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Aruba Language Institute · Since 2012

Papiamento, the mother tongue of Aruba, taught the way a living language deserves.

Structured courses for every level, in person or online, for individuals and organizations.

Since 2012 700+ students taught CEFR-aligned, A1–C1 Two locations in Aruba

Next Cohorts

Papiamento A1

For: Beginners, no prior Papiamento needed

Starts: September 5, 2026

Schedule: Saturdays, 12:00–2:00 PM

Location: Hyatt Place

Duration: 13 weeks · 26 hours

Price: Afl. 800

Capacity: Limited to 10 participants

Papiamento A2

For: Those who have completed A1

Starts: September 7, 2026

Schedule: Mondays, 8:00–10:00 PM

Location: Hyatt Place

Duration: 13 weeks · 26 hours

Price: Afl. 800

Capacity: Limited to 10 participants

Also starting: Spanish A1 for Dutch speakers — visit OCC Academy →

Limited seats.

Ask on WhatsApp Register

Why Papiamento

Small Island. Many Cultures. One Language.

More than how the island speaks, Papiamento is how Aruba remembers, feels, and lives. Shaped over centuries from Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch, African and Caquetio roots, it holds the island's whole story in a single voice, and learning it is how you begin to belong.

Since 2012

The island's dedicated Papiamento institute.

Founded by a published author and Bible translator

Founded in 2012 by Swinda A. Maduro-Schwengle, author of Uzo Profesional di Papiamento and translator of the Gospel of Luke into Papiamento, with decades of teaching experience including at IPA and the University of Aruba.

Proven at scale

120+ adults trained through a recent public language-integration program, plus individual students and professionals across Aruba.

Across Aruba

Two locations, Oranjestad and Santa Cruz, plus online.

Programs

Our Courses, Your Progress

Every program is structured with clear goals and guided by the CEFR framework, from Beginner (A1) to Advanced (C1). Step by step, we help you grow in confidence and fluency.

Available as private lessons, group classes, or intensive courses, online or in person.

Beginner

Greetings, introduce yourself, order food, ask directions. Everyday language for real life.

Elementary

Simple conversations, daily routines, short messages, and growing your core vocabulary.

Intermediate

Talk about work, news, and culture; improve accuracy, listening, and real-world writing.

Upper-Int.

Confident discussions, presentations, complex grammar, and richer, natural expression.

Advanced

Nuance, style, and precision for study or work; near-native comprehension and output.

Find your level with our placement test →

Specialized Programs

Beyond the Levels

Focused courses for specific goals, from everyday conversation to mastery.

Speaking

Conversation Courses

Built around speaking and listening, real, everyday Papiamento to grow confidence and fluency in conversation.

Workplace

Papiamento for Professionals

For locals working in government departments, organizations, and public service, refining written and spoken Papiamento for professional use.

Literary

Papiamento for Experts

For those reaching the highest level, the Papiamento of poetry, literature, and refined written expression.

Advanced

Papiamento Avansa

For locals who already speak Papiamento and want to go deeper, strengthening fluency, grammar, and command of their own language.

Our Founder

Swinda A. Maduro-Schwengle

For Swinda A. Maduro-Schwengle, Papiamento was never simply a subject to teach. It was a language to protect, to dignify, and to pass on with the care it deserves.

Her career spans decades of teaching Papiamento, including at the Instituto Pedagogico Arubano (IPA) and the University of Aruba. She is the author of Uzo Profesional di Papiamento, a professional-use guide now used to teach the language across the island.

She also translated part of the Bible into Papiamento, the Gospel of Luke, a work of patience, precision, and deep respect for the language's nuance.

In 2012 she founded Cas di Papiamento to bring that standard under one roof. She remains its main teacher, leading a team of qualified Papiamento teachers who carry the same method, and the same care, into every classroom.

"A language survives when it is taught with discipline and loved without compromise."

For Organizations & Professionals

Professional & Translation Services

Language work for those who cannot afford to be misunderstood. Trusted by businesses, institutions, and professionals across Aruba.

Translation

Papiamento Translation

Business, professional, and personal documents translated to and from Papiamento with precision and accountability.

Institutions

Papiamento for Organizations

Tailored Papiamento programs for hospitals, public institutions, hotels, and any team that serves the community in its own language.

Publishing

Editing & Proofreading

Professional Papiamento editing and proofreading for publications, materials, and institutional communication.

Advisory

Language Consultancy

Method development, terminology, and orthography advisory, drawing on decades of work preserving and standardizing Papiamento.

Request a project quote →

For Government & Institutions

Papiamento is official. Serving in it is both a duty and an advantage.

Aruba's public bodies, hospitals, and businesses serve a Papiamento-speaking community. We help institutions do it well, with staff training, accountable translation, and guidance on the written standard itself.

Staff Training

Structured Papiamento for teams in government, healthcare, hospitality, and public service, so your people can serve the community in its own language.

Official Translation

Accurate translation of public documents, forms, and communication, to and from Papiamento, with accountability.

Standard & Terminology

Orthography, terminology, and method advisory, grounded in decades of teaching Papiamento and authorship of Uzo Profesional di Papiamento.

We have delivered language programs at scale, including a recent integration program for more than 120 adult learners across multiple groups.

Request a Consultation

Getting Started

Your Path With Us

A clear, guided route from first contact to confident fluency.

Step One

Assessment

We place you at the right CEFR level through a short consultation, so you start exactly where you should.

Step Two

Registration

Choose private, group, intensive, or organizational. We build the schedule around your goals and your calendar.

Step Three

Progress

Structured lessons, real practice, and measured milestones until you reach the level you came for.

Begin with your placement test →

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I learn Papiamento?

Papiamento is one of the two official languages of Aruba and the key to connecting with locals and the island’s culture.

Do you offer online or in-person classes?

Yes. You can study online, take private lessons, or join group classes in Aruba.

How long will it take to become fluent?

Conversational skills can be reached in a few months. Full fluency usually takes longer, depending on your practice.

How do I register?

Click Register, fill in the form, and we’ll get back to you with the next steps.

Do you offer payment plans?

Yes, special payment plans can be arranged upon request. We review each case individually.

Student Voices

What Our Students Say

Recommended by our students on Facebook.

★★★★★

Mi a sigui un curso di Papiamento pa Profesional na Cas di Papiamento y mi ta hopi contento cu e experensia. E curso tabata bon structura, practico y adapta na situashonnan real cu por topa cune na trabou.

Valeria S.

★★★★★

Un curso hopi interesante y util. E lesnan tabata practico y facil pa sigui. Mi ta satisfecho cu tur loke mi a siña.

Patsy K.

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Cas di Papiamento

The house of Papiamento is open to you.

OCC Academy

Want to learn another language?

You can also learn Dutch, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese and German through our sister institute, OCC Academy. Same family, same care.

Visit OCC Academy →

Begin

Two Ways to Start

For Individuals

Learn Papiamento with us through guided, structured lessons toward real, lasting fluency.

For Organizations

Translation, organizational training, and language consultancy for institutions and businesses.