Spanish Track
Quito, Ecuador
Why the Spanish Track?
The Spanish Major Track in the Living and Learning semester in Quito is an amazing mixture of adventure, academic excellence, culture, practical experience, language, mission, and integrated living. Available every semester, you will enroll in 12-18 credit hours in upper-division college-level Spanish that will deepen your language development at an advanced level from native Spanish speakers.
During the semester, complete an internship practicum for credit or engage in service-learning opportunities across the city and country. In this track, you’ll live with an Ecuadorian family for the full semester. This provides a greater opportunity to immerse yourself in Ecuadorian culture and community and build lasting relationships.
Course Offerings
After enrolling in the internship course and the Ecuador 350 course, you will get to choose from a variety of other Spanish coureses.
Internship Course
Spanish Courses
Internships
Those enrolled in the Spanish Track will be placed in an internship that is full Spanish immersion that is relevant to your major. You earn college credit, relevant international career experience, and gain a deeper understanding of the Ecuadorian cultural context.
Along with the internship, there will be a 1-hour per week course. The goal is to provide you with a set of tools to utilize when interacting with people in work, community, or educational settings.
Host Families & Student Life
We are committed to providing a program that nurtures the integration of the whole person: intellectually, socially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually. As a Spanish major, your community will include other students, faculty, staff, homestay families, guests, visitors, and numerous other people. Living in community is a focal point that will encourage growth and development and the opportunity to explore and experience the concept of a Christian community as it is affected by the diverse backgrounds and patterns of thought in our student body.
As a student in the Spanish track, you will spend the whole duration of the semester with an Ecuadorian family. All homes are carefully screened for suitability and are inspected regularly by our staff. We call this our "homestay" program because when you participate in this program, you are not only have a room in somebody's house, you are being welcomed into their home as if you were a member of the family. We prefer to place two students per family because when students live together we have found the placement to provide increased language learning opportunities.
Cultural Activities
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Class Trips
Tour Neo-Gothic and Baroque-style churches in Colonial Quito
Visit the Presidential Palace
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Day Trips
Orientation Session(s) at a Retreat Facility and/or City Park
Equator Visit & Zip-lining in the Cloud Forest
Hike Rucu Volcano with a summit of 15,696 feet
Explore Otavalo Market (largest open-air market in South America)
Hike to the Refuge of the Cotopaxi Volcano (15,748 feet)
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Overnight Trips
5-day trip to the mountain adventure town of Baños (Swing at the End of the World)
5-day service trip to the Amazon jungle of Ecuador
5-day trip to the Galápagos Islands
4-day trip to the Coast of Ecuador for Debrief
What’s included?
Depending on the program you select, you will need to check with your college or university for exact costs. However, in most cases, if you are a student at one of our partner schools a semester in Ecuador will not cost you more than what you are currently paying for school! If you are not currently enrolled in a college or university and would still like to attend, contact us.
Pricing Breakdown:
$12,000 - Tuition
$3,000 - Room and Board
$1,500 - Extended Host Family Stay
$16,500 - Total Program Cost
Cost Includes:
12-18 semester credits
All Lodging and Transportation during program events
Homestay with an Ecuadorian Family for the full semester
All meals during program events (about 75% of meals during the semester)*
Excursion to the Galapagos
Excursion to another region of Ecuador
Mission Trip to the Amazon Jungle
Final Debrief Trip to the Coast of Ecuador
Cultural Experiences and Student Activities
Internship Experience (for credit option)
Visa
International Travel Insurance (not primary medical insurance)
Does Not Include:
Airfare
Passport
Immunization
Meals when not with the program (about 25%)*
Personal expenses like shopping, personal needs or personal travel.
Talk to your study abroad office and share that you’re interested in this Ecuador program. L&LI partners with many Christian colleges and universities.
Reach out to us and let us know you’re interested! We’ll advise you through the application process.
This track is reserved for students who are advanced Spanish speakers and are able to place at the 300-level for Spanish during the application. Priority is given to Spanish Majors and then awarded on a first come first serve basis.
If accepted, we’ll walk you through the onboarding process, explain what forms are needed, and share what to expect during your semester.
You’ll spend an incredible semester learning, exploring, earning college credit, interning in a field related to your studies, and growing in your faith.
L&LI is an accredited program that can transfer college credit back to your university to be used on your transcript. Upon completion of the semester, we’ll send your grades to your university.
