Quito Travel Forum

I am retired. I teach international marketing and related courses part-time at The University of Georgia in Athens, GA, USA. I speak Spanish at an advanced level - no problem with any conversation until the speaker talks fast or uses slang. I plan to spend mid-June to mid-July in Quito. Am looking for Spanish instruction and accommodations. Any advice appreciated. Thanks, Tucker Cox

Hi Tucker,
I'd recommenend you check out www.cactuslanguage.com
They offer courses all over the World including Quito. I took one of their courses in Costa Rica and it was fantastic. My friend took a month's Spanish course with them in Quito and recommended them to me. They also arrange accommodation with local families, but I think you can take the course on its own if you like.
I think they have an office in New York and in the UK, but you can also email them. From looking at my old mails to them it looks like their address is info@cactuslanguage.com
Hope you enjoy Ecuador!

Many thanks. Much appreciated. Tuck

Have travelled many times to Ec. and to Quito. When you arrive in Quito you will find many schools for studying spanish. Research some on the net and then visit them when you arrive. I'm in Charlotte. Your spanish will come in good in the countryside, outside of main cities that is. Have a good trip.

The best thing I ever did is stop taking a formal class and paid a tutor by the hour. I would either read literature or the newspaper prior to our scheduled time and we'd discuss politics, ideas etc. My Spanish flourished and my ear got attuned to rapid fire Spanish faster than taking classes. This will work if you are at an advanced level.

On another trip, I took a silver smithing class all in Spanish. Some of the technical terms were hard to follow but it really pushed me. I would write down words and concepts that were confusing and during breaks and work times I would ask my instructor for clarification. Consider taking a class of some sort and pushing yourself, you won't regret it!