Habla Ya Language Center
Good for: Learning Spanish, Making friends, language school, Nature lovers, Learn Spanish
Not good for: learn to surf, Wasting time, People on a tight budget., movie, beach time
- Address
- Central Av at the southern end of Central Av
- Website
- Phone
- tel, info: 720 1294
Lonely Planet review for Habla Ya Language Center
The reader-recommended Habla Ya Language Center offers both group and private lessons. Five hours of group/private lessons starts at around US$50/around US$75, though significant discounts are given for lengthier programs - 25 hours of group/private lessons is only around US$200/around US$300. The language school is also well-connected to local businesses, so students can take advantage of discounts on everything from accommodations to tours.
Traveller reviews for Habla Ya Language Center (44)
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Online Spanish classes with Leidys are great!
dcinpanama recommends this,
I signed up for 30 hours of private, online Spanish classes through Habla Ya school, and I've recently purchased an additional 15 hours. (We'd just started subjunctive verbs; didn't want class to end without mastering these!) I have been very satisfied with the teacher, Leidys. Her friendly, approachable manner and conversational teaching style make for a comfortable learning environment. And online classes really suit my needs. It is a private class, specified to my needs, with the convenience of being at home. (But I do dream of a visit one day to lovely Boquete!) We meet daily over Gmail video chat. Conversation plus classroom-style exercises make up the bulk of our time together. My Spanish is improving daily!
Good for: Learn Spanish, All levels language learners
Not good for: learn to surf
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Well organized school in a great environment
brian47price recommends this,
I can recommend Habla Ya! in Boquete, Panama without any reservations. My three-week experience there was a delight from beginning to end. The mountain environment, the friendly little town, the well-run school and well-organized program all made our time there educational and fun. Boquete is full of very friendly people who mostly do not speak English, and who cheerfully suffered my attempts to speak in Spanish. The climate in February was breezy and very mild, never hot and never cold, sometimes misty but with bright sunshine every day. We enjoyed several great hikes and excursions with Habla Ya!, Explora Ya!, and other guides, and learned a great deal about the mountain environment, coffee farming, and regional history. Extracurricular activities were well-run and did not interfere with our study schedule, although we had enough homework to occupy most of our weekday time. We stayed at the Isla Verde Resort, in a separate “roundhouse” surrounded by flowering shrubs and greenery. We were a 5-minute walk from the school in a very comfortable setting for study and relaxation. We also were close to most of the restaurants, shops, and the town square. Our friends in homestays gave us mixed reports, of successful and unsuccessful homestay arrangements. In the negative cases I heard about, the school worked with each student to find a more suitable set-up. It seems that lots of the homestays are pretty far from the school, and often do not have hot water. Habla Ya! is very well-organized, and communicated promptly before, during, and after our visit. The school facility is new, semi-enclosed in a courtyard, and it made for a lot of mixing and sharing among the students. The non-teaching staff are energetic and attentive. There were about 40 students in February 2012 from all over the world, of all ages. The teachers apparently have received extensive training on the school’s curriculum, materials, and classroom approach, because there was a noticeable consistency among the teachers in my classes. The substantial student population meant they could organize more than one class at each level, in order to group students of similar age, interests, and training needs. No class of mine had more than 4 students. Most had fewer. The teachers never spoke English to me, in class or out. In general, I think the quality of teachers is very high, and together with the administrative staff they generate an upbeat atmosphere that permeates the place. I gained a lot from the 4-5 hours per day of structured training. My Group 4 teacher for all three weeks was Leidys Pitti. Leidys was very organized, starting each day with a review of planned activities, but also shifting gears when learning opportunities and good conversations came up. She was expert at defusing nervousness and encouraging our speaking. Each day included at least two hours of conversation and two hours of instruction, games, activities, and in-class exercises. Leidys was always patient, cheerful, and funny while also being very effective.
Good for: people of all ages
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Excelente
arianner recommends this,
I studied in Habla Ya, Bouquete this summer and recently at Habla Ya, Bocas Del Toro. I had a wonderful experience at both schools. The Bocas school was new and therefore fairly quiet when I was there but it has the same excellent teaching standards as Bouquete. As there was no one else at my level, I had private lessons for the same price as group lessons. My most recent teacher, Christopher was enthusiastic and provided fun but challenging lessons. I highly recommend Habla Ya.
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The Perfect Language Experience
ljflynn recommends this,
I was fortunate enough to spend 3 weeks in Boquete, Panama, studying
at Habla Ya language school. The experience provided me with the perfect opportunity to advance my language skills and to increase my confidence level when speaking extemporaneously to native Spanish speakers. In private, one-on-one lessons with Mónica, I was able to gauge my progress and prioritize areas of study. Each day the focus of my lessons was on communication, verb tenses, grammar, vocabulary, and conversation. Mónica did an outstanding job of challenging me while providing consistent support and a wonderful learning environment. I would recommend this language school to anyone interested in improving their Spanish. I can almost guarantee you’ll fall in love with the beautiful town, the wonderful people and the opportunities for outdoor adventure. -
Excellent teaching, and even better customer service
rspencer recommends this,
My spanish capabilities improved markedly due to the great teaching and skilled instructors at Habla Ya. My spanish classes were always engaging and fun, but the experience was positive for many more reasons. I was doing my surgery internship, and was too busy to plan most of my trip. Habla Ya arranged my flights, and arranged for drivers to pick me up both in Panama City and in Boquete. The hotel they recommended was pleasant and convenient, and they also made the phone calls to arrange my stay there. Once I arrived, Habla Ya provided a home base for my activities, with a lounge where I could use the internet or mix with other students.
Good for: Learning Spanish
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Exceptional learning experience
shnaa recommends this,
I only have good things to say about my six weeks of online Spanish lessons with Leidys. Her lessons were always clear, and she clearly made an effort to tailor them to my specific level. Leidys is extremely patient, funny, and all around a wonderful teacher. Due to her lessons, I am much more confident when I speak Spanish. I hope one day to visit the actual school in Panama so I can hang out with Leidys and her fellow teachers in person. Gracias, Habla Ya!
Good for: Learning Spanish
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Wonderful Time
charlessmithson recommends this,
Studying Spanish at Habla Ya in Boquete, Panama was a wonderful experience.
I was lucky enough to have Leidys as teacher. As I had arranged to take private lessons she was able to concentrate fully on the points I needed and she provided me with all the explanations to help me improve on the less well-developed aspects of my knowledge.The entire month of September was a very fruitful time for me, not only for learning Spanish but also for the experience of being in a Latin American country. All the staff at Habla Ya are extremely helpful in personal needs, show a great dedication to their students and they make sure that everyone feels welcome.
No surprise therefore that many students were there for the second or third time, I will return again next year. -
A good learning experience
worenfroe recommends this,
I studied at HablaYa for 3 weeks this Fall and I believe it made a significant difference in my ability to speak Spanish. I was not a complete beginner, but I needed a lot of practice as well as a better understanding of grammar, and I believe my time at the school helped meet my learning objectives. My home stay was a good experience, and gave me a better view of the culture than I would have had otherwise. My teacher, Leidys, was knowledgeable and consistently well prepared for our classes. I recommend that students who plan to go to HablaYa make arrangements far enough in advance to be able to schedule afternoon classes since most of the extra-curricular options are in the morning.
My only real regret is that I only had 3 weeks available; I wish I could have spent more time there.Good for: Foreign language learners
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absolutely incredible.
MirandaCullen recommends this,
the best experience i have ever had. I have taken spanish for a total of four years but I learned so much more in those 4 weeks than all those years combined. I absolutely would go back to Boquete any day I loved every second of my trip. None of it would have been possible without the incredible staff at Habla Ya especially my AMAZING teacher Minerva. She was great, I never liked to talk in Spanish because i always felt self-conscious but she made me feel so comfortable and helped me learn so much not only about the grammar and vocabulary but also Panamanian culture. I also was lucky enough to have most of the other teachers as well and they were all so nice and helpful. I cannot express how much I love the staff at Habla Ya, they are all amazing and by the end of the trip I felt so comfortable with all of them, which was really great knowing if I needed anything at all they would be there to help me. Not only were the teachers and staff amazing during my time in Boquete but now that I am home they have made an effort to keep in touch and practice Spanish every so often which I really enjoy. I would love to go back to Habla Ya either in Boquete or in Bocas, I loved everything about my trip and reminiscent with my best friend every day on the memories we had and things we did while in Panama. The location was optimal, the town being so small gave us a chance to meet so many amazing people. I remember walking down the street and seeing at least 2 or 3 people we knew each time. My parents were nervous about me going to another country by myself but I have never felt so safe, it was perfect. I could go on all day about everything I loved about Boquete, Habla Ya, and the people I met. It was the best experience I have ever had and I will never forget it. I LOVE HABLA YA!!!! and miss it so much! <3
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Learning spanish has never been so easy!
olivern recommends this,
Unfortunately we only spent one week at Habla Ya but if I could, I would have stayed as long as possible!
First of all you have to mention the great environments: Boquete is located in the middle of the cloud forest, surrounded by an untuched nature. The school itself is modern, light-flooded and well looked after.
I think comparing the special atmosphere is impossible.
A friend and me, we had a fantastic teacher, Minerva. I could never attend such a professional edication. When I came to habla ya, I've been learning spanish for 3 years but during this time i learnd more than in a few months at home. There was not a bit of pressure, It was more than talking to a friend that talking to a teacher. Minerva was able to explain us even the hardest grammar things faster than I thought it could be possible. Thanks a lot Minerva you're the greatest!
I can recommend this school to anyone and I'm looking forward to my next visit!!Good for: everybody
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TRIP OF A LIFE TIME!
edlondon11 recommends this,
I have now been home from Boquete, Panama for 5 days and am missing it immensely. My four week trip to Boquete was beyond unbelievable, thanks to the amazing Habla Ya Spanish School! I was a bit nervous but the faculty worked together to place me in the right class with Minerva where i instantly felt at ease! I had 1.5 weeks in a group class with 4 other students, and the other 2.5 weeks were spent with just my friend Miranda and I. Minerva was absolutely fabulous, and I couldn't have asked for a better experience. She worked well to discover our weaknesses, and then found ways for us both to improve upon them. Minerva was absolutely hilarious and we were constantly laughing, while learning! I was shocked that I could be in a class for 4 hours everyday and never hear Minerva speak English, but still understand everything that was going on! She also made class extremely fun, we took a trip to Mi Jardin es su Jardin, to the visitor center, we walked around Central Park and the Bridge another day, and sat outside for class multiple times, which makes learning all the much better, thanks to Boquete's beautiful weather. Since I have been home I have had several conversations via facebook with Minerva and love being able to continue my spanish while i'm home in the United States. All of the faculty members at Habla Ya are so helpful and friendly, you feel at home the moment classes start! Everyone is like a little family, from all across the world, it's unbelievable. I would definitely recommend Habla Ya to everyone of all ages! We met 10 year olds and 70 year olds that both had wonderful things to say about their time with Habla Ya! In addition to the Language Center, Habla Ya has a partnership with Explora Ya that made our trip even more enjoyable. The possibilities are endless in Boquete, thanks to the professionalism and excitement of everyone working. I am already trying to plan my return trip! Thank you to everyone at Habla Ya, especially Minerva! Te extrano!
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QUE BUENO
sallys4056 recommends this,
hola mi nombre es sally y soy una residente de boquete en noviemnbre del año pasado estudié en clases privadas en habla ya. el ambiente de la esvuela es muy buena y la organización general de toda la escuela es muy buena la atención fue espectacualr yo puedo ahora hablar con todas las personas en boquete con todos mis trabajadores es muy importante para mi. tuve un profesor muy divertido el era christopher con el puede aprender con mucha dinamica el imperativo que fue muy dificil para mi y la diferencia de muchas palabras y expresiones que estaban muy divertidas.agradezco atodo el staff de la escuela y a todos los profesores que eran muy ambles por o para todo. gracias....
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buenas experiencias
dtrips recommends this,
hola despues de estudiar por dos semanas en habla ya estoy muy conteto por aprendi mucho y pude compartir con diferentes gentes y todas fueron muy amables.
estudie en una clase grupo donde todos mis compañeros fueron muy divertidos y las clases eran muy dinamicas gracias a mi profesor christopher que siempre tuvo unos juegos muy divertidos para aprebder los dieferentes que necesitamos en las clases. tuve clases muy completas y aunque no me gustan mucho escribir las historias aprendi la diferencia entre el preterito y el imperfecto para poder tener una conversiacion bueno con otras personas. naturamelnte disfrute mucho de mi paseo por boquete y por habla ya muy agradecido por toda la informacion muy importante espero regresar pronto. Gracias habla ya y a christopher excelente experiencia. -
Awesome Spanish Immersion Experience!
brando9l recommends this,
Before attending Habla Ya I had taken plenty of Spanish classes and studied the language throughout high school and college, but my mission during my trip to Panama was to become as close to fluent as possible. Before arriving, I was skeptical of any Spanish school because I believed that it would not benefit me to take even more "classroom" Spanish. The school totally disproved my assumption. The teachers are friendly and talkative so I received a ton of conversational practice, which is what I needed to boost my confidence in speaking with native speakers. Because I already knew a lot of the grammar, I was able to learn many of the idioms and phrases that took my Spanish speaking from a level of Good to Great in just 3 weeks. All of the staff was personable and the facilities were inviting and allowed for a social atmosphere that encouraged Spanish speaking among other students, teachers, and staff as well.
Living in Boquete was also a plus for Habla Ya because it allowed me to actually make friends with some of the local people to practice my Spanish with, as well as the numerous adventure tours that the town offers. Some of the teachers (Gracias a Minerva y Chris) were even gracious enough to invite me to their house for salsa lessons, cook me dinner, and then go out with their friends to try out my new moves!! I was also fortunate enough to teach English classes as a volunteer at night, which was yet another opportunity for me to get to know the people of Boquete, and other volunteers as well. There is a genuine sense of community at this school and I would recommend it first above all others if you want to learn fast, and also have great long-lasting memories while learning Spanish.
Brandon L
Good for: Making friends, Learning Spanish fast, Sense of Community
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Speak Already!!
MickeyJR recommends this,
After taking spanish classes for 2 years in high school, and learning nothing, I wasn't sure how much I could accomplish in only 3 months. After a few weeks I realized that Habla Ya is actually a spanish IMMERSION school. Personally I need lots of extra practice and that’s exactly what I got. Not only did I practice speaking in class, but I decided to live with a local family. So every day after school I went home to speak and listen more! Unlike high school, we spent at least half of a 4 hour lesson conversing. It seemed like every day in my classes with Katterina we would wind up on some controversial topic which really motivated me to speak. The more comfortable I felt, the more fun I had, and the more fun I had, the more I learned. It’s a vicious cycle. So if you are really interested in learning the language, instead of simply studying it, I highly recommend choosing Habla Ya. You will instantly be welcomed into the Habla Ya family!!
Michael Malotte Jr. -
Es muy social y servicial
jeann0604 recommends this,
He viajado a Boquete y asistió a clases de español en Habla Ya a finales de junio en julio de 2011. Elegí las 2 horas de clases particulares y 4 horas de clases de grupo, ya que yo estaba allí sólo por una semana. La escuela fue muy divertido y siempre materiales agradables para sus estudiantes. Me gustó que no había tanta flexibilidad en la selección de las clases que usted desea. Algunos estudiantes estaban tomando sólo clases particulares, un grupo único, y otros una mezcla. La escuela le permite una gran flexibilidad de horario para satisfacer sus necesidades. También me gustó que el rango de edades de los estudiantes variada como lo hicieron los países de los que los estudiantes procedían. Había estudiantes universitarios, profesionales jóvenes, de mediana edad las personas, familias, e incluso profesores de las universidades que asisten Habla Ya, lo que hizo para una mezcla interesante y ecléctica. He elegido quedarme con una familia durante mi estadía, que recomiendo encarecidamente, ya que te obliga a interactuar y utilizar sus habilidades en español más. Mi familia era de aproximadamente una media hora andando a clase, pero me gustó mucho caminar por la ciudad ... y que estaba completamente seguro caminar por mí mismo. La elección de la persona, más lecciones en grupo era una situación ideal para mí. Mi instructor privado, Christopher, siempre y cuando la instrucción en el aula, así como en la ciudad. Fuimos a diferentes mercados, parques, etc, para practicar el uso de español en situaciones del mundo real. Me gustó mucho el toque personal proporcionada por Christopher, para que mis clases se adaptan a mis necesidades específicas. En general, tuvimos una gran experiencia en Boquete. Espero que a cambio de un período de tiempo más largo en el futuro.
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Habla Ya is second to none!
evanlutomski recommends this,
Habla Ya was everything I could have asked for in a Spanish school. I spent eight weeks in Boquete, taking 5-6 hours of Spanish a day. After my time in Habla Ya, I feel comfortable speaking Spanish with anyone I encounter.
The classroom instruction was superb and in my opinion second to none. I had three teachers during my stay in Boquete: Irasema, Yaira, and Monica. Each one brought something different to the curriculum in ways that made it fun to learn. The most important of all, though, was the clear fact that they wanted us to learn. Some days everything clicked and others it was more difficult, but I could always count on my teacher taking me aside to ask what was wrong or how she could better instruct me to get the most out of the lesson. For this, I am extremely grateful. Habla Ya employs educated, patient, and professional teachers, all of whom I became very close with during my stay.
The classroom was not the only learning opportunity. What I loved about this school is that each Friday we would leave the classroom and apply our language skills in the real world. Whether is was walking through Bajo Boquete or heading to David, myself and the other students were able to put our lessons to use. Opportunities like these are ones you will not find many other places. It is one thing to learn curriculum, but it is another to learn the environment and be able to put your knowledge to practical use.
Outside of the school, everything I learned was concreted each night as I returned to my wonderful host family. Habla Ya has a variety of wonderful families that are specifically paired with students. This was not only my experience, but also the experience of all the students. I made many friends during my stay and each one would agree with my sentiments regarding the host families. If ever a student did have a problem, Habla Ya made it their job to remedy the problem. In each one of these cases it turned out positive.
I look forward to staying in touch with my family who treated me as one of their own while I lived under their roof. Personally, I believe the host family portion is vital to the entire learning experience.
I plan on returning to Habla Ya in the future and I would whole-heartedly recommend it to anyone.
--Evan G. Lutomski
Good for: Learning Spanish
Not good for: Wasting time
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A great experience.
tweety817 recommends this,
This school is located in the valley of Boquete. The setting i beautiful with a myriad of outdoor activities such as river rafting, hiking, coffee farm tours etc.
The language school starts new classes everyMonday so there is always aclass at the proper level available. Group classes are 4 students bau aclass at bthe proper level will run with less. There is a student lounge with microwave and wi-fi.The school will help with accommodations and tours.Good for: learning in a relaxed, caring atmosphere.
Not good for: People on a tight budget.
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“VIVA PANAMÁ, VIVA HABLA YA!!”
salome050 recommends this,
Habla Ya ist das Vorzeigebeispiel einer latinoamerikanischen Sprachschule schlechthin: Familiärer Rahmen, höchst qualifizierte und herzliche Lehrer/innen, beste administrative Organisation, umfassendes Freizeitprogramm und das alles inmitten der wunderbaren panamesischen Natur. Ich habe meine Zeit mit Habla Ya sehr genossen, Leute aus der ganzen Welt getroffen, aber auch viel der panamesische Kultur kennengelernt ...und nicht zuletzt; spanisch gelernt (gracias a mi profesor Christopher Clark!!) Allen, die mehr suchen als nur ein Klassenzimmer und trockener Grammatikunterricht kann ich diese Schule wirklich wärmstens empfehlen;)
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Great language school!
kmburton1 recommends this,
Habla Ya is a great choice for anyone looking for an excellent language school in a beautiful setting. The school is wonderful. I have been a student at other language schools in the region, and they do not compare to what you will receive at Habla Ya. The school is professionally run and is well organized in their curriculum and lessons. Great care is taken to ensure that you are placed at the correct level, with placement tests that measure your written and oral proficiencies. Teachers are held to a high standard. I had the pleasure of having two weeks of private lessons with Leidys, who brought interesting activities to each of my lessons. Leidys quickly met me at my own level, and helped me progress rapidly through my two week stay at the school. She was quite skilled at getting any and all conversation started, focusing in on areas of grammar that needed reinforcement. Habla Ya is much more than just a school - the partnership with Explora Ya helps you to create a well-rounded vacation. Habla Ya also provides multiple evening events that cater to the interests of the students. I completely recommend Habla Ya as a language learning experience.
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A 'total package' Spanish school!
klsteel77 recommends this,
Habla Ya Spanish School combines social events, cultural activities, and incredible classroom instruction to foster adept learning skills. After six weeks at Habla Ya Spanish School I was able to converse easily not only with my instructors and host family, but also with waiters, taxi drivers, and Spanish-speaking friends. My professors, Arelis and Malkidia, taught me more than just grammar. They used my interests to develop themes that would motivate me to talk. My group class in the afternoon offered an opportunity to learn Spanish while making friends from all over the world. I was afraid that four hours would be too long, but there is no time to be bored in these classes. We read, wrote, spoke and listened through games and activities for every learning style. I would highly recommend taking at least an hour of private classes as well. I took two hours of private classes in the morning and they really helped me to feel confident in my group class and gave me a chance to ask more in depth questions and refresh past grammar themes that I was still struggling with. I would recommend this school to anyone who wants more than just a Spanish grammar lesson… Habla Ya is where you should go if you want to be able to speak Spanish.
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I'm amazed by how much I've learned and explored in 2 weeks.
sophieb1405 recommends this,
To anyone who want's to learn spanish well and fast I highly recomend nothing else but Habla Ya. Very profesional and patient teachers, a long list of choices of non-expensive activities to do every day, and very kind and welcoming families. After just two weeks in Habla Ya I learned more then what I would have learned in 3 months in my country.
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excelentes experiencias
tinakz recommends this,
estudiè en la escuela por muy pocos dias, pero fui muy divertido en mis clases porque pude aprender diferentes cosas útiles para mis viajes por todo centro amèrica. pienso que habla ya es una escuela muy organizada sus profesores su atenciòn al cliente y demás superaron las espectativas de las cuales yo espero. las clases fueron muy organizadas y muy divertidas gracias a mi profesor christopher clark que siempre tenia una broma para nosotros con enseñanzas fantasticas. agradesco a habla ya por dar una buen ricibimiento a todas las cosas que yo necesitaba.
Blees you...Good for: movies
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la mejor experiencia de estudio
bredr1214 recommends this,
Hola, yo me quedo en la Escuela de Habla Ya Escuela de Español para algunas semanas.
Yo tenía algunas semanas de cursos de español en esta escuela, y realmente disfrutar de la vida en la ciudad.
La escuela no es pequeña, pero muy concurrida. es un buen punto, porque todos los niveles de clases diferentes se abren y puedes conocer a mucha gente. La mayoría de los profesores son divertidos, en especial mi profesora irasema que hace que las lecciones agradable.
La ciudad también es absolutamente encantador y pequeño.
El promedio de edad de los estudiantes es, probablemente, más de 20,
Usted puede visitar muchos lugares, y conocer diferentes lugares. Hay muchas cosas que hacer, y restaurantes que están en una distancia a pie.
Si te gusta la atmósfera tranquila, se puede caminar a lo largo del hermoso río o ir en una de las muchas zonas verdes.
ojala se pueda regresar pronto a estudiar mas.... -
Would like to spend many more weeks at this language school.
enajusa recommends this,
My teacher, Christopher Clark, and “Habla Ya” were amazing!
I spent two weeks studying Spanish at “Habla Ya” in Boquete, Panama, in May, 2011. My group class during those two weeks was taught by Christopher Clark, a 21-year-old teacher from David, Panama.
I studied Spanish when I was in college (many years ago), and I have been trying to improve my Spanish during the last 4-5 years in various language courses taught here in Atlanta, Georgia. Many people in the States have a desire to learn Spanish, so these types of courses are popular. The problem with them is usually that there is no logical starting point (students are at different levels in their language ability), and so there is no step-by-step plan to learn the language. Another problem that I see, since studying at “Habla Ya”, is that the teachers here in Atlanta aren’t really trained to teach language. Most of the teachers that I have had here were native speakers, but they were not taught how to teach Spanish.
I was so very impressed with my teacher at Habla Ya (Christopher Clark). In fact, I was shocked that his classes were so clear, organized, and easy to understand. I jumped in at a high intermediate level, and I began to wish that I had started with Christopher from lesson 1 because everything that he taught was taught so well and so clearly that it seemed worth starting over. One of the issues with Spanish classes here in Atlanta is that many Americans (younger Americans especially) don’t know the parts of speech in English or Spanish, so it is difficult to teach some aspects of grammar. When this came up in Christopher’s class, he backtracked and gave a really clear discussion of “what is an adverb and what is an adjective”, to give just one example. All of his explanations, of the different tenses, of the use of subjunctive, etc., were extremely clear and useful.
Our class of 4 students included one Swiss girl who had just started to learn Spanish a few weeks before I arrived . She began studying Spanish in Christopher’s class, and then she continued in the same class that I attended. Her first language was German, so we had a crazy time with the German-English-Spanish triangle. The funniest thing in the world was listening to Christopher pretend to “read” her German dictionary definitions of certain Spanish words. But watching Salome, the Swiss student, continue with Spanish using the lessons that Christopher had taught her was amazing. She had a very good basis for the language, after only 2 weeks of study, and she continued at what I would consider a high-intermediate level for two more weeks.
Another impressive aspect of Christopher’s class was the manner in which he handled the challenges of 4 students with differing language abilities and personalities. My 23-year-old daughter was also in the class, and she was the most advanced student. She had very high expectations of “Habla Ya”, and she really liked Christopher’s class. He responded very well to the day-to-day challenges: when our brains were too tired to say one more thing in Spanish, we moved class outside or went on a field trip; when one of us was especially talkative, he let that person talk; if one of us was frustrated, he continued with great aplomb with whatever lesson plan seemed right for that moment and the frustration eased.
The combination of warm personality, poise, and a highly-developed and organized skill for teaching Spanish made Christopher a superb teacher. -
A very good learning experience with nice teachers
elbuendia recommends this,
If you want to have a good experience learning Spanish while interacting with quality teachers, in a nice geographical setting, where coffee and weather are among the best, go to Habla Ya in Boquete, Panama. And if you do go to learn Spanish, ask for Leidys be your teacher because she is a good teacher, kind, helpful, resourceful, and a charismatic person with whom you will have a wonderful learning experience.
While there, make sure that you try the coffee in the student lounge.Good for: Learning Spanish
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la mejor.....
thetravelersjjc recommends this,
Sé que es una palabra a veces usado en exceso, sino que simplemente describe mi experiencia en Habla ya Mis profesor Christopher Clark, era un maestro calificado, los oyentes excelente, y refuerza positivamente mi español a través de la corrección positiva. Fui a dar un curso de 2 semanas del accidente, con 4 horas por día, pero mi profesor de mantenerse fresco mediante la ampliación de mis horizontes mucho más rápido de lo que yo pensaba que era posible.
Sinceramente aprendido más en 2 semanas a 2 años en una universidad.
christopher fue mi maestro es experto en gramática y literatura española.También proporciona un interesante comentario sobre los hechos cotidianos e históricos. Agradezco su ayuda y paciencia, ya que con mi nivel de habilidad, no siempre siguen el plan de la lección 100%. El siempre fue capaz de responder a mis preguntas sin perder el ritmo y nos hizo volver a la pista. es enérgico y me llevó alrededor de la ciudad el 1 a 1 recorridos a pie para poder salir del aula y en realidad sólo charlar como amigos, a la vez que refuerza mis habilidades de conversación
El nivel de talento de los maestros es insuperable, y los precios por una semana de 4 horas por día es como tener 2 horas con un tutor privado en los EE.UU.. 1-a-1 de aprendizaje es realmente la mejor manera si usted desea aprender. Esto realmente le permite centrarse en la comprensión de todos los aspectos de la gramática española y la comprensión.
Al sumergirse por completo, se obtiene la lectura, comprensión auditiva, conversación y las habilidades que usted nunca recibirá sin la experiencia de 1 a 1.
En cada comida la familia se nos hablan de una gran variedad de temas, y muy a menudo, la conversación interesante. Si te gustan las frutas tropicales y comida latina, que estará en el cielo. Mis favoritos fueron el pepino / Ensalada de Mango (fue increíble!) Y la zanahoria / Ensalada de piña. Soy un fanático de plátano, así que obviamente era capaz de comer a los contenidos de mi corazón.Boquete es un pueblo encantador e histórico, y caja fuerte
1. Si quieres aprender español ir a Boquete
2. Si desea ver un histórica de Panamá{a ir a Boquete
3. Si quieres la mejor experiencia de aprendizaje de español en Panamá , ir a la Habla ya Spanish School
La gente era cálida y acogedora, la ciudad era encantador y encantador, y la experiencia de aprendizaje fue el mejor!
Gracias..J.J.C
Good for: todo
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I had a great time at Habla Ya!
deborahswolfe recommends this,
I studied at Habla Ya for 11 weeks and learned SO MUCH! I could barely say "Hola" and now, I feel I can really communicate well en espanol. My professora Leidys, was great! I had her my first week and she really chose topics that were interesting to talk about and I am really glad I the chance to work with her.
I met so many interesting people at the school, professors, staff and students. Boquete is a small town and I think it was a great place for me to study Spanish. My host family was amazing as well, we have e-mailed multiple times already and I am already looking forward to returning to Boquete!Good for: fun, learning, hands-on learning, Spanish
Not good for: movie
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Los mejores Recuerdos
natyh recommends this,
estudiamos en la escuela por dos semanas y tuvimos una excelente experiencia muy divertida. porque pudimos parender mucha informaci{on necesaria para poder sobrevivir en nuestro gran recorrido por nuestro paseo. agradezco a mi profesora ella fue tan paciente con nosotras y muy dulce la extrañamos mucho. Irasema es la mejor profesora y gracias a tods en habla ya.
los paseos son muy divertidos y el clima es encantador pudimos ver diferentes pajaros y disfrutas de algunas comidas muy buenas y todas las personas de este lugar fueron muy encantadoras -
the best experience
kellw recommends this,
In December 2010 I headed to Panama to have a great vacation but were better than I thought.
I had an excellent experience gap and speaks and for his staff, his attention to us and the concern of every one of us was good. I am particularly grateful to Professor Christopher Clark that he has great patience and your classes are fun and can learn much Spanish I think a lot of patience much organization. the weather is spectacular and people are very friendly you can meet different people and different places for sightseeing experience is wonderful.
I hope I can return soon. is the best -
An excellent school for learning Spanish
laurenceschmitz recommends this,
REVIEW OF HABLA YA SPANISH LANGUAGE SCHOOL
Between January and April 2011 I spent 12 weeks intensively studying Spanish. My
experience was unforgettable, all my four teachers did their utmost to help me learn
and I did: my Spanish has improved tremendously so 6 hours daily of intensive tuition
has paid off. The entire school is of a high standard, I found all teachers and those in the administration to be of the utmost help and I am proud to say I have made new friends there in
the school in Boquete. Especial thanks to my teacher Leidys whose pacience and help has forged a new friendship.
I will definitely return, I can strongly recommend this school for those who wish to learn Spanish, whether beginners or advanced.
Thankyou all.Laurence Schmitz
Good for: Learning Spanish, Making friends
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Great place, fun school, excellent people
traverel recommends this,
I spent only one week at Habla Ya, but I had a great time. I really enjoyed the professionalism and enthusiasm of my instructor Araliz! Considering I had only one week, I feel like we covered lots of material and got to talk and practice. I also enjoyed my host family, and Boquete is a lovely town. The fresh air and lovely environment around the area were terrific. I highly recommend Habla Ya for language classes, and they have connections to many of the best activities in the area as well including a tree top zip line, coffee tours, and hiking to the Baru volcano.
Good for: learning languages, drinking coffee, enjoying the landscape
Not good for: beach time
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Great School and Beautiful Town
blewelli recommends this,
During my visit to Habla Ya in January 2011, I enjoyed one of life’s exceptional learning experiences, within one of the most unique and beautiful areas of Panama, the town of Boquete. I found the instructors and staff to be very friendly, professional, and responsive to the needs of the students. The learning environment is dynamic and fun, with great interaction between teachers and students. Carlos, one of the school’s founders, has put together a great staff, along with an impressive and effective amiable management style. My instructors, Araliz and Christopher, were amazing and I will miss these friends. Swan, always helpful with information and a beautiful smile. I particularly enjoyed meeting the many interesting students from around the world, along with the array of after school activities that Habla Ya offered. One day soon, I would like to return and relive the experience.
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I had an great time and am continuing it with skype lessons.
caredmond recommends this,
I spent 2 weeks at Habla Ya in January and had a greag experience. In fact, it was so great I decided to continue my studying when I returned to the USA - skyping. Lorena was very helpful in setting it all up and I have now had 6 'skype' classes with Minerva - a fabulous teacher. We are having a great time and I am learning so much! She is fabulous at explaining and encouraging. During the skype lessons we not only talk but we type. We include conversation with grammar. I am continuing in the books that I started at Habla Ya. Minerva types questions and I type the answer -- it is a wonderful way to continue your classes or to begin classes at Habla Ya. Minerva gives me homework, I can send it back to her with email. It is a FABULOUS way to learn and Minerva is a FABULOUS teacher. I encourage everyone to give it a try to keep up your spanish skills or to get a head start before you enroll at the school! I am going to continue with my skype lessons after I take a few week break for a holiday abroad. Happy Skyping!!
Cheryl
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GREAT
wendy200000 recommends this,
My husband and I decided to take some Spanish classes whilst in Central America. We found Habla Ya on the internet and we are so happy that we picked this school. Everyone was extremely friendly and very helpful. Unfortunately we could only do 2 weeks of schooling as we had to meet our friend in Costa Rica but all the teachers that I had were brilliant and really took there time to explain things to me. It has helped a great deal as we will be able to talk to more people on the rest of our journey. The school is in a great location and is really well set out. Boquete is a lovely place and one day I really hope I will be able to return.
Thank you soooo much!! -
Habla Ya is fantastic
kellysd200 recommends this,
Hello my wife and I have just finished 3 weeks of Spanish lessons at Habla Ya . We really enjoyed our classes and feel that we learn´t loads . My teacher Christopher was really good with me as I was a total beginer and really took his time to make me understand . The school was very professional and had lots of activites that you could pay extra for . Boquete the town is an amazing place to learn with a lovely climate so that you don´t feel to tired to do lessons .
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They will exceed all expectations
cherylinpanama recommends this,
I am a Canadian living in Panama and had taken a Spanish internet course before moving here in 2008. I did pretty well on paper but discovered that was only half the battle. I found that I was at a loss when trying to have a conversation with someone that knew little or no English and I became so flustered I had no idea what the other person was saying! This is where Habla Ya came in. There is a curriculum that is cutting edge, but my biggest goal was to develop my ear and learn how to ask a Spanish speaker the right questions so I could understand what was said to me. This is one of the true strengths of Habla Ya and the instructors, they help you achieve YOUR goals. This is where my instructor, Ismenia Perez came in. With her patience, humor, and professionalism she led me to that goal. I was amazed at how far I progressed in my 60 hours of classes. Ismenia was key in helping me build my skills and confidence so I could speak with my Panamanian friends and neighbors without having a panic attack!
Ismenia shared many stories of her family and her life and took a great interest in learning about what my life was like in Canada….at one point she put together a lesson involving MY hometown!
There was never a class in which we didn't laugh, A LOT! My husband was in the class as well and we were perfectly matched with another couple to share this great experience with. Our little class of 4 gained so much more than just Spanish at Habla Ya. We made friends and great memories that will last a lifetime. I am going back for more classes this fall, I never really thought I would, (I am a fifty-something that hated school) but it is such a rewarding and fun experience, I would be crazy not to. Thank you to ALL the wonderful staff at Habla Ya, and a special thank-you to Ismenia. You are such a special person!
Cheryl K. -
Habla Ya was so much more than I had expected!
hanna_123 recommends this,
My experience at Habla Ya Spanish School was great! I came to Panama to learn a little bit Spanish but it turned out to be so much more than that. Not only was my host family great and the town Boquete amazingly beautiful but also the teachers at Habla Ya were awesome. The teacher that I ha most classes with was Minerva. Her classes were always so much fun. As one oft he more experienced teachers at Habla Ya, Minerva has great teaching skills and is at the same time such a nice person. Personally, I was never bored or felt pressure in class. Whenever I didnt feel like doing a lot of grammar we would just talk about privat life or een go and have coffee. And she never lost her patience with me so I could take my time and study at my own pace.
During my time at Habla Ya we became close friends. Whenever I needed help with something she and the other teachers were always there for me. It was not unusual that students and teachers would also spend time together after school. Minerva took me and my classmate to watch a movie, or go and take a walk around town for instance. What amazes me still is that at the same time she could be so professional, and such a good teacher. I improved my Spanish skills a lot while I was at Habla Ya Spanish School – more that I thought I would. And even today, over half a year later, I am still in touch with Minerva and others from Boquete and Habla Ya and I know that they will welcome me back at any time!
I can only recommend Hably Ya Spanish School to anyone who is thinking about learning Spanish in a beautiful country such as Panama. -
A Great Expierience!!
dorkboy1 recommends this,
I would like to thank my profesora, Malkidia. She had the patience with the entire class, to get us the knowledge that we required to advance our Spanish abilities. Thanks to her, I can now communicate with others, in Spanish. ( I'll beit, a little crudely )
I have found that the most important thing I have learned is the Spanish alphabet. Once you know the pronunciation of the letters of the alphbet, pronouncing and reading words is so much easier. Also, oral comprhension is increased. ( I think this was the key to learning more )
Malkidia, kept the class involved and didn't let anyone fall behind. The class was fun as well as informative. She gave us free reign to take our conversations to where we wanted to go. This kept our interest and involvement in the subjects that we covered.
All in all, I enjoyed my expierience in Habla Ya, and will return for an advanced class, later on.
Once again, my thanks to Malkidia Garcia and Christopher Clark. ( Muchos gracias, mis profesores )Ken Campeau
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One of the best and most educational experiences I have had.
1panhog recommends this,
As a full time resident of Boquete Panama and a student at Habla Ya, I felt a need to express my opinion of the organization.
Initially, I was given a brief oral and written test to assess my skill level in Spanish and then offered either group or private lessons. I choose the private lesson route and have had several different teachers over the past year and have found all to be very professional and friendly. My current teacher, Minerva, previously taught Spanish Language in the Public School System and has superior knowledge and skills when it comes to encouraging this older student (68) to keep plugging away.
Whether one is a short term visitor or full time resident of the area, Habla Ya offers a wonderful way to immerse oneself in the Spanish Language and Panamanian Culture. Sincerely, Smitty -
Wonderful instruction! Great setting! Terrific with kids!
travelmj recommends this,
My two daughters (6yo and 9yo) and myself travelled to Panama to learn Spanish for two weeks. I stumbled across Habla Ya on the internet and was impressed by the reviews. From the moment I contacted them to the end of our experience at Habla Ya, everything was handled professionally, skillfully, and with great interest in helping us achieve our goals. The staff is an amazingly friendly, professional, and inspiring crew. They will go to great lengths to make sure you are having a fulfilling experience .
Very few schools are able to adapt their programs to young children. My girls were a little apprehensive to have private spanish lessons. After their first four hour lesson, they came out and said, "Can we come back tonight for more lessons?" They absolutely adored their instructors! Not only did they have a tremendous amount of fun; but they also learned a great deal of Spanish. Upon our return my older daughter moved up two grades at school for Spanish class.
If you would like to learn Spanish in a beautiful spot with well-trained language instructors, I believe this is one of the best options around. You will not regret your decision!
Good for: adventure, Nature lovers, well behaved kids, language school
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An great school, wonderful town and awesome people.
quercusagrifolia recommends this,
I am having a wonderful time at Habla Ya Spanish School and in the beautiful town of Boquete! I traveled to Panama with the intention of learning Spanish, for personal reasons and to prepare for graduate school where two languages are required. I have been extremely satisfied with the classes and the preparation that Habla Ya has provided. Currently I am in my third month at the school. I was at the school for two months, left, and then decided to return again because I enjoyed it so much. Having taken private and group of 4 classes my abilities with the language have increased exponentially. This is in no small part due to the professional curriculum and to the skilled teachers. During my time here I’ve had the privilege to have Gustavo, Yaira, Malkidia and Leydis as my professors. Each one of them has been an excellent teacher. Qualities that they have all shared are patience, kindness, good humor and a wonderful ability to get me speaking and writing Spanish correctly! Thank you so much teachers!
The Habla Ya community is a pleasure to experience. Everyone who works there is quite amiable and incredibly helpful! Any time myself or other students I was with needed assistance with anything, whether regarding school or not, someone has been there to help us, many times going out of their way to do so. If you are looking for a big city experience I wouldn’t recommend Boquete. If you are looking for a beautiful location in nature, smaller town experience, and the ability to feel like you are in community, than I would recommend Habla Ya and Boquete to you. The schools many social activities and excursions into the beautiful surrounds help to provide for an abundance of things to do. Staying with a local family also helps to build friendships and learn the language. My host family is wonderful people and now good friends. If you get a chance to go, I whole heartedly recommend Habla Ya!
I hope this review helps. Good luck finding the right place for you ☺
Good for: coffee lovers, Nature lovers, language school
