Program Reviews

My friends and family thought that I'm crazy when I told them I want to do Volunteering in South America without speaking Spanish. That’s why I was looking for a Program that includes a Spanish language course and the organization of a volunteer project. I'm glad that I found the Academia Superior de Idiomas in Pimentel.
Pimentel is a little village on the beach and not far from Chiclayo, one of the biggest cities in Peru. So it was the perfect mix of relaxed Pimentel and Peruvian chaos in Chiclayo.

I did a 4-weeks Spanish language course before I start volunteering in a rural primary school where I taught English. The Spanish course was a perfect start for my South America journey. On the first day we had an orientation tour to get know Pimentel and Chiclayo and the important safety rules. The group class was very small, we were just 3-4 students. The small classes were very good to learn Spanish in a short time. We had Spanish classes in the morning, but not only in a classroom because we also went to the local market, to the beach or stayed in the garden to play games. In the afternoon we had the choice to participate on daily activities like salsa dance, cooking classes or self-defense. I enjoyed also the weekly excursions to other spots or museums.

After my Spanish classes, I finally started to do Volunteering. One of the coordinators from the school accompanied me to my first class. There have been around 30 kids in the class and all were motivated to learn English words. I taught them Basic English, like the ABC, colors, the most important words, how they can introduce their selves etc. Sometimes we played games or were singing songs together. At the beginning I struggled with the size of the class. 30 kids can be very exhausting. The other teachers in the school as well as the staff from the Academia helped me out and gave me useful tips to dominate the crowd. I really enjoyed every day with the kids, they were so curious and asked me everything about my life, my family, my friends etc.

All in all it was a fantastic time in Pimentel and I already miss all of them.

I stayed a long time at the Academia Superior in Pimentel Peru and started my Peruvian Adventure in Lima. There I was picked up from the airport and stayd 3 nights in the hostal of the Academia Superior in Lima. The place is very nice, directly in Miraflores and perfect to discover the capital. After my first three days I travelled by bus to Chiclayo where Luis the driver of the Academy picked my up and brought me to the residence of the school.

I choose a program of 4 weeks Language group course and an internship in Psychology for 16 weeks afterwards.

My first two weeks of Language classes I had with two other girls in a really small group, than even individual classes. The reason is that Academia Superior doesnt mix levels and that was really good. The teachers are young and really motivated and I had a super experience during my course. The internship was located in a social institution which is taking care of disabled children near to Pimentel where I was living.

I made a lot of experience and learned a lot about the system in Peru and how they handle things very different.

In the end I can recommend this stay abroad because it really changed my view on a lot of things, I had a lot of fun too and would always do such a trip and program again.

The coordinators and contact persons in the Academia superior have been always helpfull in everything and they were great!

Hola, qué tal?
That was basically all my spanish when I arrived in Peru last year. But that, a big smile on my face and a thirst for adventure were enough for the beginning of what would be a fantastic journey. Right out of highschool I knew I want to travel the world and Latin America was my dream destination! Originally my plan was to just get there and backpack around. My mum was not so keen on the idea of me travelling alone in countries I don’t even speak the language of. To comfort her I agreed to learn the language first somewhere and then start travelling after that. And in hindsight this ‘compromise’ was the best decision ever.
I ended up in Pimentel, Peru, a beautiful little villlage at the ocean, for a three month stay to learn the language properly and do some volunteering work.
Firstly, learning the language in a school was really good for a total beginner like me. The classes are super small. In a group of three or four people everybody got special attention. And the young peruan teachers were always there to give advise and to help out with your weekendtrips.
Secondly: Volunteering. I tought English at a local elementary school. Even though English is not my first language it was good enough to teach some kids the basics. In the beginning it was hard because my spanish was not really great and the kids didn’t know any english. But it was awesome to see how after a couple of weeks we were able to communicate. Teaching in general was a great experience and I learned a lot myself, I could practice my spanish and working with kids was fun (and as fun as it was, I knew after, that I don’t want to do it for the rest of my life, which I was a seriously considering before going there).
Besides working and learning there was enough time to discover the city and area with friends.
Pimentel has a couple of nice cafés and a bar and of course most importantly the ocean. If you want to get some city life, you can always take the Combi to Chiclayo. Peruans are super open and friendly and I met a lot of great people, some at the school I was teaching at, some at the surf school and the beach and of course the other volunteers at language school became friends as well.
Pimentel became a second home for me. It’s the place I learned surfing and dancing Salsa, it’s where I met the most amazing people and where I’ll always come back to when the ‘Fernweh’ is getting too strong.
I met so many amazing people here, that when I eventually started travelling for half a year I was basically just visiting friends I met during my three month in Pimentel. I can encourage everybody to combine learning the language with some volunteering work and Peru and especially Pimentel is a great place to do that, you’ll learn a lot and make friends for life. I would always do it again.
One last tip: Don’t forget sunscreen, it’s ALWAYS sunny in Pimentel ;) And take as much mosquito repellend as you can. Those little things can disturb a beautiful night at the beach quite fast!!

I took my Spanish lessons some years ago in Pimentel. I am still very glad I did that and would say my Spanish is still useable :-) When I arrived I only spoke a few words and common sentences but within the 3 weeks lessons I almost got to know the whole gramma and a bunch of vocabulary. Besides the lessons we also had a lot of funny leisure offers like cooking classes, salsa classes or trips on the weekend to nice places nearby. Sometimes we also took some lessons right at beach which I enjoyed a lot. Also I made a lot of german and peruvian friends :)

I just got back to visit all of my friends and the school and I have to say that I would love to do it again right now as they have a new very beautiful house and it seems that everything is a bit more organized than five years ago, but unfortunately I had to go back to work.

Nevertheless the time I spent there in 2012 is still unforgettable for me and I would not want to miss this experience.

Saludos

Learned Spanish in Pimentel with Academia Superior and had a really great time! Afterwards worked 2 months in a social project taking care of children - my coordinator and the kids have been amazing. If you get into the friendly but very different latin american or peruvian culture you will have a great experience.
One of the highlights for me have been the different beaches and great waves on the northern peruvian coastline! I heard from some folks that the beaches are the best in the world to surf and this might be true. Pimentel is nice for beginners and advanced surfers, but you have extremely much to visit in the near. Pacasmayo, Puerto Chicama and Malabrigo where you can find the longest lefthanders worldwide. I can also recommedn Lobitos, Cabo Blanco or Órganos. Really didnt like so much Mancora. Anyway you can reach surfing hotspots easily from Pimentel, rent boards or take surfing classes also for advanced people and tours over Academia Superior.

Spanish classes top!
Surfing experience top!
Volunteer experience top!

The great thing about learning spanish here in Pimentel, is not only that you are in a beach town and around the main city of Chiclayo where you can find all the things you need but you can also travel to different regions of Peru like Chachapoyas that is only a few hours away from the placement here in Pimentel! This region is in the department of the Amazonas and it is so beautiful!! You can visit the highest waterfall in Peru which is the Catarata Gocta and also visit the ancient ruins of Kuelap that is on top of beautiful, tall, green mountains in the Amazonas!

Besides the fact that you are right next to the beach and you can feel the ocean breeze if you open up a window in the school, the spanish classes here are so helpful and will really make a huge impact on you spanish speaking and writing skills! The classes are very simple and calm so you dont feel stressed in the classroom environment or feel pressured to learn everything all at once because the teachers are very patient and Peru is known to have mellow relaxed environment!

If you want to learn Spanish or improve your Spanish and learn how to surf or if you already know and just want to surf on the regular, this Spanish school is your haven! You will meet people from all over the world and they will most likely be your class mates as well! Everything about learning Spanish and surfing in a foreign country is so exciting because you will learn so much about different parts of the world and have a great time with your freedom in Peru!!

Taking Spanish classes in Pimentel is such a great experience for so many reasons! You get to study the language with some helpful, friendly and really cool teachers/coordinators that make sure you are always on track with the lesson and comfortable in the classroom setting. It really pays off and with in a couple of days you will already be able to hold a well conversation with Spanish speakers! Not to mention you are beachfront so if you want on your break you can go walk outside out of the school and there´s the beach waiting for you!

What can I say, hands down the most rewarding experience of my life!
I just got back from my Peru program and the smile hasn't left my face. Actually the worst thing is going back to regular food haha. Beaches are beautiful, the local people are amazingly friendly and the kids are great! Recommended for anyone who likes traveling but wants to add a bit more meaning to the experience. Anyways im off to eat a boring lettuce and cheese sandwich haha

Tony

Learning spanish and surfing in Pimentel was the perfect combination! When I arrived I had a very basic understanding of spanish, and over the course of three months and daily classes I was able to learn all the grammar and verb tenses and improve my conversation skills immensely. During my studies I received instruction from three different teachers, all of them very personable, helpful, and well prepared. I always looked forward to my classes and left feeling accomplished. While I mostly had individual classes, I also had some group classes, and both had their unique benefits. The staff at ASI, the teachers, coordinators and management, were helpful and accommodating to my travel plans and I was able to make up the classes I missed. I will always look back on my studies at ASI as the time I truly learned spanish.

Surfing in Pimentel was the perfect counterpart to my studies. Every morning and most afternoons I would walk across the street to the ocean, where 95% of the time there were surfable waves (I was there January - March). When I arrived in Pimentel I had some experience surfing, but took a few lessons with the surf school that works with ASI anyway, and the instructors were very helpful and I got some great rides my first day. After that I worked with the instructors and local surfers to learn about the various breaks in Pimentel. Also, through ASI I was able to take a surf trip visiting some of Peru's best and most famous surf spots: Huanchaco, Pacasmayo, Lobitos, and the world's longest wave, Chicamas. Overall, my experience with ASI's surf program was awesome!

Volunteering here in Peru is such a once in a lifetime opportunity! You get to really see the reality of Peru and also its culture, the people and the beauty of the country. Here in Pimentel you are right on the beach and you can never run out of things to do! You can go for a fun surf, or take some lessons with the locals if you have been wanting to learn. Go try some of the best ceviche, Peru has to offer here in Pimentel, or if you feel like doing some other sight seeing or city life stuff go visit Chiclayo which is the main city that is about 20 minutes from Pimentel!