No matter what the reason you鈥檙e living in Panama for (or even visiting), you鈥檙e going to want to know, and learn as much Spanish as possible while you鈥檙e here. This is not only a great way to get by, but will endear you to the locals in a way that you can鈥檛 do without speaking their native language. Panama is a country of contrasts, cultures, and yes, languages. And that means that lots of languages are spoken, and respected amongst Panama鈥檚 inhabitants. Spanish, however, is the country鈥檚 official language, as well as its most widely spoken. We recommend you start learning a bit before you arrive, and hitting the ground running once you get here. To make things easier for you, we鈥檝e put together a list of 5 great ways to practice, and learn Spanish in Panama!
1. Take group Spanish classes.
It鈥檚 a no-brainer that one of the fastest ways to learn Spanish would be to take Spanish classes, but you鈥檒l find you鈥檒l learn much faster in a group setting. Why? It鈥檚 simple. Although you get less attention from the teacher, you鈥檒l have a pier group that鈥檚 more or less at the same level as you. This way you can comfortably bounce questions off them, learn from their mistakes (as well as yours), and their successes. Plus, it鈥檚 a great way to make friends, and will help boost your confidence when talking in public.
2. Watch TV/Movies in Spanish.
This is an easy, and fun way to pick up on nuances that you may not get in class, or from a book or app. If you鈥檙e a beginner, try watching kids shows, or simple, non-dialogue heavy movies (action, teen movies). When you start getting better, try watching local newscasts. You will learn a ton of vocabulary, as well as (often) proper pronunciation. Even better, you鈥檒l stay up to date with what other Panamanians are watching/paying attention to, and this will give you lots to talk about (and practice Spanish) with locals.
3. Hang out in social settings where Spanish is the only language spoken.
While the mere sound of this may seem scary, especially if you鈥檙e not confident with your Spanish, this is the most effective way to practice and learn any language. Yes, it鈥檚 tough, and frustrating, but it will also jump start your brain into making you communicate. Most Panamanians will be patient with you as you practice, and the mere fact that you鈥檙e trying your hardest will make people want to hang out with you even more. It鈥檚 a win/win in our books, even if it takes some getting used to.
4. Download a companion app.
There are so many great language apps out there, that not having one would be silly if you鈥檙e actively trying to learn Spanish. Apps will give you on-the-fly tips and vocab as you go through your day-to-day life in Panama, and will add huge value to your classes, as you will be continuing your language education long after you leave the classroom. We鈥檙e all on our phones all the time anyways, so you might as well take advantage, and sharpen your Spanish skills while you鈥檙e at it.
5. Talk to your taxi/Uber driver.
Drivers love to talk to their customers. It鈥檚 a worldwide fact, and Panama is no different. Being in the car all day can get lonely, and drivers are often curious to talk to foreigners, to find out more about them, and why they chose Panama to work, live, or retire. This is like a free (well, you still need to pay the fare) one-on-one Spanish class, and you can get a lot of practice with simple small talk as well. Taxi and Uber drivers are very local, so it鈥檚 also a great way to learn about local politics, social trends, music, and pick up on the local accent.
Now that you鈥檝e got some tips, go out there and show the world you mean business when it comes to learning Spanish in Panama. Trust us, you won鈥檛 be disappointed!
