Spanish Exchange Program for Teenagers in Central America

Teenagers learning Spanish in Boquete, Panama

Simply the Best Way to Learn Spanish!

Spanish Lessons + Home Stay with a Local Host Family...

REGISTER FOR AN EXCHANGE PROGRAM...

🚨 In 2020 we declared a CLIMATE AND ECOLOGICAL EMERGENCY because 🌎 🌍 🌏 It's CODE RED FOR HUMANITY!!! ❌ ❌ ❌

We need a Safe Landing, or even better: to Stay Grounded!

🌀 In 2022 Habla Ya transitions to 100% Online Spanish Lessons so it's your last chance to learn Spanish in Panama with us: get 25% - 50% OFF when you book by Monday August 1, Afrikan Emancipation Day:

25% OFF ONSITE GROUP CLASSES and PRIVATE LESSONS...
40% - 50% OFF ONLINE LESSONS...

👉 CLAIM DISCOUNT HERE!

🦠 Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic we're currently only offering ✅ Online Spanish Lessons and ✅ Spanish classes in a TRAVELING CLASSROOM instead of at the school, delivering a teacher directly to you in a COVID safe way wherever you are, be it your hotel, home, park, on tour, at the beach or in any other place where social distancing is comfortably and safely possible. CONTACT US TODAY!

🌎 FOR THE LOVE OF OUR BLUE PLANET AND ALL LIVING THINGS:
🙏 PLEASE 🛑 DON'T ✈ FLY TO LEARN SPANISH...

💻 LEARN SPANISH ONLINE!


🚨 On October 7th 2020 we declared a CLIMATE AND ECOLOGICAL EMERGENCY because we're facing an 😱 existential threat as Planet Earth is on track for a 🌡4°C increase in average global temperatures by the end of this century, which means 💀 BILLIONS OF HUMANS DYING along the way if we don't CHANGE COURSE NOW!

🌱 LEARN WHY HERE...

🤔 So instead of 🛫 flying to learn Spanish 🛬 — it's not really essential travel, specially in the midst of the ongoing 😷 COVID-19 PANDEMIC — pumping even more C02 into the atmosphere that will end up crashing our common home, impacting countries in the tropics first, 🎧 LEARN SPANISH ONLINE 💻 from the comfort, convenience and safety of your office or home!

📍 If you do find yourself in the vicinity of any of our locations — 🌄 Boquete, ⛱ Bocas del Toro and 🌇 Panama City — we'd love to have your as our student. CONTACT US AND MAKE IT HAPPEN...
Travel to us in eco-friendly ways and get automatic access to a 👯 50% DISCOUNT!!!

🚦 Now... do you want to do something about the Climate and Ecological Crisis?
GO HERE FOR INSPIRATION...

🙏 And finally one last plea to help us ensure a just transition for our staff and Spanish teachers: please don't fly to learn Spanish because you can do it online without destroying our future as there's no Planet B regardless of what Elon Musk wants you to believe; besides dreaming of Mars, he also wants you to buy electrical cars as if that's the solution to this Planetary Crisis... spoiler alert: it's not!

💚 SIGN UP AND REGISTER FOR ONLINE SPANISH LESSONS!

Our Spanish Exchange Program for Teens is only offered at our Spanish school in Boquete. But if teens come to Panama with their parents or another adult, we are more than happy to also set them at our Spanish school in Bocas del Toro or at our Spanish school in Panama City. When teenagers are traveling to Panama on their own, we arrange airport pickups in Panama City and in David (and assist with transportation between both locations). A representative from our school will be waiting for your teenager at the airport with a sign with the school's and your teenager's name on it. Some parents fly their teens into the country, spend a week with them in Boquete also taking Spanish lessons and then fly back home while their teen continues with their Spanish exchange program. Whichever option you decide on, we will make sure that your teen quickly forgets about feeling homesick and starts having the time of his/her life. Most teens fall in love with Panama and are quite sad when it's time to fly back home because they've gained a new family and friends in Panama. Once they're adults, many come back to visit Panama, our school, their friends and their host family!

About Boquete, Panama

The town of Boquete in Panama is ideal for school groups traveling abroad to learn Spanish
Safe & Convenient

It is a well known fact that Panama is one of the safest countries to visit in Central and South America. And within Panama, the rural charming mountain town of Boquete is one of the safest destinations for tourists in Latin America.

Its wonderful sense of community make it easy for students to practice their Spanish and interact with the locals. And the town's small compact layout simplifies your teen's logistics as they can mobilize themselves by short 15 - 20 minute walks or 5 - 10 minute bus rides from the school in downtown Boquete to their host family's house. The first time your teen comes to school and goes back home, a host family member will show them how to make the journey and will make sure they're comfortable.

Daily Schedule and Routine
The town of Boquete in Panama is ideal for school groups traveling abroad to learn Spanish

Teens will have breakfast and dinner with their host family, and they usually have lunch at a local restaurant close to Habla Ya Boquete Spanish School. Private lessons for teenagers are normally scheduled in the mornings, and group lessons are mostly scheduled in the afternoons. During the other half of the day, when your teenager is not attending Spanish classes, he or she will do his/her homework at the school student's area or at his/her host family's house. During the remaining time of the day, teens normally socialize with each other in town and on certain days, teens also join our eco-adventure tours.

Dinner time at each family's house is different but can take place between 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Teens have a curfew after dark (after dinner) and can only leave their host family's house if joined and under the supervision of one of their host parents. Teens who violate the curfew are reported to the school and depending on the circumstances can result in their expulsion from the program (under age consumption of alcohol - 18 -, results in automatic expulsion from the program). During the weekends, teens can enjoy full day eco-adventure tours in Boquete such as whitewater river rafting or island trips, and join their host family's normal activities, which vary from family to family, but can include visits to the river, beach, church, the movies or shopping in David or to one of Boquete's many parks and gardens.

During Summer Vacations and High Season we offer Spanish lessons for Teens in Small Groups
Gorgeous Weather & Outdoor Opportunities

It's always nice to come to the tropics, but the lowland's heat could be too much for some teenagers to adapt to. Boquete is situated 1,200 meters above sea level and enjoys a year round spring like temperature of 60° to 80° F (16° - 28° C), which is just perfect to remain fresh without being too hot or too cold.

Boquete is also blessed with abundant wildlife and nature, making it a wonderful place for outdoor exploration. With numerous hiking trails and outdoor pursuits, students have a wide variety of eco-adventures to choose from. Despite being in the mountains, we're only 1.5 hours away from the coast, so beach trips on the weekends are organized once or twice a month. Habla Ya Spanish students benefit from discounted rates on many of Boquete's and Chiriqui's eco-adventure tours.

For more information about Boquete, its location within Panama, its regions, weather and more, please click here...

CONTACT US & plan YOUR CHILD'S SPANISH EXCHANGE PROGRAM...
Having your daughter's/son's Spanish learning trip in a mountain town, in a healthy environment within a community with traditional values, will make it easier for them to remain focused on their trip's objectives and away from the crazy party life that characterizes many beach towns. The Chiriqui Gulf Marine National Park is just 1.5 hours away, and trips to the beach during the weekends are organized once or twice a month in which your teenager and the rest of Habla Ya's Spanish students will have secluded islands just to themselves. It's certainly more productive and safer for a teenager to study Spanish during an extended period of time in an environment like Boquete, Panama.
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Spanish Classes

Spanish Classes for your Teens
Students will learn a whole lot more Spanish with our Spanish teachers

For teens from 13 to 17 years of age we offer Spanish language lessons, either privately or in a small group of no more than six students per class. Teens that are 16 and 17 years of age can also be placed in a group with young adults if they are mature enough.

If your teenager would like to have group lessons, this can be arranged during Panama's high season (January and February) or during summer holidays (June, July or August). Your son or daughter's classmates will be of a similar age and Spanish level.

Parents are always amazed and delighted when they realize how much their teenager learned in just three or four weeks of Spanish lessons, generally even more than what they've learnt in several years back home. If you would like your teen to become completely fluent in the Spanish language, depending on his/her current Spanish level of proficiency, you should aim for a two or three month Spanish exchange program.

SIGN UP NOW & REGISTER YOUR TEEN FOR A SPANISH EXCHANGE PROGRAM...
When learning Spanish, there is nothing that can compare, not even close by, to being fully immersed in a Latin American country. If you really want your teenager to become fluent in the Spanish language, a total Spanish immersion program is the best way to achieve it. We have had many teens participate in our program. If you would like to reassure yourself by getting in touch with other parents who've sent their teens to our Spanish school, please contact us and ask us for their contact details and we'll gladly put you in touch with them.
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Home Stay with Local Family

Living with a local host family gives students the best opportunity to improve their Spanish and learn about the latin culture
Home Stays with Local Host Families

If you would like to get your teenager truly immersed in the Latin culture, experience our way of life and expose them as much as possible to the Spanish language, then a family home stay is the way to go.

Your teenagers will get a unique perspective about the way of life in Central America and they'll easily be able to practice their Spanish after class.

We currently collaborate with more than 70 host families in Boquete, Panama that make our Total Spanish Immersion Program a reality. Many host families have been closely working with us for years and have plenty of experience with teenagers. Several host families also have experience with other exchange programs such as ASF. A good deal of our host families also have teenagers, and your teenager's host parents will take responsibility for the wellbeing of your son or daughter just as if it was their own, and truly make them part of their own family. Many teenagers remain in touch with their host families after going back home and we've even had host brothers and sisters that see each other again abroad (and students who repeat their visit as university students as well!).

A home stay with a local host family will help your family learn Spanish faster during their Spanish Learning Vacation

In order to ensure that we select the most appropriate host family for your teenager, please have your teen submit his or hers Home Stay Interview with as much as anticipation as possible. In this way, we will know their specific needs and have more host families to choose from. Once they fill out that interview, we will send you a full description of your teenager's host family with contact details and address, so that they can start imagining their exchange program and you can start having some peace of mind.

Home stays for teens usually start on a Saturday and end on a Sunday, but we are flexible and can totally adapt to the flight tickets that your purchased for your teenager as long as you let us know in advance.

REGISTER YOUR TEENAGER TO LIVE WITH A LOCAL HOST FAMILY IN PANAMA...
Medical and travel insurance are mandatory for your teenager's Spanish exchange program (please consult your local insurance broker to purchase before traveling). In case of any medical emergency, your teenager's host family and the school's directors, will make sure that your teen gets to the hospital immediately. In downtown Boquete there are three clinics, and in David (30 minute drive away) there are several first class hospitals such as: Hospital Centro Médico Mae Lewis, Hospital Chiriquí, and the public Hospital Regional.
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Eco-Adventure Tours, Cultural & Social Activities + Volunteering

Taking into account your teenager's interests, we will work with you to organize and plan a daily schedule of activities before the arrival of your teen to Panama. Please share the following information with your teenager and let us know what he or she would like to do in his/her free time after class.

Eco-Adventure Tours
The zipline canopy tour gives you a unique perspective of the cloud forest and an adrenaline rush

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

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

Students from School in Germany that come to our school each year. The benefits for students who join a school trip abroad are simply amazing
Cultural & Social Activities

At Habla Ya Spanish School we simply love to have fun! We start off the week with several cultural activities and then we move on to more social oriented ones:

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.

Volunteering will help your students be better persons
Volunteer Projects

Teenagers looking to volunteer or to work on a service project can collaborate with several local organizations such as:

In order to organize and coordinate all of the volunteering activities there is a $5 USD per person per day volunteering fee. 100% of this fee goes as a direct donation to each Non Profit Organization.

For even more info about volunteering in Panama please click here...

SIGN UP YOUR TEENAGER FOR A SPANISH IMMERSION IN CENTRAL AMERICA...
Your teenager will live one of the most amazing experiences that they've ever had. Your teen will go back home being not only fluent in the Spanish language but also more responsible, independent and mature. At the same time, we'll make sure they have a great time. At Habla Ya Spanish School we employ additional staff whose main responsibility is to make sure that our Spanish students have the time of their life outside of the classroom!
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Preparing your Teen's Immersion Program

Families that volunteer together are happy families!
Planning your Teen's Trip to Panama

When organizing your teenager's exchange program, please use the following checklist as a guide

  • Choose your dates and contact us about availability
  • Purchase your teenager's flight ticket
  • Sign Up & Register your Teenager
  • Have your teen submit his/hers Home Stay Interview
  • Have your teen submit hers/his Placement Test
  • Let us know about your teen's travel plans and we'll coordinate together how they arrive to Boquete
  • We'll send you details about your teen's host family and Spanish level, and then you'll let us know which eco-adventure tours your teen would like to do
  • Purchase travel and medical insurance for your teenager (send scanned copy to us)
  • Make sure all vaccinations are up to date
  • Help your teen pack for their trip
  • Have your teen pay upon arrival or submit your credit card details via a secure and encrypted form on our website. We will provide the link to it.
REGISTER YOUR TEEN FOR A SPANISH IMMERSION IN BOQUETE...
Teenagers on their own have joined our Spanish exchange program for up to four months and many of them decide to come back and brush up their Spanish before or during college. Your son or daughter's safety is our priority. If you would like to reassure yourself by getting in touch with other parents who've sent their teenagers to our Spanish school, please contact us and ask us for their contact details and we'll gladly put you in touch with them.
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Rates

>🚨 In 2020 we declared a CLIMATE AND ECOLOGICAL EMERGENCY because 🌎 🌍 🌏 It's CODE RED FOR HUMANITY!!! ❌ ❌ ❌

We need a Safe Landing, or even better: to Stay Grounded!

🌀 In 2022 Habla Ya transitions to 100% Online Spanish Lessons so it's your last chance to learn Spanish in Panama with us: get 25% - 50% OFF when you book by Monday August 1, Afrikan Emancipation Day:

25% OFF ONSITE GROUP CLASSES and PRIVATE LESSONS...
40% - 50% OFF ONLINE LESSONS...

👉 CLAIM DISCOUNT HERE!

🦠 Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic we're currently only offering ✅ Online Spanish Lessons and ✅ Spanish classes in a TRAVELING CLASSROOM instead of at the school, delivering a teacher directly to you in a COVID safe way wherever you are, be it your hotel, home, park, on tour, at the beach or in any other place where social distancing is comfortably and safely possible. CONTACT US TODAY!

🌎 FOR THE LOVE OF OUR BLUE PLANET AND ALL LIVING THINGS:
🙏 PLEASE 🛑 DON'T ✈ FLY TO LEARN SPANISH...

💻 LEARN SPANISH ONLINE!


🚨 On October 7th 2020 we declared a CLIMATE AND ECOLOGICAL EMERGENCY because we're facing an 😱 existential threat as Planet Earth is on track for a 🌡4°C increase in average global temperatures by the end of this century, which means 💀 BILLIONS OF HUMANS DYING along the way if we don't CHANGE COURSE NOW!

🌱 LEARN WHY HERE...

🤔 So instead of 🛫 flying to learn Spanish 🛬 — it's not really essential travel, specially in the midst of the ongoing 😷 COVID-19 PANDEMIC — pumping even more C02 into the atmosphere that will end up crashing our common home, impacting countries in the tropics first, 🎧 LEARN SPANISH ONLINE 💻 from the comfort, convenience and safety of your office or home!

📍 If you do find yourself in the vicinity of any of our locations — 🌄 Boquete, ⛱ Bocas del Toro and 🌇 Panama City — we'd love to have your as our student. CONTACT US AND MAKE IT HAPPEN...
Travel to us in eco-friendly ways and get automatic access to a 👯 50% DISCOUNT!!!

🚦 Now... do you want to do something about the Climate and Ecological Crisis?
GO HERE FOR INSPIRATION...

🙏 And finally one last plea to help us ensure a just transition for our staff and Spanish teachers: please don't fly to learn Spanish because you can do it online without destroying our future as there's no Planet B regardless of what Elon Musk wants you to believe; besides dreaming of Mars, he also wants you to buy electrical cars as if that's the solution to this Planetary Crisis... spoiler alert: it's not!

💚 SIGN UP AND REGISTER FOR ONLINE SPANISH LESSONS!
Amount of weeks more weeks means lower rate per/week...
  Number of Weeks  
  Number of Weeks  
Type of Course 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Each Extra Week
Group 4 $600 $1070 $1550 $2025 $2500 $2925 $3320 $3725 $4080 $4425 $395
Group 4 PLUS 1 $700 $1270 $1850 $2400 $2920 $3500 $4000 $4470 $4920 $5370 $495
Group 4 PLUS 2 $800 $1470 $2150 $2770 $3450 $4025 $4550 $5150 $5680 $6170 $575
Private 20 $720 $1330 $1920 $2500 $3080 $3650 $4180 $4670 $5150 $5670 $525
Private 25 $810 $1500 $2180 $2830 $3450 $4050 $4620 $5170 $5700 $6310 $595
Private 30 $900 $1670 $2420 $3150 $3800 $4400 $5050 $5670 $6340 $7000 $675

Please note: prices are in US Dollars and include Spanish Course and home stay with 2 meals per day. For home stays in Bocas del Toro please add a supplement of $25 USD per person per week and of $50 USD for Panama City.

SIGN UP NOW & REGISTER FOR A TOTAL SPANISH IMMERSION...

There are three main costs to consider for your teenager's Spanish exchange program:

Cost for a Total Spanish Immersion Program
  • The cost for your teen's Spanish Course
  • The cost to live with a Local Host Family
  • The cost of any Tours

Your teenager can join our Spanish Exchange program through our Group 4 Course (20 hours of lessons per week with a maximum of six students per class, $175 - $275 USD per week), Private Lessons (20, 25 or 30 hours of lessons per week, $295 - $395 USD per week), or a combination of both or what we call Group 4 PLUS (20 hours of Group Lessons + 5 or 10 hours of extra Private Lessons each week).

When considering how many of hours to sign up for, take into account that each of our first three levels can be completed in an average of 60 hours of lessons each, our fourth and fifth in 100 hours each, and our sixth level in an average of 400 hours more (to be just like a native).

Students can participate in many extra activities after class

As teens are living with a local host family ($250 USD per week with 2 meals per day in Boquete) they usually complete each level 10 to 25% faster (and young, motivated learners usually do better as well). We will always make a professional suggestion based on your teen's Spanish level, on how far you want him or her to advance and on how fast you want your teen to to get there. To see what your teen will be able to do upon completing each level you can visit our level system section and if your teen already knows some Spanish, please remember to have him/her complete our Placement Test.

In the following table you'l find TOTAL COSTS considering different types of Spanish Courses with Accommodation included at a Local Host Family with two meals per day.


In the following table you'll find TOTAL COSTS for a Spanish Immersion Program considering different types of Spanish Courses with Accommodation included at a Local Host Family with 2 meals per day (for other accommodation options please click here).

Rates - Total Spanish Immersion Program
Amount of weeks more weeks means lower rate per/week...
  Number of Weeks  
Type of Course 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Each Extra Week
Group 4 $600 $1070 $1550 $2025 $2500 $2925 $3320 $3725 $4080 $4425 $395
Group 4 PLUS 1 $700 $1270 $1850 $2400 $2920 $3500 $4000 $4470 $4920 $5370 $495
Group 4 PLUS 2 $800 $1470 $2150 $2770 $3450 $4025 $4550 $5150 $5680 $6170 $575
Private 20 $720 $1330 $1920 $2500 $3080 $3650 $4180 $4670 $5150 $5670 $525
Private 25 $810 $1500 $2180 $2830 $3450 $4050 $4620 $5170 $5700 $6310 $595
Private 30 $900 $1670 $2420 $3150 $3800 $4400 $5050 $5670 $6340 $7000 $675

Please note: prices are in US Dollars and include Spanish Course and home stay with 2 meals per day. For home stays in Bocas del Toro please add a supplement of $25 USD per person per week and of $50 USD for Panama City.

At Habla Ya we know it's not easy to pay for something that you haven't seen, in a far distant country, miles and miles away, so you can save your spot with just a $99 deposit and PAY THE REST UPON ARRIVAL! After you Sign Up & Register!, we'll confirm your booking details via email and send you a secure link to reserve your spot. Your $99 deposit will count towards tuition - Spanish lessons, or in case of "no-show" or cancellation within 1 week of start date, will be considered a cancellation fee. Just as most small businesses, we're greatly impacted by last minute cancellations, as it's difficult to assign your spot to someone else, so please let us know asap if your plans change and we'll reimburse your $99 if you let us know with at least 7 days in advance of your start date. Emergency Cancellation Policy: due to COVID-19, our regular cancellation policy cannot apply and we have put in place an emergency cancellation policy. We are currently unable to grant any refunds but we can grant credits towards Online Spanish Lessons or postponing your start date for future dates without losing your deposit.

Rates for Eco-Adventure Tours

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...

SIGN UP NOW & REGISTER FOR A SPANISH EXCHANGE PROGRAM IN PANAMA
Please note that there is no separate registration fee for our Spanish courses. A $99 deposit, which goes toward your tuition, is required to secure your spot after you Sign Up & Register. Rates include: registration, level test, class materials and handouts, wifi internet connection at the school, certain cultural & social activities and access to all of the school's facilities. A textbook for your level is included when you sign up for at least 20 hours of lessons, and a course certificate is included when you sign up and attend for at least 60 hours of lessons. Any of our six textbooks (for our six levels) can also be purchased for $25 USD.
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