My experience preparing for the DELE exam in Central America

I enrolled in a Spanish course last January to prepare to take the DELE C2 exam and because I wanted to live somewhere in Latin America, not just to travel as a tourist, but to actually live there. I met someone in Canada who recommended a Spanish school in Boquete, Panama, so I did some research and was impressed. The website was clear and professional and when I emailed with my questions they called me back literally just a couple of hours later. They made things easy to organize and before I knew it I had my flight to Panama booked.

For those who don’t know, the DELE exam is administered by the Instituto Cervantes in Spain and is the only internationally recognized exam for Spanish as a foreign language. I decided to study for 4 months because, although I already spoke some Spanish, I knew that the exam would be very difficult (C2 is a “Superior” level) and I had some new grammar and vocabulary to learn.

My first teacher, Mónica Vargas, is more or less the same age as me (twenty-five years old) and we got along very well. What impressed me about her was her professionalism and preparation in each class, she always had the materials ready and a clear lesson plan, but what I liked the most was that she was able to challenge me in class. I wanted a teacher who would really push me to improve, both in class and by giving me homework and lots of exercises to work on. She also accommodated my interests by letting me choose topics for discussion, for example from the newspaper, since I like to read it every morning.

Monica and I took all the old exams we could get our hands on, as well as the practice exams provided by the Instituto Cervantes. It wasn’t easy and I had my ups and downs: some days I was the most confident Spanish speaker in school and other days I felt like I was getting worse! Both Monica and my second teacher Arelis were very patient with me, they were always positive and made me feel better on the most difficult and frustrating days. We also kept things fun by taking breaks from the classroom and exploring Boquete together, whether it was visiting the public gardens or having ice cream. In May I already had the exam format adjusted: I was able to complete each part of the exam within the time limit, I recognized Spanish vocabulary and grammar, and I was able to understand the audio tracks in several different accents. I was still a bit nervous, but confident and ready because I knew that I had done everything thoroughly to prepare for the DELE exam.

But at the end of the 4 months I realized that I had more than I bargained for (and I paid). The Spanish school team was like family to me: the staff became good friends and I met many other people in the city who made me feel at home here. I would find myself walking down the main street saying hello to everyone I met, from bus drivers to shop owners to fellow students and travelers. Suddenly, 4 months didn’t seem like enough. I had to leave in June to do a job in El Salvador, and from there I went directly to take the exam in Costa Rica, where I met up with a good friend, Celine, who I had met in Boquete! She made me feel so much better to be there with someone she knew who had been through the same journey. But my journey was not over yet! I decided to return to Boquete after taking the exam in August and have been here ever since. I started teaching a salsa class, working, hanging out with friends, really living here, just the way I wanted.

I am happy to report that I passed the exam (as did Celine). The first person I told was Monica, I wanted her to know as my teacher and as a good friend; and like her, the Spanish school and Boquete have a special place in my heart. This is my second home now, and even though I have to leave soon, I know I’ll be back one day.