Reaching the 5 year milestone of teaching Spanish in Panama hasn't been easy at all. There where many circumstances and occasions in which we could have failed... but there is one thing that is very true: we wouldn't have become Panama's top Spanish school without the support of our wonderful community of Boquete, Panama!
And this is why 5 lucky Boquete residents will be able to win a package of FREE Spanish classes @ Habla Ya!
How? Very easy: just follow these two simple steps:
- Post a comment on this blog post telling us how learning or improving your Spanish will make your life a lot better. It doesn't have to be anything elaborate: just straight to the point.
- Join our 5 year anniversary celebration this Saturday August 28th starting at 3 p.m. at Los Establos Plaza where the winners will be announced
Comments will be accepted until noon local time of Saturday August 28th, the day of our party!
And what exactly could you win? We will be giving away 5 packages of group lessons for the following amount of hours:
- 2 packages of 20 hours of group lessons
- 2 packages of 30 hours of group lessons
- 1 package of 60 hours of group lessons
The normal value of 60 hours of group lessons for Boquete residents is $500 so it is definitively worth it
We will also have several "smaller" prizes for those who join us for the party and don't have a chance to post their comment.
These group lessons can be used either in our Part Time Course for New Residents or in our Group 4 Course. This contest is only open the residents of Boquete, Panama (in October we will have a special for language travelers from other parts of the world). These prizes cannot be transferred to other persons and have to be used by the end of this year.
When you post your comment make sure to do it with your real name because that will be the only way to claim your prize on Saturday. We will elect the winners through a raffle and if you're not there, we're really sorry but we'll have to pass on the prize to someone else.
And if you can't join us, not all hope is lost! On the day of the party, this Saturday August 28th (from 3 p.m. onwards at Los Establos Plaza), we will also be announcing our yearly special that will be running through the entire month of September. Contrary to last years, this year's special will also be open to New Residents all over Panama.
So looking forward to seeing you this Saturday: LEARN SPANISH PANAMA TODAY!
When I walked into my first class at Habla Ya!, I expected to learn rudimentary Spanish – enough to keep my head above water while adjusting to life in Panama. And I did, no mistake.
But I also: a) Made 3 friends (my classmates) whom I still see regularly; b)made – golly, how many other (my teachers, the staff, residents around town) friends who greet me with smiles and hugs; c)gained confidence in myself – the “cultural trip” to Santa Fe de Veraguas was so physically challenging that my successful survival taught me that I can probably do darn near anything I’m faced with! d) gave the the starting point to keep on, to truly be a lifelong learner.
Habla Ya! did so much for me. For my self-confidence. You gave me so many amazing experiences and memories that I will be forever grateful. Ismenia and Aurelis, both my teachers, hold very special places in my heart.
si yo aprendo espanol mejor, es possible mis cinco loros no deben aprenden desde una gringa quien hablas espanol mismo tarzan (o juana)!
pero,mas enserio,me gustaria to learn how to speak spanish with correct grammar and tense,entonces los otros extranjeros son celoso! jaja.
hasta sabado, lynnie
¡Hola Lynnie!
Thank you very much for your comment.
Could you please also give us your last name? We need your full name in order to be able to enter it into the draw.
¡Buena suerte!
I need to improve my Spanish so I can communicate better with the young lady in a wheelchair that I watch over. She has no close family and I am her “guardian angel” (according to her). Sometimes it’s frustrating when I don’t understand what she is trying to tell me.
I have seen amazing improvement in my Spanish since I took classes back in 2006.
Every year when I return to Boquete I can still hear Vladimer’s voice and words pop into my mind.
Take a course at Habla Ya because. I speak Spanish already!
See you April 15th 2011.
Pat Parris
Habla Ya’s course last September/October (at their discounted rate for residents) was wonderful! The teachers are excellent; the classes small, the atmosphere comfortable. It really helped me improve my conversational Spanish, and I look forward to more classes at Habla Ya! It is a treasure in our little mountain town!
Learning how to speak Spanish will make my life so much better because I will be able to speak to the wonderful people who live here in Boquete. I love trying to talk to the locals, but so many times I (and they) get frustrated when I can’t get across what I am trying to say. I just love the people here and I want to share and enjoy on all they have to say and teach me. There is so much to learn that I am missing out on. I really want to learn to speak and then volunteer to help others learn, cause thats fun too.
Thank you,
xoxo Sandy
Yo quiero hablar mejor porque estamos en un pais espagnol, y es necessario para mi hablar la lingua fluido.
By improving my Spanish at Habla Ya I will be better able to express my sincere appreciation to the local Panamanians for their kindness in welcoming us to their beautiful town. Thanks, Habla Ya!
It’s important to learn and speak the language of where you live – in this case – Spanish.
Our lives here will be so much richer when we’re fluent in Spanish.
I’ll be at your open house and I’ll also be taking Spanish shortly. I’ve put it off for two years, so now is the time. Especially since I have so many Panamanians coming to Curvas Bonita who don’t speak English. I have no excuse not to learn it. Thanks for having your 2 for 1 special.
My wife and I will be joining the Boquete community in the next 2 months sooner if possible. My wife is Japanese. We got married in Japan and lived there for 6 years. I learned Japanese and she learned English.
As we retire and move to Boquete, we understand how important the Spanish language is to understanding and fully enjoying what the great country of Panama has to offer.
Not learning Spanish is not an option for us.
Living in Panama has proven to be a very rich and rewarding life experience. The ability to effectively communicate with our gracious host country residents would enrich my life and greatly enhance the Panama experience in immeasurable ways.
Julie Cacianti
It’s very important to speak the language of the country you are living in.
Get to the bottom of a number of tricky little dilemmas: Am I getting a fair price for my avocados?; Where are my bananas dissappearing to? Who is eating my mandarines and why is there not enough otoe left for supper?
Having just completed a new home in Boquete, Learning Spanish will enhance my ability to communicate with the service techs, suppliers and workmen who appear to intend to spend the next year in my home.
I took Speed Spanish from the internet 4 years ago which was great! However, understanding what is spoken to me is another story! I get flustered and forget what I know. My neighbors are Panamanian and I am shy to begin with, so I hope by building my skills I can gain confidence enough to be more comfortable in social situations. Plus, laughing is good, too!
I have a lot of elderly panamanian neighbors who I’d like to get to know better and after the simple pleasantries sometimes I’m left with not totally understanding what they are saying. I’m probably known as senor buenas dias and como esta.
It would be great to change all of that.
Understanding Spanish will make my life more fulfilled as I will be able to communicate better with my workers, the shopkeepers, as well as understand jokes and local language specific to Boquete.
It is only polite to learn the language of my new adopted country, and it gives me pleasure to be able to do so.
There is no greater feeling of satisfaction than to speak to someone in their native language and have them understand you. There is no greater frustration than to have an idea to convey and not know the words or verb conjugations in the language of the person to whom you are speaking.
After only 4 weeks of Group 4 classes at Habla Ya, I can safely say that I am experiencing more of the former and less of the later! In a very short time, I have become confident in the basics of the beautiful language of Spanish….and even made an appointment at a local salon de belleza today on the phone….all in Espanol!
I am excited by the progress I have made thus far and further study will make me fluent and more confident in this country I now call home. Thank you to all the teachers and administrators for your expert instruction and caring friendship. I appreciate you!
I grew up in a bi-lingual household, but my parents only spoke spanish when they didn’t want me to know what they were saying! LOL So, because of that, my comprehension has evolved to be pretty good. Unfortunately my communication skills are lacking! I would love to be able to speak the language fluently and then teach my own son! We are currently volunteering at Hogar Triskar and want to communicate better with the children. Being bi-lingual opens so many doors!
Pienso que cuando yo habito en Panama, es necesario hablar en espanol. Tengo dos anos de espanol en la escuela grande, pero no puedo comprendar cuando la gente habla … es muy dificil. Espero que en la futura, puedo hablar mejor. Saludos!
I liked the last idea of writing in Spanish, so I’ll use it here too! Fun:)
Megusteria mejorar mi Español porque estoy una gringa joven, y tengo que trabajar todavia. Con todo mis talentos, este significa que estoy creendo una compania en que puedo ayudar los extranjeros que quiere vivir aca, o los turistas- especialmente en la tema de logisticos. Hablando bien con los ciudantes, con respecto y humildad, esta obligatorio, en mi opinion.
Pienso yo que este es la cosa mas importante en mi vida con que nececito ayuda porque no quiero ser una invasion a los Panameños, mi vecinos bondadosa. Quiero ser enlace para mejorar la experiencia de turismo para todos lados.
Nunca podria pagar por clases formal, entonces este serian un regalo muy importante para mi. Quiero ser efectivo negociando, chalando, y viviendo juntos en este gran pais.
Saludos y felicidades Habla Ya!!!,
Ellen Ring
The Panama Insider
FB: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Panama-Panama/Cheap-Panama-Vacation/166875222046
Not knowing the language means one is under constant pressure everyday in every way to get anything done. I want to relieve as much stress as possible and not waste so much time getting things accomplished.
Four years ago I took spanish at Habla Ya and it gave me a valuable basis to communicate with the wonderful local folks. I am long overdue in taking further lessons. I am looking forward to seeing you wonderful people on Saturday. Linda
beleive it or not – my last name is english, verdad!
In addition to the peace of mind and confidence one achieves by being able to communicate effectively in daily life, speaking the native tongue is a vital tool for achieving cultural understanding and creating bonds instead of misunderstandings. It also enables you to truly feel like you are at home in your new country.
Respect. Understanding. Enrichment. I have moved to a Spanish speaking country. I believe it is only proper to show respect for the people native to this land by learning to speak their language, rather than expecting them to communicate to me in my foreign tongue. If I do this, it will not only be easier to conduct everyday business, but we will start to build understanding. Breaking down these barriers to understanding will enable a far richer experience in living in this fabulous land.
learning Spanish has enabled me to integrate into my new community and country in ways that would otherwise have been impossible. I am ready to take my Spanish to the next level and learn where to put the darn lo, le, la and how to use the subjunctive!
I would like to learn Spanish so I will be able to communicate with my husband in his native language. He is Puerto Rican and Cuban and grew up in San Juan, PR. Although he speaks English, I would love to be able to chat with him in Spanish. I also love how learning a new language opens your eyes to a lot of things you never questioned or realized. It truly does broaden your horizons! (Plus, I love traveling and to know Spanish would be a real asset when traveling).
Thank you!
I spent several weeks taking Spanish lessons at Habla Ya and enjoyed every minute. It gave me the desire to learn more and become more fluent. I would like to continue learning and become better at understanding Panamenos, conversing, and reading in Spanish.
It is simply impossible to fully appreciate this wonderful country without speaking Spanish. The relationships I have with English speaking Panamanians are warm and satisfying but only include a few. The opportunity to know and appreciate many more Panamanians would be available by learning Spanish. I relish this possibility.
Learning Spanish while living in Panama will greatly improve my quality of life. I currently work/own a restaurant and have a difficult time dealing with all of the local distributors and the delivery people because my Spanish is so weak. I anxiously await the day I am able to converse with the locals without pointing or just adding an ‘o’ to the end of an English word in hopes that I will be understood.
Thank you.
For two years I lived in this beautiful community, but found my life very frustrating not being able to communicate. Taking the Habla Ya class last September was the best thing I could ever do for myself. The teachers made learning at this ripe old age fun, not to mention the wonderful friendships that were developed.
It is so fulfilling to be able to converse with the gardener, vet, maid, grocery clerks, etc. and they understand me. I used to hate the blank stares they would give me before, after trying sign language, incorrect words and all the other embarassing gestures I tried to get my point across.
I look forward to more trips with Habla Ya, like the excellent time we had at Santa Fe.
Will see you at the party, and am excited to learn even more through Habla Ya classes!
Tuve la dicha de empezar a estudiar espanol hace 20 anos en Costa Rica, en un instituto de espanol muy parecido a la escuela de HablaYa, y sigo agradecida por aquellas clases en mi trabajo anterior de catedratica en Boston y, ahora, en mi vida actual en Boquete. Es un placer enorme atender a mis clientes de masajes en ingles, espanol, frances o portugues, pero sobretodo en espanol.
La verdad, escribo esto de parte de mis companeros de baile, Sunny Roe y David Zacharias, para darles otro chance de ganarse algunas clases extra, para que puedan salir en crucero de Royal Caribbean a Barcelona, y dictar sus hermosas clases de baile de salon en espanol, por supuesto. Ademas, felicidades a HablaYa en su aniversario! Y que por favor pongan buena musica de baile este sabado. Saludos!
I always believe that you should be able to speak the language of the country.When I lived in Miami I used to get so upset when people would only speak to me in Spanish.Taking lessions at habla ya has improved my Spanish.
Although I know some basics I would love to be able to talk extensively with my neighbors. And know what that lady on the telephone is saying.
I live in south Texas and we are investagating retire in Panama. I believe spanish is the growing langugue in the next society.
Hi everyone! A friend of mine is in the country and would like to be able to speak the language so he can make Panama his new home.
I have heard nothing but good things about your school and would like him to have a chance to see everything you have to offer.
Cheers
Mitzi
Learning Spanish would be a real help when I go to get my car repaired or need auto parts.
Our neighbors are Panamanian and I really need to speak Spanish in order to socialize and to be a good neighbor.
I would like to be able to talk to my neighbors without struggling to come up with the right phrases and words. It’s not as easy to learn on your own when you are older!
Hi Liz, thanks for your comment.
Please let us know your last name so that you can have a chance to win! Without it, we can’t put your name into the raffle.
Have a great day!
Hi Karl, thanks for your comment.
Please let us know your last name so that you can have a chance to win! Without it, we can’t put your name into the raffle.
Have a great day!
That’s great Mitzi! Tell hmi to pay us a visit one of these days!
I was born in Panama but left after two years of age so it is embarrassing not to know the language.
Proud to be a Panamanian!
Tom Brymer
I was born in Panama but left at two years of age, now returning to live and work in Panama. I live in Boquete and my goal this year is to speak spanish.
Proud to be a Panamanian!!
Tom Brymer
Hi, I have taken a Spanish course where I have learned to conjugate verbs, now I want to learn how to speak it. I have resisted the idea of conversational lessons but know that now is the time. Bring it on, baby!! Thanks, Terry