I am in New York and I opened Adelante Spanish School (http://spanishamerica.com) with my Partner, Monica
Guerra, who manages day-to-day affairs in Quito. For free help in planning
a Ecuador trip, arranging a room in Quito and especially to plan Spanish
lessons please contact us (lee@spanishamerica.com in English or
monica@spanishamerica.com in Spanish)

In my opinion Quito, Ecuador and Antigua, Guatemala are the best places
in the world for a traveller to learn Spanish quickly and affordably and
with a great deal of fun. There are hundreds of schools in either city
and the competition keeps the quality high and the cost low. The cost
of language instruction can be under US$5/hr for one to one instruction
and you can experience room and board with a local family for about $15/day.
Having experienced both I chose to start my venture in Ecuador.

Quito’s many schools are excellent and the instructors are experienced.
You will find relatively few people who speak English inQuito but all
are patient with foreigners making it very conducive to learning. You
should have no problem mastering Spanish as long as you study. You don’t
need to do or study anything before you go. There is a lot to distract
in Quito. If you take classes for 4-5 hours a day, try to study for three
hours or so either over lunch or at dinner. It is a great place and you
will find the most difficult thing about studying is that there are many
wonderful things to do in Ecuador.

Ecuador is a place where you can do a lot and don't need a formal
plan, reservations, etc. It is very easy to decide to do something (visit:
jungle, mountain, hike, colonial, market, coast) on a Thursday night,
to get on a bus Friday afternoon and to find a hotel when you arrive.
It is the best way to meet people and to make sure that your experience
is the best possible. Furthermore, Spanish schools tend to be flexible
and accommodating for the spontaneous traveller.

Small schools are less expensive and tend to offer more personal attention
and a better immersion experience while more costly larger schools offer
the opportunity to socialize with more American students and English speakers.
If you want a large number of peers visit a large school as well as a
smaller school.

Most schools specialize in one-to-one Spanish instruction. One to one
immersion training offers the best way to rapidly develop your language
skills. Most professors are skilled and experienced in engaging in interesting
conversation with students that is gauged to their level and challengs
them to improve at their best ability. Your professor should be able to
tell where you need assistance and focus on that aspect of your language
training. Discusssion in English can be a welcome relief but they do not
often further the goal of learning Spanish nearly so well as struggling
with Spanish. That is what immersion is all about. There are volunteer
opportunities available in and around Quito. Schools work with organisations
to arrange volunteer opportunities

Please contact lee@spanishamerica.com or monica@spanishamerica.com for information
or look at their web site http://spanishamerica.com. We can pick you up
at the airport even if you later decide not to study with us. We are also
happy to discuss your plans and assist in arrangements without any fees.