Information for term Spanish Language & Culture
Application deadline, and cost information.
Overview
Click to OpenPerfect your Spanish skills and flamenco dance moves in sunny Seville
What will you find in Seville? The world’s largest Gothic church. The tomb of Christopher Columbus. The oldest bullring in Spain. One of the warmest, sunniest climates in Europe. And more than 1,000 tapas bars. What’s not to love?
Seville is famous for flamenco dancing, bullfighting, and a festive atmosphere year-round. It’s also known for being very friendly and an ideal place for study abroad. Although it’s historic and culturally important, Seville has fewer tourists than you’ll find in most other Spanish cities. Large enough to offer major culture and art, it’s also small enough to easily navigate.
You’ll study Spanish intensively, but your curriculum also incorporates lots of interesting activities and visits to famous cultural sites and monuments. Outside the classroom, you’ll live with a welcoming homestay, practicing your Spanish while shopping at local markets, sharing meals, and living the typical everyday life of the Sevillanos.
CIEE Gap Year Abroad programs are focused on supporting participants in acquiring knowledge and developing skills to live in a globally interdependent and culturally diverse world. In addition to developing your language skills and gaining a better understanding of the local culture, you will take part in our Global Competence Course. This online course will allow you to connect and collaborate in real-time with our entire cohort of Gap participants worldwide, through interactive workshops and discussions. Reflect on your own cultural biases, share insights about your experience and learn about topics ranging from cultural identity and leadership styles to how to work and live sustainably or develop communication skills.
In your free time, hang out in neighborhood cafes, stroll along the Guadalquivir river, visit the peacocks at the Alcázar, ride your bike through Parque Maria Luisa, get lost through the old Jewish quarter, and explore historical landmarks like the Seville Cathedral. Make the most of this amazing opportunity!
The Take-Aways
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LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY
15-20 hours per week of Spanish language learning designed to improve real world language skills
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GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
Build a strong foundation in the core components of intercultural learning. Come home with an improved sense of self and awareness of what shapes others
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CERTIFICATE
Earn a Certificate of Learning in Spanish
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of alumni said their language skills improved
96% -
said they learned to interact with different cultural backgrounds
94% -
said their level of independence increased
89%
Location & Culture
Click to Open
The Destination
The beautiful capital of Andalusia boasts amazing Moorish architecture.
The capital of Spain’s beautiful Andalusian region, Seville is a vibrant center of Spanish culture, and home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Surprisingly, it manages to preserve its past while offering all the conveniences of a modern commercial hub.
It’s also famously walkable and easy to navigate. Stroll down cobblestone alleys, poke your head in local shops, and enjoy a slow, laid-back pace during your time here. Seville is known for being livable and fun without feeling overwhelming.
The birthplace of great Renaissance painter Velázquez and the city from which Ferdinand and Isabella ruled Spain in the late 15th century, Seville is also a city with serious roots. The Seville Cathedral, one of the three largest churches in the world, is a major focal point. The 15th-century building, which sits on the former site of a 12th-century mosque, is the final resting place of Christopher Columbus.
Get the royal treatment on a guided visit to the Alcázar of Seville, a 700-year-old royal palace with magnificent grounds that span fancy salons, royal quarters, and formal gardens and pools. It’s okay to dress like your regular self; no crowns or tiaras required!
CIEE wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. Local CIEE staff have provided details about conditions and cultural attitudes that students with specific identities might encounter in Seville.
Daily Life
Click to OpenDaily Life
A succesful Gap experience achieves the right balance between structured language instruction, practice in the community and cultural activties to be fully immersed in the local culture.
Here's how a typical week goes on a CIEE Gap Language & Culture program:
- 15-20 hours of interactive language learning at a language school
- 1 to 2 hours of the CIEE Global Competence Course
- 2 cultural activities
- Free time to explore and have fun!
Weekends are for group excursions (1 overnight trip and 2 daytrips per semester) or personal travel and exploration.
*If Covid-19 homestay requirements cannot be met participants will be placed in a CIEE-vetted dormitory or apartment. Confirmation will be communicated to participants in advance.
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Local CIEE Center staff available 24/7
Program Blogs
Click to OpenProgram Blogs
Activities
Click to OpenSample Activities
- Enjoy a guided visit to The Museum of Fine Arts of Seville set in the old Merced Calzada convent, which dates from the beginning of the 17th century. Tour numerous rooms and view brilliant works by artists such as El Greco, Pacheco, Velázquez, and Alonso Cano.
- Visit the royal palace – behold the amazing architecture of the Alcázar of Seville, a 700-year-old royal palace and grounds that span multiple buildings, salons, and formal gardens, gates, patios, and pools. This is one of the most iconic compounds in the city, the country, and the Mediterranean culture as a whole.
- Take a peaceful kayak tour of the scenic Guadalquivir River.
- View striking architecture on a bike tour along the Plaza de España, then pedal around the Maria Luisa Park, a lush area lined with palms and orange trees.
Sample Daily Trips
- Hop on a bus for a day trip to Cádiz, an ancient port in southwest Spain that traces its roots back to 1100 B.C. (many claim it’s the oldest city in Western Europe). You’ll take a walking tour of this seaside destination, visit and climb to the top of the 18th-century CádizCathedral, shop at a traditional market, then hit the beaches for some sun, sand, and relaxation.
- Join a daytrip to Ronda, one of the oldest cities of Spain.Its origin, according to archaelogical findings in the old city space belongs to the Neolithic age.During the 19th century, the romantic image of the city grows, as well as the legend of its Serrania (mountains), generating the world of the bandits and the art of bullfighting a deep impression between lots of important travellers.
- Take a private bus to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Córdoba to explore amazing architecture and famous churches. Your walking tour around the Roman Bridge includes a visit to the Mezquita-Catedral, the most famous site in Córdoba. Later, take time to walk around the Jewish quarter to visit the synagogue, built in 1315, and the Alzacár, a medieval palace near the Great Mosque.
Please note this list of activities is based on past programs and subject to change at CIEE's discretion to both adapt to local circumstances and participant feedback. Our goal when revising itineraries is always to enhance your experience. Every activity is designed to provide you with a deep immersion in your topic, local culture and sights. Get ready for maximum fun!
Eligibility & Fees
Click to OpenEligibility & Fees
Eligibility
Program open to recent high school graduates (no more that 1 year post-graduation) who:
- Are at least 18 years old at the time of their departure
- Are in good academic standing
- Demonstrate—through the application and interview process—flexibility and maturity.
No previous language experience required.
For more information, refer to our detailed GAP eligibility criteria.
Fees
$50
Priority deadline discount: Apply to a fall semester or academic year by June 1 and get a $400 discount. Apply to a spring semester by October 1 and get a $400 discount. Discounts are deducted from final balance.
Program fee includes iNext travel insurance. Full inclusions are found online.
Apply for an academic year and enjoy an authentic holiday experience! If you stay in your host country between the fall and spring semesters, CIEE will cover your housing costs. We will either extend your homestay or provide you with an alternate lodging option until your spring semester classes and activities resume.
Program |
Application Due |
Start Date |
End Date |
Costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academic Year 2022 30 weeks | Deadline Passed | Sep 27, 2022 | Apr 28, 2023 |
$25,650 |
| Fall 2022 12 weeks | Deadline Passed | Sep 27, 2022 | Dec 17, 2022 |
$13,500 |
| Spring 2023 11 weeks | Deadline Passed | Feb 7, 2023 | Apr 28, 2023 |
$13,500 |
| Academic Year 2023 32 weeks | Jun 1, 2023 | Sep 20, 2023 | May 4, 2024 |
$27,000 |
| Fall 2023 12 weeks | Jun 1, 2023 | Sep 20, 2023 | Dec 16, 2023 |
$15,000 |
| Spring 2024 12 weeks | Oct 1, 2023 | Feb 7, 2024 | May 4, 2024 |
$15,000 |
Ready to change your life?
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