Habla Ya Spanish School

What is one of the best places in Central America to learn Spanish by the beach?

If you are looking for a paradisiacal, fun, and relaxed location to learn Spanish, then Bocas del Toro is YOUR answer!

Some describe Bocas del Toro as “seductively sleepy islands”, “an archipelago of untouched beaches and uncrowded seas”, and a “nature lover’s paradise”. As many before you, you will fall in love with the easy-going Caribbean vibe of Bocas del Toro.

Days are meant for lounging in a hammock, frolicking on the beaches, surfing uncrowded world class breaks or snorkeling amongst some of the best coral reefs in the Caribbean Sea. Nights are meant for living it up in the many bars and clubs that are located right over the water!

Panama’s #1 ranked network of Spanish schools, Habla Ya, has a gorgeous Caribbean style campus with air conditioning in evey classroom, just a short walk or bike ride to the most stunning beaches in Panama.

What sets Habla Ya apart from the other Spanish-learning schools in Bocas del Toro, amongst other things, is that it is the only Spanish school which holds the prestigious Instituto Cervantes certification from Spain, the worldwide authority for teaching Spanish as a foreign language. This by itself sets the bar very high as all teachers are required to have language related university degrees and many other quality standards have to be met. Habla Ya isn’t the cheapest option for learning Spanish but it definitively represents the best value as you will get a lot more here from each dollar you invest. They are also an official DELE examination center, MEDUCA-certified (Panama Ministry of Education), Bildungsurlaub approved (for German educational study leave), and a proud member of the Bocas del Toro Sustainable Tourism Alliance.

The normal Group and Private classes are scheduled for 4 hours or less per day to give you half-days during the week to enjoy your time in Bocas del Toro (unless you prefer a more intensive program) taking part in tours or exploring the islands on your own.

Habla Ya does not regularly hold classes on the weekends. It’s your time to enjoy Bocas del Toro and get to know other students outside of class! All of Habla Ya’s teachers are full-time salaried employees, so they also need their time off on the weekends! This also means that you will only be with classmates of your same level: in other schools teachers are paid by the hour, so at other schools very frequently you end up being with students of other levels as it’s cheaper for them to just pay for one teacher instead of the two or three that would be required for each student to be with other students of the same level.

The most requested language program in Bocas del Toro is Habla Ya’s Total Spanish Immersion Program where a student studies for 4 to 6 hours/day (through the Group 4 or Group 4 PLUS 1/2 Course) and experiences living with a local Bocatoreña family. The families are naturally open and embrace you in full. They will accept you into their family as their own! This is the absolutely the most effective way to experience the culture of Bocas del Toro, make great friendships with the locals, and put into practice the Spanish that you are learning at the school.

Having said this, home stays are not for everyone as you will have less privacy than staying at your own hotel and the living standards of a middle class host family in our tropical islands are definitively not the same as what you are normally used to. If you prefer to skip this part then Habla Ya would be more than happy to make a reservation for you at one of their recommended hostels, hotels or vacation rentals! And you’ll get really good discount for stays of several weeks too…

Obviously you don’t want to come all the way to Bocas del Toro to ONLY study Spanish. That’s why it’s a great idea to combine your Spanish learning program with a Surf course, a Scuba Diving PADI Certification, daily yoga lessons and/or Volunteering. Habla Ya works with the local experts in these and other areas to make it work with your Spanish classes’ schedule. They simply want you to have the time of your life in Bocas del Toro!

Habla Ya’s team in Bocas del Toro mission is to provide you with the most amazing Spanish learning experience. Period. Habla Ya does this not only with highly qualified, trained and enthusiastic teachers, but also through a wide range of cultural-social activities to help you connect with native Panamanians on a personal basis and make friendships with other students from all over the world. This is what will make your trip unforgettable.

Still not convinced that Habla Ya and Bocas del Toro Archipelago are your best choice for learning Spanish in a beach town? Check out the following video and see it for yourself!