The official language in Panama is Spanish, which is spoken widely and is a result of many years of rule from Spain. There are a number of lesser used indigenous languages which are still in used although these tend to be localised. These include Hakka, Ember, San Blas Kuna, Teribe and Epena, although there are many more.

English is spoken fluently by approximately 15% of the population and mainly in the cities and this is thanks to the influence of the Americans, who had a strong presence in Panama during the 20th century. It is commonly used in some businesses, particularly those that are international, although most will use Spanish on a daily basis. It is not always essential to be able to speak Spanish before you start work as most Panamanians can speak a little English at least. It is worth checking these details before you begin as most companies will expect you to be willing to learn. Learning basic Spanish should be enough for some, so that they can deal with day to day activities such as shopping and socialising.

Those expats that do not speak Spanish are able to enrol in language schools. Lessons are available in the form of intensive courses, night classes or day release classes (usually organised through an employer). Schools such as Languages in Action have been in existence for years. Languages in Action is accredited and courses last from between 1 week to 1 year. Accommodation can be arranged for those who need it for the duration of their course and there are also specialised language programmes for those who are working in specific industries. These include medical Spanish, business Spanish and courses for children.

Habla Ya Spanish is a language school which offers private lessons as well as group classes. Volunteer placements can be arranged so that students can put their new found language skills to good use. Courses begin each week, so that no matter what time of the year that you arrive in Panama you do not have to wait for tuition.

The ILISA (Instituto Lantinoma de Idomas) is a school which offers courses designed for those who want to learn intensively. The school has been in operation since 1987 and is based both in Panama and Costa Rica. Group classes consist of no more than four students per class and programmes can be designed to ensure that you learn the Spanish you need for your daily life or work.

Many expats who come to Panama do so to teach English, particularly younger expats, although it is a profession that most English speakers can opt for in order to support themselves. A qualification in TEFL is required for most schools and work can be arranged before you arrive in the country. There are agencies which arrange work and a number of websites which advertise vacancies for TEFL teachers. Once you arrive in the country, you can arrange work at other locations as well, as most TEFL jobs are not full-time positions and it should be noted that much of the work will take place in the evening.

It is also possible to earn money as a private tutor teaching English. In order to work as a TEFL teacher it is not strictly necessary to be able to speak Spanish, as some language schools will insist that only English is spoken during the lesson, but for private work you will need to know some Spanish. In some cases, the student will have some knowledge of English as most of the population can hold at least a basic conversation in English, although in some very rural areas the language may be limited to one of the indigenous languages, so a guide or translator might be necessary.

English language television channels and radio stations are available in Panama. Some channels offer a secondary language on the programmes, so that you can watch in either Spanish or English and in many urban areas, cable and satellite television is common. Most cable and satellite providers offer channels in English, Spanish, French, Italian and German, and there are many channels which show well known US and UK programmes. Some programmes may be broadcast with subtitles although dubbing is much more common.

Useful Resources

Languages in Action
www.languagesinaction.com

Habla Ya Spanish
www.hablayapanama.com
Email: info@hablayapanama.com
Tel: (507) 730 8344

ILISA (Instituto Lantinoma de Idomas)
www.ilisa.com
Email: spanish@ilisa.com
Tel: (506) 2280 0700 (Costa Rica)

The International School of Panama
www.isp.edu.pa
Email: admissions@isp.edu.pa
Tel: (507) 293 3000