High School Gap Year Programs in Spain

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.

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!

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.

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.

My summer on MEI was everything and more than what I hoped for. The staff and students were incredibly welcoming and the quality of education is unparalleled to anything you can get in a classroom. I know these experiences will forever stick with me and I can only hope that more people will see the value in such educations. I wouldn't have traded my summer with MEI for the world.

Hi my name is Andrea Monaco and I just finished the english in Spain and Portugal program. This is a once in a life time experience I would recommend to everyone. The memories and friends you make are something you wouldn’t get anywhere else. The teachers were amazing with 1 on 1 time whenever needed and the structure of school is unbeatable. I can say I have made life long friends who I am already missing only 1 day later. This is something every kid should be able to experience and if you have the opportunity to do it, PLEASE DO.

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 really enjoyed this program by MEI Academy because of the beautiful places we visited and the amazing teachers who supported me. I would recommend these trips to anyone because they are extremely inclusive.

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!

My daughters completed their high school English courses through MEI summer travel study program. It was an excellent experience! The locations chosen, the instruction, the organization was top notch. My daughters felt safe and cared for. The life experience was very valuable. I highly recommend this for your child. My daughters have gone on now to Medical school and Law School. MEI contributed to their personal and academic success. We are grateful to MEI.

The media program is great for students that want to learn more about photography and videography while travelling around the world with a whole bunch of teenagers and amazing teachers to help with your academics. Media students also travel with ESP students which helps them bond with more people and make life long friendships. The teachers are very supportive and will make sure to give you all the help you need when completing projects. I highly recommend taking any form of MEI course, it is a great opportunity and everyone had a super fun time.

This was a life-altering experience, one with a new range of emotions I never knew existed. Not only did we get to see the most beautiful landscape, but had the most helpful and loving teachers that we could call family. With their help, we formed our own family that I will love endlessly. We all managed to not only learn from our teachers, but from the locals in the beautiful cities we encountered. It taught me to never take any moment in life for granted, and opened up a new perspective on how beautiful out world truly is, all from MEI.

This summer has been an amazing experience! I’m so glad I chose to join the MEI family and go on this trip. I joined trek three knowing no one on the trip but ended up meeting some of the best people ever. The application process was smooth and the teachers were easy to communicate with throughout. This program has provided me with experiences I never thought I’d have. I would strongly recommend MEI to any student.

MEI is a life changing experience and I wouldn't trade it for anything. It not only allows you to experience the world, make amazing new bonds, and an engaging education, but it also teaches you about yourself. I've always loved to travel but MEI made me believe I could do it on my own! I'll forever my grateful for everyone involved in the creation of MEI and everyone who was on ESP 2024.

This English abroad trip was incredible. The classes were engaging, and the instructors were top-notch. I loved the balance between learning and exploring the local culture. Every day brought new adventures, from trying local foods to visiting historical sites. I made great friends and learned a lot, whether it was for school or just essential life lessons. Highly recommend this trip to anyone looking to learn while having an unforgettable experience!

My son completed the Spain/Portugal summer 2023. He just got back 24hrs ago. When I asked him to rate the experience out of 10 he said 100/10. He is sad and missing all of his classmates and teachers too. He has made life long friendships, experienced adventures like no other, matured in many ways, saw life and culture in a unique way and above all was taught by fantastic educators. The school/classroom environment was outstanding. Their chosen spots for lectures were breathtaking and providing the students with classroom and learning experience one they, my son, will never forget. MEI from day 1 of our inquiring and registering your communication, preparing and planning was a 100/10. As a parent it’s not easy letting your child travel across the world, but knowing he was doing it with MEI academy was extremely comforting for me. Thank you l, for all your hard work and dedication you put into the programs and most importantly the students! Highly recommend this experience of education and travel for all! Is there an ADULT one? Lol!

MEI was the best experience of my life. I had so many adventures, made so many news friends, and a new set of memories to last a lifetime. I recommend any high school student who is able to take this opportunity to TAKE IT! My life wouldn’t be the same if I didn’t go. I finally had the opportunity to invest in my passion for photography and videography, and I learned so many new media skills as well. If you’re on the fence about MEI, take my advice and just do it- you definitely won’t regret it!!