Sprachcaffe Havana

I believe that the language school in Havana is different than other language schools in terms of organization and equipment. It was hard to find paper and pens in Cuba and I did not know to bring my own. I would suggest this language school if one seeks a very cultural experience but wants to learn Spanish on a side note. When looking for a very organized class this is not your place to go.

However, if you want to experience Cuba and learn about the country I can suggest this school. The head of the school knows a lot about the country, is very friendly and happy to help. Also he organises trips, which are expensive (but that's everywhere in Cuba) due to the transportation. So you can combine school and trips.

As a tip, I suggest everybody to bring enough cash (preferably euros) for the stay. I ended up using about 170€ for food drinks etc. And spend 200€ on travelling (two weeks). It is impossible to get dollars or euros in Cuba, however you can get CUP when having euros or dollars or a credit card. It is however likely that the ATM does not have cash, therefore the euros I would bring.

Secondly I would bring all the material for studying, paper, pens etc. Because it is impossible to find that in Cuba. Also I would email language international to get in contact with the Cuban school to talk about the teaching material (books etc.) Because it can be helpful to bring your own book to write in, as it is not guaranteed that they will have a copy for you.

In terms of water, it can be very helpful to bring a good filter (like one you skrew on the tap) as it is hard to find drinking water in Cuba. I ended up using a filter from another student which was very helpful.

In general I was glad to go to Cuba but I should have planned more ahead, as it is hard to do so in the country. Also I would have liked more info about Cuba from the language school.

I liked the colleagues, the salsa lessons and teacher, the staff was very helpful and friendly, i was able to learn Spanish, the teacher was friendly, Alexandro was a wonderful tout guide.
The housing was reasonable, it would have been better if there was food available or the possibility of cooking. The Spanish teacher could have been more organised and effective, , the location was fine.

Small number of students in the classes (3 in my) - it is good.

Lack of the supporting materials by the teachers - it's bad. No study books, multimedia, nothing, just the teacher and nothing more.

The explanation from the teacher's side about the grammar, phonetics and lexis were ok but it would be better to switch more focus to the talking practice of students.

Lack of broadband internet, but it is the common problem on Cuba.

Hallo zusammen,
Meine Erfahrungen im Sprachcaffe Havanna waren sehr positiv. Da gerade keine Saison ist auf Cuba war waren die Klassen klein und die Lehrer konnten sich sehr individuell auf die Schüler eingehen.
Ich fand es auch sehr gut wie unsere Lehrerin von Anfang an unsern täglichen ablauf in den Unterricht mit eingebaut hat.
Die Schule ist in eine sehr ruhigen Lage in Havanna Miramar und gut erreichbar.
Die Betreuung und das Freizeitangebot sind hervorragend und preislich voll ok.
Ich kann das Sprachcaffe Havanna jeden weiterempfehlen der Spanisch lernen und Cuba entdecken möchte.
Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Peter

We had a wonderful stay in Havannas Sprachcafe! Special thanks to our wonderful teacher professora Anna: she is a great character and teached us so much in so little time. The school interior was typical Cuban architecture and great to learn, even an AC. The location of the school was very local and made us feel not as touristy about our stay which we absolutely loved!

Otherwise a big thank you to the great Email contact in Germany with Simone Reich. Seldomly had such a competent, fast answering, nice person answering my emails. Thanks for that!

The only little sad thing was the organization of weekend trips, which we did not expect but they made it appear very difficult to get a place to stay or a ride to other cities when it was actually very easy and just a little tip would've been enough, otherwise the organization was very great and the classes very little which made a great learning environment.

Classes had no more than 5 students per class.
Proficient and patient teachers.
The staff, particularly Sergio was sensitive and responsive to the desire.of each student
Numerous tourist activities base taint proposed.
The lodging that was assigned to me did not suit me but I was promptly given another one for the same price.
The tests conducted at the reception should be a little more selective because if a person turns out to be of a lower level in a class it disrupts the others.
I would have preferred a closer location to Centro Havana. Miramar is quite out of the way to visit and the transportation quite complex and expensive.

Upon arrival on the first scheduled day of classes, we encountered a locked door without notice.

Inside the tiny classrooms we suffered from no air conditioning while downstairs the staff enjoyed air conditioned room with comfort. The noise from the streets drowned out the instructor.

Our poor professor lacked a whiteboard marker and eraser, and had only the tiniest board, so had to keep erasing out information that we needed.

Every Monday new students arrived in the wrong classrooms due to poor placement exams. It was very difficult to learn while the more advanced students called out answers. Instructors should not accept that behavior.

Eight students per class is too many.