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Experience Talks: “By the end of the language school, even those who had no previous knowledge of Spanish were able to communicate well with the local people they met and worked closely with them during the project and expedition phases.”
This is your introduction to a new continent, a new culture and a new language. The two week language course in Quito, plus a further one week refresher course in Cusco, will improve your Spanish Language Skills immeasurably. It’s not all about the language, you’ll saviour the flavours of the local cuisine with an introduction to Ecuadorian and Peruvian cooking; ignite those Latin rhythms at salsa dance lessons, discover the secrets of ancient and modern Inca culture and the local literature and cinema will make Che Guevarra’s “Motorcycle Diaries” spring to life.
Quito Language School: Ecuador (Weeks 1 and 2)
Our Base Camp in Quito is the homely "Selva Alegre" hostel
which has comfortable bedrooms, individual study areas and a roof-top
terrace. The Spanish sessions are informal and focus primarily on developing
conversational Spanish, don't worry it's not like school, the emphasis
is on having fun and getting a feel for the language, rather than achieving
top marks! It doesn't matter whether you're already fluent or have never
uttered an "Hola!" in your life; each Venturer has his or her
own tutor, allowing everyone to progress at their own pace. The afternoons are free to discover Quito; wander through the bustling
streets of the colonial centre (a Unesco World Heritage site), practice
your new Spanish skills in the city's open market, cafes and shops. Be
sure to visit the 500-year old Plaza and Monastery of San Francisco, and
wander through the Old Town to explore Quito's churches, monasteries,
cathedrals, museums and plazas. The weekends offer a chance to get out of the city. We visit Otavalo's
world-famous weekend market where you can buy everything from knitwear
to a Llama! And our expedition skills training gets underway with a chance
to climb Cotopaxi, the world's highest active volcano, for those who want
to, whilst saner Venturers can opt to mountain bike down the volcano!
The Amigos Language School: Cusco, Peru (Week
14)
This Spanish refresher course in the 14th week of the Venture is a great
opportunity to "top-up" your language skills. Whether your grammar's
gone rusty or you're frustrated by vocab', this week of tuition will build
on your existing skills and set you up for the next level. The Amigos
School is a not-for-profit organisation established to teach Spanish to
visitors and teach English to local street children. The fees we pay to
the school subsidise the local children's English lessons.
In the mornings we split into small groups each with its own language
teacher. By now everyone will be able to "get by" in Spanish,
so the emphasis is on extending vocab' and improving conversational level.
The afternoons are free to join Amigos street children project. This gives
you a great chance to try out your Spanish, whilst helping the kids to
learn English, a crucial skill that will help their employment opportunities
in the future. There is also plenty of time to visit Cusco's museums and
galleries, marvel at the town's remarkable Inca stonework and check out
its many cafés, shops and parks. In the evenings it's time to hit
the salsa clubs and bars: You'll be amazed how much Spanish you can remember
when you need to order a beer! We make a trip to the nearby Sacred Valley of the Incas where the lofty
fortresses at Pisac and Ollantaytambo guard its flanks. The Inca ceremonial
site Sacsayhuaman (pronounced "sexy-woman") with its perfect
walls made from 130 tonne stone blocks is a "must-see". As is
the amphitheatre Qenqo with its hollowed-out stone altar and zigzag channels
to drain away the sacrificial blood! Nice! Accommodation in Cusco is with Spanish-speaking local families, you can
choose whether to stay on your own, or with a couple of other Venturers;
either way your new family will be eager for you to practice your Spanish
on them! Living with a family is also the perfect way to discover more
about modern Inca culture.
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64-66 The Market Place, Warwick CV34 4SD, Phone Number 01926 411 122 |
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Inca & Amazon Venture Phase 1: 
Inca
Amazon Venture starts in Quito, Ecuador's capital high in the Andes. The
city's pleasant climate, stunning setting amid snow-capped volcanoes,
spectacular colonial centre and bustling bars, cafes and clubs make this
the perfect location for easing yourself into the rhythms of Latin life.