- HOUSING
- ARGENTINA
- CHILE
- PERU
Homestay w/ Breakfast & Dinner: $260/week
Shared Apartment (no meals): $165/week
Phone: 1 (347) 329-5506
Meet Andrew Jablonski
A retired engineer tells how he learned Spanish by going to school in Peru
Andrew on the streets of Cusco.
Andrew Jablonski is a retired engineer Ottowa, Ontario, Canada. After settling down with ample time on his hands, he decided to do something truly exciting: learn a new language by immersing himself in its culture. He enrolled in an Ecela school in Cuzco, Peru.
Although Andrew already had a grasp on the Spanish language, speaking it regularly and fluently in a setting where he could not fall back on his native English and French posed a new challenge. In his Spanish classes in Canada, he noticed that teachers rarely corrected mistakes, believing that doing so might intimidate students. "But here at Ecela, the teachers were able to very gently correct us without diminishing the sense of safety."
One of the advantages of total immersion learning is picking up on how people actually speak their native languages in conversation, such as with colloquialisms and expressions. Although Jablonski's knowledge of French (which like Spanish is derived from Latin) helped him pick up on some of the more pronounced differences between Spanish and the languages he already knew, he noted that some of the "subtle differences" between the languages could be"dangerous". Some of these differences are more natural to pick up while reading, but are more difficult to apply while speaking, which Jablonski said total immersion helped him to learn.
Entrevista
Listen to Veronika Vilski, host of Planeta Ecela, 15-minute interview with Andrew Jablonski.
Andrew, a well-traveled gentleman from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, took the time to share his Spanish immersion program with us.
This is an interview to which you will pay attention and feel inspired to get out from your daily routine to experience life anew.
Andrew has a practical, well-balanced approach to studying and traveling abroad, and he draws fellow adventurers—young and old alike—to get out and integrate with another culture.
The total immersion program has more to it than simply learning languages. It is also about meeting new people and discovering new locations and exciting experiences. Andrew said that one of his most memorable experiences involved meeting people who used local plants to perform spiritual rites.
Negotiating trips was a daunting but exciting process. "We had to purchase a ticket that covered six or seven sites but was valid only for two days. The four of us had to band together organize our own trip. Obviously, that involves risky things like trying to negotiate the terms of the transportation... trying to find the place [they were visiting], dividing the chores".
Jablonski said the experience gave them an increased sense of freedom and was terrific for both bonding and in increasing their confidence in their language skills.
A surprise birthday party with the staff at Ecela Cusco.
Andrew got around Peru primarily using public transportation, which he enjoyed. "Being able to do the things that I do normally gives me an additional sense of freedom, and gives me additional contact with normal people in normal life situations. Instead of being a foreigner being driven in taxis, I join the people and follow their steps. That gives me a chance to connect with them."
Jablonski said that the locals in Cuzco were universally helpful when he asked for aid. "I had no experience of any interaction that would not be pleasant," he said. "People value if you try to level with them that you want to walk their path. They are ready to reciprocate by reaching out to you."
Finding food is an essential aspect of any travel experience, and Jablonski pointed out some of his favorite spots is Cuzco. "I tried to eat in different places in various parts of town, although there is one restaurant which serves what is called here a menú, which is a semi-fixed menu at a quite reasonable price. It has a kind of soup I couldn't call... that I like enormously. I try to get there during lunchtime. To me a meal without a good soup is not really dinner. Peruvians have the same respect for soup that I do," Andrew said.
Ultimately, Jablonski believes that travel should be, above all else, about discovery. He says he never wants to superimpose his "Canadian template" on any new location. "I keep my eyes open to see what is, and not what I expect it to be."
Related
Would YOU be Happy at Ecela? Characteristics of our most satisfied students.
Spanish Immersion Myths 6 Common Misconceptions About Spanish Immersion Travel.
"How do Ecela students get fluent so quickly?" Our 4 part Spanish Immersion Fluency Pathway.
Need to learn more?
Schedule a free planning session (15 minutes with an immersion counselor) or contact us.
Dates & Prices
Start Dates
At Ecela all six of our schools are open 52 weeks per year.
However, our schools are deliberately kept small and have limited openings. Use this form to check availability.
Weekly Pricing:
Standard Classes:
Spanish Immersion
10 group lessons weekly
10 Hrs Fundamentals
(max 8 students)
$225* / week
Immediately start preparing your Spanish for your trip with free POSH* access.
*(Private Online Spanish Hangout)
No credit card required.
Social Immersion
10 group lessons weekly
10 Hrs Conversation
(max 4 students)
$475* / week
Shared Apartment
Have an active social life and be independent, it is a good place to make friends.
Shared Apartment
Have an active social life and be independent, it is a good place to make friends.
Our shared apartments have very limited availability and fill up quickly.
No credit card required.
Cultural Immersion
20 group lessons weekly
10 Hrs Fundamentals
-AND-
10 Hrs Conversation
$510* / week
Host Families
Practice Spanish and be exposed to the local culture
We only have a handful of perfect homestay families for each students specific needs
Host Families
Practice Spanish and be exposed to the local culture
We only have a handful of perfect homestay families for each students specific needs
No credit card required.
* discounts available for multiple week programs. Contact us for details.
Housing: Click here for updated housing prices.
Note: Most people choose housing AFTER scheduling their class.
The world's leading language travel specialists choose Ecela for Spanish immersion in Argentina, Chile, or Peru:
How To Book Your Spanish Course
We have several high demand seasons throughout the year and a limited number of spots available. Reserving your course well ahead of time is recommended.
Making a reservation is easy. You only need to know your first week and where you'd like to learn Spanish.
- Decide on your start date. You only need to reserve the first week - after that you have priority status for any following week.
- Decide your location. Note: choose first school if planning a multi-school program. (see above)
- Use the below button to check availability. (No payment info is required.)
- If we can confirm a space you will have 3 days to secure your place with a small deposit.
If all spots are full, we will give you an opportunity for placement on the wait list.
Need to learn more?
Schedule a free planning session (15 minutes with an immersion counselor) or contact us.