In this section you find information about Spanish language classes in Ecuador or Uruguay. We offer one to one classes on our LH Spanish language school in Quito, Montevideo, Chile and San Jose. Below you can find information about the teachers, the method and the international staff of our schools. Improve your Spanish conversation skills, grammar or vocabulary and obtain a complete understanding of world’s second language. Enjoy Spanish lessons in a relaxed sphere and discover the additional cultural South American activities!

LH SPANISH LANGUAGE SCHOOL QUITO

Our Spanish Language school is one of a kind. We combine leisure with study and therefore our team of experienced and enthusiastic teachers who will teach you Spanish in a personal setting. The teachers will take you out to a variety of places during your stay which will improve your Spanish conversation skills.

Our school - How it looks from the inside

The LH Spanish language school is located in downtown Quito, in a beautiful building. When you enter, there's a small internet and social area with sofas, dvd, radio where you can socialize with your fellow students. The second floor is more private with classrooms were classes are given most of the time. Outside we have a small patio were you can enjoy the sun and the asado (BBQ)!

Downtown Quito

The LH Spanish language school is ideally located in downtown Quito, only 2 blocks from the main square of la Mariscal neighborhood, it is close to everything you need: discotheques, restaurants, travel agencies, hostels, Internet, shops and supermarkets. With your fellow students, the friendly teachers, the sofa's and the hot coffee daily served, the school soon will be your second home.

Why learn Spanish with us?

The attraction of our school is first of all that classes are given in a cozy building where leisure and professionalism are the best combination to learn Spanish. Second, in Quito the people speak the clearest Spanish in whole Latin America, an advantage for beginners! Third, it is held in a beautiful city, both modern and colonial where the climate is like eternal springtime. Fourth, staying in Quito will let you experience the real Latin America; LH students get to know local life from very close by.

We are functioning for five years now and are an organization coordinated by Europeans and Ecuadorians together. That gives us the advantage to have a hand in an excellent selection of Ecuadorian teachers - who do not only teach but as well let you know the ins and outs of Ecuadorian life style. At the same time we have a profound understanding of service towards students 24 hours a day. LH staff speaks Spanish, English and Dutch

Spanish Programs

Group and individual Classes 

We offer individual classes (one to one), as well as lessons in mini-groups of 2-4 students. Private lessons start every day.  The mini-group courses are open only when at least 2 students of the same language level sign up for them.

Vocabulary and grammar are learnt in the first context with both oral and written exercises provided by the school. Emphasis is placed on developing the oral abilities of the students. Every teacher has his own material according to the students and his/her interests.  (E.g. you can choose to focus on your intern or volunteer placement area)

With the help of audio and video equipment, conversation classes, newspapers and magazines, the social and cultural life of the country will be revealed.

This relaxed environment ensures that our students progress with ease and at the end have a broader understanding of daily Ecuadorian life. We prepare the students for realistic situations using dialogue, interviews, and representative situations, through which the students improve their vocabulary, grammar and understanding of the language.

Activities

All our programs include a weekly activity such as salsa classes, cooking classes, and visit to museum among others. Furthermore the school offers amenities like wireless internet access for free and travel information.  Also, you’ll be invited to join our weekly Spanish movie night and our conversation club, where students practice Spanish with Ecuadorian students.

At the weekend the student can choose for organized day excursions to Equator line, Papallacta thermal springs, the Cotopaxi volcano among others. These excursions are offered at reasonable rates at the affiliated travel agency.  

Additionally, trips further away are organized for two or three or four days, depending on price for example Galapagos, Cuenca, Devils Nose train, the Jungle, etc. (for further information see Additional Service page). 

LH SPANISH SCHOOL MONTEVIDEO

LH Spanish School is located in the downtown of Montevideo, one of most safe cities of Latin America.  It offers a great variety of cultural and recreational options, most of them located on this part of the city. Its strategic location allows people that live in Montevideo for first time, to have an easy transportation.

The building  

The school is located in an old recycled building, which permits a great comfort for the student: it has rooms adapted for group and individual classes, rooms for recreational activities, a gym and an outdoor place for rest, with a barbecue.

Method

The school offers an exclusive system in Uruguay, because of the high level of the staff and the pedagogical methodology, which combines teaching of Spanish language with the knowledge of the local culture. With this goal, the teachers use dynamic, recreational and interactive activities such as roll playing, conversation groups, workshops, related to different popular culture topics (candombe, drums –tambores-, mate, among others).  Thematic visits to different points of the city are developed as part of the formation, accompanied by professionals formed in history anthropology who guide the students.

Spanish programs

The classes are adapted to different levels: beginner, intermediate, advanced.  The teaching materials are supplied by the institute.

Group and individual Classes 

We offer individual classes (one to one), as well as lessons in mini-groups of 2-4 students. Private lessons start every day.  The mini-group courses are open only when at least 2 students of the same language level sign up for them.

You can choose between classes in the morning and in the afternoon:

Morning program:          Monday to Friday from 8.30-12.30 am.

Afternoon program:        Monday to Friday from 13.30-17.30 pm.

Our teachers

We have an experienced staff of "Uruguayos" as our teachers: professional, enthusiastic and passionate to teach you the Spanish language in their hometown. All our teachers have a university level, and at least 5 years experience in teaching Spanish to foreigners. 

Activities

The school offers extracurricular options, directed to promote the practice of the language and the interest on the local culture. With this objective students will have the option to have direct contact with figures of the national cultural environment: directors of movies, music, dance, plastic arts, among others.   

LH SPANISH LANGUAGE SCHOOL SANTIAGO

Experience and Quality

The school provides world-class language training to students from all over the globe. Our personal attention to detail and many years of experience are reflected in the quality of the language study abroad programs that we offer. We are dedicated to providing an outstanding study abroad experience to each and every one of our students. 

Proven Methodology

The ultimate goal of our students is to feel comfortable speaking and understanding Spanish. We achieve this goal by taking a conversational approach with our instruction and immersing our students in the language. 

Location

Our language center is located in Santiago, one of the most exciting South American cities to visit, and we endeavor to introduce its unique and lively culture to our students. The school is located in the neighborhood of Providencia, a combination of modern, high -rise buildings and quiet, tree-lined residential streets. It is just a few blocks from the main avenue 11 de Septiembre, where you will find many sidewalk cafes, plenty of shopping opportunities, as well as the metro stop "Los Leones." Just a five minute walk from the school is one of the city's most popular night spots, Suecia, where there are some 50 restaurants and nightclubs located within a five-square-block area.

Facilities

The school offers our students clean, modern and comfortable facilities. The school occupies its own three-story building and has 17 classrooms with TVs and DVD players, central heat and air-conditioning, 6 computers with free Internet and WiFi, and a balcony where students can smoke, have a coffee, or catch some rays during the breaks. You'll find our school's staff welcoming and professional, and always ready to help you with whatever you may need during your time with us. 

Programs for All

From students to executives, young to old, our flexible course offerings allow us to meet the needs of any student. 

Small Class Size

We know how important it is to practice using the language that one is learning. That is why the maximum number of students in our Group course is six (6). This allows each student more speaking time in class – an important factor in language learning. 

Excursions and Activities

Included in all of the study abroad programs are exciting and interesting afternoon excursions and activities. These enable students to learn more about the city and the local culture, as well as to practice their Spanish outside the classroom. 

Courses

We offer a wide range of courses of varying duration, intensity, and format to meet the needs, expectations and budgets of our students.

Group

4 hours per day, 20 hours per week*

Having students speak in class is a core aspect of our methodology. That's why there is a maximum of just six students in a group class – the lowest in the industry! We always aim to fine-tune the formation of groups based on the level of the students, using the results of the online placement exam. This helps to reduce the differences in language proficiency between the students. 

Class Schedules

On the first day the student should arrive at 9:00 AM. His/her regular schedule will be from 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM (10:30: AM to 1:30 PM for groups with fewer than 4 students). 

Specialized Courses

In addition to our standard language courses, we also offer Specialized Courses in areas of interest such as healthcare, business, law, and more. Specialized courses are taught in Spanish with two goals in mind: to impart new knowledge in the students’ area of interest, and to improve their Spanish. All specialized courses are taught in private lessons and are charged at the regular private-lesson rate. 

METHODOLOGY 

We offer a modern, conversational approach to language learning. 

With the Direct Method of language training, students will learn to speak a foreign language more quickly and easily than they may expect. The goal of our methodology is to make the student comfortable using their new language in practical situations encountered in everyday life, such as travel, conducting business, meeting people, using the telephone, meetings, participating in a conversation effectively, etc. With our communicative and dynamic approach, students will rapidly find themselves speaking their new language from the first day of class. 

In addition to a methodology that uses a communicative approach, our teachers all have university degrees and have received extensive training in how to teach Spanish as a foreign language. The combination of a highly effective methodology and quality teachers means that at whatever level your student begins, he/she will be guaranteed to improve as quickly as possible. 

Some of the basic principles of our methodology: 

§ No Translation in Class

The Direct Method to learning a language means that the student and the teacher speak only in the language being learned. There is never any translation in the classroom and this forces the student to think in the new language. Students are always surprised at how easily they learn! 

§ Teacher Rotation

The people you speak with on a day-to-day basis all have different voices, pronunciations, vocabularies and speeds with which they speak; therefore, it is important that students do not become accustomed to the same person. Rotating teachers allows the student to be exposed to many types of speakers and ensures that students will understand all people who speak in the language they are learning. Teacher rotation also keeps class fresh and interesting. 

§ Emphasis on Communication

Our methodology focuses on speaking and listening. Grammar, reading, and writing are all included, but we teach it through a very practical approach without being tedious, boring, or repetitive. You will speak the language, not analyze it. The key to learning a new language is communication. 

§ A Final Note

The vocabulary presented in our DVDs and texts has been studied and tested to be introduced gradually and systematically. This process helps the student to learn to communicate more effectively and with greater ease. The combination of our outstanding teachers and all of the techniques mentioned above will provide your students with the knowledge and confidence they need to face the world in their new language. 

Student levels are measured precisely and progress is constantly monitored. 

We offer courses to students at all levels, from complete beginners to extremely advanced students. Prior to the start of the course the student will take a language placement exam that has been specifically designed to accurately place him/her within the school curriculum. Based on these results we know at just what level the student is, and with what material the student should begin working. 

Evaluations

The teachers at our school are constantly evaluating students’ progress and at the end of the course they complete a written evaluation comprised of eight different categories such as speaking, listening comprehension, grammar, etc. This evaluation also includes a numerical score that can be used to apply for credit through a university. The primary purpose of this report, though, is to have a professional assessment of the student’s progress so that he/she can know in which areas of the language he/she is strong or weak. 

In addition to the ongoing teacher evaluation, the School Coordinator is constantly monitoring your student’s course to assure that he/she is not only learning as quickly as possible, but also enjoying his/her stay with the host family and taking advantage of the many activities and excursions offered by the school. The school goal is not only that our students progress in the language as quickly as possible, but also that they also have the most enjoyable experience possible during their stay with us. 

As proof of your students’ efforts they will also receive a certificate at the end of the course. This states the language they studied, their level, the dates, the school they attended, and its location (along with any other information the student deems applicable). This certificate may be used in obtaining university credit. 

EXCURSIONS & ACTIVITIES 

Excursions

In keeping with the idea that students learn a language through practice outside the classroom, the school includes all its excursions in the program fee! Two afternoons per week your student will have the opportunity to attend an excursion to a local point of interest in his/her city of study. The excursion usually lasts about two hours, and is guided by one of our teachers. Excursions are led entirely in Spanish. Although excursions are provided as a courtesy, students are expected to pay for their own public transportation costs and entrance fees. Students are asked to sign up at least one day in advance for the excursions so that we may plan accordingly.

Activities

In addition to excursions, the school may offer dance classes, day or weekend trips, and on Fridays we may offer students the chance to participate in Happy Hours. Students, teachers and staff mingle and chat (in Spanish, of course!) at local restaurants and bars. And don’t be surprised if a school party is organized for a holiday, saint’s day, or a birthday!

Our school also has a network of partners and resources that can help students arrange excursions outside the city, weekend trips, sports, dancing, gyms, movies, concerts, and any activity the student would like to do.