Learning Spanish in Peru is a great thing! And it's even better when you know that all the money you are paying is going directly to the person providing the service. There is a lot of exploitation of language teachers perpetrated by most language schools, foreign and domestic, in Peru. If you are taking lessons at a school, find out what percentage of what you pay, actually goes to your teacher. More than likely, you will be appalled, as was I in 2003. Even the schools that "promote" volunteer work and say they work with poor communities need to be seriously questioned. I do not think one should have to pay to do volunteer work. That's just ludicrous. If you are one of those people who would like to do volunteer work in south America, I suggest you check out South American Explorers. They have club houses in Cusco, LIma, Quito and Buenos Aires. http://www.saexplorers.org/club/home
They are a helpful tool for the more independent minded travelers and don't charge for any volutneer work they might hook you up with.
Since 2005 I have been promoting an independent Language immersion and homestay situation in Cusco, Peru. It is all volunteer for me. I make no money at this. My hope is that one day it will bloom into the 1st teacher run cooperative school of language immersion in Latin America.
For now I can honestly say that the teacher of Spanish and Quechua is excellent and she is finishing up her master's degree in Spanish as a second language. You can find her at the following website: http://www.cuscoimmersion.com/
I am the volunteer coordinator. If you care about fair trade the world round. Deal with your service providers as directly as possible. Thank you

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