Habla: The Center for Language and Culture
Habla: The Center for Language and Culture
Habla: The Center for Language and Culture
5
9:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday
9:30 AM - 1:30 PM
About
Spanish School and Cultural Center
Suggested duration
2-3 hours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
157 reviews
Excellent
155
Very good
1
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
1
Aleida Hertel
1 contribution
Sep 2021
I traveled to Mérida, as a native Spanish speaker, with my young adult daughter. Habla exceeded our expectations in so many ways, the school is everything a language center should be: it is fun, inclusive, diverse, engaging, welcoming and effective. My daughter spent nine weeks studying face-to-face at Habla with all the necessary precautions during the pandemic during September-November 2021.
Habla kept my daughter and myself engaged and interested in how they teach Spanish, incorporating art, culture, local food and language.
Saying goodbye to the amazing teachers at Habla was difficult, we already miss being part of a wonderful community of learners and world travelers. Gracias, Habla!
Hasta la próxima!
Habla kept my daughter and myself engaged and interested in how they teach Spanish, incorporating art, culture, local food and language.
Saying goodbye to the amazing teachers at Habla was difficult, we already miss being part of a wonderful community of learners and world travelers. Gracias, Habla!
Hasta la próxima!
Written December 25, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AKwanderer77
Southeast Alaska13 contributions
Jan 2020
I spent 3 weeks taking classes at Habla in January 2020. The teachers, support staff, and my host family were all superb! I have done other immersion programs in Mexico and this one was definitely up to par. The school and host families are in a quiet and very safe part of town which was nice because the city center is a little hectic and always packed with people. It's a short bus or Uber ride to the center to see the sights and, when you have had your fill, nice to return home.
My teacher Lee was wonderful, so enthusiastic and encouraging. She found a way to introduce us to Mexican literature while still covering various grammatical subjects. She helped me finally understand all the different tenses of the subjunctive. The support staff at the school, from Ana to the cook Reina, were all so friendly and helpful.
And they placed me with the perfect host, Elizabeth. We did so much together - yoga classes, meals out with friends, evening walks with her dogs, pedicures, and of course many delicious home cooked Yucatecan meals. I felt very at home there.
I highly recommend Habla if you are looking for a immersion program in Merida.
My teacher Lee was wonderful, so enthusiastic and encouraging. She found a way to introduce us to Mexican literature while still covering various grammatical subjects. She helped me finally understand all the different tenses of the subjunctive. The support staff at the school, from Ana to the cook Reina, were all so friendly and helpful.
And they placed me with the perfect host, Elizabeth. We did so much together - yoga classes, meals out with friends, evening walks with her dogs, pedicures, and of course many delicious home cooked Yucatecan meals. I felt very at home there.
I highly recommend Habla if you are looking for a immersion program in Merida.
Written May 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
¡Muchas gracias! We are so happy you enjoyed your classes and homestay experience at Habla. We hope to see you again soon!
Written April 21, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Plantsarerad
3 contributions
Jun 2020 • Family
Last summer my family had such a great time learning Spanish at Habla. My two teen daughters were in a class with two other teenage girls, and made fast friends. This summer we were able to arrange for these girls to have on-line lessons together—2 girls in Tennessee, 1 girl in New Mexico, 1 girl in Bangkok, Thailand, and their wonderful teacher from Habla in Merida! The school was more than accommodating to make this happen (the time change was tricky), the teacher was better than the best and made learning Spanish really fun for these girls, and it was especially great to listen in on the classes and hear these teen girls talking and in such a supportive learning environment. When those session had to end due to other family obligations, my youngest daughter begged to continue her classes and so we signed her up for more with her cousin in Iowa. I myself had several sessions with a friend in Louisiana. Oh my goodness, what a wonderful experience for all of us — from age 12 to 40-something ; ). The teachers are really the very best, and I am so thankful for being able to learn from them at Habla — both in person and virtually.
Written June 30, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your detailed review! We are so glad your family has been able to enjoy both our in-person and online classes. Our teachers work so hard to plan meaningful, dynamic classes. Thank you for recognizing everything they do!
Written April 21, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Charlotteradb
1 contribution
Jan 2022
Habla was the perfect place to learn Spanish with my 8 year old son. I was worried that he would hate the experience but he LOVED every teacher he worked with. On the first day, after asking to reflect on the best and worst, he had no worst. And my teachers were as wonderful - kind, fun, patient and incredibly helpful. They can also accommodate staying with a family if you are looking for an immersive experience.
On top of this, the hospitality was sublime. The school helped us to organize travel adventures figure out how to volunteer locally. And Marimar and Kurt, the founders, had us over to their house where our children, who are the same age, played for hours. The founders do professional development for teachers in other educational institutions and clearly blaze a path with their focus on integration of culture and arts. The staff seems loyal, with little turn over, and the feeling is of a healthy loving family.
On top of this, the hospitality was sublime. The school helped us to organize travel adventures figure out how to volunteer locally. And Marimar and Kurt, the founders, had us over to their house where our children, who are the same age, played for hours. The founders do professional development for teachers in other educational institutions and clearly blaze a path with their focus on integration of culture and arts. The staff seems loyal, with little turn over, and the feeling is of a healthy loving family.
Written February 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tammy Bleier
Rochester, NY3 contributions
Mar 2022 • Solo
I can't recommend Habla enough. I did the in-person Spanish immersion program for two weeks in March 2022 and LOVED it. Lore was my teacher for both weeks and she was incredible. She was very patient, knowledgeable, and personable. She was open to my requests for learning specific things and I never felt like she was judging me (even when I was struggling). Alejo and Ana were fantastic as well, very welcoming and great at keeping everything organized. The food was delicious - Carla is quite the chef! Everyone I met was wonderful.
Overall, I felt I learned more in 2 weeks with Habla's immersion program than I did from a semester of Spanish classes. The cultural aspect gives more meaning and context to the language which deepened my learning and retention. I also appreciated that every day we read, wrote, spoke, and listened to Spanish. I will definitely be taking classes with them in the future.
If you're contemplating classes with Habla, take the leap! You won't be sorry.
Overall, I felt I learned more in 2 weeks with Habla's immersion program than I did from a semester of Spanish classes. The cultural aspect gives more meaning and context to the language which deepened my learning and retention. I also appreciated that every day we read, wrote, spoke, and listened to Spanish. I will definitely be taking classes with them in the future.
If you're contemplating classes with Habla, take the leap! You won't be sorry.
Written April 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
E.
1 contribution
Mar 2020 • Solo
Find another school. This one seems to just want to fleece you. Instead of giving me a teacher at my level they put me in a tiny class that had been in session for a week. They did not teach the basics. Even counting. Had a three week immersion scheduled. Quit after 2 in frustration. They refused to refund full amount of week not used. The whole org seems a bit shady.
Do not stay with a host family. They did not provide any meals as described by school and were resentful that a stranger was in their house. They made no attempt to hide it. Airb&b is a way better experience. Left home stay after a week. Another person at the school had an even more awful experience and also left early
In short, not about learning but your money. It was a frustrating and wasteful experience.
Do not stay with a host family. They did not provide any meals as described by school and were resentful that a stranger was in their house. They made no attempt to hide it. Airb&b is a way better experience. Left home stay after a week. Another person at the school had an even more awful experience and also left early
In short, not about learning but your money. It was a frustrating and wasteful experience.
Written February 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hola SoloTraveler1039, we're afraid you have commented on the wrong school's page. We haven't been open for in-person immersion classes or homestays since March of last year. Still, we're so sorry you had such a negative experience in Mérida and are more than happy to welcome you to Habla in the future. We kindly ask you to remove your comment and direct it to the school you are referencing above. ¡Gracias!
Written April 21, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Loretta M
Cape Canaveral17 contributions
Feb 2023 • Solo
My experience of Habla consisted of 6 days of private tutoring with Gaby. She is a kind and patient teacher. I was able to participate in a couple of cooking classes, along with a trip to the grocery store and to a museum. All interesting. Habla is conveniently located, Merida is very safe and simple to walk or find a taxi. My Spanish is improving bit by bit.
The next time I am there I will want to mix group classes with private lessons because the other students were also friendly.
The next time I am there I will want to mix group classes with private lessons because the other students were also friendly.
Written March 26, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DebbieAndDavidPizota
Pizota, Mexico6 contributions
Feb 2020
Sometimes experiences don't live up to the hype. However, my 2 weeks at Habla exceeded my expectations.
The sweet aroma of learning permeates the atmosphere, spiced with exuberant instructors and staff, not to mention great food! I am so grateful to my instructors and to other instructors (with whom I interacted daily during meals) for their passions. As a bonus, I found all of my fellow students (and especially my 3 classmates) to be smart, interesting, supportive, and equally passionate about learning.
I entered with intermediate language skills, and, while i still consider myself to have intermediate skills, those skills have been significantly enhanced wrt reading, writing, listening, speaking, and, yes, grammar. The variety of lessons i experienced in my small and intimate classes held my rapt attention and the time, and the days, flew past.
Something particularly useful for my learning experience was the staff's ability to tune the lessons. They adapted their teaching approach to the learning styles and personal interests of the students. Incredible enhancement for my time at Habla.
One last thing - i found it particularly fascinating to be introduced to the different approach to thinking (and living) that thrives in Latin America. To be sure, that approach is more liberal than I as an American encounter in the north, but the instructors made sure to provide a solid connection between this different world view and history, culture, and the land itself.
I want to learn more!
The sweet aroma of learning permeates the atmosphere, spiced with exuberant instructors and staff, not to mention great food! I am so grateful to my instructors and to other instructors (with whom I interacted daily during meals) for their passions. As a bonus, I found all of my fellow students (and especially my 3 classmates) to be smart, interesting, supportive, and equally passionate about learning.
I entered with intermediate language skills, and, while i still consider myself to have intermediate skills, those skills have been significantly enhanced wrt reading, writing, listening, speaking, and, yes, grammar. The variety of lessons i experienced in my small and intimate classes held my rapt attention and the time, and the days, flew past.
Something particularly useful for my learning experience was the staff's ability to tune the lessons. They adapted their teaching approach to the learning styles and personal interests of the students. Incredible enhancement for my time at Habla.
One last thing - i found it particularly fascinating to be introduced to the different approach to thinking (and living) that thrives in Latin America. To be sure, that approach is more liberal than I as an American encounter in the north, but the instructors made sure to provide a solid connection between this different world view and history, culture, and the land itself.
I want to learn more!
Written February 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your review about your spanish experience with us! We are very happy we can share with you different perspectives about what it means for us being Latin American. Remember we are here for anything you need. If you come to Mérida in the future do not forget to say hi and have a coffee with us. We hope to see you soon.
Written February 28, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Bianca S
1 contribution
Feb 2022 • Solo
I started Spanish online classes with Habla as a beginner and because of my wonderful teacher and Habla’s interactive model, I quickly built a strong foundation for grammar and became confident in speaking conversationally. I visited Merida for Habla’s Spanish immersion program and fell in love with the city, the school, and the whole Habla family. This is a genuine and amazing community that anyone looking to improve their language skills must connect with. I made friends I’ll stay in touch with, learned so much about Mexican art, history, and culture, and ate incredible food every day while I was there on campus (the best vegetarian options I’ve ever had!! ¡Gracias Carla!) I wouldn’t change anything about my experience and i strongly considered not getting on my plane home. I am taking some time to practice all the Spanish I have learned on my own now but will be returning to HABLA when I’m ready to start studying formally again and of course next time I’m in Merida. If you’re reading reviews trying to pick a school, you’ve found the right one, reach out! I’m so grateful for all the things that have happened for me since i did. This is a group of fabulous and inspiring people doing something truly special and unique, don’t miss out :)
Written March 3, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WritingFromPG
pacific grove15 contributions
Aug 2019
After a magical visit to study at Habla in Mérida for a week in March 2019, my 15 year old son signed up for online lessons in August with Habla Online. I hadn't written a review earlier, because truthfully I wanted to have his teacher all to himself again when we decided to do more online classes. (Selfish that I wanted to keep this all to myself.) Habla staff will ask you what you would like to learn. The teachers have a wealth of qualifications with different focuses, so it will not be easy to chose when they ask you which teacher you'd like to learn with. The classes are culturally rich and creative activity-based. They have different types of classes depending on age and interest. In my son's case, there was structure and a set of material to cover, but also a lot of room for creativity, so you learn culture and language in a creative way, much as you do in their regular classroom methods. My son did a set of 24 classes in the summer in one month -- topics ranged from Yucatecan food, dÃa de muertos, to Argentine writer who focused on science fiction. (By the way, some of these topics found their way into his regular school work in 9th grade, which shows how he retained what he learned). Habla seems to produce original materials to be able to teach in the way they think it's most effective and it's true for their online classes as well. I would recommend their online classes 100%.
Written March 31, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Tracey W
Houston, TX16 contributions
My 13 year old daughter and I are planing to spend the last week of July in the city center and attend your school for Spanish lessons. How far are you from the city center? We will probable take a taxi to the school.
MarimarHabla
Merida, Mexico
Hola Tracey, we are happy that you will join us this Summer. I recommend the first day to take a taxi to school. Ana will send you before your classes start an email with directions on how to get to Habla for the taxi driver. It is not hard to get here from downtown. Once you know your way you can decide if you want to walk or take a cab or ride the bus. By taxi it will take, depending in what part of downtown you are staying, about 10 to 15 minutes. Some people have been taking Uber. Let me know if you have any questions, you can email us! Saludos Marimar
solim
Baltimore, MD3 contributions
Hi, I was wondering how you felt about the school's location outside the city center. Did this affect your ability to experience Merida? Thanks.
MarimarHabla
Merida, Mexico
Hola
Habla: The Center for Language and Culture (Merida) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Habla: The Center for Language and Culture
- Habla: The Center for Language and Culture is open:
- Mon - Fri 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
- Sat - Sat 9:30 AM - 1:30 PM
- Hotels near Habla: The Center for Language and Culture:
- (0.30 mi) Hotel Zar Merida
- (1.81 mi) Boutique By The Museo
- (1.38 mi) Wayam Mundo Imperial
- (2.00 mi) Casa Del Maya
- (1.95 mi) Casa Lecanda Boutique Hotel
- Restaurants near Habla: The Center for Language and Culture:
- (0.10 mi) El Fenicio pan y botanas arabes
- (0.10 mi) El Charrua Parrilla Uruguaya
- (0.11 mi) Los Originales
- (0.11 mi) Spiago
- (0.15 mi) Osteria Piccoli
Habla: The Center for Language and Culture Information
Excellent Reviews | 155 |
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Very Good Reviews | 1 |
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