Learning Spanish in Quito

What the average day looks like, and what it is like to live with a host family and go to a Spanish Immersion school in Quito, Ecuador

I normally wake up between 6:30 and 7. I will write in my journal, play on my phone, or work on my blog until breakfast at 8. I walk upstairs for the kitchen and typically enjoy bread, pancakes, fruit, yogurt, and tea. I can practice my Spanish with my host family and the fellow students. There are three other students living with my host family.

My host family is extremely sweet and accommodating. I enjoy talking to them and using my Spanish. They are very helpful and correct me when I make mistakes. One of my favorite things in Quito has been having conversations with them during meals.

After breakfast I wash my face and brush my teeth then get dressed for the day. Around 8:50 I walk about 3 minutes to school, which is one street over. That gives me enough time to say good morning to everyone, and grab a cup of coffee before class starts.

My professor is awesome and teaches me by experience. I am only allowed to speak in Spanish and it forces me to say things incorrectly. This is hard for me because I want to convey my point, but I don't want to make mistakes. However, making mistakes is how I learn best.

I will attempt to say something and my professor will correct me or provide me with the vocabulary I need. I then have to repeat it a few times to get it right. Then he has me write it down and read it a few more times out loud. This is great practice for me and I am able to learn the vocabulary a lot better than simply using flashcards.

In class we mostly spend time talking about different things. I told him all about my family, my trip to Tanzania, the different rooms in my house and what we do in them, and most recently we are going over my favorite topic, travel. I really enjoy the teaching style and I have learned a lot in just one week.

After two hours we get a break to use the bathroom, grab more coffee and talk with the other students and professors. Then it is back to class for two more hours. Except on Fridays when we play a game instead. This week it was the Spanish version of Clue.

After class is finished my teacher assigns me my homework, which is normally writing a page or two about what I learned that day, utilizing the new concepts and vocabulary. Then I walk back to my house for lunch. My family always makes the most delicious meals.

After lunch I either go to one of the optional, free activities my school has to offer, hang out in my room, or walk around the city. The activities are Spanish movies, workshops or tours around the city.

Around 5 or so I typically go upstairs for a light dinner and work on my homework. After I finish I talk with my host family for an hour or so and practice my Spanish. Having these conversations and real world experience helps me a lot. I may not be perfect, but I can get my point across and understand what they are saying.

Living in Quito has been so much fun and I am really enjoying learning Spanish. It has always been a goal of mine to learn the language and I am so glad I am finally putting forth the effort to do so.