API Study Abroad in Granada, Spain

Choosing to study in Granada with API was, hands down, the best decision I've ever made. Granada itself exceeded all my expectations - the API staff outdid themselves, and it only took a week or two for Curra, Lydia and Jose to become my second Spanish family. Every move was coordinated and organized beautifully, and it felt effortless and easy every time.

I originally roomed with a fellow API student, but had some troubles with the host family as well as my roommate and ended up switching to another host mother, Lolita. Curra made the transition incredibly smooth - she helped me set up a time to meet Lolita, listened to my concerns and made sure that it was the best fit for me - and it was. Lolita made me laugh when she teased me about my Spanish, but she taught me new words every day and I know that my Spanish drastically improved because of her and the daily (hilarious) conversations we had. She felt like my real mother by the end of my stay with her. My new roommate and I both felt like sisters in a true Spanish home, and I was surprised and delighted by that.

Classes were much easier than I expected, though transitioning from all English to all Spanish classes was a little overwhelming at first. However, once I learned to just listen and comprehend and ask questions if I didn't understand, it became much easier. The professors were exceedingly patient with us, especially on Monday mornings when the only Spanish any of us could speak was "vale."

The API excursions were a true delight. We encountered a problem when we went to Rome: the Iberia strikes cancelled our flight from Granada to Madrid less than 24 hours before we were supposed to be on it, but - and this proves how amazing the API staff is - we had a bus lined up within a few hours, everyone was notified and there was little to no stress put on the students. Curra and Jose handled everything with a smile and laughter, even when it rained the entire weekend, and made the trip an unforgettable one. The beach weekend in Cadiz could not have come at a more perfect time - right before finals, all of us together, after all of us had been used to staying in hostels, we had a beautiful, gorgeous, unbelievable beachfront hotel and were treated like princes and princesses. It was the best way to end the API experience: together on a beach, relaxing in the sun. The timing couldn't have been better.

I honestly wish that I had chosen to stay for an entire academic year instead of just a semester, because I had no idea I would fall in love with the people, the culture, the program and the stunning city of Granada. If you're on the fence about where to study abroad, or if you should even go, get off. Jump off the fence and onto a plane to Granada, because you're going to have the time of your life.

Honestly, API provides more resources to the city than any of my friend's other programs did. Simple as that. Worth every penny spent. API provides not only excursions but local activities to help you to truly discover the city you are living in.

Studying abroad with API in Granada, Spain exceeded all expectations I had about studying abroad. API Granada's staff greets you with open arms from the moment you step off the plane and will take care of you until the moment you depart. Students never need to stress or worry as Granada's staff members are always willing to help their students with whatever they needed. They truly are wonderful and kind people.

I opted to stay with a host family and I couldn't have made a better decision. My host family not only demonstrated patience as I intially fumbled through the language, but they helped me improve my Spanish, and even treated me as if I were a member of their family. Plus the accomodations are perfect as my roommate and I felt we had our privacy when it was needed, while not offending our host family when we needed time apart from them to study or Skype someone from home.

The academics of the program are a challenge as far as adjusting to taking them all in Spanish, however the amount of classwork and homework is totally managable so no one feels they are missing out on opportunities to explore Granada or travel outside the city. Granada is perfectly located with all of Europe and northern Africa waiting to be explored so close by.

Between the quality of the program and its value (its cost including tuition, housing, trips, etc.) I would recommed studying abroud with API in Granada, Spain to anyone who is interested in embarking on such an incredible opportunity.

Studying abroad with API in Granada, Spain was hands down the best decision I've made to date. Everything about the program was beautifully organized. I became close with the staff who were extremely supportive and knowledgable about Granada and Spain in general.

I chose to live in an apartment with one other roommate and we got a huge living space about 10 minutes walking distance from the center of the city and 25 minutes to campus. The school was delightful, I thoroughly enjoyed walking to class each day in the sunshine.

I was placed in classes that were completely in Spanish, which was more helpful than difficult. Since Granada is almost like a hidden gem in Spain, there aren't many natives who speak English. The professors were extremely patient and aided in my comprehension of the Spanish language in very effective ways.

API provided us all with unique and fun activities like intercambios, tours of places such as the Alhambra, excursions within Spain as well as an international excursion, etc. With just about every student participating in these activities, we became an extremely close group of friends. We all were in the API office just about every day, chatting with the staff, asking for recommendations, making plans, etc.

The staff of API and the program itself is not lacking anything at all. Everyone was always happy to help and just all around genuine people. Study abroad positively changed my entire outlook on life. If I could go back in time, the only thing I would change is that I would study abroad with API for all four years, instead of just one semester.

Studying abroad with API in Granada, Spain was one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life. Not only is Granada a beautiful place, with unbelievable sights, and amazing people, API is the BEST study abroad program. Curra, Lydia, and Ingrid are the friendliest and most helpful advisers you could ask for. They made my transition as easy as possible and were always there for me. They also placed me with a wonderful host family who I still keep in contact with and miss everyday! The classes were great, very interesting and also educational, but also not too demanding as when studying abroad, most of what you learn comes from the outside: the sights, the places, the people, and especially the culture! I will forever cherish the memories and incredible experience I had with API and Granada and hold it close to my heart! I cannot think of a better place nor program!

I absolutely loved studying in Granada, and API helped make it great. They gave a good value for the money (they flew us to Rome with a great hotel, a weekend trip to Cádiz in a four-star hotel, etc.) and the host mom I was assigned to was absolutely fabulous.
I think that overall, any program would be a good choice because no matter what you'll have an amazing experience studying abroad. I'm partial to API because it was one of the lowest-priced programs and the people in the Texas office promptly answered all of my email questions as I was preparing to go.
I will never forget my time in Granada (I wish I could go back right now) and thanks to API I didn't have any big problems or anything.

I recommend API to other students because of the great experience I had with them. Granada was the perfect city because it was not too big and not too small. It was also a university town, so there were a lot of students; spanish, and foreign.
I developed my spanish through the intensive language program, which was 4 hours of spanish class, taught entirely in spanish, 5 days of each week. My host family was wonderful, and I loved that we had the option of staying in an independent apartment with a host family to take care of meals and laundry.
Overall, I was impressed with the amount that API provided for the money we paid. The Granada students, got to visit Madrid. Toledo, Sevilla, Cabo de Gato, and Paris, France. Also, housing, meals, and fees were included in our costs.

I had the time of my life. Literally. Everyone who studies abroad says this, but my experience with API and Granada was amazing.

The staff in the U.S. and on site are extremely helpful in every way possible. The API staff in Granada helped us to get adjusted to Spanish life very quickly, and were there with us throughout the entire study abroad experience--we actually became good friends with them!

Granada is the COOLEST city in the world. Hands down. The Andalucian people are sincere and welcoming, even if they speak a mile a minute and their accents take a second to catch onto. Granada has wonderful shopping, nightlife, restuarants, etc. The tapas are amazing, as is the Sangria.. and the gelato! The best part about Granada is the history--the Alhambra is breath-taking, and the other cathedrals and areas of the city give nice glimpses into it's Moorish past.

You're up in the mountains in Granada and can do all sorts of activities outside, such as hiking or paragliding, but the beaches are only a quick bus ride away. Southern Spain's beaches are TO. DIE. FOR. We went almost every weekend that we weren't traveling with API.

API excursions are the best, as well. We went to other interesting cities that weren't too far away, so we got a real glimpse into areas of Andalucia that we might not have had the experience to on other trips.

Traveling within Spain is super cheap, as well as all over Europe once you're there, and there was room in our schedule for trips to other cities and countries, wich was excellent.

Classes were manageable and did not take up too much time. It is understood that the best way to learn the language is to go out and explore and interact with the Andalucian people. Class would take up 3-4 hours out of the day, and the rest was spent taking siestas, shopping, walking in the Garcia de Lorca park, and just enjoying what Granada had to offer.

I was beyond sad to leave and have been itching to return since I boarded the plane back to the U.S. My advice to you is: STUDY ABROAD. GO TO GRANADA. AND DO IT WITH API!!!!

The University of Granada's classes were manageable