CIEE High School Abroad

My CIEE high school summer abroad changed my life. At 16 years old, I traveled to Sevilla, Spain with CIEE. I realized there that I wanted to pursue a career as a Spanish teacher, and now I am working at a public school in New York doing just that!! Since my amazing experience with CIEE as a student, I’ve also returned to the non-profit to work as a Program Leader supporting other students as they embark on this engaging, unique, and life changing experience. I can’t recommend CIEE enough!!

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Going on trips with my school, Ritsumeikan Uji High School, was one of the best parts of the program. Traveling together, exploring new places, and spending time with classmates made the experience more fun and helped us bond.

The beginning of the program, meeting new people, adjusting to new places, and stepping into a completely different environment, along with spending time with friends outside school made the whole experience even more memorable.

My most memorable experience was going to Universal Studios with my new friends from school. Even with the language barrier, it was the first time I truly felt connected with them, and it made the day even more special.

I feel like my Spanish and my confidence have improved a lot. I’ve made friends, spend time hanging out with them, and feel much more comfortable speaking. One moment that really showed my progress was during my school exams. I take Lengua, and I’m the only American in my class. On my first exam, I got a 4.45, which was above the class average but still a failing grade. After studying a lot on my own and with friends, I took the next exam and improved to a 7.45. My teacher even told me how much I had improved, which felt really rewarding.

This program was a truly unforgettable experience. From going on excursions with people from all over America to living with a Japanese host family and attending a local high school, I got a real look into daily life in Japan. Spending time with school clubs and classmates made the experience even more meaningful, and I can say with full confidence it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I’d be more than happy to share that experience with peers.

It’s one of the most amazing, life-changing experiences I’ve ever had. I met kind people, saw beautiful art and places, and had unforgettable moments. Traveling around Italy by train was a blast, and visiting Turin was definitely a highlight.

Traveling with my peers in CIEE and sharing everyday moments with my family made this journey unforgettable. From exploring new places together to simple daily routines at home, every moment helped me grow and see the world differently.

I would be very likely to recommend it because I enjoyed my experience so much. I learned a lot of French, traveled to new places, tried different foods, and made friends from many places. Meeting new people and traveling were some of the best parts.

I had an amazing experience, met so many new people, and learned so many new things. Visiting Chichén Itzá and swimming in a beautiful cenote with a platform to jump from were unforgettable highlights of the trip.

I studied in Merida, Mexico in June 2025 with CIEE on the language and culture program. From the moment I started my application, CIEE staff was available to help. They went above and beyond by calling me to ask additional questions about my allergies. Their attention to detail assuaged many of my fears about traveling as I knew the staff was prepared. My homestay enriched my experience by giving me opportunities to practice my language skills and immerse myself in Mexican culture. My favorite memory of my host mom is when she taught me how to make empanadas. Spending hours with her in the kitchen gave me unforgettable memories and valuable knowledge. Despite not knowing anyone when I went on the trip, I made friends quickly and spent most afternoons hanging out with them. Merida is very walkable and Ubers are cheap, so it was very easy to get around the city. We had student IDs and were able to get into some museums for free. I attended daily language classes and we had cultural activities every day to deepen our understanding of Mexican culture. In class, we learned practical language skills focused on conversation. By the end of the program, my Spanish speaking had improved significantly because I had so many opportunities to practice. Whether I was taking an Uber, ordering at a restaurant, or talking with my host mom, there were many opportunities to practice my Spanish. My favorite part of the trip was the overnight excursion to Chichen Itza. It was incredible seeing it in person as it had been on my bucket list for a while. We also got to see some cenotes, which were beautiful. I would definitely recommend this program to anyone looking to improve their language skills and immerse themselves in Mexican culture.

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My experience with the CIEE Spanish Language and Culture Program in Palma de Mallorca was overwhelmingly positive and truly transformative. Living with a welcoming host family allowed me to experience authentic Spanish culture, try new foods, and practice my language skills daily. Taking university-level Spanish classes deepened my understanding of the language while immersing me in an academic environment abroad. Beyond the classroom, cultural activities and excursions helped me connect with the island’s history and people, creating lifelong friendships and unforgettable memories. This program not only strengthened my Spanish but also gave me a new sense of independence and appreciation for global perspectives.

My time during study abroad with CIEE was something I’ll never forget. It’s normal to be scared to fly on your own, but CIEE made it so much more acceptable and comfortable for me as we tracked with everyone else on a chaperoned flight. On your study abroad experience you are bound to make multiple friendships along the way which will make your journey so much more fun! I got to see plenty of Italian monuments and places like Venice, and the Duomo in Milan. Additionally, the experience with the host family completes it, families can be so inviting and supportive during your time abroad, I got to experience multiple memorable moments with them. Finally, if you go for language and culture you’ll be sure to learn so much as I did with Italian culture and the language, I was already speaking in three weeks because of CIEEs amazing teachers and engaging classes.

This Honors Spanish Language in Seville program was genuinely the best experience I have ever had in my life and I would recommend to anyone because the friends I met, experiences I had, and new things I learned (culturally and in class).

The program , from application to flight info to class navigation, was super smooth and easy. Clear instruction is always provided. Not only are the other kids friendly, but the teachers and program leaders are amazing.

To me this program can only be described in 3 words. Absolutely life changing. This is actually my second time doing this exact program, I missed it so much the first time that I needed to come back. Now after my second year I feel the same way again. This program is perfect in every single way.

I would likely recommend CIEE Global Navigator High School Summer Abroad to a friend because it is a great opportunity to engage personally with a new culture in any target country of your choosing. The host family experience is unique and helps you immerse with the daily lives of a native resident. You end up building very strong connections with people from not just within your program but also with people in your host family. The activities are overall very good at highlighting various aspects of Japanese culture and felt extremely fruitful.

This program was definitely one of the best summer activities I’ve ever done in my life. It’s fun yet intellectually challenging and allows students to comfortably explore new cultures in a safe environment. Overall this was an amazing way to spend my summer and I will be letting all my friends and language teachers know about it.

CIEE changed the way I think and feel about the world, and for that I could not be more grateful. I think about current events, the environment, wellness, and education from a different perspective now. My development over the past month has made me wonder how different I would be if I had stayed in the same town for my summer. If someone is looking to expand their perspective of the world, have fun, and improve their language skills, I could not recommend CIEE more!

In my experience they really do make sure you experience a great amount of a place's culture. From language, religion, older gen versus new gen perspectives, etc. You really are immersed in the area. I think the roundtable discussion, as well as our talk about Islam was the most memorable because we shared American and Moroccan perspectives on major issues and hot topics, and I think it was eye opening to see what overlapped, where there was a disconnect, and even learning about completely new things