ABOUT US
una vaina bien spanish
A Unique Spanish Language School in Cabarete, Dominican Republic
UVB is a unique Spanish language school in the Dominican Republic. In our Cabarete and Santo Domingo locations we offer hourly Spanish lessons, online lessons, a Spanish language and cultural immersion course, and aim to teach students practical, interactive Spanish classes with a side of Dominican history and culture. The focus is on immediately useful, conversational Spanish through digital, yours-to-keep materials. Free, downloadable resources help students learn vocabulary on their own so class time can be about hand-on language exploration, NOT a pricy alternative to Google Translate.
Spend your class time talking and practicing so you can learn Spanish that much faster. We believe cultural instruction grounded in sustainable tourism practices is an important part of supporting the local Dominican community and making sure it stays healthy for all of us to continue to enjoy for years to come.
Una Vaina Bien is a Dominican colloquialism for something that is cool, well done, and that draws people to it. We want people to learn Spanish, look back and say: “¡eso fue una vaina bien!” Make sure to follow UVB on Facebook for interesting articles, blog updates, videos, Spanish language infographics, and “Today in Dominican History” posts.
Mechi, Founder & Owner
Teacher. Cultural guide. Writer. I’m just an Afro-Indigenous Bachata-dancing mermaid.
¡Qué lo qué! I’m Mechi. Emocionada is my favorite emotion because if it doesn’t excite me, I don’t do it! Sustainable and socially responsible tourism are my jam. Born and raised in between Washington Heights, NYC and Santo Domingo, I am fluent in español, English, and espanglés. I have over 7 years of experience teaching languages all over the world—a Buddhist monastery in Nepal, two schools in an Ethiopian village, and now beachside in Cabarete.Marianne, co-Owner
Teacher. Yogini. Adventurer. Shameless bookworm.
Hola mi gente! My name is Marianne. I’m a Santo Domingo, DR native who loves to try new things, especially anything related to responsible travel and culture. I ‘m fluent in Spanish, English – and enjoy teaching both languages! I’ve been teaching in different cities and countries for over 7 years, and now I spend my days teaching in the vibrant city of Santo Domingo. Bienvenid@!
You
Not the Typical Resort-Tourist
Adventurous. Experiential learner. Always looking for the roads less travelled and ways to travel them responsibly and sustainably. You want to learn Spanish but the idea of sitting at a desk with a textbook and copying notes off of a board sounds like torture. Mixing with locals, learning about Dominican culture and history, and experiencing everything Cabarete has to offer sounds like the best kind of vacation you could possibly have.