High School Student Exchange 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!

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.

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.

My high school child went on the program in Granada, Spain with Arcos. The highlights were gaining a greater knowledge of the Spanish language and culture, getting to meet new people, and spending time with the homestay. It's worth participating. They will have fun!

The Arcos director Helder was wonderful! We met him at the airport. The kids pushed themselves on the Camino de Santiago hike and felt a great sense of accomplishment and camaraderie when it was complete. It was their first time in Europe so that added a lot of learning. They felt a sense of community with the other walkers, and bonded with the small group. Trust your kids, let them have an experience.

My son loved gaining independence, the opportunity to interact with others and the combination of walking, sightseeing, and education. Because of this great experience I am looking into finding similar programs in other European countries for my son next summer.

The Arcos Journeys Abroad program offered my daughter an amazing and safe opportunity to immerse herself in the culture of Granada, Spain. As a parent, I felt completely secure with her traveling abroad. I highly recommend this experience for your high schooler!

This was my daughter’s first time away from all of her friends and she definitely struggled with being homesick. Her host family and the Seville Abroad team coaxed her out of her shell and encouraged her to try new things and she came away from the experience with confidence in her ability to speak Spanish and to try new things. She talks frequently about wanting to go back to Spain and plans to return to Seville this spring to visit a friend she made there. She came back feeling more prepared to take on any new adventure. I was constantly amazed at the many places they traveled and how expertly planned the whole experience was. Pepa treats these students like they are her own family and the staff at Seville Abroad were all so kind and helpful to my daughter. They communicated daily with parents. I can not recommend this program highly enough.

The Arcos communication and updates were excellent. The greatest benefits for my son were the cultural immersion and increased confidence in speaking Spanish. The pre-departure documents were excellent. I suggest setting up an international phone plan ahead of time.

The highlights were probably the sense of independence and adventure. The Spanish language learning component was very positive. The trip leaders were excellent communicators and everything was highly organized. My recommendation is to do it! This is a good option for Spanish immersion in Spain.

Arcos did a great job with explaining everything as well as providing a packing list and confirmation of safe arrival in Spain. It’s a great program for teens to have a true immersion experience. Through this program, my son acquired a desire to travel abroad more, an appreciation for different cultures and customs, and enjoyed the opportunity of living in a new city.

My son loved his experience and his host mom, Ana! We feel really fortunate that he was able to have this experience with Arcos. We have many positive things to say about the program: Spanish immersion, life experience, confidence, and the relationship with the host mom. Take advantage of this opportunity if you can! We felt really confident about my son's safety and the organization of the trip.

My daughter did the Camino de Santiago hiking program with Arcos and gained so much confidence in meeting and talking with other pilgrims along the way. My advice is to make sure your child trains for the walking prior to the program. Another added benefit was the increased confidence in her Spanish speaking skills.

Personally I found that the program was an amazing way to improve my Spanish skills while also enjoying my summer break. My language class teacher and all other staff were really friendly and always willing to help me out when I needed anything. Even though, I came to Expanish without knowing anyone it was really easy to connect with my classmates and make friends. Many of them lived in the same student residence as I did which was very convenient since we could take the train together to go to class or meet up in the lobby to do some sightseeing. Overall, I can really recommend this program!

Expanish responded to this reviewAugust 24, 2025

¡Hola, Josefine! Thank you for your comments! We are really happy to know you've enjoyed your time with us and made friends during your Young Adults program! Hope we get to see you again someday! ¡Un abrazo!