I attended Habla for 2 weeks at the end of February. It was a very good experience. I have a decent…read morebackground in Spanish (high school and college years ago and some use in recent years) but my Spanish definitely needed sharpening. This was a good environment for practicing, reviewing, learning and gaining confidence to speak. The entire staff is energetic and passionate. The teachers, all young, have excellent teaching skills and obviously put a lot of effort into planning their curriculum and lessons.Each week, in each class, there is a theme. The themes includes history, literature, social issues and culture. Interwoven is grammar and vocabulary so that you can express and communicate more clearly. There were a maximum of four students in my classes, all of whom were at the same approximate intermediate level as I am. We were encouraged to speak Spanish at all times, during meals, breaks, etc. We mostly did. Speaking of meals, breakfast and lunch are provided and very tasty.....typical Yucatan meals, eaten outside on a shaded patio at a big table with the staff and students. My first week I stayed with a local family in the suburbs. My second week I stayed in a wonderful small hotel, Casa Mexillo in El Centro. The home stay was fine, but I much preferred staying downtown. Merida is safe, the people are quite reserved and are used to tourists. Although there are a lot of tourists, the city does not have a touristy feel to it. No large groups following a leader with a flag. It is a big, working city, with a fascinating culture and history. Staying in El Centro let me enjoy restaurants, historic sites, shopping and outdoor concerts. My Spanish got good enough that I was very comfortable in all situations. There is another review of Habla that I just read that says many of the same things I would say and I concur with that review 100%! Habla is an awesome place and Merida is wonderful.

Mi nephew comes from LA to Merida every year for the summer break, and he always attends some…read moresummer camp, like swimming, and the like. This year we decided to enroll him in Habla summer camp, and he said this has been the best summer since he is coming. He was very happy and felt really bonded with Habla's personnel. I have never seen him crying for leaving the summer camp in the past!!! Five stars for Habla.

My group of chefs and restaurant managers from Chicago got a private cooking class by one of the…read moreinstructors at Culinaria del Sureste. The chef used hot rocks to finish cooking a traditional Mayan seafood soup. It was an unbelievable technique and made for a delicious dinner. It was great visiting a culinary school in the Yucatan and seeing the passion of these young cooks!

Diego welcomed me into the club when they were children having lessons because I was in pain. He…read moremotivated me to move in the water and he made me want to come more. Signing up tomorrow.