5-8 Week High School Programs Abroad

I was hesitant to send my 16-year-old son, Matteo, halfway across the world for a month, but the GAC team was incredibly reassuring from the very first phone call. Any parent knows the anxiety of not being able to just drive over if something goes wrong, but their 24/7 local support genuinely put my mind at ease. Matteo was placed with a host family in Beijing who treated him like their own grandson. He called me every few days completely buzzing—not just about the Great Wall or the Forbidden City, but about the local street food and playing video games with his host brother to practice his Chinese. The morning classes must have been good because he actually came home being able to hold basic conversations, which is way more than he ever learned in his high school language classes here. It was a huge step for his independence, and he came back noticeably more confident and mature. If you are a nervous parent reading this, I can't recommend this program enough.

Our daughter had a beautiful experience, increased her Spanish proficiency a lot, and enjoyed the travel set up. Additional gems were the beloved team at Seville Abroad--Pepa, Ena, Chelo, and Ana, and her incredible host family. It was a transition for her to make from being an American to being an American in a Spanish High School. Her relationships in the High School did not really happen. Among the students in the Seville Abroad, connections and fun did happen. And with the real life, amazing host family. I did see a divide in attention between friends at the Seville Center and outside of the center. With the center being a comfort zone, that helped her adapt and slowed assimilation into Spanish culture. This is something that happens with many high school study programs. The trips, the outings, the dance, and Pepa, Ena, Chelo, and Ana, and her host family were standouts. If you can not tell, we enthusiastically recommend Seville Abroad for the High School Program!

My great time spent in Barcelona started from being picked from an airport and transported to accommodation, to accommodation i have only one con and thatt was a little complicated communication with staff, the school looked really good from outside and inside so it was nice being there, with the school i had a little problem and it was that i had a feeling i learnt almost nothing and from the trip i think i have improved more in emglish than spanish, but maybe that might be my fault too. After all i really enjoyed and made some friends and it was totally worth it.

Expanish responded to this reviewSeptember 09, 2026

¡Hola, Marie! Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us and for your 5-star rating! We’re very happy to hear that you enjoyed your stay in Barcelona, liked our school, and, most importantly, made some great memories and new friends along the way. We really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and feedback with us. Your comments help us continue improving and providing the best possible experience for our students. We’re glad to hear that, overall, you enjoyed the experience and felt that it was worthwhile. We hope to see you again at Expanish in the future! ¡Un abrazo!

I spent two weeks of July in Barcelona with Expanish School and it was one of the best experiences of my life. In two weeks I learned a lot thanks to the teachers and the trips we did during the week and in the weekends. I got to know some amazing people that became my friends and with them I shared this magnificent experience. My host family was so lovely, they immediately made me feel comfortable and at home. Now that my experience has finished I find myself thinking about the days spent in Barcelona with Expanish. I already recommended the school to my friends because I think it is really really valid.

Expanish responded to this reviewAugust 23, 2026

¡Hola, Sofia! What a beautiful review to read — thank you! :) We're so happy your two weeks in Barcelona turned into one of the best experiences of your life! It's wonderful that you learned so much thanks to our teachers and all the trips along the way, and even better that you made friends who shared it all with you. Hearing that your host family made you feel so at home too just makes this even more special. Thank you for already recommending us to your friends — that truly means so much to us. We hope to welcome you back to Expanish soon! ¡Un fuerte abrazo!

My host family was amazing, the teacher was very nice and helpful and I could learn a lot. The activities were fun and were helping me learn more about the place and the culture. Unfortunately not many people my age were attending them but they were still very fun

Expanish responded to this reviewAugust 23, 2026

¡Hola, Teodor! Thank you for sharing this with us! :) We're so glad the program let you dive into the city, culture, and language all at once — and it's wonderful to hear your host family and teacher made such a positive impact on your experience. We're happy the activities added to that too, and we hear you on wanting more people your age around — we'll keep working on bringing in a wider crowd! Thanks again for choosing Expanish — hope to see you again soon! ¡Un fuerte abrazo!

Before coming to Argentina, I was excited but also nervous because it was my first time living in another country for such a long time. Looking back now, I can honestly say it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. My host family welcomed me from day one and quickly made me feel like part of their family. They introduced me to Argentine traditions, food, and everyday life, and I built memories that I'll always carry with me. Attending school in Argentina gave me the chance to improve my Spanish, make friends from around the world, and experience a completely different education system. Outside of school, I loved traveling, exploring new places, going to football matches, drinking mate, and learning about the country's culture and history. There were definitely moments when I missed home, but those challenges helped me become more independent, confident, and adaptable. I learned that growth happens when you step outside your comfort zone. I'm incredibly thankful to Greenheart Travel for making this experience possible. They were supportive throughout the process and helped me achieve a dream I had for years. I would recommend this program to anyone thinking about studying abroad. You'll make lifelong friends, gain a new perspective on the world, and come home as a different person in the best way possible.

I would 100% recommend this program. Not only can you become fluent in a second language, you learn the type of person you are and how to live independently. The trips we took with the people in the program were some of the most fun i’ve ever had and I have gained so many different perspectives on the world. Everyone of the Staff; Pepa, Ena, Ana, and Chelo are so nice and easy to talk too.

Our daughter had a lm incredible experience with Seville abroad for a semester in Seville. Her family was fantastic, the program staff are supportive and encouraging and really got to know our daughter as a person. While the regular connection with Americans was sometimes a barrier to fully immersing in Spanish life, it provided a deep safety net for social connection and friendship. The thing that most impressed us were the staff at Seville Abroad - they are truly incredible people who seem to always go the extra mile (kilometer!) for the students and their families. We feel so lucky to have found them.

I did LITA's Northern Spain program in the summer of 2022 at 15 years old, and it remains the single best experience of my life. What sets LITA apart from every other program is how deeply personal it is. From day one, our leaders and Jordan knew exactly who I was, my interests, my personality, my goals. The level of individualized attention in a group of students is something you simply don't find somewhere else. My host family experience was incredible and genuinely changed how I see the world. We traveled across all of Northern Spain — Galicia, Valladolid, the Pyrenees, and Barcelona each stop carefully chosen to deepen our understanding of Spanish culture rather than just check tourist boxes. The whole program operates with a family mindset; you don't just visit Spain, you become part of it. If you're a high schooler serious about Spanish and craving an authentic, life-changing adventure, LITA is unlike anything else out there.

LITA was one of the most transformative experiences of my life. What made the program so special to me was that it wasn’t just about learning Spanish in a classroom—it was about truly living the language and culture every single day. From staying with host families to exploring small, rural towns I felt completely immersed in authentic Spanish life. At first, the “Spanish only” environment felt intimidating, but it ended up being the reason I grew so much. I became more confident speaking Spanish than I thought possible, not because I was memorizing vocabulary, but because I was constantly connecting with real people and navigating everyday life in another language. By the end of the program, Spanish started to feel natural to me. What I loved most about LITA was the sense of community. The group leaders care about every student and create such a supportive, welcoming environment. I made incredible friendships with people from all over the country, and the shared experience of stepping outside our comfort zones brought everyone really close together. I also became so close with my host family, who made me feel at home from the very beginning. I can not recommend this program enough to anyone who is hoping to expand their Spanish language skills.

I'm 17 and was nervous about spending 4 weeks in China without my parents. But honestly, it was incredible. My homestay family was so welcoming – my host mum packed me lunch every day. Mandarin classes were actually fun, not boring. We learned phrases we could use right away. Weekends we visited the Great Wall and the Forbidden City. I made friends from France, Germany, and Brazil. Came home speaking basic Mandarin and feeling way more confident. Already saving up to go back for a gap year. Highly recommend.

The trip was amazing. My family took me so many places. I experienced so much. I’m so glad I stepped out of my comfort zone for this amazing trip. It was the time of my life and I can not wait to go back on a nacel trip to Mexico

My family was extremely nice. The directors were extremely nice. The school was very nice. I had the time of my life. I made many friends even though I didn’t speak amazing Spanish. It was still an amazing experience and I would do it again.

Our daughter spent an entire year with Seville Abroad, and we cannot speak highly enough about the program. Pepa and her team were excellent from the first contact my daughter made, answering all of our questions and meeting with us to discuss the various school placement options. She worked hard to match our daughter with a host family, and when an issue arose with the initial placement, she immediately addressed the situation and found a replacement host family for the remainder of the year - the transition couldn’t have been smoother. Seville Abroad provides wonderful opportunities for the students to travel both within and outside of Spain, as well as language and cultural immersion opportunities in Seville itself, forging strong bonds among the students participating in the program. Our daughter returned to us happy, confident, mature and incredibly independent (not to mention nearly fluent in Spanish). So grateful that she had this opportunity!

When I heard about this academy from a friend, I was excited for the opportunity to send our Son on an experiential learning journey. Little did I know that it was going to be one of the greatest opportunities and gift we could give him. Our son went on Trek 3 Through Europe. The enrolment process was smooth, and Pam was always happy to answer any questions and direct to resources. As for the whole trip, it was a great investment of time and money. This opportunity resulted in our son completing his High School as early as February 2024 and gaining admission into the prestigious UBC Sauder School of Business for the 2024/25 academic year. MEI Academy not only teaches courses, it fosters character building while also providing a glimpse into our world. ‘The world is indeed our classroom.’ After hearing about the experience our daughter is looking forward to go on a journey with MEI as well.

“Thank you Lisa for everything. I am currently at my layover in Toronto and I am leaving for Germany in an hour. Thank you for the amazing time in Canada and all the organization. I really enjoyed my trip here and i am so sad to leave. But at least i have these amazing memories and a lot of new connections to people from all over the world. That all would not have been possible without you and i am so grateful for you and that you pour your whole heart into the kids experiences in Canada. Thank you so much!!” Aylin - Germany

I had an amazing experience on the term 3 Kingdoms trip to western Europe in 2019. The MEI community and teachers are very supportive and helped everyone get the absolute most out of their time abroad! Definitely recommend.

Highly recommend this program… My teenage daughter did it this previous summer and had an absolutely amazing experience. Not only was the trip very well organized, but the teachers were excellent and the experience was a once in a lifetime opportunity. She learned so much more being over in the place where history happened than sitting in a classroom. The entire program is well run and provides a great experience for both parents and students.

I first heard of MEI about 10 years ago when our son was 6 years old. Over the years I have referred friends and family to the program while patiently waiting for our son to join the program. Trip after trip, I saw the positive impact of the program on the participants. Our son has now returned from his trip and has nothing but positive memories to share. He enjoyed his classmates and deeply respects his teachers for their passion to teach. MEI did not disappoint and if you are considering it, do it!

I was a student on the Europe: Kingdoms trip 2 years ago. At first, I was quite nervous about travelling with a group of people I never met before but before I knew it I felt like we were family! I can honestly say that partaking in this MEI trip changed my life and I met some truly amazing people. I loved learning outside of a traditional classroom and exploring the beautiful cities we visited during our free time. The teachers who accompanied us on the trip were extremely supportive in both academics and personal issues. I came back from my MEI experience feeling more confident in myself and had a more positive attitude overall. I highly recommend MEI and I will never forget the amazing memories our group made together.