If you want to learn Spanish in Quito you are choosing a
great city to do so. Quito is a lively, friendly city situated
in the Guayllabamba river basin, on the eastern slopes of
Pichincha, an active stratovolcano in the Andes mountains. It
couldn't be a more exotic location for this fiery little
city.
And people who go to learn Spanish in Quito have a great
time because it is such a friendly city to visitors, it's easy
to strike up a conversation with the locals. And of course the
number one most important thing when you go somewhere to learn
Spanish is that you are practising all the time. It really
makes a difference if the locals are easy to talk to and your
Spanish will increase much faster because of it.
It pays to stay focused on your goal of learning Spanish
while you are there. If you very seriously want to learn
Spanish in Quito to a decent level of fluency then you need to
try and talk only Spanish even if you are a beginner. Stay away
from other English-speakers who don't have the same goal.
It can be tough at times but it is worth it in the end. Many
dedicated Spanish learners have gone to Quito beginners and
found they can converse quite naturally in Spanish alone a few
months later. That could easily be you!
There are actually a few ways you can learn Spanish in
Quito. You can go to a school, like the ones above, or you can
learn from a good home-study course. Remember that unlike in
the US or wherever you're from when you are in Ecuador you are
surrounded by Spanish speakers all day long. So unlike lessons
in the US or the UK, the priority in class shold not be on
Spanish conversation.
The Classroom in the Street
The focus needs to be on explaining grammar, vocabulary and
general Spanish language structure. You get all the
conversation you need the moment you step outdoors into the
streets of Quito. So a better way to learn Spanish in Quito can
be to get yourself a good home study Spanish course, which will
give you a firm grounding in Spanish grammar and vocab, then
get out there and just start talking.
This route is just as effective and also saves you a lot of
money. I have reviewed the most popular Spanish home-study
course out there, check it out here: Rocket Spanish Review
If you plan to learn Spanish in Quito but you are not yet
familiar with this awesome city, here are a few pointers.
Spread across a spectacular Andean valley and flanked by
volcanic peaks, Quito’s setting alone is enough to strike you
speechless. The historical center – or ‘old town,’ as it’s
called – is a maze of colonial splendor, an Unesco World
Heritage Site since 1978.
Quito is currently flush with pride after 2006 marked the
final installment of a massive restoration project that spruced
up buildings and churches, brought historic theaters back to
life and made the old town’s formerly sketchy streets safe to
explore once again. However long you plan to stay it is a great
idea to visit and learn Spanish in Quito.