Spanish Language & Culture

Seville, Spain

Summer '25 Applications Open

Language & Culture

Select a Term...

Dates

Jun 8 - Jul 5, 2025

4 weeks

Costs

$6,950

Application Deadline

January 15, 2025

Request Information

Dates

Jul 6 - Aug 2, 2025

4 weeks

Costs

$6,950

Application Deadline

January 15, 2025

Request Information

Elevate your Spanish steeped in Seville’s rich Moorish, Christian, and Jewish heritage.

Four weeks of language immersion in the capital of Andalusia will take your Spanish to new heights. After language classes, head out into Seville’s colorful, aromatic streets—dotted with azulejos (colorful ceramic tiles) and filled with the scent of jasmine—to converse with sevillanos. Discover the Jewish Quarter’s centuries-old buildings and charming squares and marvel at iconic sites like the Alcazar (a Moorish royal palace) and the Gothic Seville Cathedral. Wander the narrow, winding streets of Triana—birthplace of flamenco—graze on exquisite tapas and bask on a boat ride along the Guadalquivir River.

Make the most of your stay as you experience southern Spanish customs at your homestay. Celebrate the Catholic festival of Corpus Christi and participate in the festivities. On weekends, enjoy excursions to Andalusian cities like Granada with its intricate Moorish Alhambra palace and bohemian vibes, and Cadiz, known for its golden coastline and turquoise waters. In Seville, you will accelerate your Spanish and embark on an extraordinary adventure that immerses you in southern Spain.

The Take-Aways

Language Growth & Cultural Competence

Come home with a higher level of Spanish and a greater understanding of Spanish culture. Use your STAMP 4S language proficiency pre- and post-test scores to demonstrate your language growth and help you earn a Seal of Biliteracy.  

College Credits

Choose to earn 4 college credits toward your future college degree. Take advantage of the credits to stand out on your college applications or to satisfy college language requirements.

Lifelong Skills and Friendships

After just 4 weeks away, you'll build self-confidence, gain a broader world view, improve your interpersonal communication skills and make lifelong friends from all across the U.S.

60

Hours Of Instruction With A Native Spanish Teacher

4

College Credits

1

Life-changing Experience

The Destination

Welcome to Seville—the “Pearl of Andalusia”—a cinematic city steeped in the Spanish traditions of flamenco, dancing, and tapas.

Once the capital of Muslim Spain and a gateway for ships headed to the Americas, Seville is immersed in historical allure. At the mouth of the Guadalquivir River, the country’s only navigable river, it has stood as the economic heart of southern Spain for centuries. How could Seville not be an important city when, according to legend, it was founded by Hercules himself!

A favored backdrop for screenwriters and directors, epic scenes from Star Wars, Game of Thrones, and countless productions have been filmed here. The conveniences of a modern city combine perfectly with centuries-old historical sites, like the well-preserved Giralda bell tower of the Seville Cathedral, the Tower of Gold adorning the riverbanks, and the Archivo de Indias, containing 80 million original documents from Spanish colonial times. The casco antiguo (old quarter) of Seville ranks as the third largest in Europe.

Celebrated for its hospitality, Seville epitomizes the very essence of Andalusia. Prepare to be mesmerized by flamenco rhythms, exquisite mosaics, and the echoes of Moorish splendor that grace the city.

Cultural Awareness

��911wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local ��911staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in Seville.

Daily Life

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Each day offers a balance between interactive instruction and cultural activities with time on your own, too. Morning classes and afternoon activities may swap places.

Breakfast at your homestay
Engaging Spanish classes with expert language instructors, all native speakers
Lunch at your homestay
Out and about for authentic conversations in the community and a cultural activity
Dinner and evening discussions at your homestay

Weekends

Overnight or day excursions to top sites
Quality time with friends and your host family

Check out the blog posts to discover more about daily life and excursions on program.

Housing

Carefully-screened homestay

24/7 Support

1 Program Leader for every 12 students and support from local staff

Weekly Learning Goals

In ��911classes, Introductory Level is for students who have no previous experience in Spanish, Level 1 is for students acquiring basic Spanish, Level 2 is for those who can carry on everyday conversations, and Level 3 is for those who can participate in discussions on social and academic topics. In the spring before you depart, you’ll take a language proficiency test and when you arrive on site, you’ll participate in an oral interview. How you do on the test and in the interview will identify the level that is right for you.

Each week, you’ll explore a Theme and create a Project. Each day in class, you’ll learn Spanish through engaging activities and then, in the community, try out your new Spanish in conversations with locals.

WEEK 1: Settle in and meet your classmates as you explore the Identity Theme. Ask and answer questions, give information, describe your favorite things and your family at home and in Spain. For your Project, create and present a Personal Profile.

WEEK 2: Take in the local scene as you explore the Community Theme. Describe places, attractions, and events in Seville. Tell what you want to buy in shops, and express your likes and dislikes in food and fashion. For your Project, create a Photo Gallery of Life in Seville and share it in a conversation.

WEEK 3: Continue improving your Spanish as you delve into the Discovery Theme and, for your Project, create and present a Travel Flyer for a destination in Spain. Give and follow directions, give details of a trip itinerary day-by-day, and describe the destination, the weather, and what to do there.

WEEK 4: Consider the impact of your summer in this week’s Personal Growth Theme. Tell what you experienced in Spain, make cultural comparisons, and participate in study abroad interviews. For your Project, create a Study Abroad Album and share it in a panel discussion.

WEEK 2: Take in the local scene as you explore the Community Theme. Describe places, attractions, and events in Seville. Tell what you want to buy in shops and express your likes and dislikes in food and fashion. For your Project, create a Photo Gallery of Life in Seville and share it in a conversation.

WEEK 4: Consider the impact of your summer in this week’s Personal Growth Theme. Tell what you experienced in Spain, make cultural comparisons, and participate in study abroad interviews. For your Project, create a Study Abroad Album and share it in a panel discussion.

Each week, you’ll explore a Theme and create a Project. Each day, you’ll advance your Spanish—through activities and discussions in class and through conversations with locals in the community and at your homestay.

WEEK 1: Settle in and meet your classmates as you explore the Discovery Theme. Ask about and describe family members, discover and describe exciting things to do in Seville, and compare daily routines and customs in Spain and the USA. For your Project, create and present a Memory Book of Your Life in Seville.

WEEK 2: Explore Spanish culture during this week’s Creativity Theme. Compare musical performances, express opinions on art, tell what happened in movies, and persuade a classmate to attend a cultural event. For your Project, create a Photo Gallery on Spanish Culture and share it in a conversation.

WEEK 3: Delve into Seville in this week’s Community Theme. For your Project, create and present a Neighborhood Tour in Seville. Describe the city and what happens there. Role play scenes in a market and restaurant. Report on Seville’s past and future.

WEEK 4: Consider the impact of your summer during the Personal Growth Theme. Tell what happened in memorable moments and how you felt about it. Make cultural comparisons and persuade a friend to study abroad. For your Project, create a Study Abroad Album and share it in a panel discussion.

WEEK 1: Settle in and meet your classmates during the Cultural Encounters Theme. Tell what happened on a first encounter abroad. Summarize past and current events in Seville. Express your opinions as you compare cultural norms and stereotypes. For your Project, create and present a Field Report on Seville.

WEEK 2: Explore Spanish culture in this week’s Creativity Theme. Describe street art and profile artists, express opinions on magazines and movies, and compare musical performances. For your Project, create an Arts & Culture Magazine and share it in a conversation.

WEEK 3: Continue advancing your Spanish as you delve into the Discovery Theme. For your Project, create and present an Awareness Campaign about a global threat. Give information on its causes and effects, explain solutions, and persuade others in debates, justifying your arguments.

WEEK 4: Consider the impact of your summer in this week’s Personal Growth Theme. Conduct a class survey on experiences in Spain and make cultural comparisons. Tell an original story about a memorable moment and speculate on what’s next for you. For your Project, create a Study Abroad Album and share it in a panel discussion.

Sample Activities

High school students kayaking in Seville

Just imagine all the fun you’ll have!

Perfect the art of Spanish dishes like paella and gazpacho in a cooking class with your friends.
Trace over 1,000 years of history at the medieval Alcazar Real, the oldest royal palace in use in Europe. It was devised as a fortress to protect the Moorish rulers!
Test your flamenco rhythm skills along a balaiora. Get a crash course in sevillanas, the most famous folk dance of Spain.
In Cadiz, the oldest continuously inhabited city in Spain, taste some of the best candy of Andalusia. Climb the Tavira tower for the best views of the sea.
Cool off and paddle on a kayak along the Guadalquivir River. Admire Seville’s riverside sites, like the Triana district.
Visit the breathtaking beauty of the Alhambra palace, the most visited monument of Spain and a true masterpiece of Muslim art in Europe, on an overnight trip to Granada.

Please note activities are based on past programs and subject to change at CIEE's discretion to adapt to local circumstances and participant feedback. Our goal when arranging activities is always to enhance your experience. 

What Students Are Saying

“I loved the activities we did. Always kept us on our toes. My favorites were the excursions to Granada and Cadiz. In Sevilla, I loved the Cathedral and Alcazar!”

Kaitlyn H., ��911Global Navigator Alum
“I enjoyed bargaining at the markets in Granada. This really helped with my language confidence!”

Katrina C., ��911Global Navigator Alum
“My most memorable experience was interacting with Spanish people. At the beginning of the trip, I couldn't speak as much, but at the end, I could communicate with them a lot better. It showed me how much I learned, gained, and experienced during the month in Seville.”

Ariana A., ��911Global Navigator Alum
“Visiting the Giralda was amazing for me because I was in a group with my closest friends, and we had fun walking up to the top and taking pictures of the views from all four sides. I liked that I could look out over the whole city and see all of my favorite places!”

Hannah S., ��911Global Navigator Alum

From CIEE

Kayaking Adventure in el Guadalquivir

By Sam Fouts at CIEE

Last week, after navigating the Spanish language in class, the HSSA Language & Culture group went out to conquer el Río Guadalquivir.

From CIEE

Ceramic Tiles Class

By Vanessa Espinoza at CIEE

Learn about our experience in ceramics class.

From CIEE

From the USA to Sevilla: Our Students' Exciting Journey Begins!

By Nekane Del Sol at CIEE

Just last Sunday, our beloved students finally arrived here in Sevilla, tired but full of enthusiasm to start their amazing adventure in this beautiful city. But before we dive into... keep reading

Eligibility

Participants must be 14 years old and above.
Program open to current high school students—Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors—of all Spanish language proficiency levels. Students must have completed Freshman year of high school before traveling on program.
For scholarship eligibility requirements, please check our ��Ǳ��󾱱� p��.

For more information, refer to the detailed Program Essential Eligibility Criteria.

Dates & Fees

Application Fee

$25

Optional College Credit Fee

$150

Learn more about how to get college credit for your future college degree.

Program scholarships and tuition include iNext Travel Insurance, but do not cover the cost of flights. Find additional details about what’s included with your tuition.

More questions? Find answers, get application support, sign up for virtual presentations or contact us!

Program	Application Due	Start Date	End Date	Costs
Program Summer Session I 2025 4 weeks	January 15, 2025	Start Date June 8, 2025	End Date July 5, 2025	Costs $6,950
Program Summer Session II 2025 4 weeks	January 15, 2025	Start Date July 6, 2025	End Date August 2, 2025	Costs $6,950

Ready to change your life?

What’s Included

Interactive Classes

Housing

3 Meals/Day

(Dietary Needs Accommodated)

All Ground Transportation

(Once In-country)

Optional Flight Chaperone

(Flight Cost Not Included)

Pre-departure Advice and Orientation

Access to WIFI

(No international data plan or SIM card included)

All Cultural Activities and Excursions

Comprehensive Medical and Travel Protection

24/7 Emergency On-site Support

Our Staff

Salvador Parra

Center Director

Salvador has been working at ��911since 2000 and is passionate about international exchange. He holds a degree in History and Geography from the University of Seville, and a Master of Business Administration.