Andes Escuela de Espanol

I want to share this student testimonial..Dear ECELA Santiago Staff, I returned to the San Francisco area two days ago and have thought much about what a wonderful experience I had at ECELA Santiago for the last month. I want to express my true gratitude and admiration to all involved. The quality and caliber of instruction and curriculum is unparalleled. I have been a high school English and ESL teacher for the past eight years in California and I stand in awe of the natural talent, insight and mastery of the ECELA teachers. I truly believe that teaching a language to a non-native speaker is one of the most challenging callings on earth. My two teachers, Ricardo and Francisco, were unbelievably talented, patient and engaging in their instructional strategies and classroom management. As a teacher myself, I know the challenges of language instruction. I can truly say that in my career as an educator, these two teachers are the two most talented and effective in their classroom practice. I hope that both can come for some time to California to teach in my district and share their talent with the students of the greater Bay Area. I also was very impressed with the ECELA staff. Paz was the first member I met. Her warmth, patience and advice made me feel comfortable in a new city. She also always demonstrated a great desire to meet the needs of ECELA students and was always available as the warm, welcoming presence all of us gringas needed so much who were a little homesick for our family, friends y problems with our novios back home. All of the other staff were always very available as well. From when Ida helped us with our broken fuse in the Roman Diaz home to Carlos helping me find the obscure address for an embassy so I could complete papers to exit Chile, all staff members were very friendly, responsive and helpful. Living in the Roman Diaz home was also a pleasure. I felt the level of respect, affection and belonging mutually valued by all living in the home made it a wonderful community that enhanced our classroom learning. Lucy also was wonderful keeping the home lovely for us all to live in. As a teacher, I will recommend the ECELA program to all of my colleagues seeking to improve their Spanish language skills. I hope to return in December or February to Santiago with a group of colleagues for two weeks. I will also always recommend the program to my former students who are now students in the university system and who want to travel and study abroad. I feel the quality of instruction and curriculum paired with the warmth of the staff make the Santiago ECELA program the greatest educational gem that exists in South America. If for any reason ECELA staff need to travel to California for recruitment purposes and need a place to stay, please let me know. My home is always open to any ECELA staff member who may be in the San Francisco Bay Area for any reason. With Great Love, Appreciation y Besos, Wendy Savinar