What inspired you to travel abroad?
I have two high schoolers that are preparing to take the AP and IB Spanish exams and they both wanted to improve their Spanish and prepare for their high school classes over the summer. I looked at many programs and, ultimately, we all decided that the Centro MundoLengua program was the best and we all wanted to experience living in Seville for a few weeks.
Why did you choose Centro MundoLengua?
I chose the program at Centro MundoLengua because the owner, David Hirsch, was extremely responsive to all of my questions and incredibly helpful in every single aspect of planning our trip and time in Seville as well as other parts of Spain. Whereas other programs have you speak to a sales associate or just an employee when you are trying to get information for any kind of language immersion program, David took the time to personally call me and discuss a plan for my children.
He also sent me a ton of information on what to do in Seville and other parts of Spain. I was super impressed with the speed with which David would respond to my emails and after speaking with him and many emails I felt very comfortable having my children participate in one of his programs. David is a true professional that not only is on top of and in the know about every single thing at Centro MundoLengua but also loves the Spanish language and every aspect of living in Spain.
The Plaza de Espana was one of our favorites in Seville, Spain! 10/10 recommend!!
What was your favorite part about Spain/Seville?
We absolutely loved Seville. It is extremely cosmopolitan with lovely stores and restaurants. Walking through the streets of Seville is a true experience and it is incredibly safe. My high school boys were able to walk to Centro MundoLengua on their own every day, go out to eat on their own and really experience what it is like to live in Spain.
Everyone in Seville was extremely polite and helpful. We could not have had a better time. Seville is also very close to other cities and convenient for weekend trips.
We went to Granada one weekend and also went to the beach in Cadiz. It’s great because you can get to both by train or car. We were in Seville for two weeks and it was truly a trip to remember!
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
The staff and teachers in Seville at Centro MundoLengua made our experience abroad extraordinary. My children learned in class as well as outside of class walking around Seville.
I am also not exaggerating when I say that every single person went above and beyond to make sure our children enjoyed their time in Seville. They helped with everything from booking a flamenco class for my daughter, helping us make a reservation at a restaurant for my older son's birthday, helping my younger son join a gym, walking my son to a barber to get his haircut, you name it! I am incredibly impressed with the Centro MundoLengua program and would recommend it without any hesitation.
The gorgeous streets of Seville were unique, colorful, and different for each building!
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
The staff was incredibly helpful every step of the way and every single day of our trip. Any questions we had were answered almost immediately by David and his staff and everyone went out of their way to help us plan many activities that might be needed.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
There is absolutely nothing I would have done differently during my time abroad. In fact, we had such a wonderful time we are trying to plan a trip to go back again! I cannot recommend spending time in Seville and taking classes at Centro MundoLengua enough. Our entire family had a fantastic time!
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
We were there for immersion classes for my three children, two high school boys and my middle school daughter. My children would wake up every day, have breakfast and walk to Centro MundoLengua on their own for classes. They were there from approximately 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. and learned both inside the classroom and outside the classroom participating in various activities in Seville. In the afternoons we would spend time together as a family.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
We loved walking around Seville, going to different restaurants, taking day trips and just taking it all in. Seville was fabulous, even with the heat (we were there in late August)! We love visiting Spain and have seen many cities, but Seville truly has a special place in our heart. In fact, we can't wait to go back!
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
We stayed in an Airbnb as a family and it was great because we felt like we moved to Spain for two and a half weeks. Our Airbnb was a townhome with four bedrooms and very centrally located near the cathedral in Seville, but on a quiet street. It was clean and perfect for going just about anywhere!
We all had such an exciting and fun times while at the Centro Mundo Lengua!!
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
What every participant should know is that David and his team are there for you every step of the way and that you should not hesitate to reach out to them with questions or for help. They helped us create a custom program for our children and made us feel like family. My children still keep in touch with their teachers and would love to go back again!
Would you recommend Centro MundoLengua to others? Why?
I would recommend my program to others without any hesitation because it was extremely organized and the level of learning was extremely high. I was impressed with everything my children learned and their level of Spanish improved tremendously during their time at Centro MundoLengua.
I felt that they were always safe and trusted David and his staff every step of the way. This is without a doubt one of the best language schools I've ever encountered and we would send our children there again without thinking twice again if we can.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
The biggest benefit of traveling abroad is of course experiencing another country and its culture. For those children and adults who want to improve their Spanish or take some sort of Spanish class, Centro MundoLengua is fantastic and Seville is a wonderful environment. There's really nothing like seeing different places of the world.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
Our time abroad was very special and our children talk about it all the time. They are so happy to have experienced living in a different country while also being independent. My children were all able to speak in Spanish all the time every single day and they remember their time in Seville every single day.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
Meaningful travel in my opinion is travel that makes you smile and feel happy every time you think of your trip. While my husband and I have spent time living in other countries, my children have not. I think it is important for children to see how people live in different countries not only for the experience but also so that they can understand cultural differences and be accepting of people from different places and backgrounds.
