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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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.

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!

I absolutely loved my time in Sevilla. Before going, I had no idea it would have such an impact on my life, but looking back I couldn't imagine what my life would look like if I hadn't gone. Living and studying in another country not only broadened my look on life, but also helped me grow as a person. Spanish Studies Abroad was the perfect program for me because it was a medium size, which allowed me to be known on a personal level by my professors, while still interacting with a number of students from across the US. The classes challenged me, while still giving me the chance to explore the culture and travel, which proved to be just as beneficial as my classroom learning.

This is a very unique program that was very eye-opening. I did not know much about Cuba or the Cuban people. I quickly learned how amazing both things are and the love and similarities that Cuba and the United States share. Obviously there are going to be difference but I spent my time looking for refreshing similarities. The ability to live and learn with the very helpful Cuban people, as well as experience and study in a world-class education and societal environment is a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The program is run flawlessly from the academics to logistics. I plan on going back to Havana someday soon and I will without a doubt be in contact with the program director. I trust him with all things Havana and would recommend this to any college age student regardless of the level of Spanish fluency. This month in Havana opened my eyes to new ideas and ways of thinking, but most importantly gave me a love and respect of this city of Havana and the sincere, amazing and gentle Cuban people.

I had the amazing opportunity of studying abroad for an entire academic year in Sevilla, Spain. From September through May I was living with an incredibly welcoming and loving host family in the center of town, taking classes completely taught in Spanish, and meeting new people while exploring the beautiful city. Sevilla is a great place to study abroad--the historical old town is incredibly beautiful and really feels like you are in Spain, the people are friendly and love to meet new American students, and the classes at the center are interesting. I improved my Spanish skills a lot and had the chance to travel to many new countries during my time abroad. Overall a fantastic experience that I would recommend to anyone!

Sevilla was an amazing place to study. It was great because you can definitely immerse yourself as much as you want, but there's always other Americans studying with you so it's easy to take a step back if you need to. Every class I took in Sevilla was applicable to my majors and interests and I never woke up wanting to miss class. Spanish Studies Abroad offered so much amazing support with any issue that I had which made the adjustment to Spanish culture an easy one. I would definitely recommend SSA to anyone willing to immerse themselves in the language and really live the culture.

Because I was looking for a shorter program due to a summer job beginning in early May back at my home university, I stumbled upon the Spanish Studies Program with Spanish Studies Abroad in the beautiful city of Alicante, Spain. The city itself is located on the Mediterranean coast and has tons of charming, gorgeous little pueblos just a short train ride away, which allows for not only fulfilling day trips to exotic-looking locations, but also a day trip that fits right into your budget by using your tram pass that takes you to class daily and spending maybe a euro on another train. Your host mom even packs lunch and you can be back in time for dinner! If you don't want to travel, there's a beach just a hop, skip, and a jump from your home stay along with all the shopping you could imagine, bars, and wonderful cafes like my favorite, Canada Cupcake. I did not hear a single complaint about home stays from anyone in my program and I don't have a single one except I wish we lived closer and I could visit now! As for the ladies in the program, my only complaint is the same: that I miss them and wish we could visit! I have grown up in a very creative environment and am a performing arts major, so one difficult adjustment for me was the lack of opportunity to play instruments. These ladies looked high and low for a place where I could express myself musically and when their search came back fruitless, one of the wonderful ladies went so far as to offer her very own guitar to me! I was very impressed with that and though I declined, the sentiment was touching. My professors were equally concerned about our adjustment process and constantly checked in with us to make sure we were well-adjusted and enjoying our time abroad. One professor I had for most of the semester was named Santiago and he was by far the best professor I have ever had. He taught us new vocabulary to express ourselves better, only spoke in Spanish but made sure we understood every single word, and checked in with us one-on-one to discuss our plans for our vacations, weekend trips, and to hear about our adventures. Last but not least, I was lucky enough to have saved enough and lived frugally enough in Spain to be able to visit 14 countries! That included meeting family I had in Paris and Germany. I did most of this by train over our long spring break and backpacking through Europe is an experience I would not trade for anything. However, every weekend I did travel somewhere else as well. I visited the beautiful Barcelona, San Sebastian, Madrid, Mallorca, and Bilbao in Spain (along with the little nearby pueblos I mentioned earlier). My program also had free trips to the castle in Alicante, Granada, and Valencia! This program was truly a blessing to my life, gave me the opportunity to see a large portion of Europe, and gave me the support and confidence to travel (alone at times) to see what I wanted to see. I would highly recommend this program to anyone.

I really enjoyed my study abroad program! It was a great experience and I would highly recommend it. We were able to see so much of Havana and learn about the people and culture there. I felt very safe with our program director who was neither right in our business nor hard to reach if needed. Academics: This is not a reflection of most of the classes there--I happened to have a professor that was hard to understand and to work with while I was in a class I didn't exactly belong in anyway.

My most memorable experience was getting to dance sevillanas (the traditional dance of my city) at Sevilla's Feria at the beginning of May. I wore my first flamenco dress and got to try my dance skills out outside of class. Spanish Studies Abroad has a long-standing connection with my home university, Heidelberg. The representatives that spoke to us and my academic advisor's advice showed me that the best option for my immersion would be the Integrated Studies program in Seville, Spain. I lived in a student residence (residencia) in the center of my city. The location and the facility were great. In addition, I got the opportunity to live with and mingle with students from all over the country. I met my best friend from Spain inside my building!

Spanish Studies Abroad is a program organized and run by passionate, interesting people. The academic experience is superior due to the Spanish Only Policy and the faculty and staff do a great job making life in your city comfortable and meaningful.

My time in Spain was filled with memorable experiences. If I had to narrow it down to one though, I would say it was experiencing Sevilla's Feria de Abril. It is an annual celebration that lasts for an entire week. It is hard to explain to those who have never experienced it. I myself didn't understand it until I actually lived it. Its kind of like a fair that consists of publicly and privately owned tents. There are 1000+ tents and each one is a different party. There's food, drinks, and dancing. But my favorite part of all is that most of the women where flamenco dresses and the men dress in suits. I didn't really have an option. I told my home institution that I was interested in going to Spain to finish my Spanish major and they told me "you're going to Seville!" I was living with a widowed woman who cooked and cleaned for me. She did my laundry a couple of times per week and cleaned my room once a week. She also cooked all of my meals, which were great! She had previously owned her own restaurant.

I had a great time while in Spain. Might even say it was the time of my life. I was able to not only better my Spanish but got to experience a completely different way of life. I chose to live with a family (as most other students) and really enjoyed it. There were also some who preferred to live in dorm style residencies. The program does their best to accomodate to your wants/needs. Academics: I would've liked to have more of a variety of courses offered. Living Situation: I really enjoyed living with the host mom that I was assigned. I feel that the program directors really took into account everything that I asked for in my survey. Cultural Immersion: I don't feel like I made any connections with the locals other than with people working at the center and my host family. Program Administration: For the most part everything was good. I would give an A but at times it seemed like they wouldn't communicate with us very well.

Becoming close to my host family, realizing that I am becoming fluent in Spanish, and gaining the courage to make tough decisions. The only program at my university that goes to Seville, and I knew of other students who had gone with positive experiences. A home near the Alameda de Hércules with a true family and lots of love. Shared a bedroom and bathroom with a roommate until her program (Spanish Studies only, not Integrated like me) then received another CC-CS roommate for the May Term, then the June Term, too!

Overall this program is very good with plenty of experience and people to help both in the USA and in Seville. The office/school is centrally located, making it ideal for exploring an old, historically important city. Very good points include the school itself, the homestay, and cultural activities including travel. The professors are all native to Spain (most from Andalusia but others too) and very dedicated to their work here. It's so important to meet them halfway though; you must understand that you're here to learn and that they'll help you if you want help, but if you're not willing to try, then why bother? They'll pick up on your attitude and you'll leave Seville without learning a thing if you don't care. Homework was substantially less than I was used to (this could be positive or negative, haha). The homestays are handled very carefully and I have yet to hear of anyone having a bad experience - and by that I mean anyone who actually wanted to cultivate a meaningful relationship with their family. There were people who didn't try and therefore didn't have a good time with their family however me and my roommate will be in touch with our family for years to come, they are absolutely wonderful people. This leads into the cultural immersion bit too, in that our host family was more than happy to tell us information about Seville, Andalusia, and Spain in general, bring us to various parts of the city, etc. etc. I cannot stress enough that if you want a truly rewarding learning experience you MUST live with a family and at least ATTEMPT to speak Spanish with them regularly. You will be amazed at how much you learn! CC-CS provides numerous opportunities to see the city, from the mandatory trip to the Cathedral to the optional trip to the Museum of Flamenco Dance. Furthermore, trips to places like Granada and Córdoba will allow people who are interested in history to explore southern Spain in a fun, educational way. Travel in general is something that many people come ready and prepared to do, and CC-CS is helpful with this, too, because they offer NUMEROUS travel experiences including Morocco and Portugal (I personally recommend both!) that will allow you to add to your international travel repertoire while having fun with your friends. The administration itself needs a little help being more accessible to students before the program begins. For example, we were not given our class schedules nor a firm schedule of events during the semester until our arrival in Seville. Meaning that any reservations for visiting family members or travel to other countries had to wait until practically the last minute. Anyone who knows anything about traveling knows that you need time and preparation, not to mention that prices go up as time goes by. Therefore this is an extremely detrimental problem, as it costs students and families quite a bit of money over time. Furthermore communication about things like obligatory trips and meetings are often very last minute, causing problems for students and host families alike. Miscommunications galore! Academics: Don't be an idiot, it's called STUDY abroad for a reason. Give it a try, you'd be surprised how much you'll learn! Living Situation: I 100% recommend a homestay! Cultural Immersion: A plethora of opportunities within Seville and other places in Spain and beyond! Program Administration: Should be more accessible, communicative Social Life: You'll be able to find people who want to go out every night, and you'll never run out of new bars to try. Be aware that Spaniards go out after midnight and return around 6 am, and if you try to go out at 9 they will definitely judge you.

The trip to Seville, Spain was amazing- not only did I improve my language skills, but I also learned so much about cultural and social aspects of Spain that I did not previously know. I would highly recommend studying abroad in Spain!

There has been an awesome experience but it could have been better. I've had a lot of fun only a little bit of frustration.

Spain is amazing, but make sure you are with people who are well organized and good communicator.

I think it's great studying in Spain. The program is nice, but it could be a little better organized.

Spain is great but some things were misleading such as our internship and organization.

My time in Sevilla has been evil of many stressful, uncomfortable, and incredible experiences; I am so glad I chose to be an exchange student!

I've has such an incredible experience studying abroad and highly recommend it to anyone interested in life in other countries!

A great experience with excellent academics

My experience abroad has been very good so far. My Spanish has improved so much from living with a Spanish family and I love Sevilla.

I was able to improve my Spanish knock out Spanish and history credits, and enjoy living in Sevilla. This is important to me because I was able to get ahead in an intense 5 year physician assistant program to double major in Spanish.

The program has good cultural immersion and Seville is beautiful! The living situations are good depending on your intercambio and academics are good depending on your level. If you want to get the most out of this trip be ready to work.

My experience was wonderful.

Great overall would definitely do it

My experience has been great so far because of my welcoming family and the friendly staff at CCCS.

I love my intercamido Maria, but I'm not a fan of the academic differences between two classes.

My trip to Spain began with some travel issues but after our arrival everything has been wonderful, the people of Sevilla are warm and welcoming, the culture is beautiful and the food is fabulous!

I have been having a great time. I can't wait until next term.

While the classes and Sevilla are fantastic, the program is not well organized. Communication was scattered and we rarely heard from the higher administration.

I loved Sevilla and my family but the program is disorganized. It was an amazing experience and I adore my family. I got to see so many interesting things. I am so happy that I came!

Overall, it was a great experience. The program is extremely disorganized, but that's part of the experience... it turns out well.

CCCS was a great program! My host family was so welcoming. The weekend trips were incredible, and the classes were challenging, but still allowed you to love and enjoy the city and not just study all the time. I'd recommend this program to anyone.

Studying abroad has been a great experience for me- not only have I learned a lot about the Spanish culture, but I have also learned a lot about myself, others, and life in general. I am so glad I was able to take part in this experience!

It was a good experience

Loved the Sevilla culture and glad I got to experience living abroad.

It was a great time!

Such a fun experience with a bunch of hooligans I'll never forget.

Sevilla is beautiful and I am so excited that I had the opportunity to experience another culture and lifestyle. So far, the experiences been great.

I have already had an amazing experience abroad in Spain and I've only been here for one week. Different cultures are so interesting and it's definitely worth it to do a program abroad!

I have already had an amazing experience abroad in Spain and I've only been here for one week. Different cultures are so interesting and it's definitely worth it to do a program abroad!

My experience has been absolutely awesome! My host family is very accommodating and interested in my experience at school! I have loved all of the excursions - go to Cordoba& Lagos, Portugal. Class is easy.

Host families were great! I was so happy this program had that option! I've had a great experience in Seville! It's so fun to study and explore another country. Classes were also really interesting!

Academics were the perfect amount of difficulty - we still had enough time to go out and explore the city! Homestay family is super nice too! Program is a little disorganized at times but offers a lot of unique opportunities!

It was a great choice! I’m glad I signed up for the 2 semesters!

Coming to Alicante during the summer is an amazing immersion experience.

Such a wonderful city and a great university. I love my Spanish teacher here. I’ve learned so much.

The teachers are excellent. Living condition is good but not as comfortable as in the States. University is slow in setting up Internet. I’ve been here for two weeks and still can’t connect my iPhone/iPad.

We get to experience a great city with the support of an amazing host family and intelligent, capable, caring program leaders.

Spanish Studies Abroad in Alicante has been a fantastic program! The staff successfully makes us feel at home! We learn the ins and outs of the city and Spanish culture. While taking classes and learning a lot!

My time in Sevilla has been full of many stressful, uncomfortable, and incredible experiences; I am so glad I chose to be an exchange student!

My time in Sevilla has been full of many stressful, uncomfortable, and incredible experiences; I am so glad I chose to be an exchange student!

I've had such an incredible experience studying abroad and highly recommend it to anyone interested in life in other countries!

A great experience with excellent academics.

My experience abroad has been very good so far. My Spanish has improved so much from living with a Spanish family and I love Sevilla.

Really great!

I was able to improve my Spanish. Knock out Spanish and History credits, and enjoy living in Sevilla. This is important to me because I was able to get ahead in an intense 5-year physician assistant program to double major in Spanish.

The program has good cultural immersion and Seville is beautiful! The living situations are good depending on your intercambio and academics are good depending on your level. If you want to get the most out of this trip be ready to work.

My experience was wonderful.

Great overall. Would definitely do it.

My experience has been great so far because of my welcoming family and the friendly staff of CCCS.

I love my intercambio Maria, but I'm not a fan of the academic differences between the 2 classes.

My trip to Spain began with some travel issues but after our arrival everything has been wonderful, the people of Sevilla are warm and welcoming, the culture is beautiful and the food is fabulous!

I have been having a great time. Can't wait until next term.

While the classes and Sevilla are fantastic, the program is not well-organized. Communication was scattered and we rarely heard from the higher administration.

I loved Sevilla and my family but the program is disorganized. It was an amazing experience and I adored my family. I got to see so many interesting things. I am so happy that I came!

Overall, it was a great experience. The program is extremely disorganized, but that's part of the experience... it turns out well.

CCCS was a great program! My host family was so welcoming. The weekend trips were incredible, and the classes were challenging, but still allowed you to love and enjoy the city and not just study all the time. I'd recommend this program to anyone.

Studying abroad has been a great experience for me – not only have I learned a lot about the Spanish culture, but I have also learned a lot about myself, others, and life in general. I am so glad I was able to take part in this experience!

It was a good experience.

Loved the Sevilla culture and glad I got to experience living abroad.

It was a great time.

Such a fun experience with a bunch of hooligans I'll never forget

I think it's great studying in Spain. The program is nice, but it could be a little organized.

This is a good program

Sevilla is beautiful and I am so excited that I had the opportunity to experience another culture and lifestyle. So far, the experience has been great.

I have already had an amazing experience abroad in Spain and I've only been here for one week. Different cultures are so interesting and it's definitely worth it to do a program abroad!

Spain is great but some things were misleading such as our internship and organization.

My experience has been absolutely awesome! My host family is very accommodating and interested in my experience at school! I have loved all of the excursions - go to Cordoba and Lagos, Portugal. Class is easy.

Host families were great! I was so happy this program had that option! I've had a great experience in Seville! It's so fun to study and explore another country. Classes were also really interesting!

Academics were the perfect amount of difficulty - we still had enough time to to out and explore the city! Homestay family is super nice too! Program is a little disorganized at times but offers a lot of unique opportunities!

Academics were the perfect amount of difficulty - we still had enough time to to out and explore the city! Homestay family is super nice too! Program is a little disorganized at times but offers a lot of unique opportunities!

Academics were the perfect amount of difficulty - we still had enough time to to out and explore the city! Homestay family is super nice too! Program is a little disorganized at times but offers a lot of unique opportunities!

The integrated Spanish Studies Abroad Sevilla program truly has it all. First off, living in such a historic and vibrant city as Sevilla is absolutely amazing. With bullfighting, flamenco, futbol, etc., it is difficult to ever become bored. The best way I can describe Sevilla to someone who has never been there is authentically charming. The Center for Norteamericanos where we took classes is located in the center of the city (historic center). It has different neighborhoods that are all in walking distance of the Center which is very convenient. The program itself is great since the classes are tailored for English speakers who are learning Spanish. My Spanish improved immensely from taking all of my classes in Spanish and living with a host family who only spoke Spanish. Also, since I was in a smaller city, I was able to practice my Spanish literally everywhere: in bars, in restaurants, in shops, etc. The program consists of about 100 students from various universities. Many of these colleges were smaller, private, or liberal-arts colleges. This was an advantage as opposed to having your entire program be from one university. It encouraged us to not only branch out, but to also look beyond the Center to befriend locals. Making friends with natives who were my age helped improve my Spanish so much, because I could ask them certain things I was too embarrassed to ask in school or about slang/expressions. Texting in Spanish also was very helpful. We had intercambios or speaking partners that CC-CS set us up with, so that gave us connections to having Spanish friends and friends of friends. Living with my host family was also an amazing part of the program. You can ask them about anything that you don't want to ask in class and they're very helpful. They became my family and I am so lucky that the housing at CC-CS is so personalized. Overall, my experience was truly incredible and life-changing. I definitely think that our program is a rare one in that not many enable you to be integrated in so many different ways. Though I took at a class at the University of Sevilla, I found the classes at the Center for Norteamericanos to be much more helpful and effective. Spanish Studies Abroad programs encourage you to go out of your comfort zone and branch out so that you can be fully immersed in Sevillan culture. I'm so glad I went through this program. Academics: The classes at the center were so helpful because they were tailored to students who were English speakers rather than university classes in which students were assumed to be native Spanish speakers. Living Situation: I was very lucky and had an amazing host family. I loved living with them and quickly became very comfortable with them. I was able to ask them questions about what I was learning in class or in the streets and we connected on that level also. By the time I left, I truly felt like a part of them and they a part of me. It was the ideal situation Cultural Immersion: The immersion in this program is a huge strength of CC-CS. Since Sevilla is not a massive city like Barcelona or Madrid, I was able to use my Spanish everywhere. Everything sort of connected because you'd learn things in class and then use it at a cafe or bar or shop or with your host family and vice versa. Having intercambios helped a lot, because we were able to meet locals who were our age and learned things from them that we would not have been able to by hanging out with just Americans. Health and Safety: Felt so safe at all times. Felt comfortable walking home alone at all hours though I tried to usually walk home with my roommate or a friend. Social Life: Incomparable. So fun. Sevilla is an extremely fun city. Always something going on.

I think of Seville more as a large town than a city because of its beauty and community feel. It is a safe place to live and is filled with culture. People are more personable and relaxed (though not lazy), which was a great change from the hustle-and-bustle, impersonal culture I'm around back home. CC-CS did a great job providing great professors and cultural experiences, from sight-seeing around the city to trips to other cities to helping us get connected with Seville's people. I look forward to going back! Academics: They had intelligent and fun professors, and the classes don't keep you from spending time experiencing Seville. Living Situation: I've heard it's hit-and-miss, but I had an awesome experience and still keep in contact with my host family. Cultural Immersion: You can limit your friends to only other international students, but it's not hard to make friends with Spaniards. Program Administration: Kind and engaging. Health and Safety: So safe! I also rented a bike while I was there, and I rode sometimes at night if I was uncomfortable walking.

Overall, studying abroad with Spanish Studies Abroad CC-CS was the best program i ever could have asked for. My homestay was amazing since I was matched with a family that was perfect for me (I can tell that the program really took our personalities and requests into consideration). I learned so much Spanish and learned a great deal about the culture of Spain. We had trips to other cities, as well as excursions within Alicante planned for us, and each were fun, exciting, and cultural. Our advisors in Alicante at the university from the program were always a great resource and a friendly face to ask for help with whatever we needed. Alicante is a city full of excitement and beauty. I never felt unsafe or uncomfortable. All in all, this was the best program I have ever heard of and I would reccomend it to any and everyone. Health and Safety: As a female, I never felt unsafe even once. Even at night, never any problems.

Very well-organized program. Very few people in Tuscania speak English, so Tuscania is a great place to practice & improve your Italian. The director of the program is very nice and helpful in not only getting to know the small town but also in making travel preparations (if you want to travel over the weekend).

CCCS is a good program to get into Sevilla. Cost-wise, it's not as expensive as other ones I have looked at. You take classes right in the center of town and it's close to a lot of things. They have a lot of optional planned excursions (either weekend or in the evenings) but they can tend to be overly scripted/structured. The classes I took were foundations of Spanish Culture, Stand-Up Paddle Surf, 20th century Spanish Theater, and a Sevillana dance class. They did require studying. The teachers were great and always ready to help out. Cultural immersion depends on you, though. We each got Spanish-speaking partners, and if you make an effort they are very helpful and can open you up to a whole other side of Sevilla. Discover Sevilla is a company there whose aim is to help out study abroad students. I would recommend checking out their trips. Overall, I loved my experience in Sevilla. It's the perfect blend of a larger city with a small city feel. Plus, it's gorgeous. I loved Spain more than I thought I would. CCCS is a good program for all skill-levels and can open the door to an awesome study abroad experience.

Cordoba, Argentina is the perfect city to study abroad if you want to better your Spanish and have a real immersion experience. The city is small enough where very few people speak Spanish, and large enough where you never get bored. Spanish Studies Abroad is a good program--if you are looking for challenging academics, that is not the forte of this program--however, you do have the option of taking classes with students at UNC, and that is where the academic rigor kicks in. The regular PECLA classes are structured in a way that you will learn but still have lots of time to travel and enjoy. There is a one-month intensive language course at the beginning that is nice to get you acclimated to the language, and then you choose your other courses after that. While the administration has been shifting hands over the last couple semesters, they are getting the kinks worked out to make it better and better. Even though there are ways Spanish Studies Abroad can improve, I would highly recommend Cordoba and this program.

Since I just spent a lot of time commenting on the various sections of the review, I will keep this brief and to the point. Going to Sevilla, Spain changed my life. It taught me that this world is both bigger and smaller than I thought it would be, that people are people no matter where you go, that God is God of the whole world, that Spanish is an incredibly beautiful language, and that home can be more than one place. I am so thankful for CC-CS and for all the work they do to make this experience real and authentic. I recommend it wholeheartedly to anyone looking into studying abroad. Academics: Every single professor that I had at CC-CS taught me something different about Spanish language and culture and about life. They really enforced the Spanish-only policy, which was tough at first, but eventually a great thing, once I really fell in love with the language. They expected us to do our best, but they also were very personable and easy to approach with questions or problems. My level of Spanish GREATLY increased while I was in Sevilla. Living Situation: My host family was absolutely wonderful. I spent most of my 9 months there in Triana with them, and I eventually felt like I was part of the family (they even call me "hija!" It is hard now that I am far away, since they do not use the Internet very often, but we keep in touch when we can. My host mom always looked out for me and did little things to make me feel at home (like making bocadillos, or sandwiches, on all the trips I went on, even when I didn't suggest it). I miss them so much! But I am so thankful to them for giving me a home away from home. Cultural Immersion: I love that CC-CS in Sevilla is set right in the heart of the city. It is very close to the Catedral and Santa Cruz, as well as other famous/very typical Sevilla spots. In some ways it also makes it harder to avoid being just a tourist, since it is close to the most popular tourist places, but I know that for me being culturally immersed in Spanish life was made easier because of CC-CS. They really encouraged outings and events to get us interested in the people and the culture, and I know that the classes helped with that as well. In many ways cultural immersion was a choice that I myself had to make (as far as how immersed I wanted to be), but the faculty and staff really encouraged it. Program Administration: All of the staff of CC-CS deserve a lot of praise for all of the hard work that they do. There were parts of my study abroad experience that were stressful and frustrating, but I always knew that I could go to the staff and ask for their help (whether directly in Sevilla or via email to the U.S.). They went out of their way to help me with things like getting my visa for 9 months, finding a place to live for a month in between terms, picking out classes at the university, figuring out my schedule, and much, much more. I am especially thankful to Sara, Aco, and Michelle! Health and Safety: Seville is a fairly safe city, but like anywhere, you have to be careful where you go and when you go out. Always watch your stuff, especially in touristy places, and just use good old common sense when choosing to go out or not go out late at night. Groups of people are always good! Social Life: Honestly, just like anywhere, this is completely up to you. There are a lot of cool things to do in Sevilla. My recommendation is to go somewhere that not everyone else is going to. I didn't really go to the discotecas because 1. I didn't feel comfortable and 2. I wanted to not be the typical American. But there are several cool places that I went with friends to learn how to salsa dance, which was a new experience. I loved it! So try something new! Make some Spanish friends through an intercambio or the university, and ask them what they like to do on the weekends.

I had no idea what to expect when I chose to study abroad in Cordoba, Argentina. In reality, I chose the program because it was affiliated with my school (aka I could use my financial aid) and because it wasn't in Spain. As the time to leave for Argentina got closer, of course I got more excited and began to do more research, but in retrospect, I didn't know anything before getting there. The only thing I knew was that I wanted to learn Spanish and speak it confidently. This program did everything it could have to ensure that I could obtain that goal. One of the biggest highlights for me was the Speaking Partners program. Although not everyone had the same experience, I hit it off immediately with my Speaking Partner. She showed me many aspects of the Cordobes lifestyle. We took a belly dance class together, we cooked together, painted, saw live music, walked around the city, and just spent time together, learning about each others' past memories and future goals. She is a lovely, lovely person who taught me so much about the Argentine culture, and we still keep in touch to this day. Also, the assistant to the resident director sent out a weekly email with all of the notable events happening around the city. This was extremely helpful, as it showed us where to go to get the most out of the city. It was efforts like these that really made the difference between falling in love with Argentina and my experience there or feeling completely lonely, lost, and out of place. I anxiously await the next opportunity to visit Argentina and the wonderful people I met there. Academics: I thought that the PECLA classes were much easier than my university courses, but I had also taken many Spanish courses prior to going abroad. Living Situation: I lived with a widowed woman of 65 and her son. We got along really well and we still keep in touch to this day. I know I'll always have a place to visit if/when I go back. Cultural Immersion: Of course, it's not the same as if I had gone independently, without a program, but it was the best it could be for a program of its type. I was also pleasantly surprised at how much Spanish the English-speaking students were willing to speak, even outside of class. Program Administration: I would need an entire book to describe how wonderful and helpful the Cordoba staff was throughout the entire program. They went way above and beyond their job descriptions (or at least, what I imagine are their job descriptions). I felt completely safe and knew that I had support no matter what happened. They also worked to make sure that we knew of local events throughout the city.

My senora was a phenominal chef! She would make a HUGE dish of chicken or seafood paella with fresh grilled vegetables and a variety of fresh fruit. Then, we would have a traditional spanish salad with oil and vinegar. But the BEST part was dessert. She would either make a some kind of pastry, cake, or pie. My personal favorite was her strawberry crepes with fudge filling. I felt like I was living with his royal majesty Juan Carlos of Spain! haha

It was a summer I will never forget! My host family treated me like a member of the family, my professors pushed me to greatly excel in my language skills, and the culture captivated me with the richness of its food, music, and atmosphere.

The city was beautiful, the professors and administrators were extremely knowledgeable and always willing to help, I felt like this program really understood the needs their students had whether they were part of academics, living situations, or just adjusting to living in a foreign country. They were always there to help. I would and have recommended this program to other students.

Overall, I really enjoyed my semester in Seville with CC-CS. The courses that I took were interesting and I liked the variety of activities and trips that were planned by the staff. I would (and have) recommended the program to friends. In fact, I wanted to do a second semester with CC-CS in Argentina, but had certain courses I needed to take at my school to graduate on time. Academics: I was really happy with the courses I took. It was hard to keep up in some classes at first, because of the professor's accents, but I got used to it pretty quickly. Mila was the best. She really challenged us and I learned a lot from her. Living Situation: My host family was nice, but I'm kind of shy, so I wish they would have done more to involve me in their daily lives. I think if I would have made more of an effort to spend time with them outside of meals, I would have had a better experience. Cultural Immersion: CC-CS offers a lot of opportunities to experience culture outside of the classroom, but it seems like the students who put the most effort into participating in these opportunities are the ones that get the most out of it. I'm not sure that everyone on my program immersed themselves as much as they could have. Program Administration: The staff at the Center was great. I personally didn't have any major issues that I needed their help with, but it was nice to know they were around, if a problem came up. Health and Safety: I felt safe in Seville. I'm not a city person, so I liked that it had all of the good aspects of a big city, but felt more laid-back. The only times I felt uncomfortable were when I was walking around with large groups of Americans. That was when I felt the most negative attention from the locals.

I spent fall term of 2011-12 in Alicante, studying Spanish through CC-CS' Semi-Integrated Program. Basically, I was dual-enrolled in Advanced Spanish Studies (CC-CS) and the University of Alicante. I am SO happy that I picked CC-CS for my study abroad, and I highly recommend it to others. CITY: Alicante is a small city located in southern Spain. It doesn't have the hustle and bustle of Madrid, Barcelona, or Sevilla, but in some ways that is preferable. Unlike those cities, Alicante is fairly easy to adjust to, so you spend most of your time learning Spanish and less time getting accustomed to the area (You can always visit the big cities on weekends!). It's also less overrun with tourism, although there is still a major international presence through the European ERASMUS study programs and European tourism (especially Germans and Brits in the summer). Alicante is beautiful -- it has two major beaches with soft, white sand. It's warm enough to swim in October, and the winter is relatively mild. The climate here is just great -- if you come to Alicante, ignore the student handbook CC-CS sends and bring shorts. You'll roast otherwise (like me). ACADEMICS: The academics here are great, but they are also what you make of them. CC-CS has a Spanish-Only policy, but it's very difficult to enforce. If you genuinely want to speak Spanish, you need to take initiative and speak Spanish all the time. Don't speak English, ever. Otherwise you might as well be in Spanish classes at your home university in America. CC-CS has great teachers, as does the University of Alicante. The workload is not difficult -- the emphasis here is on learning rather than grades. ACCOMMODATION: CC-CS sets you up with a host family. This is one of the best parts of the program -- DO IT! Living with a homestay gives you a unique insight into Spanish day-to-day life. In some ways, I learned a lot more about Spain from my host mother than I did in class. I did not meet anyone with a good attitude who had a problem with their homestay. Treat your host family with respect and courtesy, and you will be treated in the same way. SOCIAL LIFE: Alicante is known as something of a party city -- there are T-shirts all over town that say, "Soy Alicantino, Borracho y Fino" (I'm From Alicante, and I'm Drunk and Fine). So the social life here is booming -- from the "Barrio" to the old port, you can always find a great bar or club. Night life is a lot more affordable in Alicante than it is in Barcelona or Madrid. That said, make a concerted effort to avoid foreigner bars if you're trying to integrate yourself into Spanish life. Bars like Desden and Mulligan's are packed with English-speaking foreigners -- go where the Spaniards are! Academics: The academics are not difficult here -- you'll worry less about grades than about improving your Spanish! The teaching staff with CC-CS and the CSI (Centro Superior de Idiomas) is outstanding. You'll learn a ton, provided you really work at it outside of class. The first six weeks are called the "Intensive Period" -- you have tons of grammar classes, and you work on the fundamentals before getting to the specifics. After, you have the opportunity to take various electives. The only thing preventing CC-CS from getting an A or A+ in this section is the fact that some electives are not separated by language ability. For example, if you take an elective class in literature as an advanced student, you could be in the same class as students who barely speak Spanish. It holds back the advanced students, and confuses the beginners. But CC-CS in Alicante is a growing program, so hopefully this will change soon! Living Situation: CC-CS sets you up with a host family -- mine was OUTSTANDING. The food was awesome, my room was clean, and my host mother was as hospitable as you can imagine. Be prepared to sacrifice some of that independence you enjoy back in the States. As a host student, you'll be parachuting into a Spanish family, and you'll be expected to be like part of the family. Keep your "mom" posted on your hours and whereabouts -- they aren't going to control you, but it's just a common courtesy to make their own planning easier. I HIGHLY recommend living with a host family. You learn a ton that you simply can't learn in class. Cultural Immersion: CC-CS makes an earnest effort to integrate students into Spanish life. There are frequent events -- some mandatory, some optional -- for students wishing to immerse themselves. All students are required to have an "intercambio," or speaking partner. This is a great program, but requires some amount of initiative on your part to make sure that you find time to meet. The CC-CS will help you out -- if you have a problem, just ask! Program Administration: Can't say enough good things about the CC-CS staff at Alicante. Pepa is the program director, and as they say in Spain, she is a "maja total." She's a great person -- incredibly warm, hospitable, and inclusive. She goes out of her way to make sure that everyone is squared away academically and socially, and will go the extra mile for you any time you need. Marisa is Pepa's right hand (the director's assistant) and she'll send you lots of emails, but she is full of useful knowledge and always ready to help students. Health and Safety: Alicante is very safe -- obviously, exercise discretion. At night there are tons of people walking around, and there are plenty of police officers. So you don't need to really worry about violent crime. There are some barrios you should avoid, but there is no real reason you should be in those barrios anyway late at night (they are nowhere near the campus or the downtown). Most of the crime you'll encounter is petty crime, especially at El Postiguet, the city beach. Never leave your wallets, purses, watches, etc. unattended by your beach stuff. There is a pretty good chance it'll get swiped.