SPI Study Abroad

Program Reviews

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Sarah
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Best Summer Of My Life

San Sebastian is truly one of the most beautiful spots in Spain. I went on this trip to Spain with high hopes. Each and every one of those was met. My friend and I were placed with an older women. She was extremely sweet and we looked up to her as a grandmother. We had a few bumps in the road like hot water availablility, but our directors and SPI handled it quickly. The classes taught me so much and the activities helped us to use Spanish in fun settings. I made friends from all over the US and world and now have a grandmother in San Sebastian who I plan to visit again soon.
It was really an incredible and eye-opening experience. I got to improve my spanish-speaking skills while having tons of fun and being in a once-in-a-lifetime environment.

What would you improve about this program?
Nothing. We had the perfect balance of free time and scheduled classes and activities. Loved everything about this
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Deborah
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Amazing Experience in San Sebastian

We were looking for a Spanish Immersion program for our son and found the SPI site via a Google search. After vetting the program on line, calling the office and asking many questions about the program, safety, travel oversight, host family background, and looking everywhere to make sure this program was legitimate and would take good care of our son, he was signed up. BEST program and staff. From the minute he was enrolled, the emails came with information - security protocol, videos of the various airports and their immigration process, language prep suggestions for the kids, roommate and host family information, day to day itinerary, etc.. Our son had an amazing experience. From the minute he was met at the local airport, he was at ease. He enjoyed meeting the other kids, loved his host family, the excursions (especially to Biarritz), the free time to explore San Sebastian, and gaining proficiency in Spanish which has definitely helped him in his Spanish 4 class this year. He still starts many sentences with " when I was in Spain...."

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Jennie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Summer In France for our Son

Our son had a fantastic experience. He had just finished his freshman year of high school and we were very hesitant to send him abroad. Everyone at SPI assured us that he would be safe - and he was! I was really happy with all their support over the phone with Megan at the office. She really made me feel comfortable, for which I am forever grateful - otherwise we probably wouldn't have sent him!

Recently he was asked to rate his experience from 1 to 10 by his French teacher. He gave it a 12! As hard as it was to let him go to another country, it was the best thing we could have done for him.

He safely returned to us as a much more mature and confident young man. Thank you so much SPI for the fabulous summer experience in Biarritz. What a wonderful program and city!

What would you improve about this program?
as far as a parent perspective goes, the preparation and on-site support while our kiddos are gone is the most important. SPI provided REALLY thorough help - but maybe they could post more pictures although they did update frequently on blog.
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Gillian
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

SPI China, Thank you!

I went on this program with excitement but also high nerves. SPI really created an amazing program for us to feel comfortable in a country so different from home (US). The group was smaller than I thought it would be, but we ended up bonding very quickly. The 8 of us really connected because of the cultural adaptation we were experiencing. We now consider each other family . I will never forget my Chinese immersion with SPI! Thank you!

What would you improve about this program?
I wish there were more students but in the end it did not matter :)
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Barbara
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Study Abroad - China

SPI offered a unique and extraordinary combination of a homestay experience in a city that is small enough for students to learn their way around town on their own, along with morning classes taught by excellent teachers and afternoon culture events. A housing problem came up the week before the program began and while I spent the week wondering and worrying, the terrific SPI staff handled the problem and set up the homestay we were counting on. They earned my respect and the highest recommendation for both coming through with an excellent homestay experience as well as for running the overall program with language and culture experiences.

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Jane
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

SPI Spanish Immersion

I am so happy to have found SPI! My son's high school uses an online language course and I really felt he was struggling to grasp even the basics of Spanish. I stumbled on SPI through online searching for language programs for high school age kids and signed him up for two weeks in Playa Flamingo (summer of 2016). He had a FANTASTIC time and came back much more confident in his ability to learn and speak Spanish. He enjoyed the program so much that he asked me to sign him up again for the summer of 2017 - for the month long program. Fantastic again! My son loved all the activities and he met so many interesting kids from all over the country. He was quite proud that he learned how to mix concrete. Zip lining, river tubing, exploring the cloud forest, beaches etc. all great fun. I worried that he would not be happy about having to go to language class every afternoon, but it was not a problem for him at all. The teachers were good, the facilities nice and they did a good job keeping things interesting. Plus, the classrooms in Flamingo were air conditioned, which apparently felt nice after a morning in the sun. And what a difference that month made to his Spanish speaking abilities. Wow! I think SPI Costa Rica is a great program, well organized with great staff. Thanks for giving my son two great summer adventures!

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Jake
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Mexico with SPI

I had a great summer with the SPI program in Queretaro! Everyday was full of learning, making new friends, and new adventures! The whole program was very well structured and I found the staff to be very helpful and professional. The town itself, I felt very safe and all the locals are so friendly and inviting. I believe everyone needs to explore the beauty and authenticity of Central Mexico. I cannot wait to go back and have barbacao with my host family and all of the friends I made there!

What would you improve about this program?
I can't think of anything really. I enjoyed every minute of it and would definitely do it again if I had the chance.
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Brianna
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

My Summer Trip To San Sebastián

My summer trip to San Sebastián, Spain was one of the greatest things I've ever experienced. The city itself is small enough where one doesn't get lost, but at the same time big enough where you never run out of things to do. Another thing I loved about this trip is the interactions with the local spanish people. Whenever I'd walk into a store or restaurant, I was greeted in spanish and forced to use my spanish in real world experiences. Now, I am much better and listening, understanding, and speaking the language more than I would have ever imagined. Lastly, the experience was one of a lifetime. On the two week trip, I met tons of amazing people from all around the world and overall fell in love with the culture and country. Everyday I yearn to go back and live it all over again and highly recommend this program for any high school student hoping to be awed by their world.

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Phoebe
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

SPI, I Found The Overall Experience Immensely Rewarding

Initially hesitant, my friend and I stepped off the plane and out of the airport in Madrid, and then traveled to San Sebastian, not exactly sure what to expect, it took my friend and I a little time to adjust. Being the only students in the program at that time who were neither American citizens nor studying in America, the experience was initially a little overwhelming. After all, being fairly well-traveled students, living in Africa, and attending a widely diverse International School, it was a little overwhelming to, for once in a long time, feel like a foreigner. However, in hindsight this feels a little silly, because, despite our natural quietness, and after awkward first interactions melted away, the positive encouragement and friendliness we encountered was very warm and comforting. I even recall being rather suitably dubbed as 'Las timidas', or 'Las tranquilas'! Even though we took a little while to get settled, I found the overall experience immensely rewarding. A mile or so from the beach, and within a fair walking distance of some of the main plazas, he location was utterly stunning and buzzing with life and vibrancy. The classes both interactive and entertaining, there was a healthy balance between attending the school and exploring the culturally rich cities. The experience was a wonderful and utterly raw immersion into the heart of San Sebastian. Seize every opportunity you have to explore this wonderful location, and dive head first into the fusion of lessons and culture.

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Katy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

SPI, My Experience In Costa Rica

I learned an incredible amount during my study abroad experience in Costa Rica this past summer, and not only from the learning center we attended in Monte Verde, but also from the shopkeepers, host families, and general environment that surrounded us during our trip. My "papá tico" and "mamá tica" were very kind and never failed to share their Costa Rican and general knowledge with me and my roommate. The food was amazing and the excursions our group took (both for recreation and service) were exciting and fun. My knowledge and confidence with the Spanish language grew throughout the duration of the trip, and I have many wonderful memories from my time in costa Rica. Zip lining over the cloud forest and performing our graduating assignment at El Centro Panaméricano de Idiomas in Monte Verde are among my favorites.