Learn Spanish in Ecuador

Learn Spanish at the beginner level or perfect your intermediate or advanced Spanish language skills while you discover the natural beauty of Ecuador exploring the beaches, snowcapped mountains, and jungles.

Guayaquil, the largest city in Ecuador with nearly three million inhabitants, is the commercial, industrial, and import export hub of the country. Situated on the Guayas River and the Pacific coast, Guayaquil is known for its contagious informality, lively social life, and year-round tropical weather. Guayaquil, known as the Pacific Pearl, is the main port of Ecuador. Malécon 2000, the largest architectural development in the last century of Guayaquil's history, is a waterfront boardwalk that runs from Cuenca Street in the south of the city, all the way to Barrio las Peñas on the north.

Spanish Language and Culture at Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil in Ecuador

The Universidad Católica de Santiago de Guayaquil is a private, non-profit institution of higher learning that achieved high prestige in the community. Católica has an attractive campus and a very active student life, including numerous social and recreational facilities as well as computer labs. The campus is served by public transportation. More than 5,500 students are enrolled in degree programs such as Architecture, Law, Business, Sociology, Education, Literature, Communications, Psychology, Economics and Engineering.

Course Offerings

The Semester Program in Guayaquil combines intensive language instruction (at all levels) with the study of Ecuadorian history and culture. Students earn 12 to 15 credits. All courses are subject to minimum enrollment. Students must complete a course pre-registration form, provided to them prior to departure.

Spanish Language 

Taught in six levels, Spanish instruction places heavy emphasis upon oral communication and uses an interactive methodology. Students receive personalized attention in the small classes ranging from two to eight students. The Spanish courses are taught in one-month intensive sessions. This enables students to take more than one level in one semester.

• Elementary Spanish Communication I

• Elementary Spanish Communication II

• Intermediate Spanish Communication I

• Intermediate Spanish Communication II

• Advanced Spanish Communication I

• Advanced Spanish Communication and Composition II

• Contemporary Latin American Literature (for students with advanced Spanish fluency)

• Special Topics in Spanish (Spanish Conversation)

• Social Science Contemporary Ecuadorian Issues*

• Modern Latin American History*

*These two courses can be taught either in English or in Spanish, but not both, depending on the level of language knowledge in the class.

Living

All programs participants live with Ecuadorian host families. The arrangement gives each participant the opportunity to learn about Ecuadorian culture first-hand. Students gain support in the new country from interaction with the family while following the host family's customs including: eating meals, respecting host norms, and being sensitive to Ecuadorian culture. Ecuadorian food consists mainly of soup and stews, corn pancakes, rice, eggs, and vegetables. Seafood is particularly good, even in the highlands.

Exploring

If you’re into wildlife and nature, don’t miss visiting the Parque Histórico, a combination of living museum and zoological park where history and nature meet and you can observe the traditions of a centuries-old culture. Malecon 2000, the place where you can sit and enjoy an Ecuadorian sunny day on the Guayas River, has helped revitalize the city.  Here you can shop for handcrafts and taste some delicious traditional Ecuadorian fare.  If you’d like to cool off on the weekends, some of Ecuador’s most spectacular beaches lie just a short bus ride away to the west of the city.  To the east you can escape to the picturesque colonial city of Cuenca, located high in the Andes mountains, where you can enjoy the perpetual spring-like climate.

If Guayaquil is not your destination in mind in Ecuador, you can also explore our programs in Quito and Galápagos Island: https://www.csi.cuny.edu/campus-life/student-services/center-global-engagement/study-abroad/programs-country/ecuador. 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ready to have the best academic experience abroad?

The College of Staten Island (CSI) offers a wide range of study abroad and exchange programs. All of our study abroad programs enable you to explore both the traditions and the modern realities of the world from another perspective.

CSI's programs are open to all students at CSI, CUNY, and at other colleges and universities in the U.S. CSI is also a proud founding member of the College Consortium for International Studies (CCIS) offering programs throughout the world.

If you have a general question, please email studyab@csi.cuny.edu. For program specific inquiries, contact the advisor listed in each program page.

 

Programs Administered by CSI

CSI's programs are open to all students at CSI, CUNY, and at other colleges and universities in the US. CSI is also a proud founding member of the College Consortium for International Studies (CCIS) offering programs throughout the world.

 

For more information on CSI study abroad programs per country, visit our website:

https://www.csi.cuny.edu/campus-life/student-services/center-global-engagement/study-abroad 

 My study abroad experience in Copenhagen, Denmark

"When I reached Copenhagen in January, I was stunned by the quietness that characterized the city. That’s when I learned they have a word for this: hygge", College of Staten Island student said during her study abroad term in Denmark.

CSI student, Janet Akselrud, studied abroad in Copenhagen this year. She shared her experience in Denmark along with photos and videos during her stay. Our CSI Study Abroad advisor, Russell Davis, was able to assist at the Center for Global Engagement, and encourages other students to study abroad next term.

Choosing to study abroad for an entire semester is a big leap. It means being away from home for a long time, away from the people you know, it means learning in a new way. And that’s everything I love about it! 

In the Spring of 2022 I studied abroad with the CIEE Open Campus Block program. That means my semester was made up of three six-week blocks where I took 1-2 classes each block. Students have a choice to live anywhere from 1 to 3 countries for the semester. I chose Copenhagen, Denmark for my first two blocks and London, England for my third.

When I reached Copenhagen in January, I was stunned by the quietness that characterized the city.  It was a beautiful capital city with many people of course, and yet, unlike New York, there was no hustle culture. People would stroll through parks, or go sit at a café and eat something sweet. I felt this incredible coziness, a sense of home, whether I was in my room, at school, or in a café. That’s when I learned they have a word for this: “hygge”. 

Maybe you’ve heard of it before, hygge, the certain mood of coziness, but have you ever tried to create it in your own environment? It’s easy! Just choose dim lights that have a yellow glow, light some candles, grab a blanket, heat up a cup of tea, and bring a pastry. Even on my first day of orientation, there were candles in the student lounge in my school building. Creating those environments is so important during the winter when the sun barely shines. 

I would write so much if I could about the culture, about the difference between “lykke” and “glad”, about how safe it is to walk around by yourself at night, but I’ll end here, hoping you get to explore the city yourself one day, with a recommendation of one place to see: The Danish Architecture Center (DAC). Why? Oh, I don’t know, just the three story slide inside of the building, the huge box of legos to play with, and the amazing, sustainable, architecture!

Ps. Here’s a video I filmed for one of my classes in Copenhagen's Botanical Garden: https://youtu.be/HJzZDLx2Szc

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Interested in Denmark? See more CSI programs in Denmark here:

https://www.csi.cuny.edu/campus-life/student-services/center-global-engagement/study-abroad/programs-country/denmark

Business, Hospitality, Sports Management, and Entrepreneurship at CPH in Copenhagen, Denmark

Overview

Spend your term abroad in the premier capital of Northern Europe - Scandinavia's most fantastic city and the center of the most dynamic region in Europe, the Øresund Region. Copenhagen is one of Europe's oldest capitals with an exclusive royal touch - the monarchy in Denmark is the oldest in the world. Because of the fascinating architecture, many parks, and gourmet restaurants, Copenhagen has been christened the best city for livability, sustainability and many other factors in all of Europe. You can spend your semester finding out why and exploring everything this city has to offer, while earning credit towards your degree!

Our exchange partner is Copenhagen Business Academy (also called Cphbusiness).  This exchange is open to all business majors at CUNY only.  Cphbusiness’s campuses at Lyngby, Nørrebro and Søerne are all located in the Greater Copenhagen Area. This means that you will always have easy access to both the charming and hectic city centre of Copenhagen, with its abundance of cafés, shops and historic buildings, and to the northern, sophisticated part of Copenhagen with its green areas and beaches. In addition to being a cultural hotspot and a safe city, Copenhagen has a thriving business community. With many of Denmark’s biggest companies located in the Danish capital, it has plenty to offer for anyone seeking a future international career.

Study Abroad in Scandinavia with DIS in Copenhagen, Denmark

Overview

Spend your term abroad in the premier capital of Northern Europe - Scandinavia's most fantastic city and the center of the most dynamic region in Europe, the Øresund Region. Copenhagen is one of Europe's oldest capitals with an exclusive royal touch - the monarchy in Denmark is the oldest in the world. Because of the fascinating architecture, many parks, and gourmet restaurants, Copenhagen has been christened the best city for livability, sustainability and many other factors in all of Europe. You can spend your summer or semester finding out why and exploring everything this city has to offer, while earning credit towards your degree!

DIS, founded in 1959, has 50 years of experience in offering high quality study abroad programming in Copenhagen, taught in English for upper-level U.S. undergraduate students. Your time in this vibrant city will be supported by an excellent team of faculty and staff who lead you on program excursions and help you to make the most of your time abroad, whether for the summer or a full semester.

Contact us:

The CSI Study Abroad Team

 

Gonzalo Villena, Director of Study Abroad

​​John Dunleavy, Study Abroad Advisor

Russell Davis, Senior Study Abroad Advisor

Stephen Ferst, Executive Director, Center for Global Engagement

 

Center for Global Engagement, 2A-206​

College of Staten Island

The City University of New York​

2800 Victory Blvd.

Staten Island, NY  10314

 

718 982-2100 / Fax 718 982-2108​ 

 

Students may read program information and search by country here on the new CSI site

 

studyab@csi.cuny.edu  / www.csi.cuny.edu/international