When you are planning a vacation to a foreign land, the first thing you should consider is learning the language spoken by the people of your vacation destination.
The official language of Panama is Spanish. The Spanish they speak in this country is similar to the Spanish spoken in the Caribbean, rather than Central American Spanish.
There are many people in Panama who don’t understand a word of English. It is not necessary for them. Many ask if it is possible to travel in Panama without knowing a word of Spanish. Well, it is possible and many do it, too. But will your trip be an easy one if you don’t know even a bit of Spanish? The answer is no.
So, if you are planning a visit to this exotic location, it would be smart to learn some basic Spanish. This will make things a lot easier while you are there.
How to Learn?
You can learn the language before you start your trip, or when you are in Panama. There are numerous options available to assist you in learning the language. Learning Spanish while in Panama is said to be a better choice, as you get to practice with the locals there. However, before you land in the country, have some basic Spanish ready so that you can communicate with the locals, like taxi drivers or vendors.
Spanish Classes Before Panama Vacation
You can learn in either offline or online mode. Online classes can be accessed from any part of the world.
Some online courses are paid while some are free. The paid ones have slightly better content and teaching styles compared to the free ones. Here is one of the best paid courses for learning Spanish online:
- This is a course available on the popular learning site com. If you have decided to learn Spanish just before your trip to Panama, then knowing the basic level of spoken Spanish will be good enough for you. The course covers all that you need to know to be able to speak non-stop Spanish.
It is the bestselling Spanish course on Udemy as it teaches Spanish in just a few hours of time. The course has a total of 4 hours of video content. There are 21 articles and 29 downloadable materials for building your speaking skills. Once you buy the course you get lifetime access to all content. You can also access the content on your mobile or TV. If you are hesitant to begin this course because you have no prior knowledge of the language, then this is the best course to start with. This course is designed for beginners who have no prior experience in Spanish. The course has been designed to keep the learner interested through non-stop talking instead of boring study.
This course has multiple benefits as listed:
- Easy to remember at least 98% of the content
- The learner will have good pronunciation due to repetition by the speaker
- One can create thousands of well-constructed phrases
- In a few weeks’ time, a learner will be able to grasp enough basic speaking skills for a vacation
If you are keen on learning more Spanish, you can opt for Level 2 of this course.
Other Free Online Courses for Spanish
Other than joining online classes, you can also learn Spanish through offline courses in your country. You can look for a Spanish teacher or a school that teaches Spanish, and learn the language before leaving for Panama.
Learning Spanish In Panama
The best way to learn the language is to get immersed in it. Once you land in Panama, try making conversation in Spanish if you have basic knowledge. The people in Panama are extremely friendly and will help you out whenever you make a mistake.
Experienced learners say that if you want to learn Spanish, then come to Panama and learn it.
You will find some great Spanish schools in the country that can train you to speak and understand basic level Spanish, which will be useful during the trip.
You can choose to be part of intensive or part-time classes, the latter being a better option during a vacation.
Best Spanish Languages Schools in Panama
In this school, the classes are conducted in a very casual setting. Tea and coffee is served to the students. There is an area for students to study quietly and a library for reading, too. You can take up the course for 1 to 52 weeks, where 20 classes are held every week.
Tourists can take up the course for a week or two while in Panama City. Once you’ve learned some basics, you can go about other parts of the country. The starting price is 250 dollars.
At this school, there are many packages available. The best for one for tourists is the One on one which can be done from 1 to 12 weeks, 15 classes per week. The starting price is 401 dollars. You will have a flexible schedule and can learn whenever you want to.
The learning is divided into 5 different levels of difficulty. The beginner and intermediate levels are good choices for tourists. This is one of the best schools in Panama for learning Spanish while on vacation. You can get private lessons or join a class averaging 4 students. The starting price at this school is 146 dollars which is affordable by the tourists.
This is another great school for getting private lessons in Spanish when in Panama City. You can do a course for 1 week or 10 weeks based on your convenience. Each week, there are 20 hours of class. You can also join group classes with a maximum of 4 students. The starting price is 268 dollars.
There are many other schools available where you can learn Spanish and have a smooth vacation in Panama. The country has a world-class infrastructure and facilities to enable learning. The country is also tourist friendly, so you will not face many problems enrolling into a Spanish-learning course.
Why Learn Spanish in Panama?
Learning Spanish in Panama is more beneficial than learning the language in other Spanish-speaking countries. The people of Panama do not have a heavy accent, making it easier to understand and learn.
They are also known for speaking the language really fast. If you understand Panamanian Spanish, then you can easily understand the people of other Spanish-speaking countries.
The teachers in Panama are quite passionate about teaching. Getting Spanish lessons from them can be really useful for tourists.
When you learn Spanish in Panama, you can practice it all the time by interacting with the people there. Online classes or learning from a distance might not give you this experience. The more you practice speaking, the better you will get at it.
Conclusion
To sum, learning Spanish would enhance your vacation in Panama. You can communicate with people and get a deeper insight of Panamanian culture.