School Reviews

Wow, it was an amazing and unforgettable time at ECELA Santiago!

I came with only a few words of Spanish and left with so much more than expected: not only that I learned so quickly and easily the language because of the very good and friendly teachers who make learning Spanish fun and interesting and the good concept of teaching that combines class lessons and private lessons if you take an intensive course, but I also met some absolutely great people from all over the world and found some new friends.

I enjoyed my time at ECELA so much that I spontaneously decided to stay 2 weeks longer than originally planned and I wouldn’t hesitate one second to come back if I had the chance to.

It was definitively one of the best times of my life! Thank you ECELA amigos for everything, I’m still missing you all!

by Mara Frei from Switzerland

Hola, 🙂
This is my second time at Ecela because it’s a really good school where you learn a lot. The instructors are really attentive, it’s a great environment. It’s really pleasant, and the people are very friendly.

All week there are different activities, it’s really entertaining.

I recommend this school to those who want to learn Spanish and have a good time! It’s by far the best school I’ve attended.

I feel really good at Ecela, it’s like a home to me!!!

by Valentine Diebold from France

After retiring, I decided to try and learn Spanish. I researched the available programs in Central and South America and found that Ecela was uniformly rated as excellent.

I decided to attend Ecela’s school in Cusco because I wanted to combine a spectacular vacation with my language studies. I took introductory Spanish for three weeks in Cusco, combining my classes with tours of the city and the area’s many Incan archeological sites.

It was incredible! I received one-on-one instruction from Erik, who is the most patient, kind, supportive, and excellent teacher I can imagine. Every morning with Erik was a delight, and in the afternoons, Ecela arranged great adventures for me: horseback riding, mountain biking, hiking, and touring.

My accommodations at an apartment with other students were great, and I got to practice my nascent Spanish with my fellow students and our neighbors. All this at a very, very reasonable price.

by Kenneth Hipp from Hawaii

I’m a 55 year old Woman which decided to learn ‘Espanol’. I took private lessons and after 4 Weeks I was able to communicate and Spanish whatever was needed on my trip around Peru. Many thanks to all my teachers and the whole staff for their patience. I can strongly recommend Ecela in Lima. Thanks a lot to all.

by Priska Maeder from Switzerland

When I arrived in Buenos Aires, I only knew how to say a few words in Spanish. Now, I’m practically a porteña! I’ve eaten like five cows, a ton of empanadas, medialunas, and I’ve drunk a little mate.

I’ve had class with nearly all of the ECELA BA instructors: Juan Manuel, Leila, Rocío, Victoria, Elizabeth, Sonia, Florencia, Paola, Ignacio, Guillermo.

Thank you all for your patience with me. I had a ton of classmates and a bunch of roommates at the best house in Billinghurst.

This experience was I-N-O-L-V-I-D-A-B-L-E!! I really love Buenos Aires and I’ll miss it a lot.
Don’t forget, I’m not from Brazil, or England, or the USA… I’M FROM BARBADOS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Keisha Jordan from Barbados

My experience at ECELA was great! I asked for specific, personal lessons directed at improving my business vocabulary in Spanish. Gabriel Bayona did just that. He had lessons planned for each day and he adjusted them to my level.

He utilized his teaching method to great effect by identifying new words as they came up in conversation and highlighting the reasons for the different verb conjugations. He also answered the many questions I had from reading the local newspapers everyday.

The building is in a good location and the staff is very friendly and helpful. They took us on field trips showing us historical centers, like the National Museum, and explained how to get around on the Metropolitano. The facility was clean and the coffee always ready.

by Ken Davis from Arizona

I studied in Cusco a little over 2 months and fell in love with the place. Starting with my host family, they were so sweet. My ‘mom’ always made the best food and after dinner we’d often play cards with my ‘brothers’ and ‘dad.’ I quickly felt like I was part of the family.

The city itself is extremely fun! There are so many outdoor activities like hiking, rafting, zip-lining, bungee jumping, all types of cool things to do. You’re surrounded by history in Cusco so there are also many fascinating museums to learn more about the Incan and pre-Incan cultures.

On top of all that, the nightlife is awesome. People really know how to party in Peru! With all the tourists mixed in with the locals, you meet a lot of interesting people who are all looking to have some fun.

But I wouldn’t have discovered all that this city has to offer without the help of the amazing ECELA staff. Right off the bat Ygor was very friendly and offered many ideas of places to go and things to see as activities with the school and on your own time. He was always only a phone call away whenever you needed anything, which is very comforting when you’re in a foreign country.

Erik, a great professor and friend, always made classes very engaging with jokes, city tours and discussions on real life situations. My entire experience with ECELA was beyond amazing and I highly recommend the program to anyone looking to really learn Spanish and experience life in South America.

by Sara Mokhtari-Fox from California

The Spanish and Medical shadowing program was really an amazing experience. I didn’t have any Spanish experience at all before I arrived and by the time I left, I could understand and speak a significant amount!

I decided to go during my gap year between undergrad and medical school, and it really provided an incredible opportunity to learn the language, see medicine at practice in another country, and fall in love with Peru. Even though my Spanish skills were very basic, I still absorbed a lot in our shadowing sessions and got to observe big and subtle differences between hospitals there and the US.

Also, one of the best parts was the people I met. I learned so much from the doctors, my classmates, the Ecela staff, locals, travelers, and the kids we volunteered with. I will remember them all for a long, long time.

by Lisa Wang from Northwestern University

I studied on my own a little bit, never in a school, but I took a short Berlitz language class in the US. They [ECELA and Berlitz] are not even comparable.

ECELA is far better. Berlitz is world-renowned, but there is no comparison at all. The teachers at ECELA are trained in linguistics and how to teach language. I’m just blown away by how good all of the teachers are.

by Gerald Lucas from New Jersey

Five months ago, I had a lot of questions. Should I go to Buenos Aires? Or Spain? And which school should I attend?

At some point I decided: I’m going to Buenos Aires, to Ecela! And that was one of the best decisions of my life.

I arrived in Buenos Aires on Sunday, November 20, and I was planning to stay for four months. I lived with other Ecela students in an apartment that was just a five minute walk from the school. On my first day, I met my roommate, a girl from the US, and we became friends immediately.

On Monday I went to the school for the first time and took a placement exam so that the teachers could decide which level I should start out in. After that test, I met a ton of other new students from different countries, like Germany, the United States, Switzerland, Norway, and Australia.

During the first week I went around the whole city. Buenos Aires is a fantastic city. What I liked the most is that there are so many different places: huge parks, the microcentro business district, historic neighborhoods, and Palermo with its many clubs, bars, and restaurants. The city is so beautiful, and the porteños are kind and courteous in my opinion.

I loved my time in Buenos Aires! After just two or three weeks I felt like I was at home, like it was my country. The school became a second home, and the people there are extremely nice! They helped me whenever I had any concerns, questions, or complaints. Also, the teachers are fantastic. I had 8 (!) different professors while I was there, and every single one was buenísimo! Classes are fun, and the classroom activities have enough variety. Every teacher explained things clearly, was patient, recommended restaurants and things to do, and gave a lot of other good advice.

I loved that it was such a different experience. I met people from many different countries, made so many strong friendships, and always had a splendid time with all of the students.

Of course it’s challenging at times, and of course I sometimes missed my friends and family. But I had a family here too, and everyone feels that way sometimes. In the end, I honestly didn’t want to return home!

If you’re not sure, I recommend that you come to Buenos Aires. The city is amazing, and the school is a great choice for studying Spanish, meeting people, and enjoying life!

I’d like to thank everyone at the school. I had a fantastic time and I’ll miss you all. If at any point I travel to Buenos Aires, I’ll be sure to visit you!

by Anne-Sophie van Gruijthuijsen from the Netherlands