Course itinerary
Get the most out of your trip to Peru and give something back at the same time on this unique Spanish language and volunteering course.
Whatever your level from complete beginner to advanced, choosing to learn Spanish combined with putting your Spanish lessons into practice on a volunteering project with local children is the best way to accelerate your language learning experience and make a positive contribution to the community.
Make a difference and choose a holiday experience that really matters and one that will stay with you long after the course is over. Volunteers are welcomed with open arms and the people of Cusco will appreciate the donation of your time to offer them valuable support in whichever way you can.
Follow 4 weeks of learning Spanish with 4 weeks of volunteering with local Peruvian children and give an added purpose to your Spanish course knowing that the language skills you develop will soon be helping you to help others.
With accommodation in the student residence included for the duration of your 8 week course you can really enjoy the complete Peruvian experience this learn Spanish and volunteer with children course will give you.
Volunteering Projects Available
You can choose to volunteer with children at one of the following types of projects, subject to availability and your skills, experience and requirements:
After School Projects/Orphanages
- Help with homework, play games and sports, organize an activity or do something creative with children from all backgrounds and each with their own different story
Centres for Physical and Mental Rehabilitation
- Organize sports and creative workshops or help teach English to delinquent boys or assist in classes for deaf and mentally disabled children
Playschools/Kindergartens
- Help the teacher in class, organize physical activities and help feed and take care of the young children
Suitability
- Suitable for all levels from beginners to advanced Spanish language learners
- You must be fully committed to the volunteering project you are assigned and be flexible and willing to get completely involved in making a difference
- Minimum age 18
Start Days
- The Spanish and volunteer programmes run year round and all arrivals are on Sunday
- You’ll check-in to your accommodation anytime on Sunday afternoon for 55 nights and will check-out 56 days later on Saturday morning
- A full schedule of your Spanish classes and volunteer placement is detailed below
Spanish Course Schedule
- Classes start at 8.30am or 2.30pm each day year round depending on your language level
- Classes run daily Monday through to Friday each week
- You will have 4 group classes per day lasting 55 minutes each
- You will have a short break between each class
How Will I Learn Spanish?
- Spanish courses are focused on having fun and classes are highly interactive
- You will focus on the four main Spanish language skills of reading, writing, speaking and listening
- There will be individual and group work such as role plays and conversation practice
- You’ll also work on developing your grammar in practical contexts
- You will learn with a wide range of teaching aids; language text books, Spanish press, audio/video, Spanish songs or games and each week your linguistic skills are assessed to ensure you are always in the right group for your level
- Please note all Spanish lessons will be held in the native language of Spanish; a proven teaching technique that will fully immerse you in the language and accelerate your learning experience
Spanish Language Level Test
- Please arrive at the school by 8am on your first day for a short language level test
- This test will assess your understanding of the language and will help the course organisers to place you in the right group class for your level
- You will also be assessed by the teacher towards the end of the 4 weeks to ensure your language level is matched with the right volunteering placement
Volunteer Placement Schedule
- You will be working on the project Monday to Friday each week
- Actual schedules vary according to the project and needs at the time but most placements can be flexible if required
- If you have any specific requirements to work morning, afternoon or evenings or would prefer not to work at any of these times please let us know at the time of booking
How Will My Volunteer Placement Work?
- After your 4 week Spanish course has finished you will start your 4 week volunteer placement
- At the time of booking you need to let us know what type of project you would like to work on from the following: After School Projects; Centres for Physical and Mental Rehabilitation; Orphanages or Playschools/Kindergartens
- You will also need to provide us with your CV and a motivation letter detailing your relevant skills and experience, current Spanish level and any goals or expectations you might have for your volunteering placement
- We will then liaise with the volunteer co-ordinator at the school to work out which project best suits you and send you full details of your placement
- On arrival in Cusco you will receive an information pack with preliminary information regarding your volunteer work experience
- You will also attend an introductory class with general information about Peruvian history and culture, working in Peru as a foreigner, cultural differences and social hierarchy of Peruvian society
- Throughout your Spanish course you will have access to a Volunteer Co-Ordinator to discuss the placement in terms of goals, desired experiences etc to make sure it is right for you
- During your volunteer placements you can attend weekly volunteer meetings to share your experiences and raise any concerns
- You can also attend a free Spanish class each week to continue to develop your Spanish language skills
Am I Paying to Volunteer?
No! The price of your Spanish and volunteer with children holiday covers your Spanish course and your accommodation. You are paying just USD 98 for your volunteering placement which is used to support the projects (this is already included in the price). According to the most urgent needs of the projects either we purchase food, educational materials or support the projects with their infrastructure (we purchase paintings, or help fix a toilet, a broken window etc) so you can be sure the only people profiting from your volunteering placement are the people you are helping out.
Free Time In Cusco, Peru
Many people on these courses travel solo as they make perfect singles holidays so the language school organises a host of social and cultural activities each week to help you to get to know your fellow classmates and to integrate you into the local way of life, some activities are free and others have a small charge and may include:
- Free optional music, cooking and salsa classes during the week
- Explore the Inca history in this historical city
- Visit many of the fascinating convents, churches, museums, markets and much more
- Cusco is the perfect base for exploring the Andes and the magical “lost city” of Machu Picchu
- You will have plenty of free time to explore the local area and practice your new found language skills on this language learning holiday and volunteer experience
Complimentary Transfer
- This school offers a free pick up from Cusco airport
- Enter your flight arrival details in the special request box when booking to confirm your pick up
Other Information
- We recommend that you take a small Spanish dictionary, pens and paper with you
- It’s not necessary to bring anything for your volunteer placement apart from a sense of fun and willingness to get involved to really make a difference
Your Accommodation
- You will stay in the student residence with other language students
- It may be possible to stay with a local family in a homestay for the start of your course when taking the Spanish lessons though you will need to move to the student residence when your volunteering placement starts
- Please indicate your preferred type of accommodation at the time of booking and you’ll always be allocated your first choice where available
- You will have accommodation from the Sunday evening before your course starts to the Saturday morning after your volunteering placement has finished (55 nights / 56 days)
Home Stay Option
- Choose a Home Stay with a local family to enhance your language learning experience
- All hosts are sociable, like to meet new people and can give a warm welcome to students giving you the opportunity to practice your language skills on a daily basis
- You will have your own private room and will share a bathroom and other facilities
- Rooms are safe, clean and are all inspected and approved by the school on a regular basis
- You will be provided with 2 meals a day cooked by your host
- If you have any special requests such as non-smoking, no pets, allergies and so on, please note these in the special requests box during the booking process. Please note that these requests will be accommodated where possible but cannot be guaranteed
Student Residence
- Stay in the student residence located in the school grounds shared with other language students studying at the Spanish language school from all over the world
- You will share a room with one other student and will also share a kitchen/living room and bathroom
- Rooms are safe and clean
- You will be provided with breakfast and lunch each day
Want to Stay Longer in Peru?
You can follow 4 weeks of Spanish lessons with 12 weeks of volunteering if you have more time to spend in Peru, e-mail us at for more details
Compulsory Extras
- Please note that this school charges a compulsory Spanish course enrolment fee, this is not included in the price and will be charged as an extra during the booking process, click on the ‘costing and extras’ tab to check the price
Go learn to speak Spanish in Cusco, Peru, in a group class where you can share your passion for language with others from around the globe and play a vital role helping children in local communities in their daily lives.