Gap Year Programs in Spain

Excellent impressive service from Hanna ('Hanna 2') and Global. You are well organised to move mountains in one phone call.! I didn't imagine the enquiry call would progress to a confirmed placement! A 16 year old seed has finally been reaped and now looking forward to the sewing season next year. Thankful for such a service as this. Thank you so much. Espana! Velvo a ti!

SAS as a recent high school graduate was one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life. I am so grateful for the opportunity to sail on the Fall 25 voyage as an international gap year student. The experience as a whole was so unique and I truly do not believe that you can find such a program anywhere else. The accommodation was so surreal because I got to wake up and see the waves as we sailed across the world. The community SAS builds is welcoming and kind because whenever I had a problem on the ship or in port, I never once felt alone or stranded. There will always be someone in your corner, which I appreciated. A massive thank you especially to the crew members on the ship who always make an effort to get to know your name, check in and give you a smile or laugh whenever you're stressed by travel planning, relationships and/or academics. The food does get quite repetitive if I'm being honest but it's truly a blessing to have such skilled crew members who can create delicious and nutritious meals in the middle of nowhere on the ocean. Pro tip: always get your cake first cause everyone loves the cake and it's always the first to go. In terms of academics. there are a variety of courses and I loved how everything always tied back to our in-port experiences, which allowed us to reflect on our SAS journey deeply, which I think was a crucial aid in how I developed and matured as a person. This was a great bridge between high school and university because I feel that I came out more mature, socially aware and ready for adult life. I also never felt that I couldn't make new friends because everyone is so open and you get to interact with a lot of diversity due to the various represented cultures, backgrounds, religions, nationalities etc. Til now, I am so grateful for the friends I made on SAS and we keep in touch almost daily as we plan our reunion trips. If I had one piece of advice for whoever's reading this, is that you will never truly see and understand the world around you until you're interacting with various people on the ship and in port. So do it!!! You will never regret SAS, I can promise you that :p

While on my Dragons program, I learned not only about the world around me and new places and people, but I also gained confidence in myself. My program had a focus on cultural immersion and understanding how Morocco and Spain are connected. This was very interesting to learn about, and we did this via language lessons, homestays, and meeting local people. Overall, I realized that the world is much more interconnected than I thought, and I have been inspired to continue traveling and to immerse myself in different cultures intentionally. Luckily, I have also found a global community that is like-minded through Where There Be Dragons, and I feel that after my program, I have a whole new world of opportunities available to me.

I really enjoyed my time here and improved my Spanish a lot. The CLIC classes helped me learn and practice every day, and the trip to Granada was a highlight. It was a great mix of learning, travel, and new experiences.

I would recommend this program. I loved my experience with my host family and the language school I attended. The weekend trip to Granada was unforgettable and has been my favorite city in Spain so far.

My Seamester trip changed my life. I was shocked to discover how much I love to sail, explore new places, and live on the ocean! I was really struggling to find something I’m passionate about, but since leaving Argo, I am actively chasing opportunities to work on a boat and continue living on the ocean. I met some of the best friends I’ll ever have, and I cannot imagine a world in which I never met them. The staff were so helpful, supportive, and incredibly caring. I immediately felt like we were all one large family. I cannot recommend this enough. There are hard parts, that’s for sure. I definitely had moments where I was just so exhausted, homesick, nervous, and stressed out. But the lessons I learned in those situations shaped me into a more confident and adventurous person, and I am so grateful for that. If you’re considering going on a Seamester trip, GO!! I highly recommend the Mediterranean to Caribbean trip, the places we went were remarkable and I wish I could go back in time and do it all over again. Seriously, it is worth every penny. I will always remember my trip and if someone else has even half the experience I had, I know they will absolutely love it.

My daughter had a blast during her time with the hybrid Spain by Train and Future Leaders program! Extra language classes helped her deepen her Spanish skills, she saw so much of beautiful Spain and got exposed to its culture with hands-on activities. Her internship in Sustainability research & communication was hand-selected and incredibly helpful for her to crystallize a potential career direction. The Entrepreneurship program was a very effective introduction into the world of business and leadership. Arantxa is a gem and the team responsive, super friendly, and always helpful! Loved our experience with them and this amazing program.

Our son found the Future Leaders Program when he decided to take a gap semester after his first semester of college. Spanish Gap Year checked all the boxes we were looking for, offering an experience that had both the cultural component and the structure from which to keep building on the skills he was learning in college. Future Leaders offered the chance to continue learning challenging subjects (Spanish and business concepts), exposed him to two different cities, and also had independent dorm living in the second half so he could continue the independence he started in college. The program staff were incredible. Overall, the program exceeded our expectations and we would recommend it to anyone!

When deciding to take a gap year I felt really stressed about how I would choose to spend my time and finding the right experience for me. I’m so happy I found the ciee gap year program, I felt that it was a great opportunity to learn so many new things and have such a unique experience. My most memorable experience was getting to meet so many new people who J probably never would’ve had I not been in this program and studying abroad here in Seville. And aside from the traveling I got to do, the excitement that came with my Spanish improvement was most memorable for me. Being able to notice my own progress and feel really comfortable in a completely new language was really rewarding.

I would highly recommend CIEE GAP to anyone looking to immerse themselves in the language and culture of southern Spain. The program provides essential necessities such as insurance, support services, peers, and accommodation. What truly stood out to me was the autonomy granted to students, allowing them to manage their time outside of the exceptionally high-quality CLIC classes. This flexibility enabled me to explore teaching, as CIEE allowed me the time to pursue this interest. Additionally, I commend CIEE for their numerous cultural events, tours, and social activities, which are unmatched by any other program I have encountered, all led by excellent guides. The language school, with its international focus, offered me invaluable perspectives on the world through small classes where I enhanced my Spanish skills and grew as a global citizen. I am especially grateful to my host family, as I could not have achieved such a high level of Spanish and cultural confidence without their support. They will remain an important part of my life for a long time. I also thoroughly enjoyed teaching English classes.

Spanish Gap Year: Our son, who is a junior at a large east coast US university, decided to take a GAP semester to gain life and real-world work experience. After meeting with a consultant at Gap Year Solutions, he was able to learn about a number of different GAP options in different countries. After careful deliberation, he chose The Spanish Gap Year Future Leaders Entrepreneurship program. He had an amazing experience with this program and gained more self-confidence, especially by navigating through a foreign country. He really loved the Spanish culture, and totally benefited from the entrepreneurial activities/projects and mentoring offered by the Program. I visited him in Barcelona, and I was really impressed with the housing (clean, safe, and excellent amenities). He spoke very highly he quality of work given to him at his internship (Lean Mail) and really liked his boss. The Program's mentors and group activities were also top-notch (fun and enriching). He now feels inspired to return to school with renewed enthusiasm and has very valuable experience to put on his resume, not to mention wonderful memories! https://spanishgapyear.com/future-leaders/

My main goal going into this program was to improve my Spanish, and I was definitely successful with that, however you have to be intentional in ensuring that you are placed in a Spanish speaking internship, take advantage of extra Spanish classes, etc. Sagri and Maryam were very helpful, kind, and proactive, however the program’s instructions could be unclear at times. I personally had a fantastic time, but I think that you have to be self-driven to get the most out of it. Spain is a beautiful country, and it was a pleasure to spend 3 months here. The program has definitely opened my eyes to a new culture, and provided a good environment to grow as a person.

I had an awesome experience with this program. The month in Madrid was amazing and it was neat to go live in Barcelona. The only issue is that there are not nearly as many program activities in Barcelona as there are in Madrid. The fullest enjoyment of this program requires someone very self motivated.

Spanish Gap Year was an amazing program and experience. The mix of travel, home stays, and cultural immersion was the perfect balance. The hostels were great for learning how to co-live with others and budget for food. Cooking and food was an amazing aspect. Train travel was nothing like I’ve experienced and I love the adventure. I have met some of my closest friends on this trip. Arantxa and Sagri are both wonderful and make the program an incredible experience for gap students. I learned a lot about Spanish history, culture, art, and myself as a student through experiential learning.

From attending Spanish class in a beautiful old building with stained glass to pitching to a panel of investors on the 25th floor of amazing building in Barcelona, this program covered all the bases. We had the freedom to explore Madrid and Barcelona and find our favorite cafes and corner restaurants but were still kept busy with morning internships and afternoon entrepreneurship classes. I felt really supported by our mentors who are all extremely knowledgeable and always ready to lend a hand. Arantxa, the program manager, personally checked in on all of us constantly and made sure everything was going well. It was comforting to have such support while being in such a flexible program with time for whatever adventures we came up with. I loved this program and am sad to leave my new friends and Barcelona.

May 24, 2024 Taking a gap year in Spain before starting college was one of the best decisions I've ever made. The program was incredibly well-organized, offering a perfect blend of adventure, cultural immersion, and personal growth. From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed by a diverse group of fellow students and travelers that I became really good friends with. Together, we explored spanish cities, had delicious Spanish cuisine, and participated in a variety of activities that ranged from hiking to going bike riding through Camino. The host families was a great experience which not only helped my language skills but understanding on the true Spanish culture. The program leaders always made me feel supported throughout this whole process. The most unfamiliar fish I had was called Arroz negro. Pros Host families Program leaders Location Cons Group pairing Strict rules Excessive amount of group reflection session

My son participated in the Future Leaders’ program and it was a great experience. I loved how the program started out in Madrid with a host family followed by two months in Barcelona where he lived in his own room, a great transition towards independence. The program is very well structured and run super professionally - as the program is new we didn’t really know what to expect but we were impressed by the dedication and organization of both teachers, classes, internships & mentors.

Our daughter decided to take a gap year to improve her Spanish skills and practice "adulting" before heading off to college. Canvee was the perfect fit for her. The team that runs the program could not have been more accommodating and kind. They made her feel like she was a part of their family. Her host family was the same. She walked away with life long friends from the experience. Valencia is a beautiful city and is just the right size for a young adult to explore and enjoy with new friends. Her friends were Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Austrian and Italian... I wish I'd had an experience like this before college!

It’s given me a lot more confidence about what to do next, just because you’re retired doesn’t mean you haven’t got those skills and experience. Something I do notice where I’ve perhaps helped younger people is it’s all new to them whereas I’ve seen it all before. That experience does count for quite a bit, so that has been validating.

Learned so much. Beautiful country. Great people willing to help. The staff was so helpful and my host mom was so wonderful. I met so many awesome people and everyone I worked with was super helpful. I absolutely love my host mom and I just feel really lucky to have had this experience.