| Article published at Trinidad and Tobago | | | | The school offers group Spanish Classes as |
| Newsday | | | | well and can tailor Spanish Classes to suit |
| | | | each group's requirements. The school is |
| Sunday July 9th, 2006 | | | | accredited by the Ministry of Education and |
| | | | Culture and has attracted diplomats, |
| Quito is the second highest capital city in | | | | businessmen and pilots who need Spanish for |
| the world. And living that high above sea | | | | their jobs. For me, I've conducted several |
| level can be a heady experience. But if you | | | | interviews in Spanish now and would not have |
| prefer a cool climate, look no further. | | | | been able to do so had I not taken 3 months |
| Although it's located 25 kilometres from the | | | | of Spanish. Knowing the language allows me to |
| equator, it rarely climbs above 24ºC on | | | | learn about situations and events I would not |
| any given day and averages a refreshing | | | | otherwise be a party to. I've been able to |
| 15ºC all year round. This is what drew | | | | enjoy my travels even more because I can mix |
| me to Quito initially, but it was the Spanish | | | | and mingle with the locals and often they |
| school Amazonas and what it offered its | | | | take me to places where you wouldn't find |
| students that sealed the deal. | | | | other tourists, and I really enjoy that. |
| | | | |
| After searching the web for a place to study, | | | | Throughout South America they offer Spanish |
| I found Amazonas Spanish School by sheer luck | | | | immersion programmes, but Ecuador seems to be |
| or was it destiny. I wrote to them for more | | | | the most organised and the Spanish spoken in |
| information, and the information they sent | | | | Ecuador, Colombia, Peru and Bolivia is closer |
| was tailor-made to me at a price I couldn't | | | | to the Spanish spoken in Spain. However, |
| resist. Amazonas Spanish School offered me | | | | schools in Ecuador seem to offer a lot more |
| one to one classes, the use of the Hilton | | | | than just Spanish at truly irresistible |
| gym, spa and heated swimming pool, home stay | | | | prices. And I can't forget to mention the |
| with meals, airport transfer, excursions and | | | | incredible landscape that surrounds you in |
| the opportunity to do voluntary work with the | | | | Quito. There's the snow-capped Cotopaxi in |
| street children in Quito for what tuition | | | | one corner, Pichincha in another and Cayambe. |
| alone would cost in Spain. Talk about Best | | | | At sunset the light and shadows on the |
| Buys, this was definitely one of them! | | | | hilltops almost look surreal. Quito's old |
| | | | city is a UNESCO, world cultural heritage |
| I learned in 3 months much more than I ever | | | | site and you really can picture what it must |
| learned in all 5 years of secondary school. | | | | have been like when the Spanish ruled. |
| The professors know their material and the | | | | Another plus for Quito is that they use US |
| calibre of students also add to the | | | | currency which makes it quite easy. The cost |
| experience. I met journalists, teachers, | | | | of living is way less and you can enjoy |
| lawyers, engineers, doctors and even met a | | | | American style malls with the brand names we |
| group of teachers and students from New | | | | all know. As I said before, it's at half the |
| Mexico who were studying Spanish and | | | | price. |
| travelling around Ecuador as part of a school | | | | |
| trip. I thought how progressive. Maybe some | | | | If you're looking for a cool city from which |
| of our secondary schools could offer a | | | | to begin Spanish immersion and if you want to |
| programme like that - a summer in Ecuador to | | | | add a little Inca and Spanish Colonial |
| learn Spanish, travel and volunteer. Just a | | | | history to that along with say maybe some |
| thought. | | | | extreme sports or shopping, Quito has it all. |
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