HABLA YA SPANISH SCHOOL – BOCAS DEL TORO CAMPUS Spanish Courses in Bocas del Toro, Panama
About HABLA YA SPANISH SCHOOL – BOCAS DEL TORO CAMPUS
Why just study Spanish in Central America? Live your Spanish learning experience in Panama’s most exciting beach destination: Bocas del Toro! Not only will you learn Spanish at Panama’s top rated network of Spanish schools but you’ll also become immersed into Bocas del Toro’s Caribbean culture and coastal vibe. Not only do we provide Spanish courses but we also arrange students’ accommodation, organize a wide array of eco-adventure tours and offer volunteer placements too.
WHO ARE OUR STUDENTS?
Top 10 Nationalities: USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Australia, Germany, France, Netherlands, Austria, Sweden.
Average number of students per class: 3 (maximum is 6).
Average age: The majority of our students are young professionals who need Spanish for their careers (some of them in their late 20's and others in their 30's). But we also have a significant number of students who are full-time university and grad-school students. There is also a large proportion of travelers who want to learn Spanish to enrich their vacations in Latin America (these usually join us for a short period in our Spanish for Travelers Course). We yet have another group of students in their forties and early fifties who also decide to learn Spanish. The last group of students is made of those who have retired or relocated in Panama and want to learn Spanish to have a much more enjoyable life in their new country. A small percentage of our students are small children and young teenagers who are traveling with their parents or older teenagers still in high school who have been sent by their parents in an exchange program to learn Spanish.
Habla Ya is located on Isla Colón, the archipelago’s main island and its center of activity, on the road leaving town that takes you to some of Bocas del Toro’s most stunning beaches such as Bluff Beach and Starfish Beach.
A fully renovated Caribbean style hacienda is home to Habla Ya’s 8 air conditioned classrooms. Upon entering our Spanish school in Bocas del Toro you will encounter the school's reception area right in front of you, a beautiful tropical garden with tables and chairs to your left, and right next to the reception area, a hallway that leads you to the classrooms and a stairway that leads you to the school's balcony area, the cafeteria and TV & chill out area. The entire campus has wireless internet coverage.
Habla Ya Bocas is only a 7 minute walk from the Central Park. You will be able to learn Spanish in a quieter place of town but still within a 5 minute walk to Bocas’ most popular restaurants and bars. And we’re literally only a couple of minutes away from many great hotels, and the beach is only a 5 minute walk away.
And most importantly at Habla Ya you will find the most qualified, experienced and passionate Spanish teachers, always willing to go the extra mile to make sure you learn Spanish and have the time of your life!
LEISURE
- Traditional Panamanian Dinners: on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. put your culinary skills to test by helping make (and then eat!) a traditional Panamanian meal.
- Eco-Adventure Tours: everyday of the week: surfing, scuba diving, sailing, hikes, ziplining canopy tours, horseback riding, island hopping, beach and river trips...
- Movie Nights: every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. we watch the best Spanish spoken films...
- Charity Parties: every Thursday from 8:00 p.m. we party hard and collect funds for a local cause
Get-Togethers: each weekend (Fridays and Saturdays) we visit Bocas’ restaurants & bars to celebrate life!
- Conversational Sessions: every Saturday at 11:00 a.m. practice your Spanish in a relaxed environment.
- Free Latin Dance Lessons (Salsa & Merengue): on Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. we learn the latin rhythm.
- Panama Road Trips: explore our fascinating country!
Visa Information
Citizens from most countries do not require a visa to enter Panama. For those that do, an acceptance letter is granted when students pay their course in full in advance, and guidance is given to obtain a visa.
How to get there
- Airport Pickup in Panama City at Tocumen International Airport, $35
- Airport Pickup in Panama City at Albrook Airport, $15
- Airport Pickup in Bocas del Toro or Public Dock Pickup, $5
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Thought my teacher was very thorough and patient. She used many techniques to help me learn to understand and speak more fluently. Great teacher. All the staff were wonderfully helpful.
Friday, 31 January 2020
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by Emily B.
Great Experience!
I had a great experience with Habla Ya in Bocas del Toro. My teacher, Iraida Howard, was incredibly patient and taught me so much during my 4 weeks in her class. I started at the introductory level and Iraida answered all of my questions and challenged me in a supportive and encouraging way. I would love to return to Habla Ya someday to continue working on my Spanish! My husband and I appreciated the variety of activities provided by Habla Ya, including the Cacao Farm tour, exploring the beautiful beaches around Bocas, and enjoying many meals with teachers and other students. Overall, Habla Ya provided an enriching and memorable experience!
Tuesday, 19 November 2019
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by Juana K.
Recommendable
My experience in Halba Ya in Panamá City and Bocas was really good. Bocas is definitely the place more beautiful to stay, the caribbean islands there are just incredible. The classes weren’t too big and the grammar was taught well. I was in a class of 5 persons taught by Lineth. She was a really good teacher and i can recommend her.
Sunday, 03 November 2019
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by Katharina .
Spanish course on the island
Last summer I took a spanish course at habla ya in Bocas del toro. I really enjoyed the nice atmosphere there. There's a timetable for activities every week (movies, beaches,...) I did the coffee tour, which was super interesting and impressive. My teacher, Lineth, was very competent and so I learned a lot about the subjuntivo :) I hope to come back someday!
Tuesday, 01 October 2019
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by Jackie F.
Highlight of My Trip to Bocas
I took a one-week class to improve my Spanish at Habla Ya. My professora was Lineth. I was very pleased with the other students who were placed in my class as we were all around the same Spanish level. Lineth was a wonderful teacher. She spoke very clearly so it was easy to understand what words she was saying (even if I didn't know what all the words meant!) She did a great job of speaking at our level and would introduce vocab words periodically so we learned some vocab in addition to the grammar we were focused on. Lineth also took us on a couple lessons outside of the classroom which was great for a change in scenery. Habla Ya also sponsored many activities throughout the week. So you will have some activities to do outside of the classroom if you wish. The students ages ranged from young kids to adults in their 50s - so no student is too young or too old! Overall a great experience and I would take more classes with Habla Ya if I find myself in Panama again.
Wednesday, 17 July 2019
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by Katie D.
Amazing Learning Experience
I went to Habla Ya for three weeks with Nikolas and Sue as my professions. They were amazing. I learned so much from just three weeks there.
Thursday, 11 July 2019
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by Ja'Lease T.
1 Month of Spanish School in Bocas: MUST DO!
I had a great time at the Spanish School! Y teacher was excellent Iraida, I would highly recommend her. I had Iraida for most of my four weeks there, she was engaged, fun, and very intelligent. She easily adapted the class to the needs of her students. She really brought to life the cultural aspects of life in Bocas de Toro. The other teachers, staff, and administration were all very friendly. I look forward to going back to this school to continue learning more language and Panamanian Culture.
Saturday, 06 July 2019
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by Jackson H.
Spanish with homestay in Bocas
I just finished two weeks of Spanish classes with Habla Ya in Bocas del Toro, and I can say that overall I am very pleased with my experience here. I was a little anxious prior to my trip as I have never before spent time in a developing country, but my anxiousness was put to rest very quickly. Everyone in my homestay family (Alicia) was very, very friendly and accommodating, and I definitely was glad that I took this opportunity to learn more about every day life in Bocas. My teacher Benita is a great instructor and was very responsive to my preferences for class. She has extensive and thorough knowledge of Spanish grammar and also has a knack for telling great stories, which definitely helped me improve my proficiency in Spanish during the two weeks of classes. Benita even found a documentary in Spanish on a topic I was interested in, and then we ended up watching some of this documentary in class. Every concern and question that I had throughout the trip was addressed quickly and professionally, and I feel lucky that I chose to attend this school. If you want to learn Spanish and enjoy life living on a Caribbean island, then Habla Ya is the way to go.
Friday, 21 June 2019
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by Sandra S.
Highly recommended
Highly recommended language school! I studied several weeks at HablaYa at lovely Bocas del Toro and had a very great time! The school is well organized and they are offering various opportunities how to study spanish! The students are at every age and from all over the world. I decided to book a group class and I met many lovely people during my weeks. The staff & teachers (Lineth, Benita, Sergio ... ) are just incredible, very helpful, lovely and extremely nice and unique persons. They are not just teachers, they are your "friends and family"! Everybody is trying to give the best, to make your stay far away from home and the learning experience, easy and unforgettable! I felt very safe and very quick "at Home"! They are even organizing many activities "outside" the classroom and studying hours, which was always fun and a very good opportunity to catch up with them and all the other students (like Yoga, Volleyball, Movie Nights, Dinners, Tours around the beautiful island, Bonfire at the beach and many more things)! My special thanks goes to my lovely, wonderful and amazing teacher LINETH! She was always there for me and helped me so much to improve my spanish! She made me feel so secure and welcome from the very first minute. Her teaching style is a perfect mixture of: the basics with all the grammar, talking, playing funny games, laughing and telling very interesting stories about Panama, the culture and the peoples life! She even invited us to her hometown and her family, which was a great experience! I am proud to say, we are very good friends now and I am sure we will see us again, one time! Muchas gracias y hasta luego to my "Chi´s Lineth & Benita" and everybody else! Sandra
Monday, 15 April 2019
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by Stefanie G.
HablaYa Spanish school in Bocas Del Toro
I had a great experience studying at Hablaya in Bocas Del Toro. The staff is very dedicated to making your learning experience rewarding and enjoyable. The price is also very reasonable. Lineth was my teacher. She is very easy-going and I felt very comfortable to practice in class. Her style is straightforward when it comes to teaching the lessons, and the practice afterwards is animated and fun. Just as we were feeling like we couldn't absorb any more information, she would bring out a game, and lighten things up as we practiced our vocabulary. I originally signed up for a week, but added another since I was learning so much and enjoying the social aspects of the school.
Tuesday, 05 March 2019
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by Elise F.
Fun and practical learning in a beautiful environment
I just spent three weeks learning Spanish at Habla Ya in Bocas del Toro Panama. It was a wonderful opportunity to meet new friends from around the world as we all learned and practiced together. My teacher Iraida was patient and had a good sense of humour. She kept the learning fun and interesting by letting us play Spanish word games like Scrabble and Cranium. She took us on field trips to local coffee shops, the beach and a bus ride to a bat cave - where we had lots of opportunities to expand our vocabulary and practise real conversations out in the community. I would highly recommend a combination learning experience and vacation at Habla Ya's Bocas location. It gave me confidence in speaking along with a strong foundation in the basics of grammar, and was always fun.
Saturday, 23 February 2019
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by Anna F.
4 month Spanish classes in Bocas Del Toro, Panama
I started my time at Habla Ya with knowing almost no spanish and by the time I left four month later I was able to have conversations in spanish. Im really thankful for my time in Bocas del Toro, the environment is wonderful, the people are friendly and I love the culture and the ”no stress”-vibe. I’m especially grateful for my teacher Iraida Howard who is a great teacher with a lot of patience (which is helpful when you struggle with verbs, conjugations and thousands of palabras ;)), she’s also responsive to what you might need extra support with and her positivity and humor make the lessons fun and educational. Muchas gracias por todo Habla Ya y mi profesora Iraida. Extraño Panama ya! Espero que pueda volver algún dia!
Saturday, 26 January 2019
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by Monique .
Ausgezeichnete Lehrer!!!
Wir hatten das grosse Glück zwei ausgezeichnete Lehrer in unseren zwei Wochen Sprachurlaub mit Lineth und Iraida gehabt zu haben!!! Mit viel Geduld und Einfühlungsvermögen, einer Riesenportion Spass mit Lineth haben sie den Unterricht sehr abwechlungsreich gestaltet und sind auf all unsere Bedürfnisse eingegangen, auch weil wir nur zu zweit im Unterricht waren. Die 6Std tgl haben enorm viel gebracht, va kommunikativ hat sich einiges getan! Am letzten Schultag hat sich Lineth einen Ausflug überlegt an den Playa Estrella, einsam und nur für uns lag ein paradiesisch gelegener Strand mit einigen Seesternen, die 3m vom Strand im kristallklaren Wasser lagen, bezaubernd. Diesen letzten Schultag verbrachten wir mit 3anderen Lehrern und ihren Schülern am Strand mit vielen spanischen Spielen und bekamen am Ende noch unser Diplomen in solch einer Kulisse überreicht. Viel Ideenreichtum, viel Abwechslung und Spaß haben Spanisch lernen sehr leichtfüßig gemacht und das va durch Lineth und Iraida, die wir persönlich sehr ins Herz geschlossen haben!!! Lieben Dank an euch beide!!!
Wednesday, 02 January 2019
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by Jason L.
Great School in Bocas
A great place to learn Spanish. I initially only signed up for 1 week but added a second week because I was really enjoying it and learning a lot. Benita is an amazing and patient teacher who knows her stuff. Expensive but worth it.
Friday, 14 December 2018
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by Martina W.
Great time at hablaya
I studied at habla ya for 3 weeks and I had Lineth as my teacher. I was very happy that I could study with her for the whole free weeks. Lineth is a very great teacher. I learned a lot during the 3 weeks and the lessons never got boring with her. She doesn't just use the book during class, we also did a lot of talking, played games and so on. Like that i could improve my spanish a lot. It was also great that there were not many other people in my class, for 2 weeks we were 2 and one week I was alone. I would definitely love to go back to habla ya to study with Lineth!
Friday, 07 December 2018
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by T. P.
Spanish at Habla Ya with Iraida
A friend and I took a course with Iraida. It was excellent and it moved at the perfect pace for my current level of Spanish. Iraida and all the staff were very accomading, knowledgable and friendly. I recomend taking one of their courses if you are every in Bocas!!!
Monday, 19 November 2018
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by charlotte E.
Boquete Habla ya is the place to learn Spanish
I had a really good experience with week a one week Spanish course in Boquete. Since I was the only one who did the course, I got private classes with my teacher Erian. This give me the opportunity to talk Spanish for 4 hours each day and therefore I improved a lot! I really liked that the classes were interactive and that we also talked about Panamanian subjects. Fun and learning at the same time! Boquete is the perfect and peaceful place to study, between the nature and mountains.
Wednesday, 10 October 2018
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by Kaspar G.
Habla Ya Spanish School Bocas del Toro, Panama
Yo aprendi tres semanas espagnol en una clase privado en la escuela Habla Ya en Bocas del Toro, Panama. Gracias a mi excelente maestro Ana Nohelys Montenegro, Spanish Teacher, Habla Ya Spanish Schools, Bocas del Toro he tenido exito para mejorar en tres semanas el nivel A2 al nivel B1. Las cuatro horas de escuela con la professora Ana fueron variados. Ella probo mucho talento didactico tambien mucho humor y tal las horas han terminado como un relampago. Espero que muchos mas estudiantes pueden disfrutar de sus lecciones, puedo recomendarla como maestra mas de lo usual. Kaspar Gross, Switzerland [email protected]
Thursday, 04 October 2018
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by Christoph K.
Una Buen Tiempo
I visited the Language School Hablaya four weeks in August 2018 and absolved a part of A2 and the full part of B1. I had three weeks classes with Iraida and one week with Jessica. Both are very patient and helpful when you have Problems with a theme. The atmosphere in Class was really nice and it was a joy to learn. The Classes are really various , its funny to play Scrabble in Spanish but also to read specific texts about various themes. The Freetime was also nice I got to know the different Isles, did some Fiestas and tried new sports like Yoga. The excursions were also nice like the Grave Tour were you could saw many bats or the visit of the Smithsonian Tropical Center. I can recommend the language school to build or to improve your language Skills and Bocas is a beautiful place therefor.
Tuesday, 02 October 2018
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by Stephan M.
Habla Ya Bocas
I had a great time in Bocas at habla Ya with teachers who really care about you. My teacher in group class was Yesika in the first 2 weeks and Iraida in my other 2 weeks and Benita in privat class. If you want to enhance your spanish skills or you just want to learn a new language I highly recommend to go there. Class is usualy in the mornings, which is really nice, because you have a lot of time to explore the island(s) afterwards.
Sunday, 30 September 2018
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by Livia H.
3 weeks in Bocas
I spent 3 amazing weeks in bocas del toro and had group lessons in the morning and one private lesson in the afternoon at habla ya. I enjoyed good structured lessons which contained grammar, writing, speaking activities, listening and also a lot of games and fun! My teacher was Lyneth and I loved the way she taught! She was really competent, had a lot of patience and always understood it to motivate me. It was a great experience and I totally recommend it! Livia
Friday, 31 August 2018
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by Cedric G.
Amazing!
I have been studying in Habla ya Bocas del Toro for 3 weeks. And I can say that my group class teacher Lyneth was absolutely excelent! The lessons offer a great variety of vocabulary training, grammatics, discussions and language games. In addition to my group lessons I took a daily private lesson with Yesika, which helped me immensely with my Spanish. Thank you Lyneth and Yesika for their patience, Bocas was an amazing experience.
Friday, 31 August 2018
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by Katja G.
muchas gracias mi querida lineth:)
ursprünglich hatte ich fünf tage in habla ya gebucht und vor, eine woche in bocas del toro zu bleiben. falsch gedacht. bereits am zweiten schultag habe ich eine weitere woche gebucht und die zeit mit der wundervollen lineth und ganz tollen klasenkameraden verging wie im flug. der unterricht war toll und dafür, dass ich zu beginn lediglich einen kaffe oder ein bier bestellen konnte, war ich nach nur zwei wochen selbst erstaunt, wie viel ich gelernt hatte! die nachmittag- und abendveranstaltungen tragen zusätzlich dazu bei, das neu gelernte sofort anzuwenden. auch nachdem ich die schule beendet hatte und noch weitere sieben wochen in bocas geblieben bin-lineth und das habla ya team waren immer für mich da! vielen dank für alles-jederzeit wieder♡
Wednesday, 22 August 2018
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by Jennie T.
Encontré mi vida en bocas
Let me just say that, everything I did in Bocas was all life changing! I took in every second and every experience! From staying with my host family (can't wait to see them all again!!), to walking to school with my host brother from Germany, to dancing salsa en el Barco Hundido y también bailando en Summer. Me encantaba estar en la lancha!! He conocido mucha gente!! Mi profesora Lineth (en Habla ya), fue ESPECTACULAR de verdad! Su manera de enseñar la gramática me hizo aprender y comprender más fácil. Definitivamente voy a regresar para ayudar, ser un voluntario. Gracias por todo!!
Tuesday, 21 August 2018
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by Bree M.
Basic Spanish learning! A wonderful course
We did a two week course at the Bocas campus with an amazing teacher Iraida! We had very very little Spanish and were in the most basic course that was perfect for our needs. There were 3 people in the class for the first week and then it was just us! We completed almost the 3 week course in 2 weeks, iraida tailored everything to our needs! She is possibly the most patient person on the planet, she corrected our mistakes gently and consistently. We had lots of fun in the lessons, playing games and going on an excursion one day. Absolutely loved our time there, made so by our teacher! Would recommend.
Monday, 20 August 2018
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by Jacquelyn D.
Learn Spanish in Bocas!
I had an excellent experience learning Spanish in Books del Toro at Habla Ya. I took group classes for 3 weeks with Erian my first week and with Iraida the second and third weeks. The group class sizes were always very small with about 3-5 students in the class including me. The teachers were very qualified and prepared for class. The classes included many opportunities to practice speaking, which is what I wanted the most out of class. I had learned Spanish previously in high school and university but I felt I had forgotten many of the verb tenses I had learned. The pace of the classes at habla ya helped me to relearn what I had forgotten and the extensive practice using them in conversation helped me to use them more naturally in conversation. I feel much more confident in my speaking ability after taking these classes. Thank you so much!
Sunday, 12 August 2018
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by Maria G.
Una maestra buena
Iraida, und maestra de Habla ya escuela, es una maestra muy buena! Tiene muy paciencia y puede explicar la gramatica bien. Se hace tambien gramatica y convercacion. Ella combina escribir, hablar, hacer ejercicios y jugar despues se puede aprender espanol como jugando! Puedo recommendar estudiar espanol con Iraida!! Tambien viví con una familia de Bocas del Toro. Edilma era una anfitriona muy Bonita! La comida che cocina es muy bien. Además hace muy pacienca cuando se habla español y ella habla lenta, que se intienda todos. Si usted está buscando una experiencia especial y instructivo, puedo recommendar!
Tuesday, 17 July 2018
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by Donna C.
Fun way to study Spanish
Last week I studied Spanish in a small group (1 or 2 others) with an amazing teacher, Iraida. She was my age (23) and we were able to have many conversations (in Spanish of course) about her life and experiences and ours (also all from different cultures). I believe that in a week time I have improved my Spanish in a way that I am now able to make full sentences in numerous situations, and my vocabulary has improved a lot. Lastly I really enjoyed playing games in class to study Spanish in a fun way. Thanks Habla Ya and especially Iraida!!
Friday, 13 July 2018
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by Mike H.
Spanish in Bocas
My wife and I attended this program for a month. We both had had previous Spanish courses in the US but had forgotten much of it. From day one it was all Spanish with the instructor (Iraida) who was very patient as I butchered the language especially trying to roll my rr's (which did get better). We used a mini group format for just my wife and I which worked best for us since we were at the same level (low ability). We also attended 2 hours of private instruction in the afternoon after a 3 hour break . My wife was focusing more on medical Spanish (with Sergio) and I was working on making the basics solid. We did finish our basic course and receive our first level certificates. We enjoyed Bocas and the school and hope to return for more instruction. The office staff at the school in Bocas (Carlos, Cesear and Ludo) were always very helpful and very eager to assist us with anything we wanted to know about (such as places to tour in the area). I wanted to surf (surfed for many years) but getting a board and then transporting to the other island to surf was becoming a problem. The guys in the office put me in touch with Chapos (great beginner instructor and good surfer) so he and I went surfing one morning (I paid him as a guide service) and it was well worth it. The office guys can help out with private tours if you want too, since they are a great source of local knowledge. Our only negative was our lodging (1 bedroom Bocas Condos) which was represented as quite and it was not. 2 dogs barked all hours of the night which made sleep difficult. Possibly the studio rooms on the opposite side of the building maybe ok. The building is secure and close to town. It seems that the staff in Panama City handles the lodging so there is no checking on the actual accommodations therefore the information about lodging may not be accurate. Muchas Gracias Iraida y Sergio. Mike & Kaja
Friday, 22 June 2018
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by Nick J.
Amazing location and teachers1
Sergio, Kimberly, Leidys, and Benita were wonderful teachers. I loved my time in Panama and learned so much Spanish!
Wednesday, 18 April 2018
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by Isi H.
Muy bien :)
I did 2 weeks of spanish course in Bocas. It really was a great experience! My teachers Jennifer and Erian were very sympathic, well prepared, motivated and tried to keep the focus on speaking (also by using games). The cultural offer beside the language course was a good way to make new esperiences (chocolate farm for example). The Organisation in general was quite good, my only critical point would be more comunication between the teachers to make sure everybody is in the course that fits with the own level. Don't hesitate to choose hablaya as your language school!
Monday, 26 February 2018
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by Amy G.
Can't beat learning Spanish in the Caribbean!
I spent five weeks at Habla Ya in Bocas del Toro taking group lessons with Javiar. Prior to arriving in Bocas, I knew only a few words and phrases in Spanish (or "nada... nada!", as my host family liked to exclaim as they marveled at my improvement throughout my stay), and given the many distractions offered by living on an island in the Caribbean, I set a relatively low bar for what I would consider a successful learning experience. Although I wasn't wrong about distractions, Javiar helped me make huge strides in a short time period. My Spanish speaking still needs work - primarily because I have considerable work to do in memorizing additional vocabulary, something I did not take seriously while in Bocas. However, the amount of Spanish I now understand or can figure out by context clues is so much greater than I had even hoped. The course books were well laid out, and Javiar's willingness to answer every question I had (and there were many...) and to speak to me in English to solidify my understanding when his Spanish explanations just weren't sinking in made it so much easier for me to internalize the lessons so they'll stick. I fully appreciate the value of the immersion experience, but for me the occasional English to connect the dots was invaluable. Even though I was a week shy of completing the A2 course, Javiar also made a point of covering the entire course book with me before I left - he didn't have to do that, but I was so thankful he did. I now have a solid foundation to build on, and spending time at Habla Ya in Bocas was such a fun way to create that foundation!
Monday, 19 February 2018
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by Lea B.
Me gustaría volver pronto
Ich war im Sommer 2017 vier Wochen in der Sprachschule Habla Ya in Bocas del Toro. Es war eine fantastische Zeit. Die Lehrer sind sehr geduldig, professionell und immer gut gelaunt. Sogar in ihrer Freizeit sind sie für die Studenten da und verbringen Zeit mit ihnen. So konnte ich sogar mit den Lehrern gute Freundschaften schliessen. Mit Yeremy Patiño bin ich heute noch in Kontakt. Er ist ein Spanisch Lehrer in Boquete und zur Zeit als ich in Bocas war, war er auch gerade für vier Wochen in Bocas. Er war immer aufgestellt, lustig und sehr lieb und geduldig. Alles in allem war es ein fantastischer Sprachaufenthalt und ich gehe auf jeden Fall mal zurück nach Bocas del Toro.
Wednesday, 24 January 2018
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by Lena T.
4 months spanish school
I was in the school for 4 months and i had an awesome time. I stayed by a hostefamily and i loved it. They made me feel like home and were realy friendly and helped me with everything. When i started the school i was in level a1 . With my privat lessons by toni i learnd realy fast the important things to speak with the family. In the group lessons i had Lineth and she is a realy good teacher. We didn't not just do the stuff from the books, also we played games and read a lot of textes. With her i learnd so much stoff. The best thing about her is, that she don't speak english in class just spanish, with this i learnd faster and better.
Wednesday, 24 January 2018
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by Lisa C.
Enjoyed HablaYa & Bocas
I spent 5 weeks at HablaYa in Bocas Del Toro. I had group and private lessons with Erian. I am really pleased with how much I was able to learn in this period! I like the books that the school provide and and the instruction was great. Erian is a great teacher and really encouraging. I felt like my successes were his successes! I tell everyone that HablaYa and Bocas are amazing! Pasé 5 semanas en HablaYa en Bocas Del Toro. Tuve clases grupales y privadas con Erian. Estoy muy contenta con mi desarrolló durante este tiempo. Me gustan los libros de la escuela y también el método de los profesores. Erian es un maestro muy bueno y realmente alentador. Me sentí que mis éxitos eran suyos también! Les cuento que HablaYa y Bocas son maravillosos!
Monday, 22 January 2018
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by Rachel R.
Me encanta Bocas!
I spent 4 wonderful weeks at Habla Ya in Bocas del Toro. Benita was my professor in private classes and she is phenomenal. She’s encouraging, attentive, and fun. I learned a ton in a beautiful place and I can’t wait to return. Many thanks to Habla Ya! Pasé 4 semanas maravillosas a Habla Ya en Bocas del Toro. Benita fue mi profesor en las clases privadas y ella es fenomenal. Ella es alentadora, atenta, y divertida. Yo aprendí muchísimo en un lugar muy bonito y no puedo esperar a regresar. Muchas gracias a Habla Ya!
Thursday, 14 December 2017
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by Esther V.
Great learning experience
This is already my second time at Habla Ya in Bocas del Toro. The first time I came here to study Spanish in 2015 (for 5 weeks) and I liked it so much that I returned this year again :) This time I took three weeks of group classes (level C1) with Benita. I would have loved to stay longer but it’s not possible because of work. I can only recommend this institution, the school offers a really good service, you feel very welcome, there is help whenever and with whatever you need, there is a lot group activities and it feels like being part of a big family. Especially the lectures with Benita were definitely incredible. I would like to compliment her. She fills the lectures with various exercises like telling stories, reading, writing, grammar parts, interpreting texts, listening to songs, playing scrabble on a Friday. The content is put together in such a way that you won’t feel like sitting in a class room. It rather feels like sitting together for a coffee and discussing different topics but nevertheless you are learning a lot. Well... sometimes we were indeed drinking a coffee during class, Benita looks after her students in such a lovely way as a mama :) Thank you a lot, Benita, for creating such a good atmosphere for learning!
Thursday, 10 August 2017
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by Cheyenne B.
3 Weeks in Bocas del Toro
I took Spanish group classes at Habla Ya in Bocas del Toro for three weeks in July of 2017, and Eli was my teacher (for level A2 and B1). She was an incredible instructor, very enthusiastic and motivating, and she helped me improve my Spanish dramatically. The entire school’s environment is very supportive of learning conversational Spanish. The group classes are almost entirely taught in Spanish, the class activities are fun and varied, and the students are even encouraged to hang out at the school and speak Spanish with other students and instructor. It was a fantastic experience.
Tuesday, 18 July 2017
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by Porsha N.
Amazing time at Habla Ya
I decided I wanted to learn Spanish overseas but didn't want to study in Spain, I researched a range of schools in Costa Rica, Cuba, DR and Ecuador. However, the best school I found taking into consideration price, instruction and the overall country, the best option was Habla Ya. I spent two weeks at Habla Ya, with group lessons in the morning (8-12) with Nicole. I thoroughly enjoyed my lessons with Nicole, she is a great teacher and she really challenges you and I was very pleased and surprised at the amount of progress I made in 2 weeks. Also, I had private lessons with Bendita in the afternoon, I loved my one-on-one lessons with Bendita during this time she helped me to review topics I was unsure about, work on my pronunciation and helped improved my ability to converse in Spanish. Overall, Habla Ya is a great place to learn Spanish, meet other like minded individuals and you have the opportunity to explore a beautiful place. My top tips are: - Try to stay for at least 3 weeks - I only stayed for 2 weeks this was the moment I felt I was really making progress and would have benefited staying longer, even a week more. - Home Stay - staying with a family really helped me improve my Spanish and the food was amazing! - Take part in as many extra-circular activities as possible - they offer a range of activities including cave tours, salsa lessons etc. - If you can invest in private lessons - my private lessons with Bendita really helped to improve my ability and confidence.
Tuesday, 11 July 2017
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by Mari K.
2 Consecutive Years
(This review applies to group classes) Two years ago, I started an internet search for an affordable and well-reviewed Spanish School. I found Habla Ya and attended with my sister. I was so happy with the quality of my learning that I returned again in 2017. Brief explanation of how it works: At Habla Ya's website, students take a language test for an initial placement. When students arrive at the school they're required to take an additional face-to-face language assessment. Then, students are placed in a specific group with other students of about the same ability. From there, each student receives a workbook and typically keeps the same instructor for the entirety of their study in Bocas. I’ve been very pleased with the quality of my Spanish Education. My instructor this year, Eliana, made everyone in my class feel welcome, competent, and capable each day. She structured our lessons with the Habla Ya workbook, and we then applied our learning through various writing and speaking activities. Eliana defined unknown words/phrases/prepositions, and was very thorough with challenging concepts. In my group, we had students whose ages ranged from 22 to 59--she didn't teach to the highest, lowest, or middle level, she truly taught to each of us, attending to each of our differing needs. I’ve read another reviewer writing from an educator's perspective and I, also an educator, can agree that this school is well stocked with caring coordinators who listen and well-trained professors who are creative and do their best to "tune in" to student needs. They supply water for student needs (filtered from the rain), they believe in permaculture (check out the garden!), giving back more than you take, and they’re just a beautiful group of human beings. For me, Habla Ya is a perfect example of the Bocas Del Toro community. Here, you will find travelers, locals, learners, and teachers. I love you, Habla Ya! Gracias por todos.
Tuesday, 04 July 2017
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by Rossman J.
We loved it!
During the summer of 2016 I enrolled in classes with my girlfriend. Our first impression of the campus was very positive. The staff at reception was very accommodating toward our budget and we loved the options. We took a small group session and were matched with our teacher Ricardo. He went above and beyond to help us gain a comprehensive understanding of the Spanish language and the regional dialect. We also loved engaging in all of the activities offered by the school. Over two months we explored many things that the archipelago has to offer and even toward the end we felt like we were discovering new stuff to do daily. I love surfing and there are many great spots all over the islands. As far as the learning style of the program goes, it is catered toward any level and is very well executed. We definitely learned and improved our Spanish language skills in the program. The one regret we have is not doing a home stay with a host family. We felt that full immersion is the best way to go to gain the most out of the opportunity. One of the most impactful things with our experience was the relationships we formed with the people and staff. We truly are thankful for our friendships we formed with Carlos and Ludo. They are the best! If you feel so inclined there are also volunteer opportunities. We took part in launching the Bocas Permaculture Project. It is a gardening project aimed to assist and educate the people of Bocas on sustainable gardening by providing self-wicking garden beds to those in need. Please check it out. This school is very very good and individuals from all walks of life will in enjoy it. We went to school in Bocas, but also visited Boquete and Panama City. I can confidently say you will have a positive experience at any HablaYa campus. Highly recommend.
Thursday, 06 October 2016
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by Woodbury H.
BEST SPANISH SCHOOL! BEST TEACHERS AND STAFF!!! Truly an experience of a lifetime!!!
My boyfriend and I decided to take time off work, and travel to Panama. We really wanted to improve our Spanish and meet people while we were there. We started our trip and decided out of all the schools and language programs available, that we wanted to go to Habla Ya. We were on a tight budget since we were going to not be working for three months, but we still really wanted to learn Spanish. After going to the reception and talking to Carlos, we decided that Habla Ya was the perfect fit for us. He gave us many options of programs we could enroll in that would fit our budget, and allow us to have free time to explore the archipelago, as well as be the most beneficial to us. We decided to do mini group lessons, and they were GREAT! Our teacher was Ricardo, and he was excellent. He helped us learn very quickly and was so helpful with improving our speaking and conversational Spanish. We were honestly astonished by the amount we learned in just 5 weeks of 3 days a week at Habla Ya! My boyfriend has taken Spanish classes for almost ten years in the United States and had the hardest time learning the language because of the way it is taught there, and by the end of this course he was speaking with people in Spanish and now he is confident in starting conversations with native Spanish speakers. I had taken around 3 years of Spanish in the United States and feel equally as confident in my Spanish. The classes are taught in ways that it is easy to learn and retain the language. We even bought book for the next level to take with us so we can continue studying! The organized school activities are so fun, like bonfires, volleyball , sancocho soup night, and more, and they give you great opportunities to practice your Spanish with all of the students and teachers in the school, and get to know people from all over the world. We volunteered with Ludo and helped him with a garden project that he had been wanting to start. It was so much fun volunteering and getting to know the staff at Habla Ya in Bocas. Carlos, Ludo, and Ricardo are so nice and helpful, and made our experience great and unforgettable. We have been and will continue to recommend people to attend Habla Ya, because we had such an amazing time!
Wednesday, 05 October 2016
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by Badertscher M.
Best school of Spanish!!
I LOVED the experience this school gave me. Everything was amazing from the beginning until the end of my stay. They choose the perfect home stay family for me and the professors became my friends. I learned so fast that I reached the level B2+ in 4 month starting everything from scratch there in Habla Ya. I really enjoyed every single moment in this school and if I have to improve more my spanish one day, I would definitely return there and in no other spanish school. They just make you feel like you're home!
Saturday, 17 September 2016
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by Käser T.
My experience at Habla Ya
I spent 6 weeks in Bocas at Habla Ya and it was a great experience. I went to School every day for 4 hours. I felt totaly welcome from the first Moment. It's just a very relaxed and family-like atmosphere. I loved the classes with my teacher Kimberly. Classes with her were very varied and funny. I've learned a lot with her explications and the hours of conversation. Kimberly was always available for questions after class and was open to just hanging out and speaking Spanish. I also really enjoyed the activities the school offers. Everyday there are activities, the school organizes. I really loved my time in Bocas and I would defenitly recommend it to everyone
Monday, 28 March 2016
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by Holder F.
Best Spanish Instruction I have Ever Received!
I spent two weeks at Habla Ya (Bocas del Toro) in May and learned so much during my time there. I paid the extra money for private lessons and it was totally worth it. My two instructors, Malkidia and Ezequiel, were the most gracious, professional teachers I have ever had. They really cared that I learned the material, and I never felt that that they were just doing a "job". It always felt like they wanted to be there and wanted to help me learn. The instructors at Habla Ya are not just native speakers, they are native speakers who have been trained in Spanish education. I believe every instructor had a degree that related to Spanish instruction. This was very valuable to me as I was already conversant and my questions were beyond the beginner level. On my first day at the school, Malkidia answered a question for me about the proper use of direct objects that no native speaker in the US had been able to help me with. The staff is so friendly and engaging. They were always available for questions after class and were open to just hanging out and speaking Spanish. By the time I left, I felt like I was friends with everyone there and was truly sad to leave.
Tuesday, 17 November 2015
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by Elizabeth E.
Gran Experiencia en Bocas y Habla Ya
¡Hola! Tuve una gran experiencia en la escuela de Habla Ya en Bocas del Toro. Quedé en Bocas por 3 semanas, Ezequiel y Christopher fueron mis maestros. ¡Ellos eran estupendos! Cada día los maestros nos enseñaron por lecturas, lecciones de gramática, escrituras, videos interesantes, pero la mejor parte fue las conversaciones. Las clases eran pequeños con 2 a 5 estudiantes y pudimos hablar de muchas temas diferentes. Ezequiel y Christopher hablaron con nosotras sobre temas interesantes y ellos nos dieron bastante vocabulario para expresar nuestras opiniones de muchas cosas. Me encantaban las clases de Habla Ya y mis maestros. ¡Si esta buscando una escuela para aprender lo mejor español Habla Ya es lo mejor lugar para usted!
Saturday, 22 November 2014
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by Nelson C.
Excellent School and Excellent Teachers
I studied for four weeks in Boquete and two weeks in Bocas, and I couldn’t be happier with my experience at Habla Ya. Facilites, classes, activities, home stays- all were excellent. I have been to other language schools, and Habla Ya is top notch.
Saturday, 08 November 2014
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by Elser M.
Great experience... do it!!!
I spent 6 weeks in Habla Ya on Bocas del Toro and I have to say that it was on of the best experiences I've ever made. Bocas is an amazing place and totaly worth visiting it. I attended the Habla Ya language school during my whole stay and it was defenitly the right decision. I felt totaly welcome from the first moment on when they picked me up at the airport. It's just a very relaxed and family-like atmosphere. But though I have to say that I improved my spanish a lot more in these six weeks then I expected. When I arrived in Bocas I felt very unsecure speaking spanish and my grammar and vocablary knowledge was almost not existing but I felt the improve every single day. Now I feel secure speaking it and love to conversate in spanish with other people. I had three different teachers during my stay, Itzy, Ezequiel and Christopher. All of them were very good teachers and I really enjoyed my classes with them. When I arrived I started in B2 but I felt that the nivel was a bit to high for me. So I talked to the office and without any problems it was possible for me to change my class to A2. After my six weeks I left the school again at B2 and now I really feel like I deserve to be there. I also really enjoyed the activities the school offers. Everyday there are activities, the school organizes, you can attend to spend your free time with other students exploring the island. All in all it was one of the best holidays of my life and I would defenitly recommend it to everyone.
Monday, 08 September 2014
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by Abramov D.
HablaYa - a dream in Bocas
The school is fantastic. I've spent an awesome month in Bocas learning spanish. In this place you do both: resting and chilling on beautiful beaches and improve your language skills very fast because you study at least 4 hours a day, but these 4 hours feels like 30 minutes. All teachers are amazing. I want to mention one of them - Ezequiel. He was my teacher. He is just perfect. Not only because he is good in teaching spanish but also because he becomes a good friend who shows you where to go and what to do in Bocas. We spent much time out of classes together talking and having fun which helped me a lot with spanish. After 1 month I've improved my level from elementary to almost upper-intermediate. Other words, i am completely satisfied of the school and classes.
Thursday, 04 September 2014
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by Hendriks W.
An amazing language experience in Bocas del Toro
I have studied Spanish at Habla Ya in Bocas del Toro for five weeks. It was an amazing experience which has given me the opportunity to learn Spanish and Panamanian culture well. I would like to give a special thanks to my teacher Eziquiel. If you consider going to study at Habla Ya I would definitely recommend him. He makes you feel comfortable learning a new language and explains things well untill you really understand it. Moreover, he makes learning Spanish fun which makes it easy to learn. Lastly, studying at Habla Ya was a great experience due to the great, professional organization of classes and activities. I had a great time. Thank you Habla Ya!!
Thursday, 13 February 2014
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by Hussain R.
exceptional environment & teachers
I couldn't speak more highly of my experience with Habla Ya. I took only 1.5 weeks of classes (Intermediate 1) and I definitely wanted MORE! Before choosing Habla Ya (or Panama, really), I explored severalSpanish language schools online, and initiated conversations with several. In prior years, I had taken semi-private lessons in short stints in Mexico City and in La Paz, Bolivia, and based on those experiences, I knew I wanted something on the more structured side of things. Habla Ya impressed me right from the start - from the online placementtest, to the phone call I received the day after I submitted my interest. I found the initiation to be extremely supportive, helpful, professional and prompt. And my Habla Ya classroom experience exceeded my expectations. First, I made it to Bocas barely one hour before my first class was meant to begin - the office staff were accommodating and helpful (getting me water, ensuring a safe/trustworthy environment for me to just leave all my belongings while I went to class). My teacher, Diogenes, was exceptional. He began by understanding my learning goals and my learning style (e.g. do I like to be corrected along the way as I'm speaking or at the end?). Then he shared some things about his style and asked my permission to make some changes to our schedule (I was there over the two weeks of Christmas & New Year). Diogenes created a super-relaxed, yet well-paced environment encouraging of risk-taking and free of pressure. He is incredibly patient, quite funny, and enthusiastic about his own learning (which created fun opportunities for me to try to explain English phrases in Spanish), all of which resulted in an incredible setting for me. We would start each class just by chatting, storytelling. This allowed us to make a great connection with each other, and for me to practice conversations as I might actually have with my friends (versus awkward formal rote conversations I had in prior classes with teachers I knew nothing about and with whom I didn't feel comfortable being open about myself). He also used various games/activities and we even went for a walk during one of our classes... all methods to keep things interesting and nurture various styles of learning/reinforcement. I can't say enough about my experience with Habla Ya & Diogenes - HIGHLY RECOMMEND.
Sunday, 12 January 2014
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by Goyens R.
3 awesome weeks in Bocas
I studied for 3 weeks at Habla Ya and I had the most amazing experience studying and having a relaxing vacation at the same time!!! I really would like to thank to Gilberto, who was my teacher during the first two weeks. It was a pleasure to be tought by somebody that motivated, patient and funny. His classes were awesome. We really learned a lot and had so much fun at the same time. Best teacher ever!! I also would really like to thank the lovely Adriana, my teacher in my last week, another great teacher as well. It really got me to the conlusion that I want to go back to study more Spanish with these great people. I can also highly recommend a home stay in Bocas, my family there really made me feel like I was a part of it. Thank you Habla Ya, hasto luego! :)
Saturday, 07 December 2013
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by Pérez L.
Mi segundo hogar
En Julio de 2013 asiste a Habla Ya durante un mes entero. Yo tenia un profesor increible. El profesor Eziquiel es muy listo, gracioso, paciente y compasivo. todos los ingredientes necesarios para ser un gran maestro. He venido a Hable Ya a ganar confianza en hablar espanol y que es exactamente lo que he obtenido en el Profesor ezequiel clase. Me asegura y me explica que es normal para hacer errores, que es la unica forma de aprender. Yo confiaba en el y mis habilidades. Mi objetivo era ser capaz de hablar con mi familia y amigos en espanol con confianza y me siento feliz de decir que he logrado mi objetivo con la ayuda de una gran motivador.
Thursday, 21 November 2013
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by Beduhn C.
7 Weeks in Bocas
After spending seven weeks in Bocas while attending Habla Ya Spanish School I have been able to sort out both some pros and of cons the school and the island itself. I also have thrown in quite a few of my personal opinions. The best part about Habla Ya in Bocas is the teachers. They are some of the most sociable people I have ever met yet all have very different personalities. There are some who speak English fluently and others who have never taken an English class in their life (Or so it seems). Some teachers are done teaching when the clock hits noon while others will randomly show up at your house on Saturday and ask if you want to go to the beach with them. The Bocas School is definitely very tight knit with many friendly, yet professional, relationships being formed. I really appreciated that the teachers who are often the same age as the students, kept a professional demeanor with the students even at the bars on the weekends. At the same time, they never once ignored or excluded an Habla Ya student when out on the weekends. I'm about as Gringo as they come and I always felt like I had a solid foundation of people I could trust in Bocas because of the Habla Ya staff. I also thought that it was cool that some teachers actually LIVE at the school. Not only is it nice that the school (and wifi) is open 24/7 but it also give a chance to interact with the teachers on a personal level (In Spanish of course). I highly suggest taking advantage of the free activities at Habla Ya such as movie night, salsa lessons, and conversational Spanish. When I came to Bocas, I could not understand individual words if a native Panamanian spoke to me. By watching movies, and listening to songs, I was able to differentiate individual words within three weeks. I might not have known all the words in a quick sentence but at least I had gained an "Ear" for the Spanish Language. Just as I highly encourage the free weekend activities, I highly discourage going to the bars on the weekdays in Bocas. (This applies to long term students mostly) My view/opinion is that if you have come to Bocas to learn Spanish then make it a priority because you can go to the bars all you want when you go back home. There is nothing worse, for both the student and the teacher, than to come to class hung-over. It is very hard to concentrate and also frustrates the teachers who what you to succeed. Bocas is very nice if you can find the right places to go. A lot of the best beaches (In my opinion) are not near the city. That said, I went swimming many times to the dirty "Beach" next to the ferry dock with the kids from my homestay. The local kids didn't mind the trash (Which is a real problem in Bocas) so neither did I. This brings me to my last point of review. I HIGHLY recommend a homestay while studying Spanish here. I have hardly met nicer people and they were always so happy and willing to talk to me. They patiently listened to me blubbler along in Spanish while offering gentle corrections. I felt almost a part of the Marcado family by the time I left and would not have traded that experience for anything.
Saturday, 16 November 2013
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by rahmsauer S.
gracias habla ya !!!
hola chicos. quiero decirle gracias a todas las personas de habla ya. tuve un tiempo muy bueno ahi. mi profesor fue christopher y es muy amable y me enseno mucho espanol. el hizo las clases muy divertidas. ademas me gusta la organizacion de la escuela y el pueblo bocas dell toro con todas las playas lindas. yo recomiendo hablya ya a todos :-):-)
Tuesday, 22 October 2013
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by Johnsons R.
Habla Ya el mejor!
I went to that beautiful place called Bocas del Toro in 2011 and took spanish lessons in Habla Ya for nearly a month. I have to admit that this little school was an excellent way to learn spanish whilst enjoying tropical temperatures, palms and amazing beaches. At this point i would like to mention my teacher Christopher who is a great young and very motivated part of the great habla ya stuff. I really did enjoy his classes thanks to a different teaching methods every day and some very nice classmates from all over the world. Not only did I enjoy Chistopher’s Spanish classes but also the salsa and dancing classes he gave in Habla Ya. It was a great experience and all in all Bocas del Toro is the perfect place to learn Spanish and have some relaxing vacation at the same time.
Tuesday, 08 October 2013
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by Mei L.
Excellent Experience
Hey guys i visited habla ya in bocas del toro for a few weeks and had the pleasure of being teached by christopher clark - one of the best teachers i've ever met! a friendly, young but very experienced guy who knows how to teach. thanks to him i improved my spanish a lot and can finally understand all the grammar no other teacher ever was able to make me understand. the classes were strict but funny at the same time and i always felt very comfortable even if i didn't know the exact anywer. we did a lot of diferent things in class like little games, audios, reading and speaking to be able to use our spanish in every part of life. apart from that christopher's manner of teaching he was always foculized on make us understand everything before going on with the next topic.furthermore the amount of homework was reasonable and so that i still could enjoy my trip AND study at the same time. what i also liked a lot is that we were never more than 5 people in class so one couldnt get bored because we all had the same level of spanish and could share our knowledge. i really recommend habla ya in bocas del toro to everyone who loves the beaches just like i do and i really recommend you christopher as a teacher if you are interested in making the best out of your spanisch level.
Thursday, 03 October 2013
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by Korljan L.
Amazing school, great experience.
I didn't know what to expect when I arrived on my own to Bocas in June 2013. But I was very pleasantly surprised and quite sad to leave when I left 3 weeks later. It was an amazing experience, both with learning at the school and also living and enjoying life in Bocas. I was fortunate to meet many amazing people from all over the world and enjoyed getting to know local Panamian culture as well. I did a homestay with a wonderful local woman and was treated like one of her own. I enjoyed many hours of conversation, eating and playing cards with her. As far as the school, I did the Core 4 +1 program, meaning I had 4 hours a day of group lesson with 1 additional hour of private lession. Prior to coming to Bocas I had never taken a formal spanish class and only knew basic spanish phrases and words. After 3 weeks there, my grasp of the language was expotentially better (therein also realizing how much more I needed to learn!). I was carrying on full conversations with my teachers and understanding 90% of what they said to me. My teachers, Diogenes and Abelardo, were both amazing. Both employed multiple methods and skills in their teaching styles that made the classes interesting and productive. Their patience and gentle correction was much appreciated as well. Several times during the visit I felt myself becoming overwhelmed during class but they consistantly reassured me and encouraged me. My biggest regret was that I didn't stay longer. I can't wait to continue my spanish learning journey!
Friday, 23 August 2013
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by Davidsson H.
GRACIAS HABLA YA!
I studied 2 months at Habla Ya! I want to say thanks to all the teacher that helped me develop my spanish. Specially I want to thank Ezequiel! My host family was awesome and the food was really great! / Hampus Davidsson Sweden
Sunday, 12 May 2013
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by thomas C.
Wonderful Place to Learn Spanish!
I had the opportunity to study at Habla Ya in Bocas del Toro for the month of April. It was a wonderful experience all around! I took group lessons in the morning and private medical Spanish lessons in the afternoon. During the morning sessions, I focused on grammar, writing and verbal communication skills. In the afternoon, I was able to focus on anything that I felt I needed to practice and was also able to simulate medical scenarios as well. All of the teachers that I had were wonderful!! For my group lessons, my teacher was Ezequiel! I was lucky enough to have him the entire month because he is an amazing teacher! Very patient and really challenged me to do my best! My medical Spanish teacher, Diogenes, was a true pleasure to work with!! He is also a lot of fun and kept the lessons interesting! I highly recommend Diogenes and the Habla Ya Spanish School for anyone serious about learning Spanish! There are also a lot of social activities that are arranged through the school for students, including field trips to various beaches, zip-lining, salsa lessons, and authentic dinners.
Thursday, 09 May 2013
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by Miller R.
Habla Ya, Bocas del Toro
My wife and I attended a two week Spanish language course at Habla Ya school in Bocas del Toro, Panama in January of 2013. We chose individual courses with areas of concentration we felt we needed. The experience was rewarding and well worth the modest tuition charged. The Habla Ya staff was extremely helpful in our initial research of the Panama area. This helpfulness continued through the process of planning, registration, travel, and courses. Since we were not familiar with Panama, nor with the particular area around Bocas, we relied on the always helpful staff to explain and reserve an overnight stay in Panama City, transfers, the regional air transportation, and hotel in Bocas. Habla Ya provides a US phone number for direct contact to the school in Panama, which we used extensively. The courses themselves were conducted very professionally. The instructors accommodated our specialized requests completely and made sure that they covered necessary areas that we might have overlooked. There were ample and appropriate course notes and learning materials provided. In addition, we enjoyed the classes. While we are concentrating on the value of the Habla Ya academic experience, we will note that Bocas del Toro is on an archipelago of beautiful tropical islands bordering the Caribbean Sea. The town itself is small, but with a good variety of restaurants, shops, and tour possibilities. It has a lively, youthful feel. During our stay in Bocas, the staff was extremely helpful in recommending and arranging several fascinating excursions that we took during our free time. Bob and Mary Kay Miller
Friday, 12 April 2013
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by Corrigan B.
Excellent Experience at Habla Ya School!
I had the fortunate opportunity to attend Habla Ya Spanish School for two weeks in August of 2012. I've always had a desire to learn the Spanish language, and from motivation in my job to learn it quickly, I decided to pursue this venture. I did not know anyone who had been to Bocas del Toro or anyone who had taken classes there, so i was a little aprehensive. But, the staff made my travel arrangments go perfectly. Someone picked me up from the airport and took me to the School, showed me around town and introduced me to my host Family. My host Family was absolutely incredible, they provided additional teaching in their home to furthur my experience. My Instructors were Abelardo Camano and Malkidia Garcia. I cannot say enough good things about both of them. They challenged me and helped build the foundation for what I need to develop my understanding and ability to learn Spanish. It was a wonderful experience and I have already looked into booking another trip back to Bocas!!!
Saturday, 29 September 2012
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by Weber K.
Amazing time at HablaYa
I took spanish classes at Habla Ya in Bocas del Toro for one week (unfortunately only one week!!) in August 2012. I already booked my classes from Germany and everybody of the administration team was so friendly and helpful! I was picked up from the airport and welcomed in a very friendly way. My host-family was very nice, too and I really felt home. My teacher Christopher was great. He really tried to find out which was the best way for me to learn Spanish. So he adjusted his way of teaching exactely to my needs. I learnt a lot without even noticing! I could highly recommend HablaYa to everybody who wants to learn Spanish and spend a great time in Panama!
Friday, 21 September 2012
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by Ramdass N.
Habla Ya, Bocas del Toro
I recently studied at the Habla Ya Spanish School in Bocas del Toro, and also in Boquete. I have to commend Habla Ya! I thoroughly enjoyed my stay in both places. Habla Ya was extremely well organised and made it very easy and comfortable for me to travel around Panama. The course was well organised and very well taught by my teachers in Bocas del Toro, Aicel and Abelardo, and Widad and Ivonne in Boquete. My teachers made the classes fun while ensuring that I understood the content. Thank you very much to all my teachers and to Habla Ya for a wonderful experience!
Monday, 10 September 2012
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by Friesen B.
I was in Bocas for 2 weeks where I attended Habla Ya. The education I received was very good. They have a very systematic methodology of advancing your level. I had Chris as a Professor. He was fun but disciplined. He made sure we covered each topic fully before moving on and before we put the lessons to practice through discussion or games. His ability to explain concepts and ideas was very engaging. The after school activities run by the school were of mixed success but that has as much to do with who signs up for an event. All in all I would highly recommend Habla Ya - Bocas.
Monday, 09 April 2012
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by Moffet T.
The "other" Spanish School in Bocas....
I recently finished a four week Spanish course through Habla Ya. At the time of this writing, they have two campuses, one in Boquete (their main campus) and their new campus in Bocas del Toro. I took my classes in Bocas. The schools website is completely comprehensive in that I was able to sign up for a variety of course options, they have partnerships with local lodgings, they offer tours, volunteer opportunities, a huge list of links to restaurants, activities, useful information, places, blogs, etc. For my four weeks, I chose the option to take four hours of group classes in the morning and an hour of private classes after the lunch hour. The curriculum is intense and their site makes this clear: you will come away with a quickly expanded ability to speak and understand Spanish. Having been away and out of practice with studying and absorbing what for me is new material, I must admit, at times, I struggled with the material and pacing. For this reason, I’m really glad that I opted for the additional hour of private classes as they often served to review and reinforce the new material presented in the morning classes. This was an invaluable help for me. I encourage other would-be students to do the same The professionalism of the staff can’t be stressed enough. They genuinely enjoy what they’re doing and foster an environment to speak in Spanish with them and amongst the other students during down time. They work their butts off; when they’re not actually in class, they are preparing their lesson plans, coordinating activities, cooking dinner for the Tuesday night dinners with the students and staff, organizing tours and meeting with students. My two instructors, Victor and Leykis were superb, patient, punctual, funny, knowledgeable and thorough. Did I mention patient? Additionally, I want to single out the two staffers, Cesar and Carlos, who are running the show in the office. They do everything and essentially play the role of concierge. They book flights, book tours, manage marketing, update the school’s site, plan the activities and manage sign -up sheets, process payments for tours, (and is should also be noted that Habla Ya is one of the very few places in Bocas Town that accepts credit cards), they figure out transportation, helped me plan an elaborate trip for after my courses were finished, as well as assembled a fantastic trip to the other provinces in Panama to take part in the Carneval celebrations (which I highly recommend if you’re timing your visit and courses accordingly), they suffered my wobbly Spanish, and are consummate professionals. If I ran a business, I would figure out a way to hire them. It should also be noted that I quickly learned to take advantage of their recommendations and the schools partnerships with other businesses and local contacts. Having Carlos or Cesar run the interference, as local Panamanians who are fluent in Spanish and know how things work in Panama, often means a significant break on pricing and/or better service; this, as opposed to me, the clue-less student/tourist trying to figure things out for myself. My contact with the other instructors was great. Everyone has a smile and a “Buenas” for you. They all left an impression and collectively, they know their way around the kitchen; the Tuesday night dinners were consistently great. The location of the school is in a residential area in Bocas in a fine building. It is set up so that the classrooms and bathrooms are downstairs off the patio and lawn, and the staff lives upstairs in their own apartments, work space and shared communal kitchen. There is free wi-fi for students, lots of seating on the covered balcony, free water is available and I especially liked the recycling program that is set up. There is a small corner grocer nearby for snacks and drinks when classes take a break as well. The entire place is immaculate and secure. I very much look forward to returning to Panama and taking more courses through Habla Ya and participating in the activities through their new touring division, Explora Ya.
Habuka Ya Bocas Del Toro
Great Experience!
Recommendable
Spanish course on the island
Highlight of My Trip to Bocas
Amazing Learning Experience
1 Month of Spanish School in Bocas: MUST DO!
Spanish with homestay in Bocas
Highly recommended
HablaYa Spanish school in Bocas Del Toro
Fun and practical learning in a beautiful environment
4 month Spanish classes in Bocas Del Toro, Panama
Ausgezeichnete Lehrer!!!
Great School in Bocas
Great time at hablaya
Spanish at Habla Ya with Iraida
Boquete Habla ya is the place to learn Spanish
Habla Ya Spanish School Bocas del Toro, Panama
Una Buen Tiempo
Habla Ya Bocas
3 weeks in Bocas
Amazing!
muchas gracias mi querida lineth:)
Encontré mi vida en bocas
Basic Spanish learning! A wonderful course
Learn Spanish in Bocas!
Una maestra buena
Fun way to study Spanish
Spanish in Bocas
Amazing location and teachers1
Muy bien :)
Can't beat learning Spanish in the Caribbean!
Me gustaría volver pronto
4 months spanish school
Enjoyed HablaYa & Bocas
Me encanta Bocas!
Great learning experience
3 Weeks in Bocas del Toro
Amazing time at Habla Ya
2 Consecutive Years
We loved it!
BEST SPANISH SCHOOL! BEST TEACHERS AND STAFF!!! Truly an experience of a lifetime!!!
Best school of Spanish!!
My experience at Habla Ya
Best Spanish Instruction I have Ever Received!
Gran Experiencia en Bocas y Habla Ya
Excellent School and Excellent Teachers
Great experience... do it!!!
HablaYa - a dream in Bocas
An amazing language experience in Bocas del Toro
exceptional environment & teachers
3 awesome weeks in Bocas
Mi segundo hogar
7 Weeks in Bocas
gracias habla ya !!!
Habla Ya el mejor!
Excellent Experience
Amazing school, great experience.
GRACIAS HABLA YA!
Wonderful Place to Learn Spanish!
Habla Ya, Bocas del Toro
Excellent Experience at Habla Ya School!
Amazing time at HablaYa
Habla Ya, Bocas del Toro
The "other" Spanish School in Bocas....