High School Abroad in Spain with Seville Abroad

I had an unforgettable and amazing experience living and studying in Spain for my first trimester of my junior year of high school. Even though my level of Spanish was not high when I arrived in Spain, I was able to learn from the classes within my program and through my amazing host family. I feel that I was matched up to them and fit into their family very well. It was also very helpful at first because my host sister knew a lot of English and I was able to learn Spanish from her easily. I left with much more vocabulary and ability to understand the language than what I arrived with! In addition, I experienced personal growth in independence and maturity.

I participated in the Seville Abroad Summer Program in the summer of 2023. This was my first time ever traveling abroad by myself. I really loved the Seville Abroad program and would highly recommend it. The program offered a well balanced mix of host family time, Spanish language classroom study, and fun travel excursions. I really enjoyed the opportunity to live with a local Spanish family and to experience all of travel in southern Spain. The staff at Seville Abroad were fantastic. I felt supported throughout my experience and they always took the time to check in with me to make sure that all of my needs were being met. Based on my positive experience, I am now looking to apply to Seville Abroad again and to participate in their High School Abroad program.

Prior to this summer, I was skeptical about travelling abroad for an entire month away from everyone I knew. I was persuaded by my mother to join the abroad program. I was keen to practice and learn more Spanish and hopefully make new friends. When I first arrived at the airport and met with all the kids from the program I could tell that the different backgrounds and traditions were unique but I figured we would all get along pretty well. Not many kids get this opportunity and the fact that almost all of us were pretty outgoing only contributed to the experience. Throughout the month I learned more about Spanish culture, the lives of my new friends, and what it was like to live in different parts of the United States. I made great memories and saw the beauty of another country firsthand. I made strong relationships with some of the other kids in the program who I plan on meeting up with in the future. All in all, it was a pretty ideal experience that helped me not only academically but also develop more as a person. It provided me with a new outlook on life and independence that I couldn't have found anywhere at home. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity and would highly recommend it.

Our 17 year old son just participated in Seville Abroad's Summer Program, and we do not have enough words to describe how grateful we are for the wonderful, educational and safe experience he had in his first time away from home. Seville Abroad is a top notch language and cultural immersion program and it has our highest recommendations. The staff is professional, responsive, organized and above all caring with their students. We are beyond impressed with this group. Seville Abroad exeeded our expectations in every possible way. Their professionalism and organization was palpable from the very beginning. Our initial contact with them eased any fear we had to let our son go so far away. We were especially impressed by the personalized care they gave my son in our absence. Our son loved this life changing experience, forged a beautiful friendship with his host family, and fellow students and looks forward to returning. We are definitely going through Seville Abroad when we send our second son to Spain in two years. We love everything about Seville Abroad, and its staff!

When I first discovered Seville Abroad, I honestly thought that the program was too good to be true. But even after 7 incredible months in Seville, it continued to exceed my expectations in every way. The support is absolutely unparalleled, and the tight-knit exchange family goes on a lot of excursions together. My Spanish improved in leaps and bounds because of the immersive nature of exchange, and private Spanish lessons 3 times a week to ask questions, practice without fear, and reinforce my grammar.

I couldn't have asked for a better host family- Pepa and Chelo (the program leaders) work hard to match each student with a carefully vetted and compatible family. Because of my host family, I was able to really live an authentic Spanish lifestyle, and my house felt like home right from the start!

As exchange students, we were given a lot of freedom, while still being kept safe. There are no strict or ridiculous rules like many other exchange programs have, but I and my family know that I was always being looked out for.

I'm not going to lie- foreign exchange is really difficult. It takes a lot of work and determination to completely uproot yourself and go to a new country and school. But, it's 100% worth it. This program gave me the opportunity and freedom to discover who I am and what I want in life, and I have made lifelong friends . For anyone thinking about exchange, or what program to go with, I promise that you won't regret choosing Seville Abroad! I honestly can't sing their praises enough. Please, feel free to contact me with any questions (no matter how small) you may have at avasteckel@gmail.com. I wish you the best with your exchange experience, and would love to help you get there!

This has been by far the most life changing experiences that I have had. I came here knowing basically no Spanish and knowing nobody. I am now six month into my trip here and I have learned so much. I now know the culture, the people, the language, and everyday for me is a new adventure. I did this with the support of Peppa (The program director), Chelo (My Spanish teacher who also works for the program), my host family, and every friend that I have made here. I recommend that if you have the opportunity to do this, you take it, because you will grow unimaginably. When I came here I thought that by the end of the trip I would have experienced the life of just the high school, knowing the people in my school and the teachers. However within the first three months I began to get to know the life and culture of teenagers and adults in Sevilla. The experience of a new culture caused me to grow and change my perspective of the world. I would recommend this to anybody who wants to do this, however doing this for nine months is much better than just three.

Foreign exchange was the best thing i have ever done. It has changed my life in so many ways, and made me grow as a person. I highly reccomend it, and everyone should do it if possible. I met so many new people, and had so many new experiences. I also now speak fluent spanish, which is so useful. It is also amazing for resumes and getting jobs and going to school. The people, culture, and food of spain is amazing. This was easily and by far the best thing i have ever done in my life. Thank you to everyone who helped make it possible.

These past few months have been such an amazing memorable and truly unforgettable experience in Seville. I couldn’t have asked for a better time here, from my amazing host family who made me feel so welcome and at home ever since my very first day. My host siblings (especially Irene, my host sister) has been one of my closest friends here, she’s always there for me and I love spending time with her after school and on weekends. It really felt like I was part of their family during my stay.

As for Seville abroad, I couldn’t have picked a better program to come here with. I loved how Pepa and Chelo were always there for me whenever I had doubts and concerns, they made me feel so welcome at all times. I loved the amazing and well planned excursions we would have, (especially the one to Cadiz) and surely the other students within the program, they have become some of my best friends here, and it wouldn’t have been the same without them. To say the least, the entire program was almost like a little family abroad, and I loved it.

I’m truly sad to be leaving Seville abroad and Spain so soon but I will definitely come back soon and I 100% recommend this program!!