SSA Education Abroad

You know honestly I had a good time. It was a great time. I feel like SSA did a good job with my internship. I had fun and all of the excursions that I went on were a good time. I don’t really know what to say, but I would say overall I had a great time on this trip.

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I had a great time in Seville. I loved my class and loved learning about the history in Seville and Andalusia. I also enjoyed all my excursions, both in with the center and with the friends I made there.

I stayed in Sevilla for three weeks as part of the summer high school program, taking an art history class in the center. The class was great, although kind of long it was very interesting and the classes were run very well, with field trips every week to things that we were learning about in class. The environment in the center was also very nice, with everyone wanting to help and all the counselors and professors were great. Activities with the intercambios were also great, the activities every week were cool and fun and well organized like kayaking, mini golf, and amusement park. Only thing that wasn't te best was that there were only two other students in my program and was a little hard to meet friends, but it did happen eventually.

I had a really great time being in Sevilla. I was able to meet a lot of great people and make a bunch of new memories. I loved going on the different excursions and beings able to practice my Spanish in and out of the classroom.

I had the best experience studying abroad in Sevilla! I learned lots about Spanish culture and language. My class was amazing and I loved my host family! SSA did an amazing job and made me feel very prepared for study abroad!!

This was an amazing experience. I feel I got the chance to open my eyes to a new culture and way of life. I’ll never forget my time here in Spain. I am so grateful for the SSA staff, I would have been so lost without their guidance and kindness.

Being a premed student I was at first quite hesitant about applying for a study abroad since I was not very sure how it would work with my science classes. That was until I came across Spanish Study Abroad's page and saw that they offered a wide range of classes and programs that could too work for science majors! My first time applying was for the Spring of 2025 for which I was able to take both Spanish classes and do an internship organized by the Spanish Study Abroad branch in Seville at IENSA (a neurosurgery and neurology center in Seville). My second time, was the Spring of 2026 and with how well the program is organized, I was able to do my last Biochemistry class at University Pablo de Olavide. Long story short, the first semester abroad was honestly one of the best decisions of my life and definitely the best decision for my Spanish since between learning in the program and engaging with the very friendly Andalucian people, I successfully moved a whole level up in my Spanish in just a couple months. Additionally, Seville is culturally rich and I love that the program makes it a point to explain and share the wonderful culture and cusine with us! From this experience, I built my confidence and knowledge in Spanish and made very important connections with both locals and in the Spanish healthcare system. I loved it so much, I did the study abroad TWICE and I can confidently say it was 100% worth it!!!

Sevilla was the perfect place to study abroad! I was able to build my Spanish skills and immerse myself in the beautiful culture Sevilla has to offer. I loved my professors and host family. I felt I was able to truly experience life as a Sevillan and will be forever grateful for this opportunity!

It was a pleasure and privilege studying abroad in Sevilla. Unlike other programs, Spanish Study Abroad allowed me to be fully immersed in the culture, living with a host mother in a local part of the city, improving my Spanish, and having a myriad of opportunities to integrate myself into the culture.

Studying abroad with SSA in Seville was not a single transformative moment, but a gradual process of learning, unlearning, and growth that reshaped how I see myself, other cultures, and my future goals. Over the course of the semester, my initial assumptions were challenged through everyday experiences, academic engagement, and meaningful interactions with people in my host country. By the end of my time abroad, I had developed a deeper sense of self-awareness, cultural understanding, and clarity about the direction I want my academic and professional life to take. Spain and Seville welcomed me with open arms, taking me in and making me part of its beautiful culture. It was amazing to experience the day-by-day there. One really gets to comprehend the beauty of having small rituals and activities that bring you joy everyday, despite your typical routine (work, studying, exercising, socializing, etc). Spain and Seville, specifically offers an undoubtedly rich culture that you can appreciate everytime you walk on its streets. I honestly could not be happier I got to spend 4 months here and I am extremely excited to go back and see all the wonderful people I have met. I truly recommend this program and SSA, especially if you want to experience Spain's warmth and culture at its best.

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I had a great time and would recommend this to anyone who wants a great cultural immersion. The activities and program were amazing and I loved my host mom! The opportunities are endless and there is so much to do.

There were so many events in the first month that I was able to make two of my closest friends while abroad from this group. The two directors were always so helpful in every way, and they went out of their way to help us whenever needed.

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My experience in Alicante, Spain was full of cultural immersion with my host family and fun weekends with my friends. When I arrived in Alicante, I was welcomed by the program directors and immediately felt like I was in good hands. I was taken to my host family where I met the most kind woman who cooked the best meals for me. I then attended the University of Alicante where I met Spaniards and made many unforgettable friendships. With a small airport in our town, I was able to travel all over Europe throughout five short months. I recommend Spanish Studies Abroad and Alicante to people with a taste of adventure, solo travelers, group travelers, Spanish fanatics, city-slickers, and people of all different backgrounds.

This is a truly excellent study abroad program, particularly for students interested in an immersive experience. I had struggled to learn Spanish my whole life, even though I started learning in Kindergarten. I just could never get the hang of it. Living in the city of Córdoba, Argentina completely changed this. I saw astronomical improvement in my language skills and my appreciation for Latin American culture. This program gave me the opportunity to live with a wonderful, adoring host mom who was an amazing cook and wonderful, loving face to come home to every day. I got to play field hockey with a club team at the Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, which honed my language AND social as well as my field hockey skills. The hockey season after I got home was my best in four years. I made lifelong friends through this program, both in Argentina and within my group of American students. Even though we’re all from different states, we’re planning reunions as often as we can. I am so grateful to have had this opportunity and to have learned so much. Thank you Spanish Studies Abroad!

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My professors at UPF were all terribly impressive and understanding. Overall, I thought the workload was suitable for my class standing and I found the course content to be engaging. However, one class was far more elementary than I would have liked. Adriana, the director was very friendly and adamant about ensuring we had the best experience possible. After she took her maternity leave we worked with the Interim Director, Laura, she was amazing. I found her very easy to talk to and she was kind enough to recommend different spots around the city that I might be interested in. I felt cared for and very supported. I lived with a single woman in her apartment near Sagrada Familia. My room was small and we shared a bathroom, which is not uncommon. She was excellent cook and I enjoyed watching tv with her during dinner. Occasionally, I felt uncomfortable in my home stay but we were always able to talk through it. She was very accommodating. My homestay had great food and my host mom always packed me a lunch I enjoyed. The UPF cafeteria had cheap options that were also tasty. In comparison to other European cities Barcelona was about mid range. Depending on where you go you can have a decent meal and drink under 20 euros. I spent a lot of time dedicated to finding the best Mexican food in the city and I was reasonable successful. I established a routine early on and found it comforting that people remembered me. I did not make friends with locals until the end of my stay, which I regret. As most of my classes were with other Americans it was hard to branch out. My host family helped me understand the culture better and I even picked up some Catalan. The pharmacies are great! I never visited a doctor but my local pharmacist was always able to help when I had a cold or upset stomach. I did visit a therapist towards the end of my stay. She was fantastic and I am very happy I was encouraged to go by my Interim Director. Overall, I felt pretty safe in the city. I almost never walked alone at night though. Catcalling is pretty common in Spain, but I've grown accustomed to it being from a big city. There was an incident were I was groped on the metro, but that was not the norm for the other girls in my program. SSA was always very helpful and interested in helping me succeed. They also gave me a generous scholarship that made my experience possible. My speaking partner was very friendly and eager to talk with me.

I had the most wonderful time in Alicante, Spain. Spanish Studies Abroad were so helpful in answering every single one of my thousand questions. They were caring, helpful, and kind before, during, and after the trip. I never had to worry about anything. The food was fantastic, my host family was wonderful, the excursions were incredible, and my only complaint was the lack of air conditioning. I can't wait to do it all again with the same program this time on the other coast in Seville.

Spanish Studies Abroad provides a really great, immersive month-long program in La Habana, Cuba. The academics were rigorous: I took classes all morning at the faculty for extranjeros at Universidad de La Habana. That alone was a really interesting experience: The language of instruction was Spanish, and I was surrounded not just by American students, but by Koreans, Germans, Nigerians, and others. Many of us became friends, and explored the city together on afternoons and evenings. They give you a lot of freedom, which for a motivated student, can be really fantastic. I feel like I got a chance to experience the different neighborhoods of the city, primarily by finding art and music events in the local paper and then striking out on my own or with friends. The staff is top-notch: If you have a problem, they will help you solve it. As for the accommodations, my roommate and I stayed with a host family who had kids our own ages. I'm still in touch with them! I would recommend this program in a heartbeat.

This program was absolutely INCREDIBLE. My host family was the best, and there was never a moment that I felt unsafe or uncomfortable. The professors were brilliant and kind, and I loved the courses I took (Latin American literature and Latin American culture). The museums in Córdoba are amazing, as well as the different parks and restaurants. There's an endless amount of things to do - whether it be right after school, night time, or weekends. There are constantly different things to do, places to see, and people to meet. There are also different groups to help English speakers learn Spanish and Spanish speakers learn English - that was a really fun thing to attend. I gained cultural experience, strengthened my Spanish speaking skills, made the best memories, and lifelong friends. All in all, it was the greatest experience and I'd do it again, ten times over!

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I had the most incredible experience studying abroad with Spanish Studies Abroad. Before going into this, I was nervous with my Spanish speaking ability and living with a host family. After a week or two, I felt completely relived with my decision to study abroad in Sevilla, with a host family. My family and locals were SO willing to help with my Spanish and encouraged you to try your best. My classes also helped with my Spanish and I learned a lot while being abroad including cultural immersion.

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I spent the month of January in Havana and had a life-changing experience. It was my first time spending more than a week abroad, and with the language barrier and notorious internet connectivity issues, the possibility of isolation was very real. Luckily, the program staff and fellow students made the experience easy and enjoyable. I lived and studied Spanish in Havana for the month of January 2016. I lived, laughed, and ate with a Cuban family via homestay, and worked on my Spanish in 4-hour-a-day sessions at the University of Havana. Tom Millington, the program's director in Cuba, was kind, attentive, and diligent. He made sure the students had everything they needed to succeed. The language immersion was very helpful – when not a single person, from taxi drivers to salespeople, speaks English, you have to orient yourself linguistically very quickly. Cuban Spanish is a bit more difficult to understand than dialects from other Latin American countries, which adds another step to the steep learning curve. We were given an immense amount of freedom to explore but were never out of reach from the program staff. Marta María, Hugo, and Tom were all just a short phone call away, and at one point accompanied a student to the hospital as if they were their parent. They took care of us in Cuba as though we were their own. On my last day in Cuba Hugo spent three hours taking me to souvenir shops so I could find the perfect trinkets to take home. At one point, my roommates and I missed the departure for the bus and without even thinking Tom hired a cab and driver to follow the bus and ensure we made it to meet the group on the excursion. The course equivalency work between my school and the Spanish Studies Abroad program staff was also seamless. In fact, the only hiccups I felt were from my school's sometimes-inept study abroad administrators. I can't speak for other Spanish Studies Abroad programs, but if they're anything like the trip I took to Cuba then it will certainly be money well spent. I highly recommend this administrative team, the program, and the country. As a direct result of my time in Cuba, I was able to apply for and be hired as a producer on the first international music festival in Havana. I returned two months later and helped produce the historic Diplo/Major Lazer concert for 400,000 fans on La Tribuna. It was amazing, and I was able to navigate Havana deftly and on my own as a direct result of my fantastic experience with Tom and Spanish Studies Abroad. Please, take this trip!