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All Spanish schools in Cartagena
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BABEL International Language InstituteCartagena, Colombia

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Price at School 210US$
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4.5

Rating: 4.5/5.0

Overall school rating of BABEL International Language Institute, Cartagena
Ranked #3 of 5 Spanish schools in Cartagena
School
Location of the school
4.7 

Rating: 4.7/5.0

Facilities
4.1 

Rating: 4.1/5.0

Social activities
4.1 

Rating: 4.1/5.0

Organisation
4.1 

Rating: 4.1/5.0

Course
Quality of teaching
4.8 

Rating: 4.8/5.0

Value for money
4.5 

Rating: 4.5/5.0

Accommodation
Homestay
4.1 

Rating: 4.1/5.0

Overall school rating by student age group
Students < 18 years
0.0 

Rating: 0.0/5.0

(0)
Students 18-30 years
5.0 

Rating: 5.0/5.0

(7)
Students 31-49 years
3.9 

Rating: 3.9/5.0

(7)
Students 50+ years
4.6 

Rating: 4.6/5.0

(5)
What we like about the school
  • Great location, situated between the popular Plaza de la Trinidad and Calle de la Media Luna.
  • Sunny rooftop terrace, with an excellent view of the wall, the Castillo de San Felipe, the Cerro de la Popa and church domes.
  • Excellent rating of teaching quality (4.8/5.0)
What we dislike about the school
  • Nationality mix could be more balanced. 60% of students are from Switzerland
How we create the points regarding what we like/dislike about a school

Location: Cartagena is a city on the edge of the Carribean Sea, in the North of Colombia. It was the first Latin American city to be colonised by the Spanish and in order to avoid future invasion, after an attack in 1586 by Sir Frances Drake, the port was heavily protected by the construction of a wall around the city, which is still present in some areas today. Babel International Language Institute is found nestled within the historical wall in what is known as the old town. There is plenty to do and see in the old town with restaurants, bars and shops dotted around this brightly colored neighborhood.

Local attractions: The main attractions of the city are all within walking distance of the school including Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas fort and Iglesia de San Pedro Claver so students can learn more about the history of the city during their free time. The school is close to The square of the Trinity, which is used by locals as the real heart of the borough of Getsemaní. Students can really immerse themselves in local culture and experience firsthand the vibrancy of Getsemaní’s inhabitants, with trips and excursions planned by BABEL International Language Institute.

School facilities: The school has excellent facilities within the building for its students to make the most in the classroom as well as during their spare time. The classrooms are all equipped with air conditioning units and have ample natural light. BABEL International Language Institute has a cafeteria, a computer lab, a library, a copy machine, free wifi, free coffee and most noteworthy are the two terraces on the top floor of the building which provide excellent views over the old town and surrounding neighbourhoods. The staff have all obtained University degrees and are very experienced in teaching the Spanish language to foreign students. The class sizes are designed to hold a maximum of 8 students per class, allowing a real focus on the individual needs and language desires of each student

Course structure: The class options available are intensive courses, private classes or a combination of both. The school feels that to really immerse yourself and understand the cultural diversity within Colombia and Latin America as a whole, students need an intermediate level of Spanish and with the class structure designed at BABEL International Language Institute gives students the opportunity to meet this target.
  • The language school BABEL International Language Institute was founded in Cartagena, Colombia in 2010.
  • Legal name / parent company: Cultura Caribe S. A. S.
  • Tax registration ID: 900612173-7

Spanish Courses

General Language
Private

Information for all courses offered by BABEL International Language Institute

Comments about courses

The school is associated with Crazy Salsa dance academy so every Babel student has unlimited group classes of salsa, bachata, and champeta.

Lesson duration
50 minutes
Course material
Generally course material is distributed free to students and will stay in student property.
Days without class
In 2024 (including national and regional bank holidays):
01 Jan 2024, 06 Jan 2024, 23 Mar 2024, 09 Apr 2024 - 10 Apr 2024, 01 May 2024, 25 May 2024, 15 Jun 2024, 22 Jun 2024, 29 Jun 2024, 20 Jul 2024, 07 Aug 2024, 17 Aug 2024, 12 Oct 2024, 02 Nov 2024, 16 Nov 2024, 08 Dec 2024, 25 Dec 2024.
School policy regarding bank holidays:Full number of lost classes are made up
Level test
A test to assess your exact language level takes place at the school on the first day of the course.

Lessons needed per Spanish language level

Level (CEFR) LESSONS needed per level WEEKS needed
(20 lessons per week)
A1 Beginner A1 to A2 80 4
A2 Elementary A2 to B1 160 8
B1 Intermediate B1 to B2 180 9
B2 Higher Intermediate B2 to C1 200 10
C1 Advanced C1 to C2 220 11
C2 Proficiency
Data above gives some guidance. For more details consult our page How long does it take to learn a language or reach a specific level.

Our price includes

  • INCLUDED Organized activities
  • INCLUDED Internet access and use of school computers
  • INCLUDED Wireless LAN zone at school
  • INCLUDED Free certificate of course attendance
  • INCLUDED Language level placement test at first day of classes
  • INCLUDED Language level placement test before arrival
Note: All courses offered by BABEL International Language Institute, Cartagena can be reserved online with LanguageCourse.Net at a lower price than what you pay when booking directly at the school or at the school's website. In case a course is not listed above, just let us know.

Photos

  • Inside the school
    Inside the school1/10
  • Students in school lobby
    Students in school lobby2/10
  • First Day
    First Day3/10
  • Arriving at the school
    Arriving at the school4/10
  • Student group
    Student group5/10
  • Waiting Area
    Waiting Area6/10
  • lesson
    lesson7/10
  • during lessons
    during lessons8/10
  • Sharing a meal
    Sharing a meal9/10
  • Group outside school
    Group outside school10/10

BABEL International Language Institute

Accreditations and Quality seals
Preferential Terms in Case of Visa Refusal
Spanish teacher qualifications
100% hold a university degree
Languages spoken by school staff (cannot be guaranteed by school)
First day of course
Written and oral level test is performed. Students should arrive at 8:30
Offer for returning students
You will be refunded/waived the school's administration fee If you already attended previously a course at BABEL International Language Institute and you book here.
Payment methods accepted for payments made directly to the school
Visa - logoMastercard - logoAmerican Express - logoDiners Club - logoBank Transfer - logo

General school facilities

  • Cafeteria

  • Microwave for student use

  • Drink vending machine

  • Computer lab

  • Library

  • Balcony / terrace

  • Copy machine

  • Free coffee

  • Free water dispenser

  • Free WIFI

  • Free parking

  • Facilities for islamic students

    • Available area to pray at the school

    • Facilities to wash feet before praying

  • Classroom equipment

    • Air conditioning in all classrooms

    • Ample natural light in all classrooms

    Number of classrooms: 5
    Number of public PC workstations: 2

Student Age / Nationality

Average number of students
In summer: 15
Throughout the year: 18
Minimum age of students
16 years
Average number of levels
Adult courses In summer: 6
Adult courses Throughout the year: 6
Average age of students
In summer: 25 years
Throughout the year: 25 years

Top student nationalities

Age of students

Airport transfer

Rafael Nunez International Airport:
20 US$ one way
40 US$ return (both ways)
More information about airports around Cartagena and how to get from the airport to Cartagena on your own here on our Cartagena page.

Visa Documents

Nationals from Colombia do not require a visa for travelling to Colombia and attending a language course.
Check visa requirements for nationals from other countries.
Nationals from countries that require a visa will receive documents from the school, related to booking confirmation, which is required for the visa application.
Full payment of all fees required before school dispatches documents required for visa application
No
Preferential cancellation terms in case of visa refusal
School agreed that students booking online on this site will benefit from preferential cancellation fees in case of visa refusal, and in this case will never exceed EUR 180.

Leisure activities

activity possibledistance from school
Ballet1 km
Baseball4 km
Basketball2 km
Cooking3 km
Dancing0.2 km
Diving10 km
Football (soccer)3 km
Horse riding10 km
Mountainbiking10 km
Music1 km
Sailing5 km
Swimming5 km
Tennis5 km
Volleyball5 km
Windsurfing5 km
Yoga1 km

Examples of leisure activities organized by the school

Adults - Free activities

Not offered

Adults - Paid activities

- Dive (dives and PADI certifications)
- Surf
- Kite surf
- Wind surf
- Paddle surf
- City tour
- Tour in tram
- Tour in bike
- Night on the Island
- Totumo mud volcano
- Gastronomic tour
Video about leisure activities at BABEL International Language Institute Cartagena

Accommodation

Ratings of BABEL International Language Institute compared to ratings of all schools in Colombia

 BABEL International Language Institute CartagenaAverage of all other schools in Colombia
Overall school rating4.5

Rating: 4.5/5.0

4.4

Rating: 4.4/5.0

Location of the school4.7

Rating: 4.7/5.0

4.6

Rating: 4.6/5.0

Facilities4.1

Rating: 4.1/5.0

4.1

Rating: 4.1/5.0

Social activities4.1

Rating: 4.1/5.0

4.0

Rating: 4.0/5.0

Organisation4.1

Rating: 4.1/5.0

4.4

Rating: 4.4/5.0

Quality of teaching4.8

Rating: 4.8/5.0

4.4

Rating: 4.4/5.0

Value for money4.5

Rating: 4.5/5.0

4.2

Rating: 4.2/5.0

Homestay4.3

Rating: 4.3/5.0

4.5

Rating: 4.5/5.0

Shared flat4.3

Rating: 4.3/5.0

4.5

Rating: 4.5/5.0

Student opinions about BABEL International Language Institute, Cartagena

Liked
Only in Cartagena, I was lucky enough to find a very warm welcome and a great family and professional energy within the Babel team. My teacher Jerlis is a very patient, cheerful and dynamic person. I didn't speak Spanish and after two intensive weeks, I feel very comfortable and in constant progress thanks to her investment. She is passionate about history and we visited museums, city districts, it was great! Esmeralda who organizes and welcomes the students is a very warm person, thanks to her for these good tips! Andres, my surfing teacher, is also very nice, we surfed but also visited the market of Cartagene and talked about photos. Thanks to my salsa teachers Ruben and Esteban who transmitted me their passion of this dance while having a lot of fun! A really great team in a great area near the flower market and in the heart of the historical center! I will miss you all very much!
Insider tips about what future students should not miss Salsa! Surfing that ends in Spanish lessons on the beach
Overall rating
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Value for money
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

City/place
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Facilities (library, classrooms)
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Quality of teaching / language progress
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

School organization
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Social activities
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Quality of teaching / language progress: Face to face with my teacher I have progressed a lot. I highly recommend this formula.
Other comments Thanks a million!
Course: Intensive Spanish Course - 2 weeks
2. Jan. 2023
Liked
I had a really great time in Cartagena and at the school. My teacher was great and my Spanish improved a lot thanks to her. The salsa classes that you can attend as a student were also really great and a good way to combine learning Spanish and salsa. Everyone was very friendly and helpful. I felt very comfortable. My host family was really great and I can only recommend living with a host family during your language lessons. This allows you to practise what you have learnt every day and get to know Colombian culture better.
Disliked
One or two additional activities per week would be desirable, but not a must :)
Overall rating
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Value for money
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

City/place
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Facilities (library, classrooms)
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Quality of teaching / language progress
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

School organization
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Social activities
4.0

Rating: 4/5.0

Homestay
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Course: Intensive Spanish Course - 3 weeks
30. Oct. 2023
Liked
I can wholeheartedly recommend Babel to anyone who wants to improve their Spanish in a personal environment with a relaxed atmosphere. I really learned an amazing amount in just 2 weeks and had fun throughout because all the staff on site are so incredibly nice!
Overall rating
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Value for money
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

City/place
4.0

Rating: 4/5.0

Facilities (library, classrooms)
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Quality of teaching / language progress
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

School organization
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Social activities
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Homestay
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Course: Intensive Spanish Course + Private Lessons 25 - 2 weeks
25. Jan. 2023
Liked
Quality teacher - had one-to-one lessons, my wishes regarding topics and learning content was very well addressed. Location of the school - very central; relaxed, casual atmosphere. I felt very well taken care of
Overall rating
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Value for money
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

City/place
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Quality of teaching / language progress
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

School organization
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Other comments City: very nice and interesting, location very central
Liked
The teachers and organizers were very nice and helpful. The mood was very good. People were even asked about their personal wishes and the topics were taken up accordingly.
Insider tips about what future students should not miss The Spanish yoga lesson
Overall rating
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Value for money
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

City/place
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Facilities (library, classrooms)
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Quality of teaching / language progress
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

School organization
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Social activities
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Other comments We had not received any information about the location and starting time. But we could have asked. So, everything is great!
Course: Intensive Spanish + private lesssons (20 + 5) - 1 week
29. Oct. 2018
Liked
Small class size, individual wishes when learning Spanish, extremely nice people, free salsa courses and occasional afternoon activities.
Disliked
There was only one other student with me at school.
Overall rating
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Value for money
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

City/place
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Facilities (library, classrooms)
4.0

Rating: 4/5.0

Quality of teaching / language progress
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

School organization
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Social activities
4.0

Rating: 4/5.0

Homestay
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Quality of teaching / language progress: Great teacher, individual wishes were taken into account, homework, a lot of talking :)
Course: Intensive Spanish Course - 2 weeks
25. Dec. 2023
Liked
Tania, my teacher was great! I learned a lot from her, including about cartagena and life in Colombia.
Overall rating
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Value for money
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

City/place
3.0

Rating: 3/5.0

Facilities (library, classrooms)
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Quality of teaching / language progress
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

School organization
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Social activities
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Course: Intensive Spanish - 3 weeks
11. Nov. 2019
Liked
The teacher was very nice and we had fun and laughed a lot (in addition to learning, of course;) )
Overall rating
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Value for money
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

City/place
4.0

Rating: 4/5.0

Facilities (library, classrooms)
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Quality of teaching / language progress
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

School organization
4.0

Rating: 4/5.0

Social activities
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Other comments Especially for Cartagena. A sign at the entrance would be very helpful for the first day to find the school
Course: Intensive Spanish [Spanisch] - 1 week
4. Dec. 2018
Liked
Few students, that's why we had practically private lessons. Very good teacher.
Insider tips about what future students should not miss Crazy Salsa
Overall rating
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Value for money
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

City/place
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Facilities (library, classrooms)
4.0

Rating: 4/5.0

Quality of teaching / language progress
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

School organization
4.0

Rating: 4/5.0

Social activities
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Other comments Note the school location, near the Torre del Reloj, not in Gethsemane
Course: Intensive Spanish - 2 weeks
18. Dec. 2017
Liked
Esmeralda and the team were very helpful and accommodating.
Disliked
The teaching methods were not diversified… I think the classes would benefit from using videos, newspaper articles, etc rather than simply presentations from the teacher.
Overall rating
4.0

Rating: 4/5.0

Value for money
3.0

Rating: 3/5.0

City/place
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Facilities (library, classrooms)
3.0

Rating: 3/5.0

Quality of teaching / language progress
3.0

Rating: 3/5.0

School organization
3.0

Rating: 3/5.0

Social activities
4.0

Rating: 4/5.0

Homestay
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Course: Intensive Spanish Course - 1 week
23. Jan. 2023
Liked
My teacher Luis, who was very good and knowledgeable!
Overall rating
4.0

Rating: 4/5.0

Value for money
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

City/place
4.0

Rating: 4/5.0

Facilities (library, classrooms)
3.0

Rating: 3/5.0

Quality of teaching / language progress
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

School organization
4.0

Rating: 4/5.0

Social activities
4.0

Rating: 4/5.0

Homestay
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Course: Intensive Spanish [Spanska] - 1 week
14. Feb. 2018
Liked
The staff was very accommodating and supportive
Overall rating
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Value for money
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

City/place
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Facilities (library, classrooms)
4.0

Rating: 4/5.0

Quality of teaching / language progress
4.0

Rating: 4/5.0

School organization
4.0

Rating: 4/5.0

Social activities
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Course: Private Lessons 10 - 1 week
30. Jan. 2023
Liked
The atmosphere and teachers' quality.
Overall rating
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Value for money
4.0

Rating: 4/5.0

City/place
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Facilities (library, classrooms)
4.0

Rating: 4/5.0

Quality of teaching / language progress
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

School organization
4.0

Rating: 4/5.0

Social activities
4.0

Rating: 4/5.0

Other comments Building to be renovated, we can't see BABEL's poster from the outside...
Course: Intensive Spanish [Espagnol] du 25 février 1 semaine - 1 week
9. Mar. 2019
Liked
Teacher, methodology
Overall rating
4.0

Rating: 4/5.0

Value for money
4.0

Rating: 4/5.0

City/place
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

Facilities (library, classrooms)
3.0

Rating: 3/5.0

Quality of teaching / language progress
5.0

Rating: 5/5.0

School organization
3.0

Rating: 3/5.0

Social activities
1.0

Rating: 1/5.0

Other comments Lessons on the 1st day were lost due to a bank holiday! Unfortunately no leisure activities were offered - too bad!
Course: Intensive Spanish [Spanisch] - 1 week
28. Nov. 2018

Map  

Avenida Carlos Escallon, 8 – 85 edificio Banco Santander, 3rd floor, office 301 - 130001 Cartagena
Loading map content
Other language schools in Cartagena offering Spanish courses: 
  1. Centro Catalina, San Diego4.7

    Rating: 4.7/5.0

  2. Don Quijote
  3. ECOS Spanish School, Manga4.4

    Rating: 4.4/5.0

  4. Spanish school in Cartagena: Enforex4.9

    Rating: 4.9/5.0

  5. Nueva Lengua, Getsemaní4.0

    Rating: 4.0/5.0

Questions and answers about BABEL International Language Institute

  • Yes, it's possible to start the course on any Monday. Teachers have plenty of experience in having students of all ages and adapting the content and rhythm of the class to students regardless of their age.
    Ana Carolina Dos Santos, LanguageCourse.Net - Mar 12, 2023

FAQ about BABEL International Language Institute,

  • Don't worry, if you can't make yourself understood, the staff at BABEL International Language Institute speak fluent English.
    Madly Simba, Language Travel Consultant from LanguageCourse.Net - Oct 05, 2023
  • The accommodation Homestay is the most popular among all our clients of Babel
  • Yes. The school offers pickup from Rafael Nunez International Airport (20 US$)
  • Depending on the chosen course, the maximum number of students at Babel varies from 1 students (Private Lessons 10) to 8 students (Intensive Spanish Course)
  • 100% of teachers at BABEL International Language Institute hold a university degree.
  • The highest Nationality percentage at BABEL International Language Institute comes from Switzerland with a 60% representation, followed by students from Germany (20%) and USA (17%).
  • Yes, there is an exclusive discount that only applies when booking online here.
  • BABEL International Language Institute offers courses from 10 years to 99. Average age is 25 during the summer and 25 for the rest of the year.

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Cartagena
Cartagena city attractiveness rated by our students:
4.5 

Rating: 4.5/5.0

More information about Cartagena including climate data and events on our Cartagena page with a list of all 5 Spanish schools in Cartagena.
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