Accreditation & Curriculum

Official Recognition
Course Philosophy
Language Program
Levels
Classes
Dates
Books and Materials
Teaching Staff
Academic Coordinators

• Chosen by Sigma Delta Pi, Hispanic National Honor Society from the United States, to contribute to their highly regarded scholarship program.
• Accredited member of the Latin American Council for Spanish Academies (CALE)

Academia Latinoamericana de Español, has prepared students since 1989 with the following objective: "We want to provide the best possible Spanish education for foreigners. Our mission is to deliver excellent service, quality study materials and superior instruction in order to fully satisfy each student."

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OFFICIAL RECOGNITION

The Academia is registered with and recognized by the Ecuadorian Ministry of Education. Certificates are awarded after completion of study, and college credit is available in the United States. Our program is also approved by the Ecuadorian - German Chamber of Commerce and recognized as a Bildungsurlaub in Germany.

Organizations that recognize coursework at the Academia include:

1. Ministry of Culture and Education of Bolivia.
2. Ministry of Culture and Education of Ecuador.
3. Ministry of Culture and Education of Peru
4. Ministry of Culture and Education in the states of Berlin, Germany
5. Ministry of Culture and Education in the states of Hamburg and Essen, Germany
6. University of Southern Mississippi, USA
7. Alma College, USA
8. Mary Washington University, USA
9. University of Wyoming, USA
10. Colorado Mountain College, USA
11. University of Redlands
12. University of South Dakota
13. The Citadel University
14. Virginia Military Institute
15. Elmira College
16. Mount Saint Mary College
17. Southwestern College
18. Durham College
19. Central University in Quito, Ecuador
20. Council for International Education, USA
21. International Society for Academic Research Expeditions, USA
22. South American Explorers Club, USA
23. Ecuadorian-German Chamber of Commerce in Ecuador.

The following Institutions have conducted research projects in the Cloud Forest program:

1. The Smithsonian Institute
2. Bird-Life International
3. Natural Sciences Academy in Philadelphia
4. Wildlife Conservation International
5. Nature Conservancy Institute

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COURSE PHILOSOPHY

Upon arrival, students take a placement test. Because we are aware that students know their particular educational needs, we evaluate the test and assist students in creating the most beneficial customized program for them.

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LANGUAGE PROGRAM

Maximum number of students per class: Five (5). Upon completion, the student receives a certificate.

Average number of students per class: 2 students

Method: Based on the 4 language skills: listening, grammar, oral and written comprehension. No English should be used in class.

Text and material used in class: Classes incorporate written exercises from textbooks, discussions and debates, newspapers, videos, tapes, etc. All professors have university degrees and most have areas of expertise useful for specialized class content needs.

Academic credit: Option 1: Check if your own school offers credit. Option 2: College credit is available through New Mexico State University and Brookhaven College, both in the US. Option 3: Seattle Central Community College also offers credit. Option 4: Through Travel Study Programs, under the direction of Professor Steve Tash is another option for obtaining credit.

Private Instruction: Available at extra cost. From June to August private classes usually take place in the afternoon only and availability is limited.

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LEVELS

Lower beginner, medium beginner, high beginner, lower intermediate, medium intermediate, high intermediate, advanced, high advanced and superior.

For college and university students, our courses and credits are essentially the same as those in most universities around the world. The amount of credit is based upon the number of contact hours, lectures, laboratory hours, reading assignments, and required papers. All exams and papers are forwarded to the student's college or university at the end of his or her stay in Quito.

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CLASSES

Academic Hours are 60 minutes in length. Students may enroll for a minimum of 4 hours a day up to a maximum of 7. Students may enroll for as many weeks as desired. Courses lasting for more than 3 months will require a visa from the Ecuadorian government which the Academia can easily help the student secure. In order to make sufficient progress and gain the maximum benefit from the course we recommend the following minimal duration: Beginner (2-12 weeks), Intermediate (4-8 weeks) and Advanced (2-8 weeks).

Handling of advanced and superior levels of Spanish: It is possible to utilize pre-approved subject material for both advanced-superior students who need specialized vocabulary (lawyers, doctors, teachers, etc). If the student wants to study literature they should try to bring texts with them and give advanced notice.

• Arrival first day of class: 8:25am
• Placement test: First day of class. Oral and a written test.
• Orientation: First Monday. A talk about school facilities, homestays, language program, cultural information, do's and don'ts, city tour of Quito / Cusco / Sucre.
• Class schedule in Ecuador: Low season: 8:30-10:30am, break 10:30-11:00am, 11:00am-1:00pm. High season: also afternoon session 2:00-4:00pm, break 4:00-4:30pm, 4:30-6:30pm, School closed for siesta 1:00-2:00pm.
• Class schedule in Peru: Low season: 8:30-10:20am, break 10:20-10:50am, 10:50am-12:40pm. High season: also afternoon session 2:20-4:10pm, break 4:10-4:40pm, 4:40 to 6:30pm, School closed for siesta from 12:40-2:20pm.
• Teachers' schedule: Rotated every week. Friday exam given to appropriately place the student for the following week.
• Getting to school the first day: The host family takes the student to school the first day (walking or driving).

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DATES

Classes may begin any day of the week, Monday through Friday, and are available on a year round basis. The Academia is closed only on the following days when occurring on weekdays: May 1 (Labor Day), May 24 (Pichincha battle), August 10 (Independence Day), November 2-3 (Day of the Deaths), December 6 (Quito Foundation), December 25 (Christmas Day), December 31 (New Year´s Eve) and January 1st.

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BOOKS AND MATERIALS

All books and materials are provided by the Academia. Textbooks and guidebooks published by the Academia are supplemented by others from universities around the world with an emphasis on grammar and vocabulary. Our library is extensive and we have a wealth of audio-visual materials, newspapers and magazine articles.

Complementary books:

1. Beginner/Elementary levels
   CUMBRE (SGEL) / PLANETA (EDELSA)
2. Intermediate level
   RAPIDO (SGEL) / PUNTOS DE PARTIDA (MC GRAW HILL)
3. Advanced level
   ABANICO (DIFUSION)
4. Proficiency
   CURSO DE PERFECCIONAMIENTO (SGEL)

The Academia's course syllabi are available for colleges and universities if needed. If you are part of an educational institution and you are interested in receiving them, please contact us. We will gladly provide you with a copy of these documents.

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TEACHING STAFF

Superior teaching staff. All have a University Degree in Spanish Philology and have been carefully selected because of their qualifications and experience in teaching Spanish as a foreign language. Some of them are Doctors or have Master Degrees in teaching Spanish and literature, history or Latin American culture. They refresh their teaching skills, receiving special courses every year from our International Academic Director in Spain and Peru. The Academia chooses the teachers for their ability to listen, their enthusiasm, kindness and patience, but most of all for their love of teaching Spanish to foreign students. All of them know how to motivate, develop and support the student´s curiosity and interest in the Spanish Language, Ecuadorian culture and social life. They also know that the learning process continues outside the classroom.

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ACADEMIC COORDINATORS

1. Dr. Diego del Corral, Education Program Director. Doctor in Political Sciences.

   Education:
   1998 ACTFL, Alajuela-Costa Rica; Oral Evaluator of Spanish as a Foreign Language 1997, Antigua-Guatemala; Visual and Communicative Teaching Techniques 1988-1996 Universidad Central del Ecuador, Facultad de Jurisprudencia. Ecuador; Doctor in Law 1994 Universidad Central del Ecuador, Facultad de Jurisprudencia. Ecuador; Degree in Social and Political Sciences 1993-1994 Universidad Andina "Simón Bolivar". Ecuador; Graduate degree in Economics Law 1988-1990 Universidad de Ciencias Mercantiles. Ecuador; Business Adminstration 1987-1988 Strath Haven High School. USA; International Diploma 1987 Colegio Isaac Newton. Ecuador; Diploma in Modern Humanities.

   Languages:
   Spanish, Portuguese and English.

2. Lic. Alberto Chavez, Cloud Forest Program Coordinator. Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Science.

   Education:
   1997 Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science majoring en Ecotourism, 1989. German High School of Quito, School-leaving exams in Physics and Mathematics.

   Languages:
   Spanish, English and German.

3. Lic. Lidia Tipán, Academic Director in Quito, degree in Education and Literature.

   Education:
   Degree in Educational Science with a major in Spanish and Literature, Universidad Central del Ecuador.

   Languages:
   Spanish.

4. Lcda. Carolina Caceres Perez, Director of Studies in Cusco,

   Education:
   Psychology. Universidad Particular Andina del Cusco. Degree in Education. Universidad Nacional San Antonio Abad del Cusco. Majored in Language and Literature. Masters in Educational Administration and Planning from the Graduate School of the Universidad Nacional San Antonio Abad del Cusco.

   Languages:
   Spanish and English.

5. Lcda. Sandra de Maldonado, Academic Director in Sucre,

   Education:
   Degree in Business Administration and Spanish in Ecuador and Bolivia. -President/leader of the Rotaract Club of Ecuador. -Rotary exchange Student in the US. -Academic and Volunteer Program Coordinator of the Academia Latinoamericana de Español in Quito for 8 years. - Director and Volunteer Program Coordinator of the Academia Latinoamericana de Español for 4 years in Bolivia. - Traveled in most states of the United States,and well as in Ecuador, Germany, Spain, Italy, Israel, Caribbean Islands, Colombia, Peru, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil and Bolivia.

   Languages:
   Spanish and English.

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