Centro Catalina Spanish School

Experiencia fantástica: Estudiar español en Cartagena durante estos 4 meses fue una experiencia increíble para mí. No solo aprendí el idioma, sino también conocí una nueva cultura, gente muy amable y muchas experiencias inolvidables. Durante los primeros 2 meses, tuve clases con mi profesora Carmen. Ella es una profesora muy paciente, divertida y siempre motivadora. Gracias a ella, perdí el miedo a hablar en español y empecé a expresarme con más confianza. Sus clases siempre eran dinámicas y llenas de energía. En los siguientes 2 meses, estudié con mi profesor Sebastián. Él tiene una forma de enseñar muy clara y organizada. Me ayudó mucho a mejorar mi gramática y a entender mejor los detalles del idioma. Además, siempre hacía las clases interesantes con ejemplos de la vida real. También quiero mencionar a mi amigo Gustavo, quien está a cargo de las actividades en la escuela. Con él viví muchos momentos inolvidables y gracias a él pude conocer la verdadera amistad colombiana. Aprendí muchas cosas a su lado y sinceramente creo que es una persona que merece lo mejor en la vida. Danielle: durante mis primeras semanas en Kartagena tuve la oportunidad de asistir a sus clases; eran muy tranquilas y fáciles de entender. Paula: sus clases eran realmente muy divertidas y puedo decir que superé el nerviosismo inicial gracias a ella; me ayudó mucho con mi expresión oral y me aportó muchas cosas; quiero darle las gracias de todo corazón. Fiama: siempre fue encantadora y era la princesa de la escuela. Aunque solo pasamos muy poco tiempo juntas, apenas una semana, lo que me enseñó y su energía positiva hicieron que me gustaran más las clases y me interesaran más. Tatiana; Quiero dar las gracias de todo corazón a Tatiana por sus esfuerzos, que me han permitido vivir aquí en un entorno cómodo y limpio. También quiero decir que la escuela tiene un ambiente muy positivo y amigable. Me sentí como en casa desde el primer día. Hice amigos de diferentes países y eso hizo la experiencia aún más especial. En resumen, estos 4 meses fueron muy importantes para mí. Mejoré mucho mi español y disfruté cada momento. ¡Muchas gracias a todos!

Experiencia fantástica: I was sadly only at Centro Catalina Spanish School for a week, which honestly felt criminally short because I was just getting into the groove. The classes were really fun but still had enough structure that you actually learned and didn’t just sit there nodding and pretending you understood everything. Huge shout-out to my professor, Sebastian. He did a fantastic job making sure everyone had equal speaking time, and broke things down in a way that was funny and easy to understand. I especially liked that there was plenty of time to actually make conversation and practice speaking instead of just studying grammar pedantically all day. I also met Paola on my last morning session and she was great — I just wish I’d had more time with her. Overall, the school has a chill vibe. I loved that they organize afternoon activities so you can keep practicing Spanish outside the classroom, and the little snack break at lunch was And I’ll be honest — I can be a slightly particular student at times (okay… occasionally difficult ), but everyone there was so comfortable, attentive, and accommodating. Would absolutely recommend if you want to learn Spanish in in a way that’s structured but still relaxed and fun. Soooo same time next year?

Experiencia fantástica: I sincerely recommend this experience to everyone!!! Really loved the school and my stay in Cartagena! I spent 5 weeks there and never once felt uncomfortable. Really loved the staff and the teachers, especially Ronald and Sasa, the ones that guided me. I also really enjoyed the activities, that gave me the chance to see and appreciate other parts of the city and the culture.

Experiencia fantástica: W trakcie pobytu w Kartagenie, miałam przyjemność uczestniczyć w lekcji języka hiszpańskiego w Centro Catalina Spanish School. Już od samego wejścia atmosfera była wspaniała. Ludzie pracujący tam są bardzo kompetentni a do tego sympatyczni i pomocni. Lektorka Marcela w bardzo miły i luźny sposób prowadziła zajęcia. Marcela okazała się świetnym tutorem - zachęcała do rozmowy, a dodatkowo przekazała ciekawe i przydatne informacje dotyczące Kartageny i Kolumbii

Experiencia fantástica: I've spent a total of 5 weeks learning spanish in this school. My teacher Fiama was great, always professional and on time. Wich is not a given here in colombia. I also have to say Gustavo's efforts to create a great after school experience are outstanding. He makes every Person feel welcome and included nomatter who you are or where you're from. Also Randy made sure to help everyone who needed it. If you like the Sun and to improve your spanish this is the place to go

Experiencia fantástica: 9 weken mogen vertoeven op Centro Catalina, 5 weken in Medellin en 4 weken in Cartagena. Al met al een onvergetelijke ervaring. Hoewel de eerste weken zeer zwaar voor het hoofd waren omdat de docenten niet allemaal de Engelse taal machtig zijn, heerst er een hele goede sfeer op de scholen. Er is veel dynamiek en interactie tussen de docenten en de leerlingen. Dit komt door de invulling van de lessen en de oprechte interesses in de leerlingen. Door de vele conversaties die je voert in de lessen, voel je je als taalstudent gezien en gewaardeerd. Uiteraard op weekbasis ook veel tijd besteed aan de grammatica. Naast de lessen ansich, zijn er ook veel doordeweekse activiteiten georganiseerd vanuit de taalschool. Hierdoor leer je de medestudenten, docenten, de stad en de cultuur nog beter kennen. Al deze ervaringen bij elkaar hebben ervoor gezorgd dat ik een zeer positieve ervaring heb gehad op Centro Catalina. Dank aan het team!

Experiencia fantástica: Great teachers and social experience!

Experiencia fantástica: Had javier lopez whi was very good teacher and i enjoyed how he taught me

Experiencia fantástica: I only spent one week at the Centro Catalina Spanish School, but would have liked to stay longer. I took the A1 class as a bloody beginner. The teachers are really patient and kind (I was thought by Fiamma and Carmen). Even with no Spanish skills they support you having your first conversations in Spanish by the end of your first week. I felt really welcomed by all the staff. The class rooms could use some renovation and upgrade of the ACs as well as teaching equipment, though.

Experiencia fantástica: Eine super Schule um Spanisch zu lernen, Leute kennenzulernen und Spaß zu haben.

Experiencia fantástica: I had an amazing experience learning Spanish here. Super kind and friendly staff, located in the middle of the centre of town. Stay, and never leave if you have the chance!

Experiencia fantástica: It is a great school, with a superb location. The content of the classes are very flexible and go with the pace necessary for the student. Sometimes quick, sometimes slow. The teachers are great and very committed to make your time here as good as it can possibly be. The front desk is super helpful for everything you need. They have an activity everyday, sports, touristic and for a good cause. Take morning classes, because you will need the afternoon for other nice things to do in Cartagena.

Experiencia fantástica: I had an amazing experience studying at the Centro Catalina Spanish school for multiple months after relocating to Colombia. The school became my second home. Absolutely amazing staff, very kind and welcoming! Special thanks to Marcela , she is a great teacher, detailed and professional, and there is nothing she can't explain. I, honestly, could not recommend her more! Thank you all for such a great time together and absolutely lovely memories

Experiencia fantástica: Spent 2 weeks learning Spanish here, and had the best time. I learnt so much in such a short time. My teachers, Ronald and Marcela, were knowledgeable, excellent at explaining things, and kind teachers. They made learning a truly fun experience. Outside of lessons, the activities put on by the school were lots of fun and a great chance to socialise with other students, as well as put some of the Spanish I’d learnt into practice. Couldn’t recommend here more!

Experiencia fantástica: Fantastic two weeks with Centro Catalina learning Spanish & especially thanks to Ronald who was a fantastic teacher! Great experience all round.

Experiencia fantástica: We had a 4 day semi private course from our teacher Javier. We were total beginners and he taught us a lot during his classes. We also went to a market to order drinks in Spanish and we practiced a lot of speaking which was really helpful. Above that we learned the basics in grammer. He adjusted the course to what we wanted to learn, which was great! I would recommend taking classes here! Javier was the best teacher! He is really dedicated.

Experiencia fantástica: We had nice Spanish lessons from Javier. He adjusted his classes to suit our needs and to help us learn practical spanish for our travels. He is always happy and brings good atmosphere to the lessons!

Experiencia fantástica: ¡Una experiencia increíble en Centro Catalina Spanish School en Cartagena! Un agradecimiento especial a mi profesor Javier Lopez, siempre paciente, motivador y que hizo que aprender español fuera muy agradable.

Experiencia fantástica: I had an amazing experience at Centro Catalina! From the moment I arrived, I felt welcomed and part of a warm and supportive community. The atmosphere at the school is very friendly and motivating, making it the perfect place to learn Spanish. The teachers are truly passionate about teaching, and the lessons are engaging, interactive, and well-structured. The small class sizes allow for personalized attention. I highly recommend Centro Catalina to anyone looking for an effective and immersive Spanish learning experience. I felt comfortable, motivated, and inspired every day! I loved my course we laughed so much! Thank you guys Quiero expresar mi más sincero agradecimiento a mis profesores Jennifer, Felipe y Marcela! Ha sido un placer haber sido su alumna. Gracias por su motivación y inspiración. Meryem

Experiencia fantástica: We did some semi private lessons as a couple with Javier. He was a fantastic teacher and very patient and informative. He made the lessons the very fun and interesting.

Experiencia fantástica: Amazing Spanish school, really good classes and friendly instructors (shout out to Beatriz and Javier), very fun and welcoming. They make the classes really engaging and ensure you understand things before move on. They also have opportunities to speak/do activities outside of the classroom which is great. Would highly recommend!

Experiencia fantástica: Tuve la suerte de estudiar en Centro Catalina con Marce como profesora, y fue una de las mejores experiencias que he tenido. Siempre aprendíamos mucho y al mismo tiempo reíamos juntos en clase. Marce es una maestra increíble: cercana, divertida y muy profesional!

Experiencia fantástica: Del 13 de enero al 7 de febrero de 2025 estuve en Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, en el Centro Catalina Spanish School, para profundizar mis conocimientos de español. La estancia fue muy agradable y enriquecedora. Los estudiantes tenían entre 22 y 75 años, por lo que había una buena mezcla de edades. Esto era muy importante para mí, ya que yo tengo 68 años. La escuela estaba muy bien organizada y nos recibieron muy cordialmente el primer día de clase. Tras una breve prueba, escrita y oral, nos distribuyeron en clases de entre 4 y 6 estudiantes. Mis profesores siempre estaban muy bien preparados, impartían clases interesantes y variadas, y se adaptaban bien a nuestras necesidades individuales. Me gustaría mencionar especialmente a Marcela (Marce) y Ronald, que hicieron un trabajo excelente (¡¡¡Muchas gracias a los dos!!! *****/Al menos 5 estrellas :-)) La escuela está bien equipada, con un pequeño patio donde siempre había refrescos y algo para picar durante los descansos. Cuatro veces por semana se organizaban por la tarde diferentes actividades deportivas y culturales a las que se podía asistir de forma gratuita. Estas actividades también eran estupendas y muy variadas. Para los fines de semana había muchas propuestas interesantes de excursiones que se podían reservar a través de la escuela. Durante el curso me alojé en una familia colombiana. También allí me gustó mucho y me recibieron muy bien. Con la familia pude mejorar mis habilidades lingüísticas orales a diario. Recomiendo encarecidamente esta escuela a todos los que estén planeando una estancia lingüística en Colombia.

Experiencia fantástica: I spent 8 weeks at Centro Catalina, Cartagena. I was hugely impressed with the school and in particular in the standard of teaching. My two teachers, Jennifer and Marce were both excellent. They were very experienced and well qualified. Classes were well structured, interesting and varied. The pace of learning was perfect. I was surprised at how much I learned in only 8 weeks. I will be returning next year to continue my studies.

Experiencia fantástica: I just completed 2 weeks at the school in Cartagena. Everyone at the school is very inviting, welcoming and patient. Carmen is an excellent teacher and was able to make our small group lessons engaging, differentiated, and fun, while continuing to move through the curriculum. My private tutors, Edgar and Javier were also excellent. They both customized our time together to help me learn Spanish that would help with my career and travels. We often visited beautiful cafes or baloneys overlooking the city for our lessons which helped me learn more about the culture and city. My husband, not a student in the school, was welcomed to join the evening activities and we both enjoyed the dance classes and food tour.

Experiencia fantástica: Ik heb drie weken Spaanse les gevolgd bij deze school en het was top! (En veel te kort). De sfeer in de school was gezellig, ontspannen en ongedwongen. Mijn lerares in de ochtend, Marcela, maakte de lessen heel leuk en interessant. Ik heb enorm gelachen en genoten van de gesprekken die we voerden in de les over de meest uiteenlopende thema's. In de middag had ik les van Fiama die de les helemaal aanpaste aan mijn wensen, maar het was vooral heel gezellig en het voelde alsof ik met een vriendin praatte. Ik kan niet wachten om terug naar Colombia te gaan, om het mooie land en alle lieve mensen weer te zien!

Experiencia positiva: It was really nice, the only flaw was that even after it was made clear that the I spoke no Spanish I was paired with the teacher who spoke no English. The others in my group both got tutors who spoke pretty good and fluent English, so it was pretty difficult to learn, even with our heavy reliance on google translate. Still had a nice time though, and all staff were very nice.

Experiencia fantástica: Estudié durante 4 semanas en Centro Catalina, con clases particulares, y fue una experiencia realmente enriquecedora. La escuela tiene una estructura muy bien organizada y el ambiente es muy acogedor. Desde el primer día, el equipo fue atento, profesional y siempre dispuesto a ayudar con cualquier necesidad. Mi profesor, Felipe Archbold, fue simplemente excepcional. Es muy didáctico, paciente y logra adaptar las clases a los intereses y objetivos del alumno. En mi caso, buscaba mejorar el español para fines profesionales, y Felipe supo enfocar cada lección de forma útil, clara y motivadora.

Experiencia fantástica: Javier is a phenomenal Spanish teacher who brings both passion and patience to every lesson. His depth of knowledge is matched by a rare emotional intelligence—he’s incredibly kind, deeply empathetic, and truly listens. From the very beginning, he took the time to understand my learning style, goals, and even the emotional blocks I had around language learning. What truly sets him apart is how intentional he is in his approach. He went out of his way to work with me one-on-one as an individual tutor, crafting each session to meet me exactly where I was, while gently pushing me forward. Every lesson felt personal and purposeful. Javier doesn’t just teach Spanish—he makes you feel connected to it. He weaves culture, context, and conversation into every interaction so that you’re not memorizing, you’re internalizing. His encouragement is never generic—it’s specific, thoughtful, and rooted in genuine care. I’ve had many teachers over the years, but few who made me feel as seen, supported, and inspired as Javier. He’s not just helping me learn Spanish—he’s helping me believe I can learn Spanish. That’s a gift I’ll carry with me far beyond the classroom. Oh, and, his lunch recommendation was spot on!

Experiencia fantástica: I felt my two weeks with Sasa helped advance my confidence in speaking Spanish quite a bit. She was a kind and patient teacher.

Experiencia fantástica: Gocé mucho el aprendizaje con Centro Catalina. Tuve Javier López como profe y ¡es un excelente profe de español! Las clases con él fueron muy bien personalizadas para mis necesidades y metas. Hizo las clases muy divertidas con un gran variedad de canciones y vídeos para mostrar la gramática en acción. Hablamos sobre muchos temas profundos y relacionados con la vida diaria. También, puso énfasis en la escritura en español para que pudiera desarrollar mis habilidades de expresarme así. Fue un gran experiencia y ya puedo ver que mi fluidez ha mejorado.

Experiencia fantástica: La mejor experiencia de aprendizaje de español que he tenido. Maestra Marcela me enseñó con dedicación. Un fuerte abrazo a todos en CCS.

Experiencia fantástica: I attending the Centro Catalina Spanish School to improve my Spanish so that I could read Colonial Spanish archives for my PhD program. I was very clear about my goals when I entered the school and all of my instructors were very supportive in helping my achieve proficiency. Specifically, I completed six weeks of the intensive program, which I must say was not for the faint of heart. I completed a bit more than five hours of classes a day. While this certainly helped me succeed in the program, it was exhausting. I worked with Felipe for all six weeks that I attended the school and Marcela for my final three weeks. Both of these instructors were incredibly proficient at their jobs and offered well structured, engaging coursework. Felipe, specifically, helped me in my first few weeks revive my long unused Spanish by reviewing all of the past tenses with me. Additionally, as he knew I would mostly be working with colonial legal archives, Felipe taught me the future subjunctive tense, which is otherwise not a tense useful to learn. Marcela, also helped me better grasp the use of subjunctive. Moreover, she advocated for excursions in the last few weeks of my time in Cartagena. My two critique of the program has to do with the add on that you can make when scheduling your visit. The airport pickup was not at all worth it to me as someone just put me in a taxi (which did not drop me off at the correct building). Just call an uber! Additionally, my home stay experience was terrible: the family was racist, the woman smoked inside the house, the kitchen was not kept well, and they kept trying to scam me out of more money. If you just get an Airbnb or hostile in the historical district or even Manga you will be fine.

Experiencia fantástica: Nous y avons passé un mois en famille dans cette école. Tout est très bien organisé par une super équipe. Communication facile avant et pendant les cours. Logement en appartment en centre ville (ou proche des plages) vraiment bien. Les cours sont très bien structurés et nous avons très vite augmenté notre niveau. Profs au top Pas mal d’activités aussi en dehors des cours. Flexible et coûts raisonnables. Localisation au top au centre ville super secure. Vraiment une super école

Experiencia fantástica: I had the best time at Centro Catalina in Cartagena. I was there from February to April 2024 and did an intensive course for the majority of my time there. I started out with a very basic level and was very happy to see how my Spanish improved week after week. During my time there, I got to know a lot of people. Ana and Randy were the first people I was in touch with as they are responsible for all administrative tasks. They took care of the housing, our classes, and all other questions we could have. They helped with personal questions as well and always gave their best when students were asking to change classes or take more lessons. They were super smiley every morning we got there and they quickly became a set part of my days in Cartagena. I am still in touch with Ana today and miss her a lot! The language teachers were great too. Since I stayed there for a while, I had classes with different people (which was helpful as I got to benefit from different teaching methods). However, Sebastián stayed my teacher for my morning classes and we bonded really quickly. He did an amazing job teaching and we shared a lot of stories in class, together with all other students. He made everyone feel confortable at all times and tried to incorporate wishes/questions from individual students. Other teachers I got to know and love are Fiama, Carmen, Marcela, Ronald, and many more! Last but not least, everyone else around the school who contributed to this amazing experience did a great job as well. Juan, Karen, Cristian, and everyone else. The school was always clean, there were many events we could participate in, and there was always someone around to ask questions to. A huge thank you to everyone! ¡Muchas gracias a ustedes! PS: My host family was incredible too, the school does an excellent job with the host families as well. I felt at home and left a little peace of my heart in Cartagena.

Experiencia fantástica: En enero de 2025 asistimos a clases en el Centro Catalina en Cartagena de Indias. Felipe Archbold May fue uno de nuestros profesores. Nos enseñó la lengua española y realizó con nosotros muchas excursiones por la región. Su conocimiento sobre los lugares turísticos nos impresionó mucho. Tiene una cultura general amplia y también se interesa por temas fuera de su área laboral. Felipe podía explicarnos bien los sitios de interés, así como los contextos históricos. Su español era muy comprensible para nosotros y nos alegró poder avanzar mucho en la comprensión auditiva gracias a su forma clara y entendible de hablar. También pudimos comunicarnos con él en español y nos corregía cuando era necesario. Sus clases siempre estaban claramente estructuradas y nos acercó tanto a la lengua como a la cultura española. Quedamos muy impresionados con su competencia social y su interés por sus estudiantes. Recomendamos a Felipe como profesor de idiomas.

Experiencia fantástica: What a fun place to spend some time learning Spanish and meeting new people! Very down to earth community, with plenty of activities in and around Cartagena. The school is organizing a lot on their side, so you can have your pick almost every day or just go explore the (quite safe) Caribbean old town of Cartagena. Shoutout to my two wonderful professors Marcela & Javier! Great teachers, fantastic personality and exactly the people to get you to your next Spanish levels

Experiencia fantástica: I attended the school for 2 months back in October. I highly recommend to anyone looking to improve their Spanish at any level. The teachers are outstanding to say the least and go out of their way to make sure you feel welcomed. The school also organizes high quality cultural events EVERYDAY for the students thanks to the amazing Juan David who’s mainly in charge of the event schedule. He is very responsive to any requests you may have and always puts maximum effort into every activity (football is the best) For beginners like myself I would suggest starting with Javier who is amazing at nailing down the fundamentals while still moving at a good pace. Javier is very patient and respectful so you don’t have to worry about falling behind and he always checks in to ensure you are properly progressing. If you are an intermediate speaker looking to push yourself I would 100% suggest requesting Marcela as she’s not only very kind but her classes are also incredibly productive as she’s very good at working with you to find your weaknesses and correcting them. Looking back It was a great experience that I will cherish for the rest of my life. VIVA COLOMBIA ❤️

Experiencia fantástica: One month of Spanish studies and what an unforgettable experience it was! A professional establishment with tailor-made courses, focused on language elements to get you going with your Spanish. The teachers are amazing and highly caring. Thank you for all the lessons and memorable moments, Javier!

Experiencia fantástica: Pasé 6 semanas estudiando idiomas en el centro catalina. Aprendí mucho durante estas semanas, tanto lingüísticamente como sobre Cartagena, Colombia y las tradiciones. Con las actividades emocionantes y bien organizadas que Juan David hizo con nosotros, realmente me encariñé con la ciudad y su cultura. Volvería en cualquier momento :)

Experiencia fantástica: I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Centro Catalina Spanish School! I’ve been shy when it comes to speaking with native speakers. This program made me more comfortable to make mistakes as i was in an environment built to make my stronger. My instructor, Javier, brought the textbook to real life. He’s an excellent teacher, especially as it comes to using real life experiences and phrases. I would recommend this school to anyone looking to take a bite of Spanish while in Cartagena.

Experiencia fantástica: Todo fue muy bien! Las clases fueron educativas pero también muy divertidas. Marcela, Javier, Ronald y Carmen fueron las/los mejores profesores que uno se puede imagniar. Gracias por todo!

Experiencia fantástica: In addition to the lessons, I loved the organized activities that Juan David was always involved in! He always made an effort to speak to us slowly and to encourage our Spanish outside of class.☺️

Experiencia fantástica: Mi profe Marce fue increíble y me divertí mucho en su clase!!! Yo aprendí mucho

Experiencia fantástica: Had a great experience learning Spanish with Javier. I signed up to the beginners classes in the morning, the classes were well paced and as a complete beginner I learnt a lot! During the day we had short breaks with snacks and a chance to chat with other students. Javier was an excellent teacher who made the lessons really fun and engaging. The school also organised activities during the week. Definitely recommend coming here!

Experiencia fantástica: Javier was a well prepared and a dynamic teacher. I learned a lot from his lectures in class. One of the best language teachers I have had. I most strongly recommend him!

Experiencia fantástica: We did one week of private lessons with Xavier and it was perfect. We had a specific goal and he spent the week working with us towards that goal. He even took us to have lulo juice in a park, which was a nice experience.

Experiencia fantástica: Somos dos franceses que pasamos dos semanas excepcionales en la escuela Centro Catalina para aprender español, ¡y nos llevamos una experiencia inolvidable! Desde la primera semana tuvimos la suerte de tener clases con Javier, un profesor apasionado, paciente y muy profesional. La metodología de enseñanza está enfocada principalmente en la práctica oral, lo que permite avanzar rápidamente en la comunicación. Los materiales didácticos son muy completos, divertidos y hacen que el aprendizaje sea natural, motivador y accesible. Todo el equipo docente es muy atento y se preocupa por el progreso de cada estudiante. Se nota un verdadero acompañamiento personalizado, con el objetivo de brindarnos todas las herramientas necesarias para aprender de forma eficaz. Las clases son generalmente de 4 horas al día (a veces más), en grupos pequeños de 5 a 8 personas, lo que permite que cada estudiante reciba atención individual. Además, los grupos se organizan según el nivel de cada persona, lo que hace que la experiencia sea aún más enriquecedora y adecuada. Recomendamos esta escuela sin dudarlo a cualquier persona que quiera aprender español en un ambiente cálido, serio y estimulante. ¡Muchas gracias a todo el equipo de Centro Catalina!

Experiencia fantástica: My family and I spent 3 wonderful weeks at Centro Catalina- Cartagena! We enjoyed our time learning and making new friends. Our teachers were the best! Each of my children had private instructors and they were so kind and very patient, which was very important to me because they were some of the youngest children at the school (6and 8 y/o). They kept them engaged and happy! I was fortunate to have wonderful experiences with three teachers (Marce, Sebastian, and Fiama)! My main teacher, Marce, was exceptional, engaging, knowledgeable, and so much fun. In all of my classes we had relevant and diverse discussions over history, music, culture, and so much more. I was able to learn in a comfortable environment and everyday the time would fly by! My family learned SO much… not only Spanish, but the love, warmth, and pride of the Colombian people! It is well worth investing time in Centro Catalina… you’ll be happy you did! I highly recommend the school.

Experiencia fantástica: Yo pasé unas dos semanas maravillosas en Cartagena y en la escuela de idiomas. Allá hay unos profesores increíbles referiéndome tanto al nivel profesional como al nivel personal. Aparte de las clases grupales disfruté mucho de las clases individuales por la tarde con Javier, gracias por entender mi humor negro :-) Espero regresar un día.

Experiencia fantástica: Me encantó mi estancia en la escuela Centro Catalina en Cartagena. El personal de la escuela y los profesores son todos muy agradables. Gracias a Juan David por acompañarnos en cada excursión después de clase y contarnos todo sobre la historia de esta magnífica ciudad. Espero poder volver muy pronto para ver a mi nueva segunda familia ❤️

Experiencia fantástica: Durante mi estancia en Cartagena, asistí a una escuela de idiomas que me dejó un recuerdo especialmente positivo. Tuve la gran suerte de ser enseñada por mi profesora de español favorita, Marcela. Fueron 10 semanas de pura alegría en clase. Siempre había algo para chismear, jajaja, y todos los demás decían: “Che, solo en la clase con Marce se escucha tanta risa!” Ella ofrecía clases muy educativas y variadas, siempre atenta a nuestras necesidades y deseos. Nuestra clase contaba con solo unos seis participantes, lo que creaba un ambiente de aprendizaje muy personal. Por la tarde tuve clase con Felipe lo cual también fue divertido☺️. Cada mañana había una gran pausa para snacks, gracias a Juan David y con su musica, che proporcionó entretenimiento . Estas pausas eran una excelente oportunidad para hacer nuevos contactos y practicar el idioma aprendido conversando con otros estudiantes. Además de las clases impartidas por Marcela, la escuela ofrecía muchas actividades diferentes, algunas gratuitas y otras de pago (organizados por Karen y Juan David también.) Debido a mi experiencia tan positiva, más adelante decidí inscribirme nuevamente en esta escuela, esta vez en clases en línea, ya que había regresado a Suiza. Todavía hoy mantengo contacto con mis personas favoritas de esa época — y cada vez que regreso a Cartagena, paso por la escuela para visitar.

Experiencia fantástica: Mi profesoras Marcela y Fiama:)

Experiencia fantástica: Absolutely loved my time at Centro Catalina, Marce and Sebastian were such lovely teachers and I learnt an incredible amount of grammar in two weeks, alongside cultural information about Colombia. Juan David ran activities most evenings and weekends that are great for immersing yourself in Cartegena, I was only there for two weeks but did 3 dance classes, a drumming class and food tours (and a brilliant night out). Highly, highly recommend for anyone looking to quickly improve their Spanish and immerse themselves in the local culture!

Experiencia fantástica: Die Schule von Centro Catalina ist perfekt für Leute, die Spanisch lernen und zudem Cartagena erleben wollen. Die Schule nimmt dich herzlich auf, zeigt dir das äusserst liebevolle und aufgeweckte Wesen der Costeños! Ich habe in vier Wochen, sei es sprachlich oder sozial, viel dazugelernt. Der Unterricht ist sehr gut organisiert und regt zum Lernen an. Die Schule ist sehr familiär und alle Mitarbeitenden machen deinen Aufenthalt einzigartig. Auch die Pausen, die Aktivitäten und die Gespräche sind sensationell. Diese Erfahrung ist bereichernd und bin froh, habe ich Centro Catalina gewählt. Ich komme immer wieder gerne. Muchas Gracias a todos! Im Speziellen möchte ich Juan David dafür danken, dass er immer top motiviert das Rahmenprogramm ausserhalb der Schule organisierte. Das trug einen grossen Teil zu einem perfekten Erlebnis bei!

Experiencia fantástica: My expérience in Centro Catalina Spanish School was one of the best expérience of my life. With our teacher ( Javier Lopez el mejor profesor ) learned a lot on the colombian culture and espagnol language. If I ever go back in cartagena, i will surely go back in that awesome school!!

Experiencia fantástica: I attended Centro Catalana School this summer during the months of May and June with my school from Quebec. It was a unique and very enriching experience for everyone. The environment, the atmosphere, the teachers and everyone who was there from different parts of the world made this trip a memorable experience. A special mention for my Spanish teacher Mr. Javier López who was able to teach us his language and culture in a dynamic and fun way! I recommend this heartwarming experience to everyone.

Experiencia fantástica: La escuela fue excellente. Un saludo a Marce

Experiencia fantástica: Graciasss Marcela

Experiencia fantástica: Uma imersão incrível poder estudar e também conhecer a cultura colombiana através da escola de idiomas centro Catalina! Meus professores foram Jorge em Medellin e a sempre alegre Marcela em Cartagena! Eu tive a oportunidade de conhecer as duas escolas do grupo e ameeeei! Espero regressar em breve !

Experiencia fantástica: I was visiting the school in February for 3 weeks (morning classes) and had a great time. The classes are not too big and all the teachers are great, professionally and on a personal level, especially Marcela ;). Lots of humor involved in the lessons. I also very much enjoyed their afternoon/evening activities.

Experiencia fantástica: Centro Catalina was the most amazing experience. I loved every second of it. I was lucky to be staying with the most amazing Colombian family in a home stay and also have the best two teachers - Sebastián Tapias and Felipe Archbold May. Both their teaching styles so different, but incredibly affective and moving me from a level A2 to a level B1. The school is really focussed on finding the best fit for you. I started taking afternoon lessons with a different teacher, and they very easily moved me to be in Felipe’s class, which suited me a lot more. The school is perfectly located in the centre of town in the most colourful beautiful street. The school has some fantastic activities after class that are free, as well as local snacks at break. Lots of restaurants and things to do near by too. I would love to come back and learn more at the school. Thank you every there! All the staff are lovely and of course to my wonderful teachers

Experiencia fantástica: Muy buena escuela, aprendí mucho. Buenos maestros y personal!

Experiencia fantástica: Felipe Archbold May es un gran maestro. Muy simpática y paciente. Muchas gracias por toda la buena ayuda.

Experiencia fantástica: Unforgettable experience with docencia excelente, you will not be disappointed as the professors in the school make it easy to get the most out of your learning if you are committed and show interest in learning Spanish, it will translate into an amazing experience. I would like to personally shout out my experience with Carmen, Sebastián, and Felipe. I would recommend spending as long as you can in Cartagena.

Experiencia fantástica: Felipe Archbold May is the best Spanish teacher anyone could wish for. Kind, professional, clear in his instructions, follows a logical and helpful approach. Thanks a lot!!!

Experiencia fantástica: Great experience, very kind and supportive staff, warm welcome from Gustavo, very good learning effect (Muchas gracías a Carmen!!) and very nice location in El Centro with great vibes. Muchas gracias por la experiencia!!

Experiencia fantástica: Top marks for everything for this school. Excellent communication from day 1 of planning, super welcoming staff, excellent teachers (Gracias Javier L!), fun and educational. Learned a lot of Spanish and about the culture in just 1 week. Activities were planned too, which gave us a chance to have fun while connecting with other students. Very reasonable too. Highly recommend.

Experiencia fantástica: Such a high value institute. Fantastic preparation, execution, and connection with the staff here. Jennifer Bolivar was outstanding in finding the errors in my Spanish and constructing lessons with tips on ways to improve. I was amazed! Muchisimas gracias maestra. Espero que tengas muchos más estudiantes

Experiencia fantástica: Our experience in the school was amazing! It was the start of a long travelling experience and doing 2 weeks of spanish school really helped a lot with our speaking abilities. In 2 weeks we progressed from complitely beginners to a good speaking level, where we understand and can say almost everything. All the staff in incredibly kind and helpful in every way. The school is also strategically positioned and the building-infrastructures are nice. All the evening activities were also good and interesting and they really help you to socialize with the other students! 100% recommend, 100% I would take these classes again.

Experiencia positiva: Overall, a good Spanish school with friendly staff and a nice atmosphere. I appreciated the 20-minute break during class, and they always provided a small snack or fruit, which was a nice touch. That said, I would have liked the lessons to be more focused on practical, everyday Spanish—how to get around, ask for things, and have real conversations while traveling. I didn’t really need to learn words like "pants," but I did need more practice with asking for directions, ordering at restaurants, and talking in hostels. I also wish we focused more on forming sentences rather than just memorizing words like a parrot. A few small downsides: The classroom lighting wasn’t great, and the whiteboard was cleaned with alcohol, which had a really strong smell that got to me. Also, while my teacher was good, their English wasn’t the strongest, which sometimes made explanations harder to understand. All in all, a decent school with a nice vibe, but I would have preferred a more practical, conversation-based approach to learning.

Experiencia fantástica: Tolle Schule zum spanisch lernen

Experiencia fantástica: Un grand merci à notre superbe prof Fiama ! Même si elle nous a abandonné le dernier jour (mais remplacé par Jennifer), elle a fait du bon boulot ! La semaine est passée vite. Tout le personnel est bienveillant, gentil et souriant ! J'ai un minimum de base et ma conjointe un niveau plus élevé pour avoir une discussion.

Experiencia fantástica: Great school to learn Spanish. I stayed there for three weeks, in the morning group classes and in the afternoon one on one classes. I learned so much in these couple of weeks. The teachers are so nice and patient and very involved. They make you feel right at home. The activities in the afternoon, at night and on the weekends are so much fun, and really add to the experience.

Experiencia fantástica: Had a great time, Sebastian is an amazing teacher!

Experiencia fantástica: I had a really good time in Centro Catalina learning Spanish for 4 weeks from scratch. The classes are small (max. 8 PAX), the teachers are competent, very friendly and creat a good vibe in the classroom. The activities around the classes also helping to get known better to Cartagena and Colombia. I especially liked the fact, that in the class itself, it was most of the time about communicating and interacting with the others students and the teacher. So it wasn't just grammar and vocabs day by day. There is also a really good ambience in-between the students and teachers, so that during the break we could chat about this or that. Overall , this makes Centro Catalina a very good school to learn Spanish, no matter what level you already have or want to reach.

Experiencia fantástica: I spent three weeks at Centro Catalina in Cartagena and had a wonderful time. I took the standard class for the first two weeks and decided to book additional ten private lessons during my last week, which helped my a lot to apply what I had learned so far and to finish some topics. I found it great to learn a ton and that the courses progress fast, however, sometimes I felt that I would have needed some more time to process everything between the classes. The teachers and staff are awesome and really care not only about your Spanish skills and your progress in school, but also about you as a person. The daily activities were fun and you can feel that they want you to have an amazing time while your at the school. I shared an apartment with two classmates and all of us had their own room and bathroom. It was well equipped and located next to the sea, just 20 mins on foot from the school.

Experiencia positiva: What a wonderful experience I had at Centro Catalina! I spent two months doing the intensive course, starting from little to no Spanish and now I feel so much more confident in my speaking abilities and knowledge of grammar, structure and Colombian Culture. I left with a A2/B1 certification, which is pretty cool!! The teachers all work incredibly hard, putting in long hours and really listening to where you are at as a class, taking time to answer questions and talk about things/topics that really matter in the real world. I stayed in a shared apartment in Centro, less than a block from the school and it was clean, well equip and I felt very safe. A bit pricey, but given the neighborhood and conscience I think it was well worth it. The activities organized were educational and fun, and I met so many people from all over the world, making new friends and learning bits of their culture and language as well!

Experiencia negativa: Emailed them twice about classes, never received a response.

Experiencia fantástica: Ich hatte eine fantastische Zeit im Centro Catalina! Die Atmosphäre in den Klassen ist sehr positiv und einladend, was das Lernen wirklich angenehm macht. Die Lehrer sind äußerst kompetent und engagiert, sodass man schnell Fortschritte macht. Besonders hervorheben möchte ich die Abendaktivitäten, die nicht nur Spaß machen, sondern auch eine großartige Gelegenheit bieten, die kolumbianische Kultur zu erleben. Ich kann Centro Catalina nur wärmstens empfehlen!

Experiencia fantástica: J'ai vécu une expérience extraordinaire de 4 semaines a l'école Centro Catalina avec des professeurs sympatiques accueillants et patient ( ça prenait beaucoup de patience pour m'écouter parler la première semaine). Ils prennent le temps de s'assurer que tu comprend et ils sont en même temps rigoureux. C'est vraiment le genre d'école que j'aurais aimé avoir plus jeune. Un encadrement idéal, un petit nombre d'élève par classe, beaucoup d'interactions entre prof et étudiants, on apprend vite se cette façon. On y apprend pas seulement la langue mais aussi la culture colombienne. En plus des activités cool organisés qui permettent de tisser des liens. Mon espagnol est passé de -5 a un niveau capable de faire des phrases compréhensibles Wow! C'est presque un miracle. Je recommande fortement cette école. J'ai le goût de continuer d'apprendre cette belle langue! Que CHIMBA la escuela !!!

Experiencia fantástica: Très belle expérience à l’école Centro Catalina à Cartagène. Tout le long du séjour, nous sommes bien encadrés et l’ambiance est très agréable. Les petits groupes d’étudiants permettent un meilleur apprentissage de la langue, l’enseignant est vraiment présent pour les élèves.

Experiencia fantástica: Great school with very nice people. I only followed lessons for one week due to my availability, but it helped me making a big step towards my end goal: learning B2/C1 Spanish. For me it was important too that we had many activities after school, because that helped socialising and applying the lessons in practice.

Experiencia fantástica: Spent four weeks at this amazing school, I did the beginners class in the AM and then intensive in the afternoons - was such a fantastic experience I really loved it. The team were so supportive and kind, and created such a good atmosphere! My Spanish improved in leaps and bounds, and I made some great friends with some fantastic experiences shared!! Can’t recommend enough!! (Also go play soccer one afternoon the school organises - so much fun!!)

Experiencia fantástica: I studied at Centro Catalina in Cartagena Colombia for 2 weeks. The experience was rewarding on both an educational and personal level. I am also a language teacher and I found the teachers at Centro Catalina to be well trained, helpful and knowledgable with regard to teaching strategies, methods and activities. I also made some new friends through the after school activities. I highly recommend this program and was sad to leave!

Experiencia fantástica: Jag spenderade 3 veckor på Centro Catalina och hade en fantastiskt upplevelse. Lärarna och personalen var otroligt välkomnande och engagerade och undervisningen var välstrukturerad och varierande. Jag vill särskilt tacka min fantastiska lärare Sebastián som verkligen gjorde lektionerna roliga och lärarorika. Jag hoppas att jag kan komma tillbaka i framtiden!

Experiencia fantástica: Really positive experience at centro Catalina in Cartagena! All of the staff was incredibly kind and friendly, my teacher (Sebastian) was awesome, and the school really gives you a sense of community (e.g., they organize activities for students and it’s a really social and friendly environment). I also did a homestay through centro Catalina, and the host family was incredible! The host family was super friendly and caring, but not at all overbearing! It was also pretty convenient that a couple of other students at the school had host families in the same neighborhood so we could walk to/from centro Catalina together. Overall, loved my experience here, and I may be back with family/friends in the future!

Experiencia fantástica: Super Spanisch-Schule. Trotz der kurzen Zeit von einer Woche habe ich sehr viel gelernt. Super liebenswürdiges und kompetentes Personal.

Experiencia fantástica: This school and its teachers are nothing short of incredible. My expectations were exceeded! I not only walked away having learned SO much, but also walked away making friends and family! The school is clean, they always do fun activities after school. They truly dont charge what they are worth. I loved every minute and was so sad to leave!

Experiencia fantástica: Meine Erfahrungen im Centro Catalina sind wirklich perfekt bisher! Die Schule ist nicht zu groß und es herrscht eine super freundliche, fämiliäre Atmosphäre. Die Klassen sind recht klein, ca. 2-6 Leute, sodass man viel miteinander ins Gespräch kommt und der Unterricht sehr effektiv ist. Außerdem sind alle Lehrer:innen und alle anderen Mitarbeiter:innen sehr liebenswürdig und super bemüht uns allen eine wunderschöne und authentische Zeit in Cartagena zu beschaffen. Neben der Schule werden mehrmals die Woche verschiedene Aktivitäten geplant, wie zum Beispiel Verkostungen von kolumbianischem Essen, Tanzstunden, Sport... An diesen nehmen oft auch die Lehrer:innen und Mitarbeiter:innen teil, sodass wir alle ein sehr freundschaftliches Verhältnis haben. Ich kann mir wirklich keinen besseren Ort zum Spanisch lernen und zum Kennenlernen der kolumbianischen Kultur vorstellen!

Experiencia fantástica: Je recommande cette école à 100% ! Les cours d’Espagnol, les activités, l’ambiance, les rencontres avec d’autres étudiants, tout y est ! ✨ J’ai passé 4 mois à Centro Catalina pour apprendre une langue que je ne parlais pas du tout. Maintenant, je peux tenir une conversation et comprendre les discussions. Les cours sont dispensés par des professeurs qui ont une très bonne méthodologie. Ils sont à l’écoute et toujours de bonne humeur ! Les sujets de cours sont choisis en fonction du niveau et sont pertinents. J’ai vraiment eu l’impression d’apprendre en m’amusant. Il y a une très bonne énergie dans cette école. La culture Colombienne est riche et variée. Aussi, la ville de Carthagène est très agréable avec de belles couleurs dans les rues, la mer des Caraïbes à proximité et les îles du Rosaires à visiter ! ️ Vous ne manquerez pas d’activités à faire ici. Pour moi, Centro Catalina est la référence pour apprendre l’espagnol en Colombie.

Experiencia fantástica: Great school great staff. After a month of classes from the most beginner level, I was able to comfortably converse a bit and understand a lot. The staff is really kind and is extremely happy to help you learn. Cannot recommend enough!

Experiencia fantástica: Centro Catalina est devenu ma deuxième famille. Les cours sont vraiment bien organisés et rigoureux tout en étant divertissant. Les profs sont devenus de vrais amis, ils sont souriants, dynamiques et interessants. Ils nous font faire plein d’exercices différents pour travailler tous les aspects de la langue (l’écoute, la compréhension, l’oral). Ce sont des cours où on est actifs, on échange énormément afin de pratiquer, progresser et apprendre des choses qui nous servent réellement dans notre quotidien. Les activités sont aussi très bien organisées, elles sont diversifiées et nous permettent de découvrir la culture colombienne à travers la cuisine, la danse, la musique… Les tours de ville sont aussi super pour découvrir la magnifique ville de Carthagène et en savoir plus sur son histoire riche. Ses activités nous permettent aussi de créer des liens avec les autres étudiants et de passer de très bons moments. Si vous souhaitez vivre une expérience immersive, Centro Catalina est fait pour, je ne peux que vous recommander. Je reste 6 mois au centre et je ne me suis pas ennuyée une seule fois. Je suis arrivée en étant A1 en espagnol et aujourd’hui je suis B2 et je peux complètement parler avec tout le monde dans la rue. Mon objectif a été atteint grâce au centre, mais au delà de la langue j’ai surtout fait des rencontres et créer des souvenirs inoubliables. Centro Catalina restera l’une de mes plus belles expériences.

Experiencia fantástica: After traveling Colombia for 90 days my stay in Centro Catalina was by far the best experience of the trip. The people , the teachers are all so friendly and welcoming doing their best to make you learn and feel accepted. I upgraded my Spanish from barely getting by to having full on conversations with locals I’m not exaggerating, I had the loveliest time at Centro Catalina and with that I couldn’t recommend it more for anyone looking to experience the wonder of the Spanish language ❤️

Experiencia fantástica: amazing school and activities ! Amazing Teachers and energy ! I went there more than 1 month and I learned so much ! I recommande this school to everyone want to learn Spanish ! I cant wait to come back ! thanks for this amazing experience

Experiencia fantástica: I am a studant at this school. I could't speek any spanish when i arrived but it improved a lot in 3 weeks. The teacher there are very good and explain the grammar very well. They have clases for every level in spanish and really the best teachers. You are not in a teacher student relationship as in the regular school. The teachers became in just 3 weeks good friends of mine. We laugh a lot during class but still learn a lot. The classes are really small so everyone can talk a lot and this improves the learning proces a lot. After class there are activitys organized from the school who are amazing. I can highly recomend this school if you want to learn spanish in colombia. On the weekends you can do nice trips all around cartagena.

Experiencia fantástica: Man könnte nicht besser Spanisch lernen als in einer pulsierenden Stadt voller Farbe, Musik und freundlichen Leuten. Das Ambiente der Schule, die super Sprachlehrer*innen, die gemeinsamen Aktivitäten lassen einem in die Sprache und Kultur eintauchen. Vielen Dank für die wunderbare Zeit! Ich habe viel gelernt.

Experiencia fantástica: I learned so much in a single week! I highly recommend this Spanish school in Cartegena. I wanted to learn some Spanish to help with my travels in Latin America but only had a week. I started the week with basically no Spanish and by the end of the week I could actually have conversations about multiple topics. I could tell my confidence had improved as I was also able to understand staff at the hotels, shops etc and order at restaurants. The teachers and administrators were really nice and patient. Included in the price they also organise outings multiple times a week (bike rides, dance class, museum tours) so that you can see the city and get to know the other students better. I did a combination course of mornings and 2 extra 1:1 classes in the afternoon to practice conversation. I highly recommend taking these extra classes you could definitely tell a difference by the end of the week between students who did or didn't take them. The only negative of my time was the student housing which I don't recommend. It was very basic and outside of the rooms there was no fan or air conditioning so no one socialized or engaged with each other in this environment. The school also offers home stays with families and if you want to practice your Spanish outside of class I recommend this approach. However If you are like me and want your space at the end of the day I also met students who had gotten Airbnbs just outside of old town for only $10 more a day than the school apartment. In summary- I highly recommend this school and if I can make it happen I will definitely be back to improve my Spanish more! Cartegena is also a wonderful, vibrant and diverse town and I loved having the opportunity to experience the amazing food and dancing the city had to offer. By taking the recommended safety precautions, I felt comfortable as a solo female traveler for the entire 2 weeks I was there.

Experiencia fantástica: Excelente escuela, el lugar ideal para aprender español.

Experiencia fantástica: This was my second time doing a language school. My first experience wasn't as good, so I was a little apprehensive to try this one, but I'm so glad I did. I have learned so much as a student and grew so much as a person, as well as a student. The teachers aren't just your teachers, but also your friends. My teacher, Carmen, went above and beyond for me. I felt like not only did she care about my progress as a student, but also cared about my well being and happiness as a person. I feel like I could talk to her about everything under the sun! Please ask for Carmen or Christian as your teachers, as I also had a few afternoon classes with them and they will do anything to accommodate your needs. Christian was super fun and I also considered him more like a friend too. Plus Randy was amazing and always made sure I was happy. For example even prior to coming to the school, I told him my concerns about finding a good host family, as I wanted to practice my Spanish and feel a part of a local family. And he made sure I had the best family I could ask for. Plus he also made sure that I had a safe trip to the Rosario Islands, as I was going by myself. He checked in with me the whole way making sure I made it there safely. They also have free snacks, music, and drinks every Mondays for the new students and it's always a fiesta! And the school provides fun activities in the afternoons and weekends! Plus the school is centrally located making it easy to go out for lunch or to the mall. It's so easy to meet people here too, and I know I'll always have friends all around the world. People are so kind and easy to talk to. If you're having any reservations, please book this school. I only came for 2 weeks, but they flew by. If it wasn't for the heat, I would've loved to have been there for 2 months. ¡Muchas gracias familia por todos! Te extraño mucho. Siempre sé que tengo una familia en Cartagena.