuments in the world. The interior, which is entirely gilded, shines like a jewel, and its paintings, sculptures, altars, and cupola. The facade is a marvel of the American baroque and plateresque styles. The marvelous harmony of baroque richness , all in gold fascinates and awes the visitor.

Mirador de Panecillo: El Panecillo is an excellent way to get to know the dimensions and the layout of the old city. The Panecillo hill – which in the Inca's time was a temple of adoration to the called Sun Yavirac- has on its peak a gigantic image of the Virgin of the Americas that is the only winged Virgin.

Equator - "Mitad del Mundo" The small town gets its name from its location at latitude 0°. A monument of 30 meters of height, topped by a five-ton globe, has been built to mark the spot. One of the attractions and mysteries of the city Mitad del Mundo is that during the equinoxes (21st of March and 21st of September) people and objects do not project not even the minimum shade. You can also visit the Museum where the real Equator Line crosses.

Teleferico (Cable Car): Take a tour of approximately between 8 to 10 minutes in 2.500 linear meters, the teleferico gets up from 2.950 meters to 4.050 meters of altitude, 2 cabins of load. Here visitors will find zones of amusement, as a park of mechanical attractions, commercial walk, the possibility to do horse riding or hikes in the mountain.

ECUADOR

“Ecuador, a green world behind the sun that lives in the shadow of volcanoes” is the country with the richest biodiversity per square mile in the world, located in the northwest of South America”.

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INFORMATION

AREA: 256.370 Km2

POPULATION: 12.6 million inhabitants.

LANGUAGE: Spanish; Quichua is spoken in some indigenous communities. English is widely spoken

CURRENCY: US$ Dollar.

VISA: Anyone from any country is entitled to an "automatic" 90 day tourist visa (12-V). If you plan to stay longer, you will need one of the other types of visas for a stay of over 90 days.

Ecuador is a multiethnic and multicultural country. We have more than 14 indigenous groups living on the Ecuadorian mainland, maintaining their own languages, culture and ways of life. Ecuador straddles the Equator, from which it takes its name, and has an area of 256,371 square kilometers (98,985 sq mi).

Ecuador is among the 17 most diverse countries in the world, because of its geographical, biological, and cultural diversity. As a visitor you can easily travel to each of Ecuador's four regions because of the small size of the territory. Only in Ecuador can you cross the Equatorial line, climb the highest active volcano in the world, kayak the rapids of the Amazon rainforest, cross fascinating rivers by zip cable , surf the waves along the sun Pacific beaches , sea lions and harmless whale sharks – all in just one trip!.

Ecuador is an incredible sustainable ,paradise because of its commitment to protecting its sustainable tourism in natural, cultural, and human megadiversity .

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TRAVELING

COTOPAXI VOLCANO

Cotopaxi is the highest active volcano in the world and the most popular mountain in South America. Its Quechua name means ¨Shining Peak;¨ at 5897 meters above sea level. Thousands of climbers visit it each year for a fabulous view of the 800m diameter crater. The mountain is characterized by quite stable weather conditions.

OTAVALO MARKET

Otavalo, located in the province of Imbabura. It´s traditional Saturday market is considered the biggest Indian market of South America. The friendly Otavaleños are renowned for their textiles; you can also find leather goods, fine art, and jewelry for sale. The town is surrounded by beautiful lakes such as Lago San Pablo and Laguna Cuicocha.

QUILOTOA LOOP

Quilotoa is a water-filled caldera and the westernmost volcano in the Ecuadorian Andes. The caldera was formed by the collapse of the volcano and has accumulated a deep crater lake, which has a greenish color as a result of dissolved minerals. Fumaroles are found on the lake floor and hot springs occur on the eastern flank of the volcano. The Quilotoa Loop takes hikers through several points over a day or two. One can also find mule- or horseback riding in the area.

MINDO

One of the most-visited cloud forests in Ecuador is the natural Reserve Mindo-Nambillo Protected Forest 14,170 hectares (35,000 acres). Some 400 species of birds have been recorded here. The town offers a variety of lodging and dining. There are lot of activities on offer as well as birding: you can go tubing on the rivers, horseback riding through beautiful scenery, hiking in the forests, or soaring between the trees suspended from a canopy line.

CUYABENO

Reserva Cuyabeno is comprised of over 6000 protected square kilometers . In this spectacular reserve you can discover a vast array of aquatic and bird life and plant species, like the huge ceiba trees, making the reserve's black water lagoons and rivers. Anacondas, boas, pink river dolphins, caimans, piranhas, toucans and monkeys are among the multitude of animals spotted with regularity. Indigenous Siona and Secoya communities also live in the reserve.

GALAPAGOS ISLANDS

The enchanted Galapagos Islands are located in the Pacific ocean some 1000 km off the Ecuadorian coast. There are 13 large islands, 6 smaller ones and 107 islets and rocks. The islands are volcanic in origin . Giant Galapagos tortoises meander distant highlands, and prehistoric marine iguanas sun themselves on black lava rocks along the shore. Cormorants and tiny penguins dart through the waters while graceful red-billed tropicbirds screech across the sky. Explore the island´s ecosystems as you inch past lounging sea lions, scout for breaching whales offshore and pink flamingos in hidden lagoons.

LOJA

The city of Loja, located in Southern Ecuador, boasts numerous attractions, including its numerous cultural festivals, a quaint colonial center, the Petrified Forest of Puyango, and the indigenous community of the Saraguro. Vilcabamba, the “Valley of Longevity” is located just south of Loja, and is famous for the long lifespan enjoyed by its locals. The Podocarpus National Park is also a paradise for nature lovers and bird watchers alike.