CEA CAPA Education Abroad in Granada, Spain

My time in Granada through CEA CAPA was amazing. From beginning to end, I felt supported and encouraged in all my endeavors. The excursions I went on were so impactful, the classes I took were insightful, and my housing was perfect. I do not have enough words to express how amazing this program was.

I studied abroad for 4 weeks in June 2023 in the Spanish Language and Liberal Arts Program. I was able to earn 6 credits towards my Spanish minor at the University of Granada that seamlessly transferred back to my home university as pass/fail. The classes I took were Spanish Literature (1.5 credit), Latin American Literature (1.5 credit), and High Advanced Spanish Language (3 credit). Classes were a short 10-minute walk from my residencia (dormitory-style living with other CEA CAPA students as well as local Spanish students), and ran from 8:40am-2:30pm Monday-Friday, with a midday break. 3 absences were allowed without penalty, which I used strategically to plan personal travel and/or recover from nights out. We also had 2 days off for Corpus Christi, which was one of my favorite parts of my stay in Granada. Corpus Christi is a week-long celebration consisting of parades, a fair, and other cultural festivities throughout the city's public spaces. The Spanish students staying in the residencia with us were kind enough to answer all of our questions about the events and make sure we had an amazing time during this unique holiday. CEA CAPA staff also gave us tons of information. Granada could not have been a better destination. It offers a blend of many cultures (Andalucian, Islamic influences, Romani, and more) due to its unique history, has an extremely laid back culture that made my experience and my course load as relaxed as possible, and so many incredible, friendly people. Overall, I highly reccommend going abroad to Granada with CEA CAPA. They offer so much support in every step of the process. I went abroad with two friends from my home university, but met so many people who went by themselves and had an amazing experience as well because the nature of the program allows you to make meaningful connections with other students.

I had the best time studying abroad with CEA CAPA. They were with me through every step of the application process to getting a visa and arrival. They matched me perfectly with my roommate and I will continue to thank CEA CAPA for a life long friend that I couldn't have met anywhere else. We were paired with a beautiful single mom located in the heart of Granada which was a 15-20 minute walk to our campus as well as all f the best restaurants. Our excursions to Morocco, Sevilla, Ronda and Cordoba were so fun, making me grateful for choosing CEA. The numerous vouchers and scholarships they offered made it possible to see myself in Spain and making my dream come true. I am so glad I choose CEA and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

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CEA CAPA Education Abroad in Granada, Spain, offers a top-notch study abroad experience. The academic program is diverse and engaging, with knowledgeable professors and real-world applications through field trips. Granada's rich culture and history provide an excellent backdrop, and homestays enhance language skills and cultural integration. The program's support services are comprehensive, ensuring students' well-being and success. Experiential learning opportunities, including internships and cultural excursions, add a practical dimension to academic studies. Despite potential challenges, CEA CAPA effectively addresses issues, making it a well-organized and rewarding program for personal and academic growth in an international setting.

I studied abroad in Granada with CEA in the Summer of 2019. I was especially impressed with my site specialist, the on-site staff, and how well-organized the whole program was. Every staff member was so knowledgeable, helpful, and kind. I would highly recommend CEA to anyone, and I would also recommend Granada to anyone thinking about studying abroad in Spain. Granada is such a unique and beautiful city. My entire experience was so worthwhile and we were given the opportunity to do so many amazing activities that were also included in the program price. We toured the Alhambra, visited Cordoba, Seville, and Morocco, and went to 2 different flamenco shows! I was so impressed with how well-planned everything was, and I also have CEA to thank for pairing me with my wonderful host mom. We became so close, and it was truly heart-breaking to have to leave after 2 and a half months. The educational portion of the program was also outstanding; I had very knowledgeable professors and a diverse course selection through the University of Granada. My Spanish-speaking skills and confidence improved exponentially in just a few weeks due to the cultural activities I was involved in and the classes I was taking at the university. It was truly an unforgettable and fulfilling adventure, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking into education abroad in Europe.

Studying ing Granada was such a life-changing experience. It sounds so cliche, but the reality of it is that when you return from studying abroad, you have so much new knowledge, experience, and gained skills that it transforms you as a person. 10/10!!

I absolutely LOVED my time in Granada with CEA. The city is amazing, the courses were interesting, and the whole CEA team made the transition from America to Spain so easy! CEA also does a great job of incorporating cultural activities and weekend trips into the program -- we got the chance to go to the Alhambra together (of course), visit Seville and Cordoba, and see a flamenco show, among other activities. I also lived in a homestay while I was there, and I had an amazing experience -- CEA definitely did a great job matching host families to students. Finally, the classes and professors were great, and my Spanish skills improved so much during my time there. Overall, studying abroad in Granada was the best decision I've ever made. I met so many incredible people, became a confident Spanish speaker, took spontaneous trips, and made so many amazing memories -- and I would recommend this program to anyone and everyone!

CEA is a phenomenal program that made my time in Granada absolutely perfect. They have an amazing staff that is super friendly and knowledgeable. Their host families are wonderful and kind people. And their excursions/trips are unforgettable. I absolutely love Granada and will always remember my time there fondly.

I chose to study abroad with CEA based on peers' reviews and suggestions. It was amazing!! I absolutely loved Granada, Spain and it was the perfect place to spend a semester abroad. I was able to improve my Spanish language abilities, meet so many new people from around the world, and fall in love living with a new family abroad! Some of the highlights included: a trip to Morocco, tapas and tinto de verano, courses taught entirely in Spanish, and the incredible views of the Alhambra! Would recommend this program to anyone!!

I had a blast studying abroad in Granada! The city itself is a gem, and it was such a privilege to live there for long enough to explore the hidden neighborhoods and experience the endless array of tapas. CEA offers a program that's a great mix of interesting yet stimulating academic courses along with cultural excursions that give you a chance to meet other students. I lived in a residencia, so that was also a great way to meet local Spanish students and be immersed while not having to be totally independent. After a semester in Granada, I'm much more confident in my Spanish skills. I entered the program with a decently high level of ability, but a low level of confidence in that ability. The courses in Spanish along with multiple intercambios activities reinforced my proficiency. I will always treasure the semester I spent in Granada, not just for strengthening my Spanish, but also for the amazing people I met and the memories I made traveling around Spain and the rest of Europe.

After carefully researching and planning my study abroad trip, I chose to go to Granada with CEA Study Abroad. I could not have been more pleased with the support CEA provided along the way as well as the amazing on-site staff in Granada. I loved all the trips and excursions they took us on, especially the weekend trip to Morocco. Everything was always so well-planned and coordinated. They are truly the best and work so hard to help students have the best experience possible. On top of that, I loved living in Granada. I had never lived in a big city before, but after the first month or so I felt very comfortable. It has so much to offer students: language exchanges, cultural activities, local festivals, shopping, an active nightlife, and of course, free tapas. It's a very walkable, safe city and the culture here is so unique. I loved learning more about life in southern Spain through conversations with my host family and talking with my professors. My experience in my host family was also excellent; they were a very kind, welcoming family and I was able to practice my Spanish so much with them. I would highly recommend choosing to stay in a host family for students whose goal is to really improve their Spanish skills. The only regrets I have are not getting out and exploring more to take advantage of what the city has to offer, because it has something to offer everyone. I don’t think anyone who chooses Granada can be disappointed with the experience here; it is truly a special place.

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I arrived in Granada in September 2017 and will be here until May 2018. So far, I have loved every second of CEA's program. The academics have been incredible, my Spanish has improved dramatically, my host family has become what feels like a second family, and I've made the most amazing friends. The CEA team has done a great job since day 1 in making sure I have everything I need (including a VISA, definitely apply for your VISA with their team and save yourself a load of trouble). Begoña and Jorge, the onsite staff are some of the kindest, most encouraging people I've ever met. They even searched out a restaurant that has a plate similar to Thanksgiving food and treated us all to a Thanksgiving meal together!! Choose CEA. You will not regret it!

I spent a wonderful Fall semester in Granada Spain with CEA. I had dreamed of studying in Spain for many years and, after hearing stories about Granada from a friend, I fell in love with the city from a distance. My heart was set on Granada. While researching programs I decided on CEA due to the course offerings and the attentive admissions staff. And I am so glad that I did! As a first time international traveler, I was nervous about everything before I took off. Luckily, CEA made sure that I had all the details before I stepped onto the plane. Jorge (the amazing Granada student life staff member) was there to pick me up from the Airport in his bright orange CEA shirt. Orientation over the first few days was thorough but still allowed us enough time to explore and find out own way around the city. Granada is small enough that you can walk everywhere you need to go but large enough that you never run out of new places to explore. Not to mention it is a university city so you will meet students from all over the world. You'll agree that it's the best city in Spain by the end of your time there, I guarantee it! I stayed with a host family and a roommate from my program. My host mom was hilarious, attentive and only spoke Spanish which improved my skills greatly over my four months with her! All CEA housing is located within walking distance from the Centro de Lenguas Modernas where international students take their classes. CEA's support was consistent throughout the semester. Their office was open every weekday and students were encouraged to drop in and chat with Begonia (the Granada program director) and Jorge. Students could even schedule tutoring sessions to help them with their Spanish coursework, which was a lifesaver in my grammar course! The excursions, be it the weekend trips or the afternoon activities in Granada, were well planned and informative. I appreciated that our guides would always strive to speak to us in Spanish. If you are looking for a program that will give you a great balance of support and independence, I would highly recommend going with CEA. But be warned, you might just leave your heart in Granada.

If you spend a semester in Spain, Granada in particular, you’re bound to hear “No pasa nada” very often. Similar to “hakuna matata,” it means “no worries.” The environment and atmosphere in Granada is so different from anything I’ve ever experienced, and it allowed me to enjoy every moment I could while I was in Spain. Between traveling around Spain and to other countries in Europe, Granada became a second home. Initially, I wanted to study abroad with CEA because they offer internships. I interned with a social services agency called the Albihar Foundation, which focuses on the well-being of women, children, and the elderly. Each week I spent 4-5 hours with an elderly woman and got to know her very well. She’d talk to me about her childhood, her family, traveling, and Spanish politics, something I never would’ve known much about had I not spent time with Encarnacion. Over the course of the semester, I kept a journal and wrote a paper about the foundation and the time I spent with Encarnacion. My internship was one of my favorite things about my semester abroad, and was a unique experience I wouldn't have had otherwise. In addition to my internship, CEA had volunteer opportunities at local schools, day cares, and elderly care centers in Granada. I spent a couple of hours every week assisting a preschool teacher with art lessons for the students, and teaching them English vocabulary. I had an amazing time speaking English and Spanish with the children, and learning from them. Classes were held at The Center for the Modern Languages (El Centro de Las Lenguas Modernas), and allowed students from different programs to connect. The professors are attentive, helpful, and more than willing to explain any questions. The classes were engaging and helped my Spanish improve exponentially. The CEA on-site program specialists also helped me understand the language; for the second half of the semester, one of the on-site specialists tutored me once a week, and my understanding of Spanish grammar greatly improved. What made me especially glad that I chose CEA were the program specialists. They were easy to relate to, and provided any information we needed. CEA planned fun excursions that we could take as a group, and those trips allowed me to see many other parts of Spain: Ronda, Seville, Malaga, Cordoba, and a weekend in Morocco. Overall, I'm very satisfied with the time I spent in Granada, and I think about it every day. I miss the food, my Spanish friends, and the amazing places I visited during my four months abroad.

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I spent a semester in Granada Spring 2015 through CEA, and I could not have been happier with my choice. Right from the start, the program directors (Dani, Jorge and Begonia) were friendly, open, and there for you with anything and everything that you may need. The entire program worked with you to successfully immerse you in Spanish culture, through activities and volunteer work in a local school. Academically speaking, the professors at the CLM take into account that you are not a native Spanish speaker, and will help you and support you in anyway possible. Classes were long, but never boring as there was something new to learn about Spanish culture everyday. I know a lot of people are worried about not knowing a lot of Spanish going in, but don't worry, because classes offered are in English/Spanish depending on what level you are placed into. I chose to live in an apartment during my stay, and it was situated in a close location to the school building in a nice area, close to the city center and grocery stores/shopping/activities. The only problem was that the WiFi wasn't always there, and the fuse box would blow multiple times while doing laundry. Otherwise, it was a clean and well put together apartment. I do not have one bad word to say about this program, the support from CEA in the states and in Spain was amazing, anything you needed they would be there for you. They also understood that you were here not only to study, but to see a little of the world as well, and would do their best to give you the best tips on places to go, where to stay and what to see there as well. My time there was not wasted and I highly recommend CEA to study in Spain or any of the other programs they offer.

Amazing. Perfect City.

The most mind-blowing, incredible 4 weeks of my entire life.

I love living in a homestay. I wish the class was more intensive, so I could have better conversation with my host mom but love the activities.

Granada is perfect place to study abroad and experience the Spanish culture.

An awesome alternative to bigger cities for study abroad