Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Estudio Sampere?
Alberto and Isabel Sampere pioneered Spanish language teaching in the 1950s and established the first Estudio Sampere in Madrid in 1956.The Sampere family has been running this independent school focusing on quality Spanish courses for 60 years now. In the 21st Century, the third Sampere generation is working to offer the best options to study Spanish in Spain and Latin America.
Estudio Sampere is accredited by the International Association of Language Centres, Instituto Cervantes, the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese, and the Spanish Federation of Schools of Spanish as a Foreign Language.
2. What will students learn?
Prior to beginning classes, participants will be sorted into classes based on their current level of Spanish. In these small groups, students will study Spanish grammar, medical vocabulary, and conversation over the course of 4 weeks. They will also learn about the Ecuadorian healthcare system and improve their speaking skills daily by living with Spanish-speaking families in homestays. More than anything, participants will be immersed in a different way of life.
3. Where will students stay?
Each participant will live for four weeks with a family in Cuenca. Homestays are typically within a 20-minute walk from the Sampere school, or can may choose to travel by bus for $0.25. Sampere works closely with host families and is committed to making the homestay a positive experience for both the students and their hosts.
4. What is Cuenca like?
Cuenca is a city of approximately 400,000 people located in the Andes mountains of Ecuador. The city's elevation is approximately 8,400 feet. Cuenca is known for its textile making, as well as furniture and other crafts like hats and shoes. Cuenca also exports flowers to the United States and many countries in Europe. The straw hats known around the world as "Panama Hats" are in fact made in Cuenca by local artisans. It is a very reasonably priced city, with restaurant meals available for as little as $2-$3 dollars. Cuenca is also very safe. As in any city with a half a million people, travelers need to be vigilant with their cell phones and other valuables. The city is rich in history and culture, with festivals, farmers markets, cathedrals and many large parks to explore.
5. Who are the coordinators?
Jeff Brant and Tami Ferracuti are the trip's coordinators. Jeff has taught for 31 years, 21 of them as a Spanish teacher at Windsor High School. He has lived and traveled abroad, and has chaperoned student travel as well. He visited Cuenca in the summer of 2019 and fell in love with the city! Diana Brant (Jeff's wife) and their two children will join him. Tami has taught Spanish at Windsor High for 11 years and is also a seasoned international traveler. In addition to many trips to Italy with her Italian husband, Tami also studied abroad in Chile during college and has traveled in 20 countries in South and Central America. She looks forward to introducing her mom and young children to Ecuador on this trip. Both coordinators are excited about this incredible learning opportunity.
6.Can significant others come too?
Yes! Your cost would be $700 for all excursions, events, and flights within the country, plus $30 for group insurance and approximately $800 for airfare (Total: $1530). You would be responsible for your own meals and accommodations in Cuenca, which you can find for very reasonable prices. A quick Airbnb search shows 1-bedroom apartments and studios available in central Cuenca ranging from $300-$700 for the month. A homestay might even be possible if you want to improve your Spanish while you're there too. Please speak to Jeff about it if you think he or she would like to come.
7. What happens if there’s an emergency?
In addition to Jeff and Tami mentioned above, the Sampere program director and his brother, a doctor, will serve as emergency contacts during the trip. Part of the trip cost is group travel insurance up to $50,000 in the event of medical or travel necessity.
8. How are host families chosen?
Participants will take a survey of their dietary needs, allergies, and other preferences. Participants' responses will be used to pair students with the most compatible Ecuadorian families. Students will be placed two per family, each with his or her own room.
9. Do US cell phones work in Ecuador?
They do, but you are likely to pay hefty charges for using it there. Contact your cell carrier for specifics. You may opt to bring a an inexpensive used phone to set up for the month upon arrival, or opt to rely on WiFi (very accessible) and WhatsApp for communication with home.
10. How do I get my passport?
Visit this website. Two good places to apply are the Healdsburg post office and the Sonoma County Law Library.
11. What are the rules for participants?
The guidelines for this program are very simple:
a. Participate in the program (unless you’re sick, in which case you need to notify a chaperone). This includes courses, shadowing and excursions.
b. Minors (under 18) must communicate with a chaperone prior to leaving and upon return to Cuenca, even with host family.
c. Follow all household rules provided by host family regarding curfews, cleanliness, meals, etc.
d. Participants must abide by the laws of both the United States and Ecuador.
*If a participant is not following the program and/or household rules, he or she may be sent home at his or her expense.*
12. What excursions are included?
Above and beyond the doctor-shadowing and hospital/clinic visits and observations, there are four lovely excursions planned: to the equator itself, Ingapirca, El Chorro de Girón, and El Cajas National Park.
13. What will happen if a participant is seriously ill or gets injured?
Please see detailed information about group insurance in the attachment below.
Alberto and Isabel Sampere pioneered Spanish language teaching in the 1950s and established the first Estudio Sampere in Madrid in 1956.The Sampere family has been running this independent school focusing on quality Spanish courses for 60 years now. In the 21st Century, the third Sampere generation is working to offer the best options to study Spanish in Spain and Latin America.
Estudio Sampere is accredited by the International Association of Language Centres, Instituto Cervantes, the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese, and the Spanish Federation of Schools of Spanish as a Foreign Language.
2. What will students learn?
Prior to beginning classes, participants will be sorted into classes based on their current level of Spanish. In these small groups, students will study Spanish grammar, medical vocabulary, and conversation over the course of 4 weeks. They will also learn about the Ecuadorian healthcare system and improve their speaking skills daily by living with Spanish-speaking families in homestays. More than anything, participants will be immersed in a different way of life.
3. Where will students stay?
Each participant will live for four weeks with a family in Cuenca. Homestays are typically within a 20-minute walk from the Sampere school, or can may choose to travel by bus for $0.25. Sampere works closely with host families and is committed to making the homestay a positive experience for both the students and their hosts.
4. What is Cuenca like?
Cuenca is a city of approximately 400,000 people located in the Andes mountains of Ecuador. The city's elevation is approximately 8,400 feet. Cuenca is known for its textile making, as well as furniture and other crafts like hats and shoes. Cuenca also exports flowers to the United States and many countries in Europe. The straw hats known around the world as "Panama Hats" are in fact made in Cuenca by local artisans. It is a very reasonably priced city, with restaurant meals available for as little as $2-$3 dollars. Cuenca is also very safe. As in any city with a half a million people, travelers need to be vigilant with their cell phones and other valuables. The city is rich in history and culture, with festivals, farmers markets, cathedrals and many large parks to explore.
5. Who are the coordinators?
Jeff Brant and Tami Ferracuti are the trip's coordinators. Jeff has taught for 31 years, 21 of them as a Spanish teacher at Windsor High School. He has lived and traveled abroad, and has chaperoned student travel as well. He visited Cuenca in the summer of 2019 and fell in love with the city! Diana Brant (Jeff's wife) and their two children will join him. Tami has taught Spanish at Windsor High for 11 years and is also a seasoned international traveler. In addition to many trips to Italy with her Italian husband, Tami also studied abroad in Chile during college and has traveled in 20 countries in South and Central America. She looks forward to introducing her mom and young children to Ecuador on this trip. Both coordinators are excited about this incredible learning opportunity.
6.Can significant others come too?
Yes! Your cost would be $700 for all excursions, events, and flights within the country, plus $30 for group insurance and approximately $800 for airfare (Total: $1530). You would be responsible for your own meals and accommodations in Cuenca, which you can find for very reasonable prices. A quick Airbnb search shows 1-bedroom apartments and studios available in central Cuenca ranging from $300-$700 for the month. A homestay might even be possible if you want to improve your Spanish while you're there too. Please speak to Jeff about it if you think he or she would like to come.
7. What happens if there’s an emergency?
In addition to Jeff and Tami mentioned above, the Sampere program director and his brother, a doctor, will serve as emergency contacts during the trip. Part of the trip cost is group travel insurance up to $50,000 in the event of medical or travel necessity.
8. How are host families chosen?
Participants will take a survey of their dietary needs, allergies, and other preferences. Participants' responses will be used to pair students with the most compatible Ecuadorian families. Students will be placed two per family, each with his or her own room.
9. Do US cell phones work in Ecuador?
They do, but you are likely to pay hefty charges for using it there. Contact your cell carrier for specifics. You may opt to bring a an inexpensive used phone to set up for the month upon arrival, or opt to rely on WiFi (very accessible) and WhatsApp for communication with home.
10. How do I get my passport?
Visit this website. Two good places to apply are the Healdsburg post office and the Sonoma County Law Library.
11. What are the rules for participants?
The guidelines for this program are very simple:
a. Participate in the program (unless you’re sick, in which case you need to notify a chaperone). This includes courses, shadowing and excursions.
b. Minors (under 18) must communicate with a chaperone prior to leaving and upon return to Cuenca, even with host family.
c. Follow all household rules provided by host family regarding curfews, cleanliness, meals, etc.
d. Participants must abide by the laws of both the United States and Ecuador.
*If a participant is not following the program and/or household rules, he or she may be sent home at his or her expense.*
12. What excursions are included?
Above and beyond the doctor-shadowing and hospital/clinic visits and observations, there are four lovely excursions planned: to the equator itself, Ingapirca, El Chorro de Girón, and El Cajas National Park.
13. What will happen if a participant is seriously ill or gets injured?
Please see detailed information about group insurance in the attachment below.
plan_information_img_global_group_travel_insurance.pdf |