Our Students are our Best Advertising

We work hard to make sure every student gets the most out of their time with us. And we know there are many Spanish schools in Ecuador and in Quito, and it's hard to decide which one to attend. So we have added this page to our website as a way for prospective students to see comments from our past students.

Each student fills in an anonymous evaluation at the end of their study with us that we use to continuously improve our school in all aspects. The following comments have been copied from these evaluation forms. Clicking on each one of them will show the original (your browser may be set to block pop-ups):

Having attended five different Spanish schools in Mexico and Costa Rica, I found Yanapuma to be superior. My instructor, Vinicio, was not only patient and organized but was able to incorporate a wide variety of experiences, history and cultural knowledge into every lesson. For the first time I was able to appreciate the progresse I was making on a day-to-day basis. Overall it has been an excellent experience.
One additonal aspect of Yanapuma I would like to mention is how impressed I am with direction vision and philosophy of the school and foundation. The relationship with the community and the interest in culture and history of Ecuador is palpable. I look forward to returning to Yanapuma in the very near future.

In my two months I had a great time. The education was top notch.
Yanapuma has great instructors and tons of opportunities to dig into the life of Ecuador. I liked the fact that tourism and volunteer opportunities were integrated into the life of the school. It served as a good, safe base for anything we wanted to explore. Excellent!

I think the program at Yanapuma for learning or improving Spanish is superior to others offered in Quito. There are a variety of activities offered outside of the classroom which provide ample opportunities to socialize with other students and profesors, as well as practice Spanish and learn about the culture. In addition, each student can have a completely personalized experience (with options for time and quantity for classes, studying outside of Quito and volunteer experiences). I highly recommend Yanapuma, either as a destination in and of itself or as a launching pad for further travel in South America.

I highly recommend Yanapuma as a Spanish school. The teachers and employees were friendly, fun and flexible and the cost was very reasonable. The school also was a good base for exploring the Mariscal Sucre area in Quito. In addition, attendance at Yanapuma helps support the goals of the Yanapuma Foundation, which are very worthy.

Yanapuma was fantastic. My teacher, Luz, was very professional, organized and taught what I needed to know. The quality of activities, in and out of the classroom was great. Will definitely come back.

I really appreciate the way I've been taught by Vinicio. It's impossible to get a more custom made class for me. The schedule, the subjects and the themes were set according to my specific needs! Muchas Gracias!

I had an awesome time at Yanapuma. I loved to study here . . . The teachers and the whole staff is friendly, patient and funny. Hope to come back one day. Thank you so much.

My experience with Yanapuma has been incredible. It is rare to find an organization with such experienced and dedicated staff as is the case here. All of hte professors are knowledgable, friendly, and fun. THey will go out of their way to give you the best experience possible during your stay - I can wholeheartedly recommend Yanapuma to anyone who wishes to learn Spanish and experience a great culture!

I planned to stay for 2 weeks and ended up staying for 4, and I don't want to leave. The teachers at Yanapuma are excellent, all the staff are really friendly. There's a great range of social activities. The program is really flexible, and you are very much able to choose what you'd like to focus on in your classes, and which teaching resources / methods work best for you as a student, which I thought was one of the best things about the Yanapuma experience.

I am very satisfied with my experience with Yanapuma. I had a lot of fun in my Spanish class. My teacher offered just the right amount of constructive criticism and was very flexible with my sporadic questions. The school iteslf offers a plethora of fun activities; exotic fruit tasting during break; free salsa lessons every tuesday; thursday we all chip in a couple of bucks and cook a traditional meal together; friday we go dancing at the bars in town with some of the teachers and folks that run the foundation. Yanapuma is a hub of international travelers, experienced instructors, great activities and fun thoughtful people.

My experience at Yanapuma was very positive. All the personel at the school are very helpful and are doing everything to make the experience as the school positive. The family I lived with was great and instrumental in my learning process. My profesora also has provided a great learning experience.

The atmosphere at Yanapuma was incredibly friendly yet professional, and it was great to have the opportunity to get to know other students and teachers during breaks and social events. I really enjoyed the "cafe" style classrooms and the fact that the lessons were tailored to my needs.

 

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"I can wholeheartedly recommend the Yanapuma Spanish School to anyone interested in private Spanish lessons in Ecuador.  The teachers are by and large great- and if you do have a chemistry issue (your teacher-student relationship is incredibly important for private lessons), the school will work with you and my friends have always been very happy with their new teachers.   They have activities in the afternoon that are a lot of fun, and frequently arrange great weekend trips.  It is a pretty casual environment, for example, you can sit down in the main office at any computer that is free or have your own computer on wireless, or if you want to go on a trip it is no problem to rearrange your hours or have less hours one week.  There aren’t a lot of students, but it isn’t lonely because there are a lot of great people involved in the Yanapuma foundation.  One thing I love is that the teachers stick around and often go out to lunch or dinner with students and foundation members.  It really feels like a community.  The pricing is very reasonable, and Yanapuma really never overcharges for anything.  They can also set up volunteer opportunities around Quito and in communities all round Ecuador, which is a great way to give back (and improve your real life Spanish!)." -Rebecca W., Hawaii, USA June 2007

"I came to Yanapuma to work as an intern in the Foundation, but during my first few weeks, I found I couldn’t speak Spanish that well. Thus I decided to take some Spanish classes: ten days of classes, two hours each day. I enjoyed it very much. Vinicio (they call him chiquito, because of his appearance) was a very good teacher. He taught me the things I really needed to express myself more clearly and to start with my work in the Foundation. During classes we talked about history, culture, society, nature and environmental issues, things that really interest me. On some days, we went out of the office to visit the university and the Santa Clara fruit market, to learn more about the different fruits Ecuador has to offer. I heard from others that they liked their Spanish classes too, probably because the teachers try to put you at ease, by treating you like an old friend and by talking about things the student is interested in. And indeed, that way you learn how to speak Spanish very fast . I think you’ll like it too."
- Veerle V.H. (dutch speaking Belgian), Belgium, June 2007

"I really enjoyed my time at Yanapuma. All of the people at Yanapuma were very friendly and likeable, and I feel I’ve learned much more here than just Spanish. The conversations I had with my teachers, the personnel of Yanapuma, the students and volunteers were always interesting and always made me think. I’ve really learned much, and feel fortunate because I will be practicing my new skills in the following months. Thanks to everyone, especially Vinicio who was a marvelous teacher." - Leigh M., New Zealand, June 2007

"Shortly after starting my classes at Yanapuma, I felt so much at home that it seemed like I´d been here for much longer than a week. While looking for a Spanish school, I had difficulty deciding on one. When I came across Yanapuma, the feeling I got from the information given was that it would be a place where I could not only learn the language but also engage in cultural activities beyond the surface level. In addition, I felt that the work that the Yanapuma foundation does made me want to take part in what turns out to be much more than just a Spanish school. After being here, taking classes, meeting the staff and other students, and seeing how it all works, my expectations have been beyond fulfilled. The staff and teachers are incredibly knowledgable and more than helpful. The layout of the school is warm and inviting. There is a feeling of family and a shared mentality of not only learning, but improving the world in many different ways. Yanapuma truly is outstanding in the vast world of Spanish schools." - Steph D., United States, July 2007

"Je suis enchantée de la semaine de cours que j'ai passée a la fondation, le cadre de travail est idéal, l'accueil tres sympathique, l'ambiance chaleureuse et la pédagogie adaptée, notamment a la débutante complete que j'étais en arrivant ici. Je recommande vivement cette école, je m'y suis sentie bien, j'ai fait des rencontres intéressantes et je pense que bien d'autres partagent mon sentiment." - Audrey, France, August 2007

"Where else can you get a professional, yet friendly and fun place to learn spanish. No scribbles on papers to explain spanish to you, but an organised study book, where you work through lessons, progressing in greater detail at each stage. And what's more you can take what you learn outside the classroom if you wish. In the second week I had several lessons outside the classroom. You also have the flexibility to dictate areas you wish to focus on. For example for one hour a day I decided what topic of information I wanted to know. The school has a good social life, with weekly cook clubs, cinema, etc. There is a good mix of foreigners who come to this school. And whether you are on a gap year, taking a break between jobs, travelling, or immigrating to Ecuador you will find a good balance and mix of people to socialise with." - Herjinder G., UK, October 2007

"Everyone at Yanapuma was really very friendly and helpful; Andy and David promptly responded to my many questions and flexibly arranged a teaching plan and schedule to my time requirements. Elisabeth spent an exceptional lot of her time teaching me (she also has plenty of other duties in the Yanapuma organization), giving me a very intensive, enjoyable, and productive course. The school has good method, complete supporting material, and an effective learning atmosphere. Moreover, the staff organizes a host of other interesting activities, really getting the students into contact with the local culture and reality. Interaction with the many volunteers involved with the foundation makes the experience all the more interesting. After spending ten (very intense) days at Yanapuma, I feel that, beyond making good steps forward with my Spanish, I have met a group of really interesting, dynamic, and motivated people. Thanks so much for the enriching, unforgettable experience!" - Giovanni S., Italy, November 2007

"Yanapuma was the best choice I could have made. Having a language school that works closely with a foundation gives the opportunity to meet Ecuadorians from communities all over the country. My 2 intensive weeks in Quito, a week in Estero de Platano with my teacher and another week in Chichico Rumi was one of the best experiences in my life. And I speak Spanish now!" - Rafal G., Poland, January 2008

"My Spanish lessons at Yanapuma were awesome! I learned Spanish very easily and at a pace that was set specifically for me. Yanapuma has a great learning environment with amazing staff and many opportunities to meet other people. I would recommend Yanapuma to anyone!" - Neika M., US, January 2008

"A perfect interaction between activites and Spanish classes. Never boring, I had a good 'study' time with all of you. Thanks!" - Muriel M., Holland, February 2008

"My experience with Yanapuma was wonderful. I took 3 weeks of Spanish lessons and I really loved it. My teacher Cecilia was so great and I really felt comfortable with her. During the Spanish lessons you don't only learn how to speak Spanish but you also learn a lot about the country of Ecuador. I also enjoyed the excursions that you make during the Spanish lessons. It's really a pleasant and great way to learn a language. Yes, I really enjoyed my Spanish classes!" - Lindsay M., Belgium, March 2008

"Studying Spanish at Yanapuma for several days before touring in South America is a great idea. Whether a bacpacker or a retired person, language confidence in Spanish lets you travel at leisure without the 'rules' of group travel." - Mary Jane H., US, April 2008

"I really enjoyed my time studying at Yanapuma. The school was small enough that I felt appreciated and known by everyone who worked there, but there wer also a lot of other students that I became friends with during the school activities after class and on the weekend trips. The trip to Otvalo with Vinicio was awesome!" - Anon, US, March 2008

"Yanapuma es una buena experiencia para ser totalmente en inmersión. Después de una semana de clases de español me sentí más cómoda para comunicarme. Además, pude trabajar en una guardería en el sur de Quito que me permitió mirar los problemas reales, económicos y sociales del Ecuador. Ahora, entiendo más las necesidades de un país en desarrollo y todo el trabajo de una organización no gubernamental. Los ecuatorianos son muy amables y no lamento el haber venido." - Celine C., France, April 2008