Alba tailored the classes to my personal needs and was always well prepared with teaching materials. She took a great interest in my progress and was always gently encouraging, patient and kind. Professional but never intimidating! I felt extremely motivated during and after the classes and looked forward to the next one with lots of enthusiasm. In fact I found myself exceeding the homework set because I was so eager to learn. Really, Alba was the best teacher that I've ever studied with.

I cannot recommend Alba highly enough and I suggest you book early because she's always busy!

She has paid her dues, Alba, having spent a good many years working in the private language schools of Quito where she honed her skills. Like many a good teacher, she is extremely dedicated and it really shows in her attention to detail. But what sets her apart is her ability to see through to the essential, and this is what she focuses on. In our first meeting she quickly assessed my needs, strengths and weaknesses and we got directly to work. Each day's lesson combined free conversation, which provided an opportunity to utilize what had been learned the previous day, and then a much more structured approach to learning grammar, vocabulary and the necessary language skills. It proved to be an ideal learning environment and I am very pleased with the progress I have made.

I have much praise for Espanol con Alba and I can highly recommend her services. Whether your time with Alba is short or long, it will no doubt be a very productive and richly rewarding experience.

I just completed about nine weeks of classes with Alba and I would best describe Alba as being very patient, very prepared, very professional, and extremely knowledgeable. She was able to target my problem areas within the first few minutes of my initial class and eventually take me to levels in Spanish that I never thought that I would achieve.

This letter could easily be a lot longer, but I think I have adequately conveyed my feelings about Alba. If you are looking to learn Spanish in Quito, whether for one week or one year, Alba Abad is definitely your best bet.

Alba has taught Spanish classes at several schools in Quito since 1992. Several years ago, she decided to strike out on her own because of the poor pay that Spanish teachers receive here (typically $2 to $3 an hour). My primary goal for traveling to Quito was to learn as much Spanish as possible in the time I had. For 4 hours each day, 5 days a week, Alba has provided me with what I consider to be a superior service. She is a kind, friendly, and extremely knowledgeable teacher who wants nothing more than to see her students excel in Spanish (it's obvious that she thrives on the success of her students). She has continued to push me further and further, forcing Spanish out of my mouth that I never thought was possible, while maintaining an incredibly relaxed environment.

Prior to finding Alba online on the Lonely Planet site, I had taken group classes for 12 weeks at a Spanish Institute in Quito. I was still having a lot of difficulties with the common trouble areas for a lot of Spanish learners such as pronunciation, indirect/direct objects, indefinido/imperfecto, and of course, subjuntivo.

However, with Alba, I learned (and understood) more in my first two weeks than I did during the majority of time I spent in the more formal Spanish school. Alba's technique in helping me with my problem areas was extremely practical and useful. She has a method of teaching whereby it is not easy to forget. Alba was most thorough with her ready-use of exercises and illustrations. I came to Quito wanting to get a solid structure in the Spanish language and I can confidently say that I did. Because I was in Quito on a tourist VISA I had to leave this week, but as I continue to study Spanish, I already know that I am going to have the most difficult time finding a teacher that will compare to Alba.

I can wholeheartedly say she was worth my stay in Quito. If it wasn't for having to leave because of the tourist VISA, I would stay in Quito solely to take more Spanish lessons with Alba. Everything I set out to accomplish with our one-on-one Spanish lessons was achieved, and more. On a personal note, I must say that with Alba, I also have a friend for life.

Her classes were informative, organized, and helped to advance my Spanish in a very short time. She was also incredibly accommodating, considerate and an amazing person. I highly recommend studying with Alba.

She is a wonderful teacher, who identified and helped us with the areas of Spanish we were struggling with whilst making the lessons fun and interesting. We learnt more in a week with her than a month of lessons at home and would heartily recommend her to people wishing to learn or improve their Spanish.

I can’t overemphasize the importance of Alba’s personality to my enjoyment of class and the improvement of my Spanish. Believe me – getting up for 7:30 a.m. class (so that I could study before work, my choice) was NOT EASY, but Alba greeted me every morning with an energizing grin, had me laughing throughout class, and left me exciting about making progress each day.

Alba provides one-on-one instruction that focuses on her students’ particular language needs. I took class with Alba every morning for 3 months, and at the end I almost completely eliminated the common speech errors that I regularly committed before I began with Alba. By blending grammar and conversation, Alba tactfully corrected my mistakes and clearly explained the proper way to say something. Alba taught me how to think first in Spanish rather than translating from English, which has really allowed me to ascend to a higher level of fluency. She also allows you to choose the direction of your class, or will suggest topics if you would prefer a more structured environment.

I absolutely recommend Alba. She has made my experience in Quito that much more special. DO IT!!

I have had various Spanish teachers over the course of four years and although most have been very good, Alba is easily head and shoulders above them all.

I did quite a bit of research into Spanish schools in Quito beforehand but after reading various glowing testaments about Alba's ability on the Thorn Tree, I decided to give her a shot. Quite possibly the best decision I have made since opting against buying the latest Morrissey album.

She explained things to me in five minutes that other teachers took five months to convey, as well as emphasis on accents and other theory which other teachers have tended to gloss over. I just wish I had three months with her rather than a week. And all this for a credit crunch-busting eight bucks an hour.

She is friendly, patient and is always interested in what you have to say . . . even if it is in the most broken Spanish in your first lesson! She made the one-on-one lessons so compelling and left me, for one of the first times in my life, wanting to do my homework! I was always looking forward for the next lesson and she left me wanting to learn more. She teaches from a very convienient location for travellers and is fantastic value for money. I just hope you don't book her at the same time I return! I recommend to book your lessons early as Alba will only be getting busier and busier as the quality of her teaching only deserves.

The difference with Alba as the professor is measurable. I found she far surpassed her peers in quality of classroom structure, lesson plans, and homework assignments. She provided ample opportunities for me to speak while she actually corrected my speech. I have recommended her to friends and plan to continue recommending her.

Alba, first of all, is a very warm and kind person. I saw that someone else mentioned that she is very ethical - that´s a great way of putting it. She always makes sure everything is clear, fair, and she never backs off a commitment she has made to you. She also values your time highly so, unlike what I understand can happen at some language schools, she never takes a break that you don´t ask for, she doesn´t kill time with language DVDs, and she takes advantage of every minute of scheduled class time - often beyond that, as well. My experience with her has been so positive that I am currently arranging to extend my time with her beyond what I had originally planned because it is time well-spent.

I know I´ve written a lot but I hope my enthusiam has shown through. The bottom line to me is that there is absolutely no reason to take classes through a school instead of going with Alba. At a school you will pay at least as much money or more, the school takes at least half of what you pay for administrative costs, and the teacher gets the other half - a pittance, really. And it shows in the quality of education you recieve. Or, with Alba, you pay a rate as good as or better than anywhere else, you get a teacher as good as or better than those at any school, and you get one-on-one attention and scheduling flexibility of a private teacher.

As a final endorsement: if you are worried about arranging getting oriented in Quito during your first days when, like I was, you are a bit overwhelmed by it all, don´t think that´s a reason that you need to flee to the security of a school. Alba´ll pick you up from the airport, take you to where you will stay, and all the while she is extremely welcoming and warm. You won´t get a better reception.
John Nader, posted June 1, 2007 on The Ecua Traveler

She is so talented at explaining new words and concepts entirely in Spanish in a way that is easy to understand. Moreover, she is incredibly warm, friendly, and welcoming -- spending time with her is delightful. She is one of the most outstanding teachers I have ever had.

She is very patient with students, giving them much time to consider their answers to her questions. If a student is not able to answer, Alba will provide hints to help and simple explanations in a very easy to follow way. Her pronunciation is very clear and her grammar, listening skills, and conversation are so easy to understand. Alba's character is very peaceful and kind. She is simply a beautiful person.

During our two weeks in Quito we had class Monday to Friday from 8:00 am to noon and then field trips with Alba most afternoons. Her classes were very well-structured and helpful. Right from the beginning she established good rapport and was always encouraging, so that we were not afraid to speak. Before we took classes with Alba we felt that our Spanish was on a "shaky" foundation. But Alba identified and explained what was confusing us and helped us to express ourselves much more fluently. She is truly a brilliant teacher!

The cultural program with Alba in the afternoons was very informative, and also lots of fun! We gained insight into the history of Ecuador and present day life and practised our Spanish in various situations.

Alba has our highest recommendation. We are continuing with Spanish courses at Instituto Cervantes here in Berlin and are hoping to come back to Quito soon for more classes with Alba!

She was very understanding and knew exactly what she could expect form me as a student. So I not only learned the basic of grammar but I got through her lessons a feeling of the language. As I was working afterwards as a medical doctor in the south of Ecaudor it did help me a lot because I was able to communicate with my patients. So I only can recomend Alba as one of the best Spanish teachers in Quito.

Alba actually makes studying a pleasant experience. She's incredibly good at explaining things and doesn't give up until she knows you understand. She's always smiling and enthusiastic, even when the homework isn't quite up to scratch! And not only that, but she proved to be a wonderful tour guide (in Spanish) when we walked the old city on a very enjoyable excursion.

I have to say that it was Alba who made my stay in Quito. She was there for me as a teacher and a friend. The experience would have been very different without her support.

The 6 days I spent with Alba prepared me for the start of my year-long journey across South America knowing that I could convey my message accurately (albeit with a lot of hand and facial expressions), and gave me a solid foundation to improve my knowledge and understanding of Spanish. Thanks again for it all, Alba.

She was responsive to our need to brush up on specific grammatical points and problems but also very able and willing to sustain conversations with us on topics of interest or personal experiences. Alba is an excellent and enthusiastic teacher. She is friendly and easygoing, which facilitates communication and enables her to put students at ease while at the same time making the demands on them that a good teacher must. For intensive private lessons such as these--where you're literally at close quarters--it is essential that your teacher be likeable: Alba truly is muy simpática.

When we told friends back home that we'd spent 2 weeks of our vacation taking Spanish lessons daily from 8-12, they were amazed, especially when we added, "and it was fun."

Alba is an excellent teacher. She is kind, extremely patient, and approaches her profession very seriously. Before studying with Alba, I had learned some very basic Spanish, but was unable to string together a coherent sentence. After three months working with her for 4 hours a day, my Spanish improved considerably. I am able to hold conversations on basic and intermediate topics, and use a number of different tenses quite well. Though I am no-where close to fluent (which would be an unrealistic expectation in that short a time), I am able to speak quite fluidly, and am very happy with the progress I achieved in my time with her. Also, having spoken with many other Spanish students during my time in Quito, I am convinced that Alba definitely one of the best teachers in the city.

I know it is very difficult to choose a Spanish teacher or a school over the internet, and I would be happy to chat with anyone who is considering studying with Alba about my experiences with her. You can contact me at jordanengland@gmail.com.

Buena Suerte!

Thoughout the time Alba always spoke at a level we were comfortable with and when things were a bit harder to understand she patiently explained it in ways we could understand until we were clear.

She was also incredibly flexible as we changed our minds a fair bit in terms of how many weeks and hours we wanted to study, which we really appreciated.

At times, the lessons were difficult and there was a lot of information to take in. However, we also had a lot of fun and laughed a lot with Alba throughout the lessons. Her love of teaching really is obvious and we can´t recommend her enough.

She was everything that I hadn't experienced with a teacher in Quito, tirelessly patient, highly experienced, professional, and dedicated. I cannot say enough about her or give her enough thanks. She is simply an excellent teacher and a wonderful human being.

Her experience and education (degree in Spanish literature) are obvious, as she really understands the language and has a special talent for imparting that knowledge to her students. It was great to study in her home and she gradually became a friend in addition to being my teacher. Beyond the language, she was a great source for helping me understand the many cultural nuances of Ecuador. We have spent many hours laughing and learning from one another and I am sure that we will spend more time doing so in the future. If you are serious about learning Spanish at any level, Alba can help you.

Alba is also a very open person when it comes to personal relations. She helps you with traveling tips or things you should be aware of wandering around in Quito. Nevertheless, she always listens to your problems and tries to help you work through them.

All I can say you is that Alba is the best choice you can make!

She has so much knowledge, using so many different books and materials to fit any level. We went to many museums and cultural sites as part of my lessons, along with excursions outside of Quito. Ecuador is a wonderful place and Alba is not only a professional teacher, but a very warm person.

My wife took approximately 4 months of lessons with Alba and my daughter about 3 months total time. My daughter is going to challenge the university Spanish this semester. I know that Alba is one of the best!

She collected me from the airport, organised a great home stay, showed me around Quito's sights and sounds and, of course, was an excellent Spanish teacher! With only one week under my belt I was confident enough to embark on conversations in Spanish and definately had a firm understanding of the basics.

I'm not really one for classrooms and Alba was very flexible about conducting our classes in and around the sights of Quito and was more than happy to tailor a lot of the vocabulary to my particular needs. If I had more time I would definately continue my classes with Alba, as Spanish is a lovely language and Alba is a lovely teacher to learn it with!

I highly recommend Alba for the quality and precision of her teaching as well as her sense of integrity and pleasant and open nature.

Learning Spanish is difficult; it requires a lot of patience and practice. It is easy to become frustrated and/or embarrassed. This is where Alba really shines and her passion for teaching the subject becomes apparent. Her constant encouragement and acknowledgment of the difficulties involved were very reassuring for me. More importantly, the genuine enthusiasm Alba showed about my progress really helped keep me excited about learning the language. It was easy for me to overlook the small accomplishments I was making each day, or each hour, but Alba seemed to really appreciate these moments and that kept me focused and determined. I never lost my way or got too overwhelmed because Alba made it clear through her enthusiasm that we were making progress and we were headed in the right direction. This was indespensible for me.

I know that Alba really wants to help everyone and anyone to learn Spanish; she is passionate about teaching the subject and it brings her great joy in life. I will not forget the sparkle in her eyes and the big smile on her face. I look forward to returning to Ecuador to study with her again. Muchas gracias Alba!

I feel that in my previous Spanish courses in college I was often intimidated by my professors and the general atmosphere of a classroom. Alba made me feel comfortable and EXCITED to speak Spanish on each class day. She is also relatively inexpensive compared to other Spanish schools in Quito, where schools typically charge eight to ten dollars per hour for instruction that includes somewhat gimmicky "cultural" excursions such as salsa dancing and cooking lessons. I'm not too sure that dancing with your travel buddy really qualifies as a "cultural excursion." Alba teaches for seven dollars per hour and all classes are one-on-one unless you have a partner.

In 3 weeks I learnt more than weeks I spent in lessons elsewhere in South America. As with the last post, she made me feel confident in the language - something which I lacked before. In terms of the price, Alba had actually lowered her fee due to a fall in demand in the recent economic downturn, making it a lot cheaper than elsewhere in Quito. Do email me if you want more information. I would be glad to help you and Alba out. She is a wonderful teacher and person.

I think studying one-on-one is the best way to go. You learn faster and get more time (the entire class!) with the teacher. You can work on specific areas or just sit back and carry on a 2-hour-long conversation with someone who will patiently correct your mistakes.

Buena suerte!

She provides one-on-one tutoring for normally 4 hours per day at a very reasonable rate (comparable to the fee for classroom instruction). She will also arrange a homestay with a Quito family, which effectively doubles your Spanish exposure. Her studio is located off the main avenue, 10 de Agosto which is walking distance from the Mariscal district.

Alba is a very gifted teacher who has been giving language instruction for over 20 years. She has the ability to identify immediately a student's abilities and needs. She focuses on building both grammatical and practical skills every day. I was amazed at how fast my Spanish improved over a two week period with her. Like many of her other students, I plan to return to Quito and continue my studies with her.

I was apprehensive at first due to the language barrier, but after actually being able to have basic conversations with her after only a few days, I quickly learned that it forces you to think in Spanish, and that is the only way to properly learn the language.

I'm hoping that at some point in the future I might return to Ecuador and be able to thank Alba in fluent Spanish, with all the beautiful nuances the language offers. I would highly recommend to Alba to anybody wanting to get a foothold on Spanish at the start of a trip to South America.