Instituto Superior de Español
Guayaquil N9-77, Quito, Pichincha 170130, Ecuador
Instituto Superior de Español
Looking to travel and study Spanish in Ecuador? We have the perfect program that combines travelling with classes. Your teacher is your guide. We will take you on the adventure of a lifetime, all in Spanish.
Monday
A trip to Ecuador is not complete without visiting Otavalo. A cultural hub, Otavaleños pride themselves in their heritage and artistic talents, they are famous for their weavings and textiles and host one of the biggest and best markets in Central and South America.
After arriving to Otavalo, refuel with lunch and then you will have your first Spanish class for the duration of the afternoon. Between classes and dinner you will have the opportunity to explore the colorful market.
Tuesday
Start with breakfast and then spend the morning in classes. Eat lunch and then head on an excursion to Peguche Falls, passing through a eucalypti grove. After the visiting the falls, continue to San Pablo Lake, with beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. Return to Otavalo for dinner and an evening stroll through the vibrant town.
Wednesday
After a good breakfast, it is off to Cuicocha Lake and Cotacachi. Follow the path around Cuicocha Lake, a beautifully scenic area with patchwork fields in the background. Eat a typical lunch and learn about the history of the lake and islands. Return to Cotachai, famous for leather goods, and have the opportunity to stroll the drag. Back in Otavalo, you will have Spanish classes for the afternoon and then dinner.
Thursday
Eat breakfast and then departure to Machachi. Located in the central highlands, Machachi sits among beautifully quilted farmland, surrounded by volcanic peaks. It is also possible to to see the jagged peaks of the Ilinizas, which sometimes are snow covered. After arriving, eat lunch and then study Spanish for the afternoon. Go for an afternoon walk in the stunning environment and later in the evening have dinner and relax for an adventurous day ahead.
Friday
Fuel up with a good breakfast and it is off to el Boliche Recreational Area, located adjacent to Cotopaxi National Park. Explore the Andean forest by path, observing different native plants. After your hike have lunch and spend the afternoon in class. In the evening, have dinner and rest.
Saturday
Start with breakfast and a short Spanish session before departing to Latacunga. In Latacunga, grab a bite to eat and board the bus to Chugchilán, passing through beautiful Andean country. Chugchilán is situation on the mountainside, overlooking the Rio Toachi Canyon, with a spectacular view. Have lunch and Spanish classes. In the evening, have dinner and get some rest for the day ahead.
Sunday
A good breakfast and it is off by horse to Laguna Quilotoa, the famous and stunning green crater lake. On a clear day it is possible to see the snowcapped peaks of Cotopaxi and Iliniza. Refuel with lunch and head back for an afternoon Spanish session. In the evening, have dinner and relax for departure in the morning.
Monday
After breakfast you will depart for Riobamba, closely located to Chimborazo, Ecuador's highest peak and the closet peak in the world to the sun. Fuel up with lunch and study Spanish for the afternoon. In the evening have dinner and rest.
Tuesday
Start with a good breakfast and then morning Spanish classes. After lunch, spend the afternoon exploring Riobamba. In the evening, have dinner and prepare for an exciting departure in the morning.
Wednesday
An early breakfast and all aboard! Depart by train on the famous La Nariz del Diablo, an exhilarating descent from Alausí to Sibambe and back. After returning from the train adventure have lunch and then classes for the afternoon. In the evening eat dinner and rest for departure in the morning.
Thursday
After breakfast, depart for the next stop on your adventure, Baños. The gateway to the Amazon and an adventurers paradise, you will enjoy this vibrant environment located in the foothills of the active Volcán Tungurahua. After arriving in Baños, refuel with lunch and then you will have Spanish classes for the duration of the afternoon. In the evening, eat dinner, stroll the town, and enjoy the friendly vibe.
Friday
Start with a good breakfast and then visit the spectacular waterfalls of Baños. Ride in a cable car and cross the river. Hike to the Pailon del Diablo and be in for a splash. For the brave, there is even bungee jumping. Back in town, enjoy lunch and an afternoon of classes. In the evening, have dinner and relax.
Saturday
Fuel with breakfast and then spend the morning in Spanish classes. After classes, have lunch and then hike to the spectacular viewpoint. After returning, have dinner and relax.
Sunday
Free day. Enjoy the Baños thermal pools, a great way to spend the day relaxing and known for their rejuvenating powers.
Monday
After breakfast depart to Misahualli, located on the Rio Napo in the Amazon Jungle. After arriving you will have lunch, along with entertainment from the local monkeys, who hang out in the central park. Stroll back to the hotel, stopping along the beach, and study Spanish for the afternoon. In the evening, have dinner and relax for an exciting day ahead.
Tuesday
After a good breakfast, depart by motorized canoe down the Rio Napo. Your first stop, a jungle walk. Disembark and be guided through the jungle. Discover some of the many marvels of the jungle, including some survival tricks. Next, you will have the opportunity to tube down the Rio Napo, a refreshingly wonderful experience. After lunch on the Napo, you will visit a conservational zoo. Head back up river to town, eat dinner, and relax.
Wednesday
Start with breakfast and then visit a waterfall, located closely out of town. Hike through the jungle to the waterfall and take a refreshing dip. Back in Misahualli, get your bags and it is off to Tena. Have lunch and an afternoon of Spanish classes. In the evening, have dinner and relax.
Thursday
After eating breakfast, visit the caves of Jumandy. Named after a man who fought against the Spanish conquistadors, explore the caves and their wonders. Then you will return to Tena for lunch and afternoon classes. In the evening, stroll the town, eat dinner, and prepare for your final day.
Friday
Eat breakfast and then head back up the Sierra to Papallacta. Papallacta was a stopping point for Francisco Orellana, the Spanish conquistador who made the famous journey down the Amazon in 1541. Here you will find the thermal pools of Papallacta, a relaxing way to finish your trip. Refuel with a local trout lunch before heading back to Quito.
Listening, Speaking, Pronunciation, Reading, Writing, Vocabulary, Grammar and Activities
Class schedule may change depending on availability and season.
Maximum | 6 students |
Age range | 12 - 90 years old |
The Instituto Superior de Español (ISE) is recognized by former students and competitors as a leading Spanish school in Ecuador, with a long and sustained history of excellence. With our flexible programs, you can combine any of our locations, giving you the opportunity to experience Ecuador to the fullest!
Our flexible programs offer you the chance to study a minimum of 4 hours per day, in the morning or in the afternoon.
With the exception of our Traveling Classroom Programs, the Instituto Superior de Español offers five different types of classes, Individual, SemiPrivate, Group, Combined, and Specialized. We arrange classes to fit the needs of our students.
Individual Lessons - One to One Spanish Programs:
These Private Spanish Lessons are a great way to make real progress in a short amount of time! This style of learning allows the student to benefit from 100% teacher focus and enables the teacher to develop a course of study that is perfectly tailored to the student 's individual needs. The Instituto Superior de Español (ISE) recommends individual lessons for beginners in order to facilitate the learning process and speed for the student. Our teachers are committed to the students; therefore, if a student needs more time in one area, more time will be spent before moving on.
Group Spanish Lessons:
Group lessons are a fun way for students to learn from the teacher and the other students. Groups consist of two to six students, who are at similar levels of Spanish. This gives the students of the group the opportunity to support each other in class and outside of class. Studying in a group is a great way to get to know other students and a wonderful way to learn Spanish!
Combined Spanish Lessons:
A perfect combination program with 4 hours of Group Classes and 2 hours of Individual teaching.
While group classes will concentrate on vocabulary, grammar exercises, conversations, reading, etc. Students will develop their level of Spanish, with grammar being one of the most important elements of their program.
Individual teaching will focus on the weaknesses of each student, concentrating on the conversation, grammar exercises, or reinforcing grammar or vocabulary skills for students who require more support in these areas.
Full-time lessons:
This is also a combination Spanish course for those who decide to embark on an intensive Spanish program. When students think about full-time or intensive Spanish courses, most of our students decide on having 6 or 7 hours of individual teaching because this allows them to speak Spanish all the time, but when students wish to participate in group classes and also have their private lessons to develop everything they learn in the morning, they decide on a full-time Spanish course with 4 hours of group classes in the morning and 3 hours of individual teaching in the afternoon.
Specialized Spanish Programs:
Because of the professional high quality of our teachers, we have developed some specialized Spanish courses according to the Student's needs, interests and career. You can study Medical Spanish, Business Spanish, Legal Spanish or DELE Exam preparation. We also offer programs for University Groups.
Instituto Superior de Español Teachers:
Because of our very well 30 years of experience teaching the Spanish language to foreigners, the Instituto Superior de Español knows that only professional teachers with university degrees are able to teach qualified Spanish classes. Only a university degree guarantees that someone may be a good teacher to teach Spanish to foreigners.
We are the only school in which every teacher owns University degrees of Latin American Literature and Linguistics. All of them are well experienced and most already give lessons for years.
Contract young people without a university degree to teach Spanish and pay them for each hour of instruction is cheap but in the law of Ecuador is illegal. In the law of Ecuador, teachers have to receive 15 full salaries per year, social security paid for each month and paid vacations. The Instituto Superior de Español is the only Spanish school in Ecuador which has 100% of teachers with a university degree (all of them have studied to be teachers) and the only Spanish school in Ecuador which pays professional and complete salaries to all of our appointees.
Moreover, our teachers are all native Ecuadorians, which enables students to have a deeper contact with the Ecuadorian culture, history, and lifestyle. The teachers may help better with solving problems if a student has got problems with his/her host family because of cultural differences.
The nationality and age mix at Instituto Superior de Español varies over different time periods, courses and levels.
ISE - Quito teaches students from all over the world, including:
ISE - Quito does not hold classes on the holiday dates below. The school does not compensate for these holidays, so make sure to choose your start date accordingly.
The Instituto Superior de Español in Quito is located just in the center of the city which is also the historical area. Our privileged location allows our students to see the colonial beauty of Quito every day of their stay in the city. The school is surrounded by churches, museums, art galleries, restaurants with many options, a variety of accommodations including our selection of local families.
We are also happy to organize activities for you to get to know more about the city while practicing Spanish, like going to the famous Middle of the World or getting to know about the culinary traditions of Ecuador and South America.
With the Instituto Superior De Español, students have the opportunity to learn Spanish and travel through beautiful Ecuador. Our mission is to fulfill all your language dreams and make your stay the best learning and exploring experience available in Ecuador.
I felt my Spanish got so much better even with only a week. Janeth was a great teacher and I enjoyed how she took the time to help me practice conversations asides from the content in the work book. the location was really convenient in Quito and people were always happy to give recommendations on how I should spend my afternoons. My only regret is that I didn't have longer to carry on learning.
Show details » Read more...We cannot apply for visas on behalf of students. However, the school can supply you with all the documentation you need to support your visa application.
Your letter of acceptance will be sent to your home address by regular mail at no charge to you. If you wish to receive your paperwork by express mail, you will be charged $100 when you register.
Please note that we do not book flights for our students. If you are researching airfare costs, we recommend using Kayak.com, a search engine that lets you compare flight options from your home country to Quito based on your budget, schedule and preferences.
Study abroad worry-free with Language International's health and personal effects insurance coverage. When you book a course with us, you can opt to purchase an international insurance plan that covers not only your health care cost but also loss of your personal belongings. You must book your insurance in advance when you register.
Have questions? Get answers from Instituto Superior de Español staff, Language International student advisors, and past students.
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