High School Language Immersion Programs in Barcelona

My 15 year old son did this program for only a week and had an overall good experience. He had a lot of good things to say about the people and the program. His only negative comment was about the food. He said the food wasn't very good and a lot of the kids would supplement the food with snacks from the store. He also got food sick near the end which wasn't a lot of fun for the last few days. Overall a good experience, but it sounds like there could be some improvement in the food quality.

Our 3 kids joined the 4 weeks Expanish summercamp 2026. We were worried at first and later on were very relaxed as everything were very organized and easy for them. They travel alone from the USA to Madrid. They tell us many fun stories but the thing jump out are the new friendship they have build with so many international camper from Germany, Italy, Russian, England etc. And if anybody ask them about the camp, the answer is "they love it and had the best summer ever!!!".

My daughter Ayla really enjoyed the experience - however there were a few aspects which she mentioned that could be improved. 1. I think more emphasis on speaking Spanish between the young people would be appreciated - they often conversed in English. 2. As a vegetarian she struggled to eat nice meals during the day - on various occasions the restaurants selected were shwarma places etc which had a poor vegetarian offer so she just had salad and chips. 3. As an additional payment, we paid 30 euros for a textbook - however when I asked her about this, she said she wasn't given any textbooks to supplement her learning. In summary, she had a good time and made friends, but I don't think her Spanish improved greatly and she wasn't given support materials to track her progress.

My daughter of 13 did her first language camp in foreign country, of course, as parent, I was very much worried whether all would go well, especially her safety. So I booked one week for her. I am very glad that everything was well-arranged, and very safe. My daughter would like to stay longer , she learned new friends , the language and the culture there. Her classmates were from different countries and they had wonderful time together.

All of the staff were so kind and generous. The activities were super fun to do and the Spanish classes were really helpful and enjoyable. Everyone at the camp was so kind and helpful. The entire process was really easy.

I had a great experience with my friends in the Malaga Summer Camp. Although i was a bit too old for the activities, that the staff provided, I still had fun during some. I met awesome people and made many new friends.

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.

Hello, I highly recommend the Expanish Malaga, Spain, summer camp, especially a two week experience. This camp exceeded our expectations for both the Spanish learning and cultural experience. The native teachers and the camps specific speaking workshops go above and beyond and both my sons learned with such comprehension and ease. The cultural field trips, restaurants, sports, and fun activities were diverse and so much fun for my boys. This was our sons, ages 13 and 15, first 2 week overnight summer camp and they keep thanking us for allowing them to go. Upon my son’s return to school their teachers were so impressed by their Spanish speaking, writing, comprehension abilities. Both my sons are talking Spanish much easier at home and school. My youngest her son took a placement exam at school and skipped two levels of Spanish to Spanish 3 honors. My older son is in his final AP year and says his class is already easier because of this camp! We owe a big thank you to Expanish Malaga teachers and camp staff for an unforgettable and edifying experience. We highly recommend it and definitely go for a minimum of two weeks for the best and most optimal immersion and learning experience.

Excellent summer camp. The staff were so good and helpful, especially Katrina, Axel and Fernanda. They made the week so fun and special. Thank you to them all. The activities were well organised and the staff made them even better,

Expanish responded to this reviewAugust 23, 2026

¡Hola, Kate! What a lovely review — thank you! :) We're so happy this was your best summer and full of great memories! It's wonderful to hear Katrina, Axel, and Fernanda made the week so fun and special — we'll be sure to pass along your thanks to them. So glad the activities were well organized and that our staff added that extra spark to it all! Thanks so much for choosing Expanish — hope to see you again soon! ¡Un fuerte 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!

aswell as improving my grammar, speech and understanding in spanish, I had a great time on activitys, excursions and free time. met a lot of new people and had a lot of fun with them and interacting with others

Expanish responded to this reviewAugust 23, 2026

¡Hola, Jordi! Thank you so much for your comments! We're thrilled you improved your Spanish grammar, speech, and understanding while having such a great time doing it — that's the perfect combo! It sounds like the activities, excursions, and free time gave you the chance to really connect with new people, and that's what summer camp is all about. So glad you had this experience with us — hope to see you back 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!

We had a wonderful experience with Expanish! Communication was excellent from the time we enrolled and throughout the entire program. They were always very responsive whenever we emailed with questions, and everything was extremely well organized. The paperwork was easy to complete electronically. We dropped our 14 year old son off and picked him up in person, so we also had a chance to see the facilities and meet the staff. The facilities were clean, modern, and well maintained, and the counselors were very friendly and welcoming in person. Most importantly, our son had a great time. He attended just one week this summer and enjoyed it so much that he’s already asked to go back for three weeks next summer. I think that says it all! We would definitely recommend Expanish!

Expanish responded to this reviewAugust 29, 2026

Thank you so much for this wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear that our communication and organization made the enrollment process smooth for you, from the paperwork all the way through pickup. It means a lot that you got to see our facilities and meet our team in person — our counselors truly love what they do, and we'll be sure to pass along your kind words to them. But honestly, the best part of your review is hearing that your son had such a great time he's already asking to come back for three weeks next summer! That's exactly the kind of experience we hope every student has. We can't wait to welcome him back! Thank you for trusting us and for recommending Expanish. See you next summer!

My experience with MEI was life changing. I cannot recommend them enough. The teachers are some of the best I have encountered throughout high school and university. Every destination and experience enhances the curriculum, creating an education experience like no other.

Making the decision to attend MEI Academy is hands down one of the best decisions I have made. I attended the 2018 Adventure Down Under summer session and I loved it so much I signed up for the 2019 Kingdoms and Empires group for my second semester of grade 12. During these trips I learned a lot about myself and became more independent. The other students I met on these trips are still some of my best friends and I will always cherish the times we spent together. On top of this, the teachers educate you on much more than just academics. They help you reach outside of your comfort zone and support you as you learn more about yourself and the world around you. MEI Academy immensely helped me grow as an individual and prepared me to live away from home for University. I would take this opportunity again in a heartbeat!

During grade 11, I decided to go to Asia for my spring semester with MEI and transitioned to Europe in the fall of grade 12. This ‘reverse’ big year approach set me apart from my peers, yet I found myself enjoying it just as much. I chose to apply for MEI because I was looking for deeper knowledge than what was available at my local public schools. I went into it pretty blindly, not knowing anyone, as most of the students do. My high school experience has been anything but ordinary, as I have attended four different high schools, including MEI Academy. It was during the two MEI programs, where I discovered an incomparable educational experience. The teacher’s high expectations fueled my growth as a student, thinker, and peer. Coming from an online school, I initially lacked certain public speaking skills and certain social abilities. However, the immersive and supportive environment at MEI sparked my personal transformation. I came out of my programs, not only as a more articulate individual but also as someone who can easily speak for myself and confidently form friendships with people who I might not have connected with otherwise. One aspect of the program that particularly resonates with me to this day was the structured routine of our days, which was nothing like my life at home. Waking up each day surrounded by individuals who were equally as eager to embrace the new experiences was a breath of fresh air. From daily morning workouts in constantly changing locations to reflective writing and collaborative projects, I truly would not have found this anywhere else. Unlike a conventional school setting where teacher interaction is limited to the class period, with MEI I had constant engagement with both educators and students, creating meaningful relationships that extended far beyond the classroom. Not only did my relationships extend beyond the classroom, but so did my education. MEI stands out as a transformative educational experience. Something I had never experienced in a traditional classroom, but had the opportunity to learn on my MEI program was the blend of courses with real-world application. The academic skills –from public speaking to essay writing– that were taught during my time with MEI, I continue to actively apply to all of my courses at home. These are valuable skills that will continue to allow me to prosper as I begin post-secondary education. For those who want to broaden their horizons and grow as an individual and as a student, MEI Academy is the perfect place to do that. I wholeheartedly recommend these programs for anyone who is considering it. I would not be the same without this experience.

I departed on MEI's big year in 2013/2014. Ten years later it is still a core memory and an essential aspect of my education. I continue to employ the values, experiences, and educational techniques gained during my experience in both day-to-day life, as well as professionally. I am forever grateful for my experience with MEI International Academy.

In 2019 I went to western Europe with MEI Academy and had the most amazing experience in my life! The teachers on MEI are the most caring, supportive and hands on teachers I’ve ever had. They are very invested in getting to know each individual student to insure the get the most out of their education and experience abroad. I highly recommend traveling with MEI for the most rewarding and fun experience you’ll have.

Our family sent two of our daughters with MEI Academy. One completed the International Business summer program and we were so impressed that our other daughter completed her entire Grade 12 year with MEI. The experience was outstanding! Their English and communication skills, understanding and interest of world issues, politics, human rights, history and geography all emerged from their lessons They were taught by extraordinary teachers with real passion for their subjects plus a nurturing personal style while the students were on the road. They were inspired and energized with daily exercise and learning in such unique and wonderful locations It was an exciting time for us as parents as well, as the school takes excellent care to publish photos and blogs along with carefully detailing the homework and projects the students were working on. We were able to follow along with every step of the journey. The girls have gone on to complete excellent University degrees and have found meaningful work in their lives I can't express how important this decision was for our family and how life-changing the programs were. I would highly recommend MEI Academy to anyone thinking about a travel abroad program for their students.

An amazing journey and a life-changing adventure. My son recently returned from your Fall Europe trip and he loved it and learned so much; he is so glad that he went and I loved following along with the photos posted by the teachers. The places that he saw and learned about were incredible, and the teachers excellent. I can't say enough great things about the experience from start to finish. Thank you for making these programs happen through excellent organization, extensive knowledge of your destinations, and dedication to guiding young people to grow, reflect and become independent.