Habla Ya Langauge Center's Legal Terms of Use, Refund Policy & General Conditions

Service Description

Habla Ya Language Center commits itself to give Spanish lessons with a qualified teacher in the one to one private option or in a group of no more than 4 students according to the course that has been negotiated for the student in the moment of inscription. These general conditions apply as long as no other special program is arranged for the student or group of students.

Proper accommodation (home stays, hostels, hotels, cabins, apartment rentals) at an extra charge will be offered and can be arranged if students wish so. Habla Ya Language Center will always try, within sensible limits, to meet student's needs concerning accommodation.

Free extra activities (weekly salsa lessons, movie nights and conversational sessions) are also included with the course payment which have to be scheduled and are subject to change. Excursions are offered at an extra cost.

Habla Ya Language Center's objective is to offer the best Spanish learning experience, and all of the staff is committed to exceed your expectations and make that happen.

The Language Center is only obliged to give classes during the negotiated time and the classes paid in advance by the student at the beginning of the course. However, if the student wishes to extend his/her courses, he/she has to communicate his/her decision to the School Director, who will inform of course options available and finally has to pay for the additional time in advance.

Habla Ya Language Center commits itself to hand over a certificate of approval by the Ministry of Education of Panama, only for those students that contract and pay for a course with a minimum of 120 hours and successfully course those 120 hours improving their language skills in the degree they are marked by our level system. The Spanish School will not give certificates approved by the Ministry of Education to any students that sign up and pay weekly. However, the Language School will hand over a private certificate in which it states the number of received hours in Spanish and the level of proficiency reached.

The timetable of the studies will be an arrangement of the existing shares and our teachers commit to the agreed schedule. However, this could change in mutual agreement, if the conditions for this exist and whenever the normal development of the Spanish school is not prejudiced.

General Conditions

Habla Ya Language Center accepts no responsibility whatsoever for student's actions.
The Language Center is not responsible for any personal items left in the school building or at the accommodation.
On formalizing enrollment onto a course (and accommodation) students accept the General and Payment Conditions and Payment Method, as well as the norms, rules and guarantees of Habla Ya Language Center.
We strongly recommend that all students take out a travel or medical insurance policy in their home countries. Habla Ya Language Center will not be held liable and is not responsible for any accident or injury held within our outside our facilities during your Spanish course.
If students are participating in any tour or excursion they have responsibility to ensure that their travel or medical insurance policy covers the activity or sport in which they are participating.
In the case of a serious disciplinary offence, repeated bad behavior or infringement of the laws of Panama, the student will be expelled from the school and accommodation contracted with Habla Ya Language Center without the right to any refund.
In the case were damages are caused to third parties, all the expenses claimed from Habla Ya Language Center that originate from the above-mentioned incident will be charged to the student, who will have no right to later claims.
Habla Ya Language Center reserves the right to use all photos and video footage taken during the student's stay unless the student refuses permission in writing.

Payments

A $100 deposit is required to reserve each Spanish course. This deposit is non-refundable. This deposit is not an extra fee and will be used to complete the total amount that the student should pay.
Complete payment of Spanish lessons and accommodation is to be made before starting the course/program and can be made upon arrival to the School.
Payment for excursions can be done before each excursion as needed to organize the excursion.
Payments can be made either in cash, bank transfers or checks from local banks.
The students who stay with local families have to pay the whole amount for the home stay in advance of the first day of home stay until the last one his/her luggage remains at the family. Students with other accommodation options will be instructed on how their payment is expected.

Refund Policy

General Info

All requests for refunds must be submitted in writing to the school.
Habla Ya Language Center will refund money to the students if, due to the fault of the institution the student cannot take classes with the signed professor at the set up timetable and as long as students prefer to not reschedule.
No refunds are available for classes lost due to local holidays but students are encouraged to reschedule those lessons without any further charge.
When Habla Ya Language Center organizes an excursion at a time and date when students have lessons, and they would like to attend, the School Director will inform if rescheduling of lessons is possible without further cost or if lesson will be lost if students decide to assist.
No refund is available for those students who live in Boquete and for any reason cannot finish their course. A full credit representing classes not taken will be given and can be used when a course for them can once again be arranged.
There will be no partial refunds for days of class, home stay or other type of accommodation or excursions missed by personal reasons, nor will the student be able to make them up at a later date.
Refunds will be given at Habla Ya Language Center only to those students who have enrolled directly and made their payments to Habla Ya Language Center. Students who have signed up through another organization must request refunds directly from them.
Credits will expire in one year time. If the student wishes to transfer the credit to a friend, workmate or parent, he or she should write us a letter letting us know the specific person to whom grant the credit.

Refunds will be given under the following conditions:

Cancellations before start date of courses/programs. If the course has not begun, students are entitled to a refund only if they notify within the following time frames:

1 month, 100% refund
3 weeks, 80% refund
2 weeks, 60% refund
1 week or less, 50% refund

A 100% credit can also be given if students makes a cancellation with 1 week of anticipation before starting their course. Otherwise the credit will only be worth 75% of the value paid.

Cancellations within 4 weeks of courses/programs

The fee paid for the first 4 weeks of any course/program is non-refundable.
If any student wishes to withdraw from a course/program or any portion of it within the first 4 weeks, can do so at their own expense.

Cancellations after 4 weeks of courses/programs

All refunds for private lessons after the first 4 weeks will incur in a 15% cancellation fee, and will be made only if the student notifies Habla Ya Language Center, in writing, with at least 1 week in advance of the cancellation.
For group lessons after the first 4 weeks, if you attend classes for fewer weeks than you paid for, your tuition for wholly unused weeks will be fully refunded in 50%, if you notify us no later than Friday for classes starting the following Monday.

Cancellations of accommodation & lodging

Refund for home stays will only be given if notice is received within 1 week of anticipation and if the absence surpasses 1 week of consecutive days. In this case the student has to pack his/ her luggage and take it with him/her while they are absent.
No refund for home stay will be given if student is found drunk at his host family's house, has been using illicit drugs and arrives or fails to arrive to his house because of being under the influence of illicit drugs or displays inappropriate sexual behavior towards any member of the family or the community causing a scandal that affects the school and the host family.
Refund for other types of accommodation has to be negotiated with the hotel, hostel, cabin or apartment rental and Habla Ya Language Center holds no responsibility and has no liability whatsoever for any type of event related with other options of accommodation, however as our student we will always put our efforts into avoiding undesired incidents for our students, and to avoid them we only work with the most honest and professional businesses.

Exceptions to these policies

Exceptions to these policies can be made in case of illness, accident or any other extreme situation. A medical certificate will be asked for and final decision will be made the School Director upon what percentage can be returned, if any, in the form of credit or refund.

Accommodation

The student will be charged for the replacement of items broken either intentionally or through negligence.
If a student is not satisfied with a family home stay, the Administration will make a judgment and then decide to either to talk with the student and/or family, change the student to another family or give a refund.
Accommodation starts and ends on specific dates, and Habla Ya Language Center cannot guarantee accommodation available before or after those dates.

Flexibility of class schedule

Private lessons can be held in the schedule of your preference as long as teacher availability is determined by the School Director. Private lessons are mainly offered in the afternoon as groups are reserved for mornings.
If a student is going to miss a private lesson, he should communicate this situation to the School Director with at least 24 hours of anticipation of the Spanish lesson. Otherwise, the student looses those hours of instruction. The best way to do so is through an email to the teacher and School Director or a phone call to the school.
For group lessons, the schedule is arranged by the Administration of the school. This schedule will be set taking into account students needs and teacher and classroom availability.
If students who have group lessons miss a class, they will loose those hours of instruction no matter what.
As a gesture of good manners, civility and politeness, teachers always appreciate if students inform them about their planned/unplanned absences.

Use of Spanish School's facilities

Wireless internet is for students only. The school's desktop computer is mainly for the teachers use. If they do not need it, the students may use it until it is needed by a teacher.
Free coffee is for students only.
Toaster, refrigerator, sink and cafeteria are in general is for students use only.
No smoking is allowed in school grounds.
Please take care of personal hygiene to attend to our Language Center. It is accustomed in our country to shower or bath daily and to use deodorant.

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Legal Terms of Use, Refund Policy & General Conditions