Improving the department of volunteers!!!

Hello Students, Volunteers and Friends of Ecole Idiomas.

We are currently working in some improvements of our department of volunteer work. It is exciting to start a new cycle of work with new challenges, new programs and renewed energy.

Some of our projects have achieved the goals they were working for and we have to thank all the volunteers who collaborated with them during these years. Now those projects are working on their own, the conditions of life have improved and people have a good base to construct a new and better life.

On the other hand, we have found new projects that really need help. Some of the new projects are:

-          “Escuela 6 de Diciembre” in Quito (educational project)

-     "Chinimptuna" in the Amazon Jungle (communitarian development) 

-          “COPOCMU” in Puerto Quito (conservation and communitarian development)

-          “Hacienda San Cristóbal” in Galapagos (conservation, education and communitarian development)

Some of the improvements we are working on are: Activities and Deadlines Annual Planns, new evaluation forms for volunteers and projects, partnerships with diverse development organizations and much more.

We invite volunteers from all over the world to help these projects and others. Together we will give a new hope to thousands of inhabitants of Ecuador, protect the nature and support the creation of a new world.

Special Offer!!! Spanish lessons, travelling and volunteering in Ecuador in one single program.

Ecole Idiomas offers you the best chance to visit Ecuador in a really different way. And now, we offer you a really great promotion!!!

With "Discovering Ecuador" program of Ecole Idiomas, you will learn Spanish, travel around Ecuador and do volunteer work in this wonderful country.

You can choose block A or/and block B and add an extra program of volunteer work in the Galapagos Islands.

Discovering Ecuador

   

Block A: From the highlands into the jungle

Dates: January 22nd /June 11th /October 15^th

If you want to experience all that South America and Ecuador can offer, this program is perfect for you. Choose the part that appeals to you most, for a program of 4 weeks (Block A or Block B), 8 weeks (Block A and B) or, if you really have the time, 12 weeks with 4 weeks of volunteer work at the beautiful Galapagos Islands! It doesn’t matter which program you choose, at the end you will speak fluent Spanish and you will have gained a lot of special experiences!

The first block takes you around “La Sierra” (Andes) and “El Oriente” (Amazon jungle) starting with Spanish classes in order to give you the chance of take advantage of all the culture Ecuador has to offer. You will be amazed, not only by the wonderful landscapes and places but also by the people, their history, culture, food and hospitality. Quito and its worldwide famous Old Town, Otavalo and its Indian market which is the biggest in Latin America, Mindo and its wonderful rivers and waterfalls, are only some of the places that will enchant you on this trip. You will have four weeks full of great activities. You will be able to place one foot on each hemisphere and work along with an indian comunity.

Block B: Between the sea and the sky

Dates: February 19th /July 9th /November 12th

Meet the diversity of Ecuador! The second block of this program will take you through the Andes to finish at the coast of Ecuador. You will visit places where you will discover all wonders hidden in this magical country. An experience for a lifetime!!! This block starts when Block A has just finished. If you liked the previous block, you will love this new one. This part of the program takes you to several cities in the Andes in Ecuador. You will get to know the diversity of nature, cultures, clothes, and people. Afterwards, you will enjoy the relaxation at the Ecuadorian beaches.

You will go to two of UNESCO’s World Heritage cities and feel the adrenaline in a rafting tour if you dare. You will discover the treasure of the Amazon cloudy forest. You will find an Incas’ city preserved among the mountains and a surfers’ city where partying and the merry life is a part of the daily lifestyle. Take your hiking shoes, a poncho, a nice bikini, sun cream, all your enthusiasm and your photo camera, of course. Get ready… the adventure is about to continue.

Contact us for more information

An anniversary celebration!!!

ECOLE Travel and Idiomas are celebrating!

A few days ago, all the staff from ECOLE got together to commemorate our 10^th anniversary!

It is hard to believe that all that time has passed by when we still preserve our humble beginnings freshly in our minds. We started with just four people –we remember- and all throughout the years, all magnificent years, we have kept going stronger, getting more businesses, more students and more projects, and surely we have the will to hang on to our success and continue maturing, developing and expanding our services.

Relying on a current staff of 25 people, we have progressed and learned a lot on the way, and we wanted to express somehow our thanks to those people working with us, so we had a great dinner which concluded with a nice surprise from the owners of the institution, Lydia and Wytze, and everyone showed their eagerness to carry on undertaking a remarkable job as it has been done so far!

A new Spanish book was launched in Ecole Idiomas

Julio Awad Yépez, General Manager of Ecole Idiomas, launched his new fiction book: "Historias de Nénofir: El viaje de Nabîl" last week.
This adventure book, full of nice descriptions and a solid story line, is adressed to young people between 9 and 15 years old. Values like friendship, courage and intelligence are the central subject of the book.

Ecole Idiomas, a dutch Spanish school in Quito - Ecuador, offers Spanish lessons, volunteer work facilities, accommodation and tours in Ecuador and now, wants to suport Julio Awad with the promotion of his book.
Julio has writen several short stories, exercices, grammar texts and articles for Ecole Idiomas and for other organizations in Ecuador and other countries of South America and Europe. He is also the author of our grammar book "Enfoques: Libro Guía de Gramática".
Ecole Idiomas wishes him success in this new adventure.

For all our Spanish students and volunteers about the political situation of Ecuador

This is how the things happened yesterday:

In the morning, police and army started a strike.

At 10, the president went to the Head Quarters of the Police. He tried to discuss the new law about reducing some extra bonuses for promotions. The officers started an aggression to the president and he needed to go to the police hospital (he had had a surgery in his right knee last week).

Once the president was in his room, he was surrounded by some police officers who didn’t let him out. Thus, the president was kidnapped al 11.

All the presidents of South America countries announced their support to the constitutional order and the president.

During the morning and afternoon, all political parties expressed their support to the president and democracy.

At noon, the army quitted the strike and announced that all army staff support the president.

At 5 in the afternoon, the police expressed support to the president.

Therefore, only the officers who stood close to the police hospital were in deep troubles. They were surrounded by the army, citizens and other Police elements.

At 7, army and policemen went in to rescue the president. Unfortunately, one cop died.

At 8:30, the president arrived to the Presidential Palace, explained what had happened and the situation calmed down.

A political party was behind the first strike and tried to have advantage of the situation that the president was kidnapped. Under those circumstances, Ecuador had a “coup d’état” (change the president violently) that doesn’t succeed. Nevertheless, the government has declared a state of emergency (not a state of siege). This means that the normal line of power for police and army (President – State minister – generals - troops) will be shorter (President – troops).

The state of emergency doesn’t mean that people loose rights or things like that.

The following items have been done in order to keep our students and volunteers safe:

-       We contact all volunteers and students to give them information about the situation and about safety under those circumstances.

-       Ecole Idiomas gave lunch to the students and send them home in taxis yesterday

-       The office was closed at three

-       We call the host families and explain the situation.

-       This morning we gave the students and volunteers a report and some information printed from the Internet about the current situation.

-       We recommended the students and volunteers to stay home this weekend in spite of the calmness of the situation today.

Everything is fine and peaceful now.

Spanish lessons in Quito - Ecuador. Surely, Ecole Idiomas is the best Spanish School

Ecole Idiomas, the best Spanish School is improving its work. January was a busy month full of plans, technical research and modifications of our programs. Now we are happy and proud to announce that our new program has been evaluated for our clients with an A+ grade (95% satisfaction about contents and sequences of topics, 93% about efficiency, 90% about exercises)

Next year will bring us a lot of new challenges. We are ready to make the audio CD’s and DVD’s of the program in order to include them with the workbooks and we are developing our website and other Internet resources in order to give our students the best. Spanish lessons with Ecole Idiomas are the easier way to learn.

Rest in Peace, Warwick

This morning we received the bad news. Our friend and partner Warwick John White, better known as Waz, died on the way to hospital, after he was found bleeding to death on a city street of Budapest early on Sunday morning.

Waz went to Budapest representing Ecuador in a world triathlon event.

Ecole Idiomas wants to express our solidarity to Waz’s family and friends in this though and painful moment.

Rest in peace, Waz.

SKYPE Spanish lessons

Dear friends of Ecole Idiomas,

How are you doing? We sincerely hope everything is going fine.

We have received a lot of e-mails from students and volunteers like you. They have told us how the Spanish lessons and the experience of a volunteer work have changed their lives professionally, economically and personally. We are really glad to hear it from you.

Ecole Idiomas understands how difficult can it be to practice a language in a non native country. Besides, even if there is someone to practice with, it is not probable that that person can correct your mistakes and improve your Spanish skills.

Ecole Idiomas offers you the perfect chance to practice and improve your Spanish with no need of traveling, with teachers you already know and with the security that a company like Ecole Idiomas can give you.

Classes are one to one with flexible schedules. You will have a cup of coffee with a native speaker and high qualified teacher, maybe an old friend, who will guide and teach you.

This promotion is only for our ex clients: $8 per hour (the cheapest price on the Internet). Besides, you don’t have to risk with companies that maybe don’t even exist.

Let us know any questions you may have. We will be more than happy to answer immediately.

Welcome to our new blog!!!

Ecole Idiomas wants to give the best service and important information to all our clients, friends and people interested in Volunteer work, Spanish lessons and resources and tours.
In this blog you will check out our articles about volunteering, Spanish and wonderful Ecuador.
Feed backs, commentaries and suggestions are more than welcome.
Enjoy this space!!!

Contact us: info@ecoletravel-ecuador.com