Aim
Our main aim is to provide high quality Spanish language instruction and cross-cultural education in an atmosphere of respect for the individual. A secondary aim is to contribute to a greater understanding among people of diverse cultural backgrounds.
Goals
We have a number of goals:
1. To help people from other cultures understand and aclimatise to South American life.
• cross cultural education
• home-stays with Ecuadorian familes
• a “study and travel” programme
• volunteer opportunities
2. To encourage continuous professional development of our staff:
• training for Spanish language teachers
• regular teachers’ workshops
• regular review of our textbooks and classroom materials
• we support teachers’ participation in Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)
3. To ensure the viability of the school
• maintain our license with the Ministry of Education
• maintain good relations between Colonials’ members
• maintain good relations with host families
• offer the best possible salaries and benefits for staff
4 To contribute to our community and maintain a strong “social conscience”:
• support a day care
• encourage and support students in volunteer work with NGOs
• maintain “Solidarity” our non-profit social program (the program provides free English classes to volunteers and workers in NGOs, as well as Spanish classes for refugees and a translation service)
Teachers
The teachers at Colonial Spanish School are university graduates or licensed language instructors. They are hired based on their performance in both a written exam and an interview. All of our teachers have undergone an intensive 100-hour course of teaching instruction with us. Professional development and advice is provided continually.
Campus
Our school in Quito is located between the new and old parts of the city. We are conveniently situated near post offices, banks, change houses, telephone offices, embassies and major hotels.
We are authorized by the Ministry of Education (ministerial agreement # 066 DINNEP) to give certificates of competence after each level of study to students who have fulfilled all the necessary requirements.
Our school is recommended by The South American Explorer's Club, El Planeta.com , Chikyuno Arukikata, The Lonely Planet Guide, Reise Know-How, etc.
