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Spanish and Volunteering

Montanita Spanish School
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Course description

SPANISH & VOLUNTEERING

We enjoy helping you to help the local community. Montanita Spanish School currently has the following volunteering options available:

1. Montañita Elementary/Primary School
The primary school in Montañita has about 370 students aged 4-16 years old. There are chances for you to get involved in sport or art classes, and as an English speaker you can help their teacher, supplementing their books, coming up with games and activities which will help the students with their skills, particularly speaking.

2. Local Children's Nursery

Come and bring joy to the children at the Guarderia in Manglaralto. This safe and educational environment is completely free for the parents and they also provide meals for them while they are there. It allows (usually young) mothers to go to work or school and contribute to the family income, and it allows more children to be better prepared for primary school.

3. Acuario Valdivia Aquarium
This is the only coastal aquarium in Ecuador to which people bring in injured and stranded animals from all up and down the coast. They have begun an Ecological Kids Club that meets at the aquarium in the afternoons and gives the local kids a fun, educational space to hang out after school.

4. ‘Centro de Discapacidades’
This is a centre for children with special needs, aged 6 months to 9 years old. This project is amazingly worthwhile because not only do you take some stress off the parents helping them take care of the children but you also share your valuable skills and education with people who really need your help.

There is a minimum of 2 weeks for General Volunteering, as well as 2 weeks of Spanish that can be done before, or alongside.

Course topics

Listening, Speaking, Pronunciation, Reading, Writing, Vocabulary, Grammar and Activities

Class schedule

Course duration
1-4 weeks
Start dates
Every Monday
Classes per week
20 lessons per week (each lesson lasts 55 min)
Class days
Monday - Friday

Class times

Morning session
08:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Morning session
10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Afternoon session
01:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Afternoon session
03:00 PM - 05:00 PM

Class schedule may change depending on availability and season.

Class level

Elementary
Pre-intermediate
Intermediate
High intermediate
Advanced
You will take a placement test on your first day to determine your class level. You may also take this test before your arrival in Montanita.

Class size

Average 4 students
Maximum 6 students

Student age

Age range 18 years old and older
Average 25 years old
(23 in the summer)

Certificate

A certificate of completion will be issued at the end of the course.
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school

School description

Our teaching has more than 5 years of experience teaching Spanish as a second language. Our school was nominated for the Star Awards 2009 as one of the 5 top Spanish schools worldwide by travel agents.

Year opened
2007
Number of classrooms
10

Facilities

  • Social Activities
  • Cultural Trips
  • Eating Area
  • Sports Activities

Teacher qualifications

Native Spanish speakers
All
Teachers with Spanish teaching certification
All
Teachers with college degrees
Over 50%

Nationality and age mix

The nationality and age mix at Montanita Spanish School varies over different time periods, courses and levels. Throughout the year, the average age is 25. In the summer, the average age is 23.

School holidays

Open dates
Year round
School holidays
None

School location

Montanita Spanish School is located in a small surf village on the coast of Ecuador. This is the perfect place to learn Spanish in Ecuador. Located on Ecuador's famous beach of Montanita, you can study Spanish and surf, take salsa and yoga classes or go scuba diving in some of the most beautiful spots in the world.

We have excellent, friendly teachers and staff that are waiting to make your experience learning Spanish in Ecuador a fantastic one! Montanita Spanish School was voted one of the top five Spanish schools in the world by the STAR Awards for the quality of its Spanish courses, the location of the Ecuador Spanish school and the extra-curricular activities provided nearby Montanita.

Take a video tour

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photos

Photos

  • Students of Montanita Spanish School 1/23
  • Classroom at Montanita Spanish School 2/23
  • Building of Montanita Spanish School 3/23
  • Montanita Spanish School 4/23
  • Montanita Spanish School 5/23
  • Montanita Spanish School 6/23
  • Montanita Spanish School 7/23
  • Montanita Spanish School 8/23
  • Activities offered at Montanita Spanish School 9/23
  • Students of Montanita Spanish School 10/23
  • Activities offered at Montanita Spanish School 11/23
  • Activities offered at Montanita Spanish School 12/23
  • Activities offered at Montanita Spanish School 13/23
  • Montanita Spanish School 14/23
  • Student residence offered by Montanita Spanish School 15/23
  • Student residence offered by Montanita Spanish School 16/23
  • Student residence offered by Montanita Spanish School 17/23
  • Student residence offered by Montanita Spanish School 18/23
  • Student residence offered by Montanita Spanish School 19/23
  • Classroom at Montanita Spanish School 20/23
  • Classroom at Montanita Spanish School 21/23
  • Classroom at Montanita Spanish School 22/23
  • City of Montanita 23/23
reviews

Reviews

100% recommend

based on 3 reviews
5 stars
3
4 stars
0
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
0
Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Housing

"Amazing experience and fun to learn a language at this school."

Frank Bergers, student from Netherlands

Homestay made me learn a lot of Spanish is short period of time.

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Housing
Duration of study
3 weeks
Date of study
27 Feb 2023 - 24 Mar 2023
Would you recommend this school?
Yes
This is a verified review. This student has booked a course at this school through Language International.

"Excellent teaching and excellent location"

Brittany Davis, student from USA

The teachers are fantastic-- I had Paul and Stalin and was so sad to leave the school. The classes are tiny--I only had 4 students in mine including myself. The location and facilities are so much nicer than anything I would have seen in the states and the activities were so much fun. Ronny, the surf instructor, was absolutely the best sports teacher I've ever encountered. He was very talented but also knew how to break it down for beginners.

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Date of study
17 Apr 2017 - 21 Apr 2017
Would you recommend this school?
Yes
This is a verified review. This student has booked a course at this school through Language International.

"Montañita is cevere and crazy."

Matthias Weifner

Montañita was very good organized. The teachers and the classes where excellent because always in the right groups and always pushed in the right mood.
The different activities where very funny and the community was also very nice.
The host family was nice too and I recommend these types of experiences to everyone!

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My ratings for this school

Quality of teaching
School facilities
Social activities
School location
Housing
Duration of study
3 weeks
Date of study
2 Sep 2013 - 28 Sep 2013
Would you recommend this school?
Yes
housing

Housing

MSS offers the following housing types:
homestay

Homestay - Single-person room - Breakfast and dinner

NZ$ 354
weekly
Age range: 18 years old and older
Location: In the city center of Montanita
Housing type: Homestay
Room type: Single-person room
Board type: Breakfast and dinner (14 meals per week)
Facilities: Private bathroom
Distance to school: 5 minutes by walk
Availability: January - December
Check-in: Sunday, after 12:00 PM
Check-out: Sunday, before 11:00 AM
NZ$ 354
Your Ecuadorian host family gives you the opportunity to be fully immersed in the Ecuadorian lifestyle. While settling in and learning a new language can be hard when you arrive in a foreign country, having the support of a local family and a connection to the local community can make all the difference.

Your home stay in Montañita will show you much hospitality and help you adjust quickly to your new surroundings. This priceless experience of being treated as a family member from day one has often been described as one of the highlights of a student’s trip, not only because of the rapid improvement in their Spanish skills, but also the homey feeling, the great food and the lifelong connections they made.
student-residence

Student residence (off-campus) - 4-person shared room - No meals

NZ$ 218
weekly
Age range: 18 years old and older
Location: In the city center of Montanita
Housing type: Student residence (off-campus)
Room type: 4-person shared room
Board type: No meals
Facilities: Private bathroom, kitchen, wireless internet, free internet, tV room, garden, and sports facilities
Distance to school: 5 minutes by walk
Availability: January - December
Check-in: Sunday, after 01:00 PM
Check-out: Sunday, before 11:00 AM
NZ$ 218
This is the perfect option for those looking to for high quality accommodation on a budget. Keeping true to the rustic look of Montañita, our dorm rooms are all large and spacious allowing you to soak up the peaceful ambiance while saving those hard earned $$. With the options of either 6 bed or 4 bed dorms you will not have problem maintaining some personal privacy.

Private Cabanas

NZ$ 309
weekly
Age range: 18 years old and older
Address: Barrio El Tigrillo, Montanita, Santa Elena na, Ecuador
Location: In the city center of Montanita
Housing type: Student residence (off-campus)
Room type: Single-person room
Board type: No meals
Facilities: Private bathroom, kitchen, laundry, wireless internet, free internet, and garden
Distance to school: 5 minutes by walk
Availability: January - December
Check-in: Sunday, after 12:00 PM
Check-out: Sunday, before 11:00 AM
NZ$ 309
We have our own accommodation especially for our students. An Oasis of tranquility located just 5 minutes walk from the school and 3 minutes walk from the centre of town. Nestled into the relaxed atmosphere of “Barrio Tigrillo” these Cabanas provide the best of both worlds, being moments away from the center of the action and providing the peace and tranquility needed to make the most of your time in Montanita.

Our Eco Cabanas are very spacious and come equipped with a private ensuite, large bed, hammocks and a fan. Just outside the door of your Cabana you will find a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, large communal kitchen and a large sitting area with TV and DVD.
visa

Visa support

We cannot apply for visas on behalf of students. The school is also not authorized to issue documents to support your visa application. If you need a visa, you have to apply for a visitor or tourist visa on your own.

Flights and airport transfer

Please note that we do not book flights for our students. If you are researching airfare costs, we recommend using Kayak.com, a search engine that lets you compare flight options from your home country to Montanita based on your budget, schedule and preferences.

Travel insurance

Study abroad worry-free with Language International's health and personal effects insurance coverage. When you book a course with us, you can opt to purchase an international insurance plan that covers not only your health care cost but also loss of your personal belongings. You must book your insurance in advance when you register.

Learn more about our insurance plan »

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Questions and answers

Have questions? Get answers from Montanita Spanish School staff, Language International student advisors, and past students.

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