Foreign Language Study Abroad
Find the Right Foreign Language Program for You
Learn a Foreign Language Abroad with CIEE
Are you looking to study language abroad? Fast-forward your language skills by completing a foreign language study abroad program. On CIEE’s language programs, you’ll immerse yourself in local cultures, learn dialects, and express yourself in one of a dozen languages, including:
- Spanish
- French
- Mandarin
- Arabic
- Korean
- Portuguese
- Japanese
- And more!
With more than 100 foreign language programs across 30+ locations, you'll complete foreign language courses, connect with community members, and experience the local culture firsthand. From advancing your Mandarin language skills in Shanghai to learning to speak like a Parisian in the City of Light, CIEE offers a program every language learner will enjoy!
Whether you’re a beginner or Heritage speaker, discover a language program that fits your skill level and goes beyond the classroom through local engagements, excursions, and more!
Foreign Language Study Abroad Programs
112 Programs Found
- Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Study Program
People travel from all over the globe to dip into the cultural treasures here
- Big City
- Host Institution
- Language Immersion
- Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Study Program
Spend your summer in Buenos Aires - the Paris of South America – and immerse yourself in its rich heritage while studying contemporary culture at our Global Institute.
- Big City
- Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Study Program
Put your Spanish learning on fast-forward in Buenos Aires this summer!
- Big City
- Language Immersion
- Sydney, Australia
- Study Program
- Multi-Location Offering
- Part-Time Internship
Our Open Campus Block program allows you to start studying in Sydney, then study in two other countries in one term
- Big City
- Life by the Sea
- Volunteering
- Gaborone, Botswana
- Study Program
- Part-Time Internship
Gaborone – or Gab as it’s locally known – is a fine place to connect with the people of Botswana.
- Host Institution
- Small City
- Volunteering
- Gaborone, Botswana
- Study Program
Botswana is an ideal place to explore
- Host Institution
- Small City
- Volunteering
- Gaborone, Botswana
- Study Program
Spend the summer exploring health issues in one of Africa’s most vital healthcare systems.
- Small City
- Study Program
Slip into life at a slower pace in Chile
- AACSB-Accredited
- Big City
- Host Institution
- Mountains to Hike
- Santiago, Chile
- Study Program
- Multi-Location Offering
- Part-Time Internship
Our Open Campus Block program allows you to start studying in Santiago, then study in two other countries in one term.
- Big City
- Mountains to Hike
- Volunteering
- Santiago, Chile
- Study Program
Spend your summer in Santiago and explore the heritage of this Latin American nation while studying contemporary culture at our Global Institute.
- Big City
- Mountains to Hike
- Shanghai, China
- Study Program
- Part-Time Internship
Whether you’re a rank beginner or have strong Chinese language skills, you’ll progress by leaps and bounds, moving ahead at least two levels with CIEE in Shanghai.
- Big City
- Life by the Sea
- Shanghai, China
- Study Program
- Part-Time Internship
Explore traditions in the world’s most populated city
- Big City
- Life by the Sea
Frequently Asked Questions About Foreign Language Study Abroad
We may be a bit biased, but we think CIEE offers some of the best foreign language learning programs that allow students to travel abroad and learn their desired language firsthand. Our most popular foreign language learning programs include:
- Summer Global Internship Language Immersion (Barcelona, Spain)
- Summer Accelerated Chinese Language (Shanghai, China)
- Russian Language + European Studies (Tallinn, Estonia)
- Summer Intensive French Language (Rennes, France)
- Chinese Language + Asian Studies (Taipei, Taiwan)
- Advanced Arabic Language (Amman, Jordan)
- Summer Arabic Language (Rabat, Morocco)
There are several advantages of studying a foreign language, including:
- Improving brain and memory health
- Increasing problem-solving skills
- Expanding your ability to connect with more people around the world
- Increasing empathy toward others
- Helping with personal and career advancement
Check out this TED Talk on 4 reasons to learn a new language by John McWhorter.
There are many factors that influence how long it may take you to learn a new language, including your environment, dedication to studying, and your existing and desired language level. Depending on the language you want to learn and the level you’d like to reach, experts estimate that it could take anywhere from eight to 92 weeks or more.
While the best foreign language to learn is quite subjective, we can provide you with a list of some of the most popular foreign languages to learn (excluding English), based on the number of native speakers.
- Chinese
- Hindi
- Spanish
- French
- Arabic
- Bengali
- Portuguese
- Russian
- Urdu
- Indonesian
- German
- Japanese
CIEE conveniently offers several language learning programs inclusive of many of the languages listed above. Explore all CIEE’s foreign language programs and apply today!