Program Reviews

My experience with SPI Study Abroad in San Sebastián, Spain was incredible. It has made me who I am today. I use to be very shy and wouldn't open up much around new people. While in Spain that totally changed. I made so many amazing friends that I am still in contact with today. I loved it so much I'm going back this summer, and this time with my best friend! Now I am very outgoing and I rarely ever get shy or nervous around new people! My abilities with the language has also grown, and my love for it also!

Going abroad and immersing myself with the Spanish people and culture has always been a dream of mine. I have always wanted to be able to hold a conversation fluently and this trip gave me the opportunity to do just that. Practicing my Spanish in a Spanish-speaking country 24/7 pushed me to my highest potential even though it was exciting and nerve racking. Being in a country I have never been before, with strangers whose primary language was not English pushed me to try my hardest and speak all the Spanish that I knew regardless of the mistakes that I made. I took advantage of all the numerous opportunities such as; speaking with mama tica, with teachers, and at the stores. Through this experience I became independent and did not rely on a dictionary or teacher to explain things to me. I have seen a lot of growth in my Spanish after coming from the trip.

I can honestly say that everything in this program was perfect. I cannot chose only one aspect that was my favorite.I enjoyed that this program incorporated other activities like the cooking classes and dancing classes that really exposed us to the Latin culture and the Latin cuisine. To study abroad is an experience of a lifetime and I feel that everyone should be able to do it.You will leave learning so much and always remember your experience and memories there.

This past summer, I went to Spain with a vague idea of what my experience would be like, and by the end of the trip, my mind had been blown. The people you meet, places you see, and the strengthening of your skills in the Spanish language are amazing, and I know that for all the people I met through the program and I, will never forget these amazing memories. This program changed my life forever, and the bonds that you make and keep with people from all over the world is amazing. If you are unsure whether the price and time away from home and free WiFi is worth it, I can promise you that it totally is.

I loved the trip so much. The directors are so much fun, and loved joking around with the kids. I loved the freedom we had and time I spent with other SPI kids and even kids from the school. The days in Rome were great to see the history, but Siena was such a cool city. I was there during the Palio horse race and even got into the piazza to watch one of the races, it was incredible.

I can full heartedly say that this trip has been one of the best two weeks of my life. The experience is immensely helpful with regard to the immersion within the home-stays and within the class room, as the teachers speak very little English. The service is also rewarding, and I learned a great deal about the environment and what we can do to help our planet. The relationships I formed on this trip have lasted and I will always look back fondly on my memories from this trip. The town of Monteverde, as well as Santa Elena, felt very safe and I never felt in harms way, as it is a small and friendly town. We do numerous activities, including zip-lining, horseback riding, dancing classes, hanging-bridge tours, planting trees, and many more. Each activity shared more of the culture of Costa Rica with us and the importance of nature to Monteverde.

This experience will better me throughout my life and is one I will never forget. Not to mention the Costa Rican food is delicious. I highly recommend this program to whomever is considering it and is open to embracing the culture and customs of Costa Rica.

SPI Study Abroad program is second to none! Language immersion, cultural exposure, and diversity of local events made for a fantastic experience for the students as well as teacher travelers! I highly recommend SPI to all students and teachers that are interested in summer study abroad programs.

I went to France with SPI study abroad last summer. It was cool because I learned a lot of French and met new friends. I went to Paris with my parents and sister before but this was my first time with out my family. This summer was better because I had a cool roommate and my homestay mom was the best cook and helped me with my accent. The classes were different than at my school and you get a transcript afterwards. My teacher was cool and told my roommate and I where the good restaurants were. I liked that I could go to the beach with friends when it was sunny and didn't have to always be with a director. The activities were fun and I saw a lot. One day we went hiking and I was like "what?" but then we got there and it was nice. I tell people I hiked in the Pyrenees and they think I'm cool. Those are the mountains there.

I think SPI is good because I had a lot of fun and learned more French than I thought I would. The directors were nice and were like my big sisters. My AP teacher doesn't make fun of my accent any more. I take French IV AP this year and it would be a lot harder if I didn't go to France. That was my summer.

I did a 3-week session starting in Paris for sightseeing, followed by a homestay in Biarritz, France. I loved the host family and Biarritz area, as well as the friends I made on the trip. One of the criticisms I have is that despite the hefty cost of the trip we were required to pay out of pocket for almost everything, including admissions fees, public transportation, meals, etc. The only thing that seemed to be covered was the 3-night hotel stay in Paris and the TGV trip to Biarritz. In addition, my friend and had a roommate situation at our homestay that was quite disturbing. The SPI coordinators refused to believe our side of the story and basically accused us of lying.
One other thing: do not rent a cell phone from their recommended vendors. We used PicCell wireless, and after all was said and done the total for a month long rental cost over $600! We could have activated my US smart phone for international use for the time I was there and it would not have cost that much.

SPI is knowledgable and passionate about study abroad and the value it has for high school students. Studying abroad forces you out of your comfort zone as you gain a broader perspective on life. Traveling abroad on a language immersion program is the best way to improve your language skills, become more confident and well-rounded, and help prepare you for college and beyond.

The trip to San Sebastian was incredible. First off, San Sebastian is absolutely stunning. I've traveled extensively and this city is a jewel in Europe. It's also the perfect size for a high school study abroad program. It's small but there's tons to do and the city is compact. It's safe and clean too.
This was my third trip with SPI Abroad as a teacher traveler. I went to Santander and Costa Rica as well. The families were very caring and well-screened. They really did want to help the kids learn the language. The teachers at the language school kept the learning relevant, interactive, and fun. The extracurricular activities were engaging. Several of my students are going back because they said the trip was "life-changing", I enjoyed seeing the students become more self-aware, independent.
As a mother and an educator, I feel very comfortable promoting this program.