Spanish Schools in South America - Spanish Courses in South America

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Learn Spanish in Cusco, Peru

Situated at 3400 meters above sea level and surrounded by mountains and valleys, Cusco is known as the cultural heart of the Andes. It has a population of 300,000 inhabitants, most of them indigenous, and has much beauty to offer, including the panorama of the Andes, the famous Inca ruins and the magical town of Machu Picchu.Most students who attend Spanish Courses in Peru come to Cusco, one of the most fascinating cities in South America.

The city was founded around 1100 AD. According to the Inca creation myth, the sun sent his son, Manco Capac, and the Moon her daughter, Mama Occlo, to spread culture through the barbaric lands. They emerged from the waters of Lake Titicaca and began their journey in search of the place where they would found their kingdom. When they reached the site of present-day Cusco, Manco plunged his golden staff into the ground in order to test its suitability and it sank deep into the fertile soil. This was the sign they were looking for. They named this place Cusco, meaning "the navel of the world'.

After the conquest, the Spanish built their colonial churches and houses on top of the Inca foundations and this fascinating mix of architectural styles is still much in evidence. The city, the former capital of the Inca Empire, has enough to hold the interest of even the most demanding of tourists: the convents, the churches, the museums, the Temple of the Sun, the Cathedral and the ruins in and around Cusco (Sacsahuaman, Kenko, Puca Pucara, and Tambomachay). Almost every street has remains of Inca Walls, arches and doorways.

Just outside of Cusco lies the Sacred Valley of the Incas, with its picturesque villages and colourful traditional Indian markets. Far away from the tourist centres you can visit the beautiful market and superb ruins in Pisac, the well-preserved Inca town of Ollantaytambo with its impressive fortress and the authentic market at Chincheros.

The Valley runs west all the way to Machu Picchu, Peru 's best known archaeological site. This ancient citadel remains the most spectacular sight in all the Americas. For centuries it was buried in the jungle, until this lost Inca town was discovered in 1911. It's the combination of Inca ruins, unforgettable views, magnificent mountains, exotic vegetation and extraordinary ecological variety, which make the Machu Picchu national park truly an experience.

Spanish Courses in Cusco, Peru - Fees

Accommodation Fees

Our Spanish School in Peru, South America

Our Spanish language school in Cusco, Peru is located in a modern and well equipped building just one block from the main square, the Plaza de Armas. The student Residence is also incorporated in the building which is only five minutes walking distance from the city center. The Spanish school is equipped with multimedia classrooms, offices, an internet cafe, a spacious meeting room and a beautiful sunny terrace.

Our school also offers students an extensive cultural program run by local teachers which can be booked (for an additional fee) in blocks of separate hours, either during the week or weekend. If several students are interested in the same course, we can offer excellent discount options. At our Spanish School in Cuzco, Peru we believe that our cultural program provides a great opportunity for students to learn Spanish and traditional Peruvian culture, as well as being a superb complement to the student's Spanish studies.

In our Peruvian music workshop we include several different options: the charango (Peruvian guitar), zampoña (panflute) and quena (flute). To take part in this workshop there is no need to have experience playing an instrument or the ability to read music, as students will quickly learn to play a few well know songs. The music workshops are a "must" for people who are interested in Peruvian folklore or traditional music.

Our Peruvian cooking workshop is designed for people who want to learn more about traditional Peruvian cuisine. One free cooking class is included in the Student Activities, however there's so much more to learn about the endless different kinds of " papas " (potatoes), the traditional " quinua " and the use of native herbs, that we offer additional classes on a regular basis.

The school also offers workshops in Peruvian dance and traditional pottery, as well as all kinds of excursions, trips and hikes designed to deepen your knowledge of the local culture and to compliment your Spanish language course.

Our Spanish Courses in Cusco, Peru:

Our Cusco Spanish school is known for its interactive, communicative and personal teaching methods. Standard group or individual programs include four hours of instruction per day from Monday to Friday. The complementary cultural courses (freely included in all programs) offer an excellent complement to the standard Spanish language course. The cultural Spanish courses provide a great way of improving your Spanish by participating in activities directed towards learning in a dynamic environment, while gaining a valuable insight into Latin American and Peruvian culture.

The school works with four levels of classes, fixing the goals for each based on our experience and in accordance with the curriculum of the Instituto Cervantes and the equivalents of the Council of Europe. The four levels taught at our school are beginner, intermediate, advanced and superior. Our own Latin America orientated text books form the basis of the course, in combination with other materials including the use of overhead projectors, videos, and other audio visual materials (newspapers, songs, literature, cassettes, videos, grammar exercises etc). However, our materials make up only a small proportion of the course as a large part of the study materials are practical activities and exercises through which the students will learn to understand and speak Spanish quickly.

Standard Group Spanish Courses (20 hrs)

All our group courses start on any Monday of the year except for complete beginners. Classes take place either in the morning or in the afternoon. All groups work with two different teachers who rotate so the students get exposed to the different varieties of spoken Spanish. There is a maximum of six students per group, from complete beginners to advanced, with minimum course duration of one week.

Individual Spanish Courses (20 hrs)

Our Cusco school also offers programs especially tailored to our student's specific needs and interests. This course is specially recommended for people that have specific needs such as more or less grammar, special learning requirements or simply limited time. Our individual tailored courses can start any day of the week, with course packages of twenty hours starting on Mondays.

Combined (20 +10 hrs)

With our best of both course students can take advantage of having fun, dynamic classes, while learning more about their fellow student's in a group class, for four hours a day. The group class is then reinforced by the personal attention you can only get from a private teacher, with two hours of individual tutoring in the afternoons.

Our Spanish language school in Cusco, Peru also offers the following courses:

Total immersion, Spanish for Medical purposes, Spanish for 55+, Spanish for university students, Peruvian Culture courses, Spanish + Volunteer, Spanish + Excursions (including trekking or spirituality), Spanish and Adventure (including paragliding, rock climbing or rafting), and Spanish Family programs.

For more information concerning these courses, please contact us.

Spanish Courses in Peru, South America - Accommodation

At our Spanish school in Cusco, Peru we know that suitable accommodation is an important component to a professional, effective Spanish Program. This is why our Spanish school currently offers three different options of accommodation within the city of Cusco : local guest families, the school student house located in the school's own building, and a range of student flats located in residential neighborhoods in Cusco. Our students are free to arrange their own accommodation in Cusco and simply participate in the language course. However, we recommend the complete package in order for students to maximise their language skills. Over the years we have found that the experience of living with a Peruvian family or living with other students in one of the school's residences provides valuable practice opportunities, therefore enhancing a student's ability to converse in Spanish.

Home Stay

Our guest family option has been developed particularly for individuals who wish to make a cultural journey, aiming not only to learn the Spanish language but also to learn about Peru through the experiences, life and customs of a Peruvian family. Our guest families are carefully chosen and monitored through regular inspections and student feedback. Most of our families live within 20 to 30 minutes walking distance from the school. Students participating in the guest family program will receive their own private room and share other facilities with the family. The Guest family will provide three meals a day, with special diets for vegetarians and diabetics normally catered for if booked in advance.

Home Stay Plus

The Plus Package offers students a slightly higher comfort level, in terms of the house and room being of a larger size, the food being more adapted to the students' desires, and a courtyard or garden. The Lodging Plus package is especially suited for those who want to be away from the bustling city centre.

Student House

Within the school building we offer accommodation for those who enjoy contact with other students from different parts of the world. There are a total of 14 rooms with shared toilets, a big terrace and a common kitchen and living room. Breakfast and lunch are included in this option.

Student Apartments

For those who plan a longer stay in Cusco and want to live independently, yet still participate in daily activities and events, such as preparing meals and shopping at the colorful Peruvian markets, we offer the interesting possibility to live in an independent student flat. All our flats are located in residential neighborhoods in Cusco, between 20 and 30 minutes walking distance from the city center. The flats offer the student a maximum level of security and comfort, with a fully equipped kitchen, a furnished living room and bedrooms. Each flat can accommodate between 3 and 6 students. The student flat option is only available for those who plan a minimum stay of ten weeks in Cusco (for either studying or volunteering or a combination of both) and gives the fabulous opportunity to live in Peru independently in a luxurious environment.

Please note: All prices are quoted in $US. For the equivalent in your currency, please visit www.xe.com/ucc.