ECELA Spanish Language School in Lima (Semester)
Study in the capital of Peru. Enjoy beautiful and historic Lima with its museums and art galleries. Take in the surroundings with scenic cliffs and ancient temples. Discover Peru’s famous cuisine while studying abroad in Lima. What better place to learn Spanish while surrounded by historic architecture in one of Latin America’s biggest cities.
Application Deadline
Program Start
Program End
Program Details
Academic Program
The best way to master a language is with native, college certified teachers using a proven curriculum in a small class environment. Classes at ECELA are capped at 8 students per instructor allowing you to have individual attention resulting in dramatic language skill improvement within a short window of time. You can participate as a total beginner or with many years of speaking the language.
Course Descriptions and Syllabi
On the ECELA semester-length program, you can choose from the following:
- Five Spanish language courses
- Four Spanish language courses, One elective course
- Three Spanish language courses, Two elective course
For elective courses, you can choose to take Latin American Cultures I and/or Foundations of Spanish and Latin America.
- Latin American Cultures I: International Perspectives GenED + ASPN 317
- Foundations of Spanish and Latin America: International Perspectives GenED + ASPN 316
Other elective courses (i.e. – Medical Spanish, Business Spanish, Legal Spanish, and Spanish Composition) may also be available for an extra fee.
Review Course Descriptions for more information regarding course offerings.
General Education Information for UAlbany Students
Credits earned on this program will automatically satisfy the International Perspectives requirement. Three credits of foreign language study will satisfy the Foreign Language requirement. No additional approval is required for you to earn these general elective credits.
Major/Minor Information for UAlbany Students
Courses may also satisfy major and minor requirements, upon approval by the department.
Transcript
All courses taken abroad count towards UAlbany General Elective credits. Credits and grades will appear on your UAlbany transcript. You may file a request to have additional courses approved for equivalency as necessary.
Housing
Housing is provided with local Peruvian families. Living with a family is one of the most effective ways to improve language skills and learn about the local culture. All of the families are warm and welcoming and experienced at making you feel at home within their house. All host families are located within an easy commute to the school and are in a safe and lovely neighborhood.
In effort to provide you with the best, families are chosen with the utmost care and go through extensive screening and training before being accepted as host families. Their passion in educating you about their language and culture goes above and beyond many other language and culture programs found elsewhere. The families make every attempt to accept our students as part of their “Peruvian family” during their stay in Lima and after.
Living with a host family also provides an additional layer of support. A local host family assist you with learning the best ways to get around the city, what regional cuisine to try, what sites to visit in the city and beyond, and how to find the best deals in Lima.
Meals
You will be living in a homestay with a family. Many meals will be provided by the homestay. Get ready to eat amazing Peruvian meals. You will also be able to eat out, if you want. You will certainly enjoy the food!
Estimate of Costs
For reference, review the Academic Year 2019-20 Estimate of Costs
More Information
Click for more information on Program Costs and Financial Aid.
Remember to speak with the Office of Financial Aid at your home campus to determine how your aid package could apply towards your program abroad.
Academic Requirements
Our program is open to Sophomores, Juniors and Seniors with a 2.5 GPA. You do not have to have Spanish experience but taking at least one Spanish course prior to the program will help.
Experiential Learning
The program offers daily scheduled activities in and around Lima. Participating in these activities is an excellent way to practice your new language skills in a fun and exciting environment.
Weekend trips are also offered where you can discover Peru’s fantastic landscapes and outdoor sports. Historical landmarks and experiencing the arts and culture that make Peru so unique are integral parts of this program. Note: only some of these activities and excursions are included in the cost of the program with UAlbany. More information on this will be included in your acceptance packet.
Top Activities and Excursions in Lima:
Activities
- Cinema Latino – Practice your Spanish while we enjoy a Latin American film.
- Festejo Classes – Learn traditional dance representative of Peru’s ethnic mix.
- Parrilla de Bienvenida – Welcome you while sampling typical Peruvian food.
- Lima City Tour – Visit the historic center and most important buildings and sites.
- Conversation Club – Extra Spanish practice while learning about the Peruvian culture.
Excursions
- Ciudad de Caral – UNESCO world heritage site. Sacred City of Caral: archaeological site dating back to 2600 BC.
- Paracas, Islas Ballestas – Visit the Ballestas Islands and its famous fauna variety. Best known ecotourism spot on the Peruvian coast.
- Canta – A province northwest of Lima best known for its beautiful natural landscapes.
Funding Opportunities
Most financial aid and academic awards will apply to semester programs.
External scholarships, listed on our website, are a good way to partially fund your study abroad experience. In addition, the Center for International Education and Global Strategy offers two scholarship programs for UAlbany students studying abroad on UAlbany or 4-year SUNY programs.
More information on applying to these scholarships is located on the Scholarships web page.
About the City
Lima is a city full of history, culture, endless beaches, beautiful mountains and an abundance of learning opportunities. Also known as the City of the Kings, Lima has managed to hold on to traditions that date all the way back to pre-Incan times. While strolling through the streets and squares of this historic region, you will be able to get a glimpse of ancient Peruvian culture and see why many of these traditions remain so important to the city today.
Lima, Peru, formerly underappreciated as a tourist destination, has recently gained in popularity. Many people consider Peruvian food to be the best of South America, particularly noted for its seafood and desserts. Outside of class you’ll have plenty of activity choices: from surf lessons to salsa classes to volunteering. On the weekends day trips to archaeological ruins, natural reserves, and even the Amazon jungle are all popular.
ECELA’s “School Hopping” Option:
During the semester and summer length programs at ECELA, you have the option of dividing your time between ECELA’s many locations in Lima (Peru), Cusco (Peru), Mendoza (Argentina), Viña del Mar (Chile), and Santiago (Chile). This is a great way to experience various other countries and cultures, while still being able to take your desired courses at other ECELA locations.
Please note that you will be responsible for the travel costs between locations, and you must notify ECELA and UAlbany of your intention to transfer at least two weeks in advance of your intended transfer date. The basic costs of the program paid to UAlbany (consult the cost estimate listed above) will remain the same though, regardless of the locations that you choose. If you are interested in the multi-location option with ECELA, please contact studyabroad@albany.edu with your request.
Travel Documents
A valid passport is required to participate in this program. The entry into Peru for Citizens of most American and Western European countries does not require a tourist visa. You cannot stay in the country for more than 183 days.More information regarding the visa application process is available upon acceptance to the program.
Application Availability
Applications become available online one semester before the program start date, based on the following timeline:
- Spring/Winter/Spring Break programs: July
- Fall/Year/Summer programs: December
Program Dates
Fall 2020
08/10/2020 to 11/28/2020
Spring 2020
01/19/2020 to 05/09/2020
About the Program
UAlbany’s study abroad program with the ECELA Spanish Language School gives you the chance to experience rapid advancement in Spanish abilities while experiencing first-hand the Peruvian culture in and around Lima. As an intensive immersion course (Spanish classes within a “Spanish everywhere” environment), the program’s goal is to give you several semesters worth of Spanish skill enhancement in only a few months. In addition to the 20 hour per week language course, you can also participate in cultural activities such as cooking classes, salsa dance lessons, Cinema Latino, and folklore shows.
The school is located in Mira Flores (an upscale seaside district) just a few blocks from Oceanside cliffs. It’s a comfortable building in a quiet location, but you’ll still be within a short walk to a central plaza and dozens of restaurants and cafes – great for people-watching while doing your Spanish homework.
ECELA is dedicated to helping students get closer to Spanish fluency even if they are not “naturals” at picking up foreign languages. The 50/50 ratio of grammar and conversation, taught in separate sessions, ensures you of balanced progress. The extra small classes (capped at only 8 students) are intimate enough that you will comfortably join the discussion, even if you normally resist raising your hand. Finally, the “demanding yet understanding” teachers and staff push you to do the necessary work so you will vastly improve your Spanish.
ECELA schools attract students from many walks of life. They come from 42+ countries and have an array of personal and professional interests. You’ll bond with them in your classes, in the refreshment breaks in between them, and in our many social and cultural activities after them. For many of our students, forming a new set of very diverse relationships is a real treasure and an unexpected highlight. While you may come to ECELA alone, you are quickly plugged into an instant social life.
Program Orientations
Upon acceptance to the program, you will be required to attend a mandatory pre-departure orientation. During this time, you will have the opportunity to meet other program participants, discuss in-depth the details of your program, and prepare of the overall education abroad experience. The fall semester pre-departure orientation will be conducted the Saturday before the end of Spring UAlbany classes and in late November/early December for the spring term abroad.
Upon arrival to the ECELA program, you will attend a mandatory program orientation. This is an important and informative set of sessions organized by International Office of your host university.
Support Services
UAlbany’s Office of Education Abroad staff assists you during the application process, in your preparation to travel abroad, and on-site if necessary.
The ECELA staff serve as an experienced resource for resolving issues that you may encounter in while abroad.