As Demand for Spanish-Speaking Social Workers in the US Outstrips Supply, Ecela Spanish and Psychology Immersion Program Helps Fill Gap

LIMA, Peru, July 18, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- With the second-largest population of Spanish speakers in the world, the demand for Spanish-speaking counselors and social workers in the U.S. continues to outstrip supply. Reduced availability of social services in schools, communities and government institutions for those who only speak Spanish has a profound impact on their quality of life. Ecela Spanish is seeking to prepare the next generation of social workers and counselors to meet this demand via its Spanish and Psychology program in Peru. More information is available at https://ecelaspanish.com/spanish-psychology-lima-peru-summer-2016/.

"Many times families come in and ask 'Do you speak Spanish?'" Lorena Urbina said in response to a University of Texas survey. "When I respond, 'Yes,' I can see that this alleviates pressure and anxiety for the families about having to communicate in English."

Ecela Spanish offers an immersive and intensive six-week program that may not be right for every student. The program requires being away from creature comforts and adjusting to unfamiliar surroundings. The benefits, however, can last a lifetime – and graduates leave with the tools and resources to make a positive impact in their eventual careers.

Exceptional teachers and small, intimate classes distinguish Ecela Spanish from typical language instruction, which is heavy on lecture and memorization. Two hours each weekday are dedicated to conversational Spanish in groups of four. When not in class, students are immersed in the language as they explore the city and shadow counselors doing important work in the community. Graduates of the program earn 6 college credits, and are guaranteed to leave Peru with a profoundly better understanding of both the Spanish language and another culture. That enhanced understanding ties into Ecela's broader mission, which is to help increase the fluency and cultural awareness of at least 2,000 students by 2020.

Applicants are not required to have any background in Spanish. Ecela Spanish has classes designed for all skill levels, from absolute beginners to those with years of classroom experience in the language. Students can room together in a shared accommodation, or live with a Peruvian host family – the latter option provides even more opportunity for practical language learning and a deeper understanding of daily life in Peru.

"I intend on being a licensed counselor in the state of Texas where the Spanish-speaking population is very large," says one prospective applicant. "I will be working in schools where students will have parents who do not speak English. If I can keep my students from being a translator, my job as a counselor will be better performed by not placing my students under that awkward pressure and stress."

The first step in applying to Spanish and Psychology in Peru is to pay a $25 application fee. A phone interview with an Ecela Spanish Immersion Counselor will determine whether an individual is a good fit for the program. Enrollment is limited to just 35 students, and the program runs from May 22 through July 2, 2017.  

About Ecela

Ecela (http://ecelaspanish.com) is a Spanish language-learning program with six sites in Peru, Chile and Argentina. Thousands of students from across the globe have taken advantage of the small classes and affordable tuition to learn Spanish while enjoying everything the local culture has to offer.

Contact:

Ken Ingraham
(+1) 347-329-5506
Email

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Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160715/390169 

SOURCE Ecela