Casco Antiguo Spanish School

Casco Antiguo Spanish School Reviews

Luh
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Fun Learning at Casco Antiguo Spanish School

I had the best time learning Spanish at Casco Antiguo Spanish school. The class was structured well, and the teachers, Hector and JJ, were enthusiastic and very helpful. They pushed us to learn but were always happy to answer our questions. I took an intensive course for two weeks with four hours of class each day. There were 3 students in the class. I thought four hours would seem a long time, but time just flew by. We learned sentence structures, grammar, and vocabulary through games and conversations. We had three field trips where we had the opportunity to communicate with the locals who were so friendly. I am definitely more confident communicating in Spanish now. Also, they provided ‘after-school’ free activities: bike tours, salsa classes, beach volleyball, and happy hour at one of the rooftop bars in Casco. These were always fun.

What impressed me most is when they said that they are your host for your trip to Panama, they meant it. David (the owner) and Tricia made sure my burner phone worked since my regular one was not compatible with the local SIM card. When I mentioned that this was my first time using Uber, they made sure the experience went smoothly. They arranged a homestay with the nicest lady, Ana Gloria, who went out of her way to make sure I had an enjoyable stay in Panama. The school also arranged for Roberto, to pick me up on arrival and drive me back to the airport on departure. Everyone in the school was friendly and helpful.

I was worried about traveling solo, but I am glad I did. Panamanians are the nicest people. Learning at the Casco Antiguo School was an amazing experience, and I would recommend it to anyone considering an immersion program in Spanish. If I had an opportunity, I would love to return to Casco Antiguo Spanish School and further my Spanish skills.

Pros
  • Excellent instructions
  • Wonderful and helpful staff
  • Located in an interesting part of town, where there are many fun things to do after school
What other participants should know
  • None
Gene
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Small, Intensive Intermediate Level Spanish Course at Casco Spanish School

My intermediate level Spanish class (small intensive, 3 students, 4 hours per day for 5 days) with Javier Villa was fantastic. Rather than simply forcing us into a template, it was obvious that Javier had taken the time to review our placement exams and immediately started with material that was appropriate at our level. Javier made a point of mixing outside activities, like a local scavenger hunt and a short tour of the Canal Museum, with the classroom language learning exercises, such as short reading and comprehension exercises and musical exercises for listening comprehension. I'm an American whose Spanish is largely self-taught - I found the class very engaging, interesting, and challenging. I'd highly recommend this class during an extended visit to Panama as a very useful tool for improving your Latin American Spanish skills.

Pros
  • Excellent instructor and staff
  • Good location for travelers/tourists
  • Excellent travel support, for example arranging transportation from airport
What other participants should know
  • I can't think of any issues that I encountered during my work with the school.
Lisa
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great Experience!

Great team, great teachers! I would recommend it for every level. The classes with JJ were very interesting and never boring. I took a 2-weeks-course and I feel like I improved a lot. The classes are in the morning from 8-12 or in the afternoon from 1-5. The staff is very friendly and helpful. The school is in the oldtown with a lot of great restaurants nearby. the school is small but absolutely sufficient. they also organize afternoon/evening activities, so it will never be boring. I would recommend the school!

Jonathan
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great School

The Spanish school had great staff who were very knowledgable. They had a lot of very helpful tips that helped me learn more Spanish. I️ would recommend taking a few courses from them in order to increase you vocabulary from them. Overall I️ had a great experience with them and would recommend this program to anyone who is not fluent in Spanish.

Michelle
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

An amazing experience in Casco Viejo

My family including my two teenagers spent a few days studying Spanish as Casco Antiguo. My husband and I are complete beginners and Erick was so patient and knowledgeable. He helped us learn the basics in a few short days. We are able to interact shop keepers and locals on our final day. Our teenagers had a blast, which is saying a lot for class on vacation. They are more advanced and became more confident speaking in conversation. On the last day their instructor sent them on a fun 'scavenger' hunt around Casco Viejo. They interviewed a police officer and navigated their way around the city asking the locals for help. We are definitely looking forward to returning.

Pros
  • The instructors
  • The curriculum
What other participants should know
  • None!
Clara
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing Spanish School

Casco Antiguo Spanish School is a great Spanish school! I really loved the atmosphere, everybody was so lovely, welcoming and helpful! I enjoyed coming to the classes and as well going to the free activities after class. I was even able to go on a Gamboa Trip with two other students through the school, which was so much fun! I enjoyed being at Casco Antiguo Spanish School, which made it easier for me to improve my Spanish skills. Now I feel more confident to speak the Spanish and am able to talk with the locals, which is an amazing feeling.

Pros
  • Having fun learning a new language
  • Amazing staff and activities
  • You feel afterwards very confident to speak Spanish
Elizabeth
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

4 weeks of learning Spanish for 4 hours a day!

I really enjoyed my 4 weeks learning Spanish at Casco Antiguo Spanish School in Casco Viejo. I learnt a lot, going from being a wobbly beginner to a still pretty wobbly intermediate speaker, but as we are living here now, I get lots of opportunities to practice and I will definitely go back for the odd week here and there to help me progress.

During my 4 weeks I had different classmates up to a maximum of 4. I liked learning as part of a group as it gives you a little bit of time to listen and write words down, and to think of what you are going to say next! The classes were a great mix of being taught grammar, having conversations about particular topics and doing exercises and games.

Also it was fun getting to know the other students, we were a real mix of ages and backgrounds. During my 4 weeks I was in a class with 3 nineteen year old boys; two from Brazil, one from England, two ladies of around my age (42) from the US and one older guy also from the US.

Our teacher Katy was particularly good at writing up interesting vocabulary on the white board as we went along, clearly explaining the grammar (almost entirely in Spanish!) and helping us generate loads of examples to get familiar with new verbs and tenses. She also set us a bit of homework everyday to help cement new knoweldge.

I loved going into Casco Viejo everyday, my kids are at school there at The Casco School, so it was fun for me to be able to go in with them on the school bus. The old city is absolutely charming. I love it's narrow cobbled streets and old buildings. And there's loads of little restaurants and bars to have a quick recovery beer in after class!

The language school puts on a daily evening activity from 5pm, bike tours, happy hour pub crawl, salsa lessons but as I have 3 kids I never got the chance to do this. Maybe I will one day!

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
I loved our trip to the Mola Museum in Cacso Viejo. It was a field trip one morning, We walked 5 minutes to a lovely modern museum and saw the fascinating multi-layered textile art made by Guna women - an indigineous group here in Panama.

We heard how the bright, complex patterns are made to ward off evil spirits by confusing them - and some of them certainly had that affect on me! Particularly the 3D video box where you can lie down and look at the patterns, I couldn't even go near it. All I can deduce is that I am probably a (not very) evil spirit - but bad enough to be repelled by Molas!

https://www.magnoliapanama.com/mola-museum-in-casco-viejo-panama/
Laura
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best place to learn Spanish!

We planned on taking Spanish lessons at this Spanish language school for one week, but ended up staying three weeks because we liked the school, teachers and lessons so much. The quality of the lessons is very good and the after-class activities are a lot of fun. The atmosphere in the school is really nice and we quickly felt at home. Also, the staff has always been helpful to us when we needed Panama-travel advice :) So we would 100% recommend taking Spanish lessons at Casco Antiguo Spanish School.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?
Make sure you don't miss the bike tour with Kiki!
Renee
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Spanish Course

The course I took was super fun and exciting. It made appreciate the latin culture even more and the people in the school and hotel are incredible nice. The location is amazing. Between the jungle and only a five minute walk to the beach. It was exciting waking up everyday and knowing I could have classes, learn and then take a surf class to finish the evening. The accommodation was very comfortable and they even gave me a free upgrade in between the course. The course help me improve my relationship with people I met right there everyday and made it easier to speak to the people from the community.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
On my free day we went and did a bioluminiscense tour at night and it was breathtaking.
Jon
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing Experience!!!

Casco Antiguo Spanish School Exceeded my expectations. I have taken some Spanish learning in other locations, but this one tops them all! They had a very good structure put in to place to help you learn and they made it fun and easy. You don't just study in the classroom here... they take you around Casco Viejo to show you the town so you can learn about the city you're in as well as teach you new things on your ventures. Very interactive and patient program. I will definitely be returning! Thank you for the experience!

If you did this all over again, what's one thing you would change?
I was new to the country so I stayed in a hotel. If I would do it again, I would live with one of the families that the school has connections with.