Ecela to College Graduates: Learn Spanish, Prepare for Career Via Internship in South America

SANTIAGO, Chile, April 4, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Ecela, an immersive Spanish language-learning and travel program, is giving graduating college seniors a remarkable and valuable opportunity to acquire practical skills and working experience in Latin America. The unique bridge year program offers a five-month experience that can take the worry out of leaving college or university behind. With economic prospects still uncertain for so many, the value of this program can't be overestimated.

Entering the "real world" after four years tucked away at college or university can be a daunting proposition. One of the major goals behind Ecela's bridge year program is to ease that transition, while providing job skills and language fluency that can be leveraged into professional positions. Many of these skills are developed as part of the internship segment of the program.

The bridge year program runs for five months, from July 3 to December 17. Participants first spend 12 weeks with host families in Argentina, Chile and Peru, taking the equivalent of five college semester courses in Spanish. But unlike typical college classes, Ecela's language learning methodology focuses on small group conversation rather than memorization. At the same time, full immersion in Spanish culture means participants are effectively learning all day long, whether or not they're in classes.

The concluding two months of the program consist of an internship in Peru or Chile. Ecela's bridge year guarantees a placement in participants' respective fields; however, the program is not intended for students entering a highly technical field.

Ecela strives to make its invaluable experiences affordable for all students. The bridge year program has a total cost of $7,970, which includes lodging and meals for 12 weeks, instruction and internship placement. Class of 2016 graduates are even eligible for free airfare – applied as a tuition reduction of $1,017. Participants are free to make their own lodging arrangements should they not wish to live with a host family.

Reviews from previous Ecela participants are a testament to the program's life-long value. "Every second I was in Lima and Cuzco, I couldn't stop talking about how happy I was with Ecela," says Andre Tokunaga. "I made great memories that will always stay with me: being welcomed by the airport transfer when I arrived, dynamic classes, fantastically planned extracurricular activities … not to mention all of the friendships and the shopping! I'm eternally grateful to the excellent professors and the institution, as well as to my friends who always made me feel like part of the family. I would recommend [Ecela] to anyone!"

Applying for the bridge year program is straightforward. Students need to have completed a four-year degree or its equivalent before July 3, 2016, along with a minimum of 3 years of high-school Spanish or two semesters of college Spanish. The program has been designed for anyone who expects Spanish fluency to be an important requirement in their career, or who simply have a desire to be of service to the Spanish-speaking community. More information on the bridge year program is available at http://ecelaspanish.com/bridge-year-fluency-internship/.

About Ecela

Ecela 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:

Corey Ann Seldon
615-260-1926 
Email

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SOURCE Ecela