Barcelona, Spain

Spanish Language & Culture

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Information for term Spanish Language & Culture

Application deadline, and cost information.

Application Deadline

The application deadline has passed.

Program Deadlines and Pricing Info

  • Dates: Jun 11 – Jul 8, 2023 (4 weeks)
$6,650

Application Deadline

The application deadline has passed.

Program Deadlines and Pricing Info

  • Dates: Jul 9 – Aug 5, 2023 (4 weeks)
$6,650

Overview

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Amazing food, bustling sidewalk cafes, and seven city beaches make this artsy metropolis a magnet for international students. 

Tapas and ancient temples. Picasso and paella. Quirky, colorful buildings that look straight out of a Dr. Seuss book. In Barcelona you’ll discover all this and more. Museums display bold works by Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso and Joan Miró. Buildings themselves are as impressive as the masterpieces inside. Delicious food abounds, with specialties unique to the Catalonian region like creamy custard and caramel desserts.

Here you’ll study the standard Spanish language, also known as Castilian, while being exposed to the regional Catalan language as well. Not to worry: In Barcelona, 98% of the population speaks “regular” Spanish, even if they also speak Catalan. Barcelona is a fascinating place to discover linguistic differences while ramping up your Spanish vocabulary and conversational skills.

After daily language and culture classes you’ll head out on the town for group activities, museum trips, and downtime in local parks and cafes. On evenings and weekends with your homestay, you’ll get into the rhythm of Spanish life while shopping, kicking around a soccer ball, hitting the beach, and helping to prepare meals with host siblings and friends. 

 

The Take-Aways

  • LANGUAGE & CULTURAL PROFICIENCY

    Call Barcelona home for 4 weeks and come back with increased language proficiency and a greater understanding of the Spanish way of life. Bring home life stories to remember your cultural experiences. Demonstrate your language growth through a test before and after your program. On average across our programs, students learn in four weeks what U.S. high school students learn in one year.

  • COLLEGE CREDITS

    Earn 4 college credits toward your future college degree. Take advantage of the credits to stand out on your college applications or to satisfy college language requirements.

  • LIFELONG SKILLS AND FRIENDSHIPS

    After just 4 weeks away, you'll build self-confidence, gain a broader world view, improve your interpersonal communication skills and make lifelong friends from all across the U.S.

Location & Culture

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The stylish capital of Spain’s Catalonia region is world-renowned for its contemporary art and striking architecture.

Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain, after Madrid, but feels decidedly different. It has its own unique personality and is known more for rock music than flamenco dancing. Whimsical buildings and cultural curiosities make every day sightseeing far-from-ordinary. Youthful energy fills busy boulevards lined with cafes, shops, and street performers. Beach volleyball matches bring a California vibe to the Catalan coast.  

Tapas are everywhere, all day long. Cakes and both sweet and savory pastries fill bakery window displays. Mouth-watering churros with mugs of thick chocolate for dipping are found at authentic churrerías. Food markets from the world-famous La Boqueria to smaller neighborhood stands sell patatas bravas, ham croquettes, pizza slices and more. Juicy melons, plums and citrus fruits are bountiful in summer. The fresh-squeezed orange juice is the best you’ll ever have!

Lovers of modern art and architecture could spend every day exploring galleries, museums and historic buildings. The Picasso Museum offers the full package: Its famous collection is housed inside a cluster of five medieval mansions. The city’s majestic Gothic cathedral, decorated with gargoyles, dates from the 14th century and is the focal point for the entire Catalonian capital.

Football (soccer) fans should head to Camp Nou, FC Barcelona club’s home stadium. As the largest football stadium in Europe – and the third biggest in the world – it draws die-hards to its sold-out games and thousands of visitors to its Stadium and Museum Tour. 

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 Barcelona.

Daily Life

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Daily Life

Monday–Friday  

Each day offers a balance between interactive instruction and cultural activities with time on your own, too. Morning classes and afternoon activities may swap places.  

  • Breakfast at your homestay  
  • Out and about for authentic conversations in the community and a Cultural Activity 
  • Bagged lunch with your fellow Global Navigators at the study center 
  • Engaging Spanish classes with expert language instructors, all native speakers   
  • Dinner and evening discussions at your homestay 

Weekends   

  • Overnight or day excursions to top sites  
  • Quality time with friends and everyone at your homestay  

Check out the blog posts to discover more about daily life and excursions on program. 

  • Housing

    Carefully-screened homestay

  • 24/7 SUPPORT

    1 Program Leader for every 12 students and support from local staff

Program Blogs

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Program Blogs

Activities

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Sample Activities

  • Cook an authentic Spanish meal with locals and new friends. ¡Buen provecho! 
  • Discover Gaudi’s ground-breaking architecture and learn to recognize his signature style on a specialized tour.    
  • Play soccer and beach volleyball with the locals. Jump on in! 

Excursions

  • Empuries and Costa Brava-Visit Greek and Roman ruins and bask on sandy beaches at the Costa Brava. 
  • Collserola and Tibidabo amusement park- Hike to a mountaintop temple and have fun in an historic amusement park. 

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, covid-related measures and restrictions 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! 

Dates & Fees

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Dates & Fees

ELIGIBILITY

  • At least one year of High School Spanish.
  • Program open to all current high school students: Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors. 
  • For scholarship eligibility requirements, please check our Scholarship page.

APPLICATION FEE

$25

Program scholarships and tuition include iNext Travel Insurance, but do not cover the cost of flights. More details about tuition inclusions can be found here.

Optional College Credit Fee

$150  Learn more 

Program

Application Due

Start Date

End Date

Costs

Summer Session I 2023 4 weeks Deadline Passed Jun 11, 2023 Jul 8, 2023

$6,650

Summer Session II 2023 4 weeks Deadline Passed Jul 9, 2023 Aug 5, 2023

$6,650

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