CEDEI Centers of Interamerican Studies
The Biggest Language School in Cuenca

The biggest language school in Cuenca is CEDEI (Lulie teaches there). What makes this school different is that it's a combination of several language and student exchange programs. And it's the Ecuador base of an American organization.

CEDEI was founded in 1992, beginning as a study abroad program. It now brings more than 500 students a year to Cuenca to learn Spanish and, for many, other university credits. But those credits are for classes where Spanish is the language of instruction. Many North American students rave about what they're learning through CEDEI.

It's an experience I could never get in the US, and I've learned so much. We travel and visit so many places with such diverse cultures. It really has opened my eyes and mind!

A student from Augustana College in Illinois, USA

Not Just for Gringos!

There's also a school for Cuencanos and other Ecuadorians to learn English (over 900 every year).

Another program for English speakers provides them with Teaching English as a Foreign Language training. Many of the new graduates stay on at CEDEI and start teaching English.

Cuencano graduates of the English programs are some of the most fluent we've met in Ecuador.

Many Ecuadorians are very interested in learning English because they know their future in the fields of medicine, business, technology and aerospace depend on being able to speak English. In addition, tourism needs English-speaking Ecuadorians.

So there's never any shortage of people in Cuenca wanting to learn English, if you'd like to live here and teach it.

CEDEI's Accreditation

Several universities give credit for programs studied at CEDEI. These include:

• St. Ambrose University (Davenport IA), for the May and June spring Intersession program (also called the May session). Only students from St. Ambrose can attend this program.
• Salisbury University (Salisbury MD), for the December and January winter Intersession program. Only students from these Salisbury can attend this program.
• Luther College (Decorah IA), for the Luther College Medical Spanish in Ecuador program. Only students from Luther can attend this program.
• Ohio University (Athens OH), for the Ohio Spring Quarter in Ecuador program, from March to May. Only Ohio U. students can attend this program.
• Blair Academy (Blairstown NJ), for the Blair Academy in Ecuador program, June and July. Only students from Blair can attend this program.
• Augustana College (Rock Island IL), for the Augustana College Latin America Term. Only open to students from Augustana.
• Syracuse University (Syracuse NY), for the SU Abroad in Santiago program, January and February, June and July. Only open to students in Syracuse's Semester in Santiago, Chile.
• Siena College (Siena NY), for the Study Abroad semester program, or the Summer program. Only open to Siena students.
• University of Wisconsin Whitewater (Whitewater WI), for the Academic Year Abroad, Fall Semester Abroad, or Spring Semester Abroad program. Only open to U of W Whitewater students.
• University of Calgary (Calgary AB), for the Community and Culture of Ecuador program, July and part of August. Only open to U of C students.

If you have children attending any of the above schools, this is a great way to expose them to cultures outside North America. And a great excuse for you to visit Cuenca!

CEDEI Contact Information

If you're looking to study Spanish, teach English, or study here as an exchange student, it's well worth a visit to CEDEI's website, at www.cedei.org.

And if you come to Cuenca, be sure to get in touch. We'll show you our Cuenca.

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