Spanish Language Placement Assessment & Levels Prior to arrival, you will complete the Language Placement Assessment Form and participate in an assessment interview. This process is meant to assess your Spanish proficiency level for course planning purposes. The results will be used to determine your placement for your IES Abroad Spanish language class. Faculty in Quito evaluate the results of your placement assessment, the last Spanish class you took, and the class you need to receive credit at your current college or university to determine your language level. Your language level also...

Spanish Language Placement Assessment & Levels Prior to arrival, you will complete the Language Placement Assessment Form and participate in an assessment interview. This process is meant to assess your Spanish proficiency level for course planning purposes. The results will be used to determine your placement for your IES Abroad Spanish language class. Faculty in Quito evaluate the results of your placement assessment, the last Spanish class you took, and the class you need to receive credit at your current college or university to determine your language level. Your language level also...

Spanish Language Placement Assessment & Levels Prior to arrival, you will complete the Language Placement Assessment Form. This process is meant to assess your Spanish proficiency level for course planning purposes.

You will register for courses directly with USFQ. Please look for emails from USFQ regarding this process.

Volunteering USFQ Dragons Dragons are Ecuadorian students who volunteer to help international students (like you!) get settled at USFQ and immerse in the local student culture. During your orientation in USFQ, you will meet some of the Dragons and will learn more about the program.

You will enroll in 7 credits total for this program. You will take: A week-long Spanish language course (1 credit). This course is taught in Quito. Ecuadorian Ecosystems course (3 credits). This course is taught in Quito. Environmental Issues course (3 credits each). This course is taught in the Galapagos. All Environmental Studies courses are taught in English, and previous Spanish study is not required. The first half of the program is taught in Quito, and the second half is taught in the Galápagos Islands, including a visit to Santa Cruz Island, where you will study the unique flora and...

In the Galápagos, your homestay will be close to the USFQ GAIAS campus. All homestays are located by the IES Abroad staff, in safe areas of the area, and inspected on a regular basis. You will have your own furnished room, and you will be the only IES Abroad student in the home. No two homestay situations are the same! Just as “family” could mean many different things in your home country, Ecuadorian families also are quite diverse. Some families are composed of a set of parents and their children. Other families consist of an older couple with grown children. It is common in Ecuador for some...