Medical Spanish Immersion Program in Central America

Being able to communicate quickly and directly with your patients and/or their families can make a whole world of difference between providing a high quality level of care or not.

Our Medical Spanish Courses are offered to general physicians, specialists, residents, medical students, nurses, midwives, hospital managers, emergency medical service professionals and medical health-care practitioners in general who need to use medical Spanish with their patients, their patient's families or their colleagues.

Your Medical Spanish Course is customized according to your specific medical profession, your needs and personal requirements. In order to fully benefit from our medical Spanish classes you should already possess a lower intermediate level of Spanish proficiency. If you're still a beginner or don't know any Spanish, we will help you improve your general conversational skills and once you're ready for it, start introducing medical Spanish into your daily lessons.

In order to prepare your medical Spanish course, please submit your Online Placement Test, let us know your specific medical profession (and specialty if you have one) and tell us if you would like to focus on any specific topic.

Medical Spanish classes are mainly offered through One to One Spanish Lessons. Students can have from 2 - 6 hours of lessons per day. The general curriculum for our Medical Spanish Course is designed to be completed in 40 to 60 hours of lessons (2 - 3 weeks of lessons). Students who want to work more proactively on their general conversational skills or want to take advantage of the social aspect of having classmates, can join our Group 4 PLUS Course instead. In this way you'll have 4 hours of group lessons per day plus 1 or 2 extra hours of private lessons in which you'll be able to work on your medical Spanish skills.

For even more information about our Medical Spanish Classes please click here...

For those doctors, medical students or healthcare practitioners in general, who would like to volunteer with Floating Doctors or have an internship (practicum) at a hospital or health clinic in Panama, it can be arranged as long as we receive your volunteering interview, complete résumé and a transcript of the highest or current level of medical education completed and/or a scanned copy of your medical license.

Many patients in Bocas del Toro, Panama can't "just go to the hospital". Oceans, mountains, jungles, politics, economics, and bigotry separate our patients from their basic human right of ACCESS to care, so we come to our patients' communities and to their homes, traveling by boat, by foot, by dugout canoe, horse, and rescue panga.

Volunteering with Floating Doctors provides experienced clinicians and students alike with the unique opportunity to see advanced and unusual disease cases, hone their clinical diagnostic skills, and challenge their ability to provide the best outcome possible for a patient, even with limited resources (and to practice their Medical Spanish!). More importantly, however, is the opportunity to practice medicine from the heart—to treat each patient with dignity and compassion and care. This experience, along with increased diagnostic skills and clinical confidence, is the gift that Floating Doctors intends our volunteers to carry back to their practice in the developed world, and one that will benefit clinicians and patients well beyond the locations we visit.

As a volunteer with Floating Doctors you'll have the opportunity to join our:

• Mobile Clinics
• Multi-Day Mobile Clinics

In Bocas del Toro, our Mobile Clinics take place every Tuesday and Thursdays on Isla Colón in the storage units by the airport. The mobile clinic is the backbone of the Floating Doctor's program and not only acts as acute treatment and long-term patient management, but also forms the basis of the community acceptance that make the Floating Doctor's activities possible, and most of our other projects evolve from situations encountered during mobile clinics. As a volunteer you're asked to make a $10 donation to Floating Doctors for each day you take part in their Mobile Clinic.

The Multi-Day Mobile Clinic functions the same way as our day long mobile clinic but leaves us in the community for 3 - 4 days living, working and sleeping with the patients that we are serving. This provides a unique opportunity to get to know the people whom you're serving on a level that is much deeper than a day long clinic provides. You can be sure to treat a lot of patients, be introduced to amazing cultures, and make a lot of friends along the way!

There is a $25 USD application fee that helps offset some of the administrative costs associated with running a volunteer program. If you're accepted the fee will be credited towards the requested volunteer donation. The fees of those not accepted at this time will go to support the fuel costs for our mobile clinic deployments to remote communities. If your application is not accepted initially but you come at a later date, your original application fee will be discounted from your participation donation at that time – you'll not need to pay an application fee twice. The donation requested by Floating Doctors is $400 USD for 1 week, $700 USD for 2 weeks, $900 USD for 3 weeks and $270 USD per week if volunteering for one month or longer (minimum $1,100). This donation covers your lodging.

The following video gives you a good idea about what Mobile Clinics are like.

Depending on the length of your internship you might be a volunteer at a MINSA (Panama's Ministry of Health) clinic in Panama City, Bocas del Toro or Boquete, Panama, the Caja de Seguro Social in Boquete or Panama City, or at one of the public hospitals in David or Panama City. Your responsibilities will depend on your medical education, experience, level of proficiency in the Spanish language (YOU NEED TO AT LEAST HAVE A BASIC CONVERSATIONAL LEVEL OF SPANISH) and on what your supervisor decides.

Some participants will be allowed to shadow doctors, others will be asked to contribute with administrative tasks and yet other will be able to have a more hands on role. Remember, you're here to practice your Medical Spanish and help in anyway that's needed. Don't forget to bring your own white lab coat!

In order to organize and coordinate your internship there is a $10 USD per student per day donation fee and a $75 USD setup fee. 100% of the daily fee goes as a direct donation to the local clinic where you'll be working at.

Boquete is a charming mountain town with a wonderful sense of community. Known as Panama's Eco-Adventure Capital, Boquete is famous for its coffee and fresh mountain climate with pleasant year round temperatures. Its immense variety of outdoor adventures make Boquete a superb place to study Spanish surrounded by nature.

The valley of Boquete is located in the western highlands of Panama at 1,200 meters above the sea level in the lush province of Chiriqui near the Costa Rican border. Boquete is easily accessed from David (DAV), Panama's second largest city (only 38 km away from Boquete), which can be reached by 35 minute flights from Panama City, 1 hour flights from San José, Costa Rica or a 3 hour drive plus a 30 minute boat ride from Bocas del Toro.

The islands of Bocas del Toro are famous for their emerald Caribbean waters, secluded golden and white sand beaches, uncrowded waves, colorful coral reefs and abundant marine life. Its funky-vibrant nightlife, and friendly, chilled-back locals also add to the mix which make Bocas Panama's coolest beach destination.

Bocas del Toro is Panama's #1 beach town and its magic will certainly enchant you: you won't want to leave! Without any doubt Bocas del Toro is the perfect town to learn Spanish by the beach.

The Archipelago of Bocas del Toro (BOC), is located in Panama's northwest Caribbean Sea, very near the border with Costa Rica, only a 45 minute flight from Panama City, a 1 hour flight from San José, Costa Rica, or a 3 hour journey by road plus a 30 minute boat ride from Boquete.

Cosmopolitan and trendy are the words that always come to mind when thinking about Panama City. With people from every single part of the world, the vibe in Panama City is one of rich diversity and mixture of cultures, which certainly makes for a unique experience when visiting Central America's most modern city.

With all the amenities and conveniences of an international city, Panama City's main attractions take the form of colonial neighborhoods tastefully renovated, its modern skyline bordered by the Panama Canal, the Pacific Ocean and dense tropical rainforest, Central America's trendiest restaurants and most sophisticated nightlife, world class shopping with brands from all over the globe, and as a doorway to the country's top eco-adventure destinations: Boquete and Bocas del Toro.

You can reach Panama City (PTY) through direct flights from over 15 cities in the USA, 7 in Canada, 6 European cities and almost every single major city in Latin America.

If you would like to get fully immersed in the Spanish language, experience our culture, and get as much exposure as possible to the Latin American way of life, then a home stay with a local host family is the way to go. Living with a native Spanish speaking family, having daily intensive medical Spanish lessons and volunteering at a local health clinic make the most effective medical Spanish immersion.

You'll get a unique perspective about how we live our lives in Latin America, what really matters to us and more importantly you'll be forced to practice your Spanish 24 x 7, which will dramatically increase how fast you learn to speak Spanish.

We currently collaborate with more than 70 host families in Boquete, 15 in Panama City, and with about 20 in Bocas del Toro, that make our Spanish Immersion Program a reality. In order to ensure that we select the most appropriate host family for you, please submit your Home Stay Interview with as much as anticipation as possible. In this way we will know your specific needs and choose a host family according to your personality. As host families are assigned on a first come first serve basis, the sooner you fill out the interview, the more host families we will have to choose from for you.

If you're on a budget and would like to easily be able to socialize with fellow travelers after having Spanish lessons and Yoga all day long, then a budget hostel is for you.

At Habla Ya Spanish School we work with several top value budget hostels that offer you either private rooms or a bed in a dorm, where you'll certainly enjoy your stay.

In Boquete, Panama we recommend:

• Hostal Garden
• Pension Topas
• Gaia Hostel

In Bocas del Toro, Panama we recommend:

• 421 Guest House
• Hostel Heike

In Panama City, Panama we recommend:

• Panama House Bed & Breakfast
• Baru Lodge

All of them are located in town really close to our Spanish Schools, within a 15 minute walk. If you're looking for a bit more peace and quiet, then you can't go wrong with Pension Topas, Hostal Refugio del Rio or Hostal Gaia in Boquete. In Bocas del Toro on the other hand, Hostel Heike and Tungara are just across the central park, about a 8 minute walk from the school, where everything is happening. In Panama City, Panama House B&B is literally just across the road and Baru Lodge is on the street behind us.

There are several places that we recommend for Spanish students looking for a bit more privacy and independence during their Medical Spanish Program.

• In Boquete, Panama
  • Roundhouse at Isla Verde
  • Room at Casa de Montaña
  • Suite at Boquete Garden Inn
• In Bocas del Toro, Panama
  • Room at Hotel Tierra Verde
  • Room at Hotel Cala Luna
  • Bocas Island Condos
  • A Bocas Vacation Rental

• In Panama City, Panama
  • TRYP by Wyndham Panama Centro
  • Las Vegas Hotel Suites
  • Hotel Milan

The above are tremendously convenient, fully furnished, very reasonably priced for short to mid term stays (4 - 12 weeks) and the students at our Spanish schools simply love them. Each of the above have their own unique features that make them suitable for guests with different needs and desires. Click on the above links for more details about each option.

There are also other types of properties available for rent in Panama City, Boquete and Bocas del Toro, Panama. If you're considering studying Spanish for four weeks or more, you might benefit from having your own vacation rental. Within our website we provide links to several sites that list vacation rentals in Panama, and we also provide links to different real estate agents in Boquete and in Bocas del Toro (as we are not real estate agents ourselves). For more information about vacation rentals please click here...

Our preferred luxury hotels in Panama City are The Bristol and Hotel El Panama.

In Bocas del Toro our favorite upscale hotels are Tropical Suites and Palma Royale. Tropical Suites is built directly over turquoise Caribbean waters, with 16 guest suites, a three bedroom Presidential Penthouse, and a Luxury Studio Apartment. Simply put Tropical Suites is Bocas del Toro's premier upscale boutique hotel. Palma Royale, Bocas del Toro's latest upscale boutique hotel, is located at the end of main street, only 20 meters from the Caribbean Sea and has 15 suites with marble and bamboo flooring, handcrafted cedar doors and beds with pillowtop mattresses.

There are also other types of properties available for rent in Bocas del Toro, Panama. If you're considering studying Spanish with us for 4 weeks or more, you might benefit from having your very own vacation rental. Please contact us for more information about rentals in Bocas.

In Boquete, the Valle Escondido Resort, Golf & Spa is the perfect place if you would like to have access to certain amenities during your medical Spanish program. With a full service spa, a 9 hole executive golf course, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis and racquetball courts, and first class restaurants, Valle Escondido will certainly keep you entertained after your daily Spanish classes, eco-adventure tours and/or volunteer projects. Valle Escondido is situated at the edge of town, about a 15 minute walk from our Spanish School, in a hidden valley, on the banks of a rushing river, with enough natural beauty and peace to make you not want to leave.

For Spanish students staying in Boquete for up to 3 weeks of Spanish we recommend staying at a suite or bungalow at the Valle Escondido Resort.

For longer stays or even more independence, a rental of Valle Escondido's vacation villas or condos can also be arranged.

Whether you're staying at the Valle Escondido Resort or at one of vacation villas or condos, you'll be able to enjoy:

• 9 Hole Golf Course
• Outdoor Tennis Court and Indoor Racquetball Court
• Country Club, complete with
  • Spa and Age Management Program
  • State-of-the-art Life Fitness Equipped Gym
  • Indoor Swimming Pool
  • Sauna, Steam Baths and Jacuzzis

• 1 Outdoor Pools
• A Spanish Colonial Village with
  • 1 Fantastic Restaurants
  • Bar
  • Chapel
  • 500 seat amphitheater
• Meeting Space for Groups of 75 - 400 people

Besides staying at Valle Escondido you can also consider The Haven Spa & Hotel.

Boquete, Panama's eco-adventure capital is the perfect place for a Spanish learning vacation:

• Whitewater River Rafting
• Ziplining in the Cloudforest
• Island Hopping & Beach Trips
• Rock Climbing
• Coffee Tours
• Hot Springs
• Horseback Riding
• First Class Hiking Trails

In Bocas del Toro, Panama's top beach destination in the Caribbean, there are plenty of outdoor opportunities:

• Surfing
• Scuba Diving & Snorkeling
• Ziplining in the Rainforest
• Boat Tours
• Catamaran Sailing Tours
• Island Cycling
• Horseback Riding
• Cacao Plantation Tours
• Caving Tours
• Turtle Nesting/Hatching Tours
• Bird Watching Tours
• Beach & Island Hopping

And Panama City, Latin America's trendiest capital, is much more than a Canal:

• Central America's most sophisticated nightlife scene
• First class restaurants
• Colonial & Historical Tours
• Museums
• Jungle Tours
• Shopping
• Casinos

Habla Ya Spanish students have access to special discounts off many eco-adventure tours. For more information about tours in Panama, and complete pricing info click here.

At Habla Ya Spanish Schools we simply love to have fun! We start off the week with several chilled out activities and then we move on to more party style entertainment:

• Tuesdays - Panamanian Traditional Dinner
• Wednesdays - Movie Nights
• Thursdays - Dinner Parties
• Fridays - Nights Out & Get-Togethers (only adults)
• Saturdays - Salsa Lessons & Conversational Sessions
• Daily - Yoga Classes

Several extra activities are free of charge, such as our movie nights, salsa lessons and conversational sessions. Panamanian dinners cost $5 - $7 USD per person. Yoga classes in Boquete cost $6 - $10 USD per person. Yoga classes in Bocas del Toro cost $5 - $10 USD per class. Yoga classes in Panama City cost from $10 - $15 USD per class and they also have monthly packages of unlimited classes. Eco-Adventure Tours have their own fees and students pay what they consume at bars, Dinner Parties and Get-Togethers. For more information about our extra activities please click here.

There are four variables to consider when determining the total cost of your Medical Spanish Immersion Program. Costs are given itemized as there are multiple lodging options to choose from, and some medical Spanish students might decide or not to join an internship or certain eco-adventure tours. If you would like to request a quote for a specific amount of weeks (or several different options) please click here.

The different variables to consider are:

• The cost of your Medical Spanish Course
• The cost for your Accommodation
• The cost of your Internship
• The cost of your Eco-Adventure Tours

Rates for medical Spanish classes go from $175 - $575 USD per week. The actual rate per week depends on:

• how many hours of lessons you have each week (10 - 30)
• if you have private lessons only or a combination of group and private lessons
• the amount of weeks you sign up for (the longer the length of your Spanish study program, the more convenient the rate you have access to)

Click on the links below to find prices for specific options:

• Group 4 Course (20 hours of group lessons per week)
• Group 4 PLUS 1 Course (20 hours of group lessons + 5 hours of private lessons per week)
• Group 4 PLUS 2 Course (20 hours of group lessons + 10 hours of private lessons per week)
• Private Spanish Lessons (10 - 30 hours of private lessons per week)

Rates for accommodation depend on your choice of accommodation and on the length of your stay.

• Home Stays with Local Families cost $250 USD per week (breakfast and dinner included). Please add supplement of $50 per week in Bocas del Toro and $75 per week in Panama City.
• Budget Hostels go from $10 USD per night for a bed in a shared dorm up to $75 USD per night for a private room with a private bathroom (more affordable private options are also available).
• Midrange Hotels and Bed & Breakfasts go from $495 to $950 USD per week for a furnished Suite or Cabin.
• Upscale Boutique Hotels and Resorts go from $540 to $3000 USD per week.

Please click here to checkout specific rates for all of our lodging options...

There is a $75 USD application fee that helps offset some of the administrative costs associated with running a volunteer program. If you're accepted the fee will be credited towards the requested volunteer donation. The fees of those not accepted at this time will go to support the fuel costs for our mobile clinic deployments to remote communities. If your application is not accepted initially but you come at a later date, your original application fee will be discounted from your participation donation at that time – you'll not need to pay an application fee twice. The donation requested by Floating Doctors is $400 USD for 1 week, $700 USD for 2 weeks, $900 USD for 3 weeks and $270 USD per week if volunteering for one month or longer (minimum $1,100 USD). This donation covers your lodging.

Habla Ya Spanish students have access to special discounts off many eco-adventure tours. For a complete price list of tours in Boquete, Bocas del Toro, and Panama City, Panama please click here...