ISA Study Abroad in Sevilla, Spain

I spent my junior year abroad with ISA. While in Seville, I took the 2-Week intensive course at the ISA study center, and two semesters at the Universidad de Sevilla. The intensive course at ISA was rigorous but worth it. The professor was incredible, and the content was beyond valuable. Additionally, arriving two weeks early gave me extra time to acclimate to the city of Seville and make new friends. When starting at the University of Seville, I was surprised to find that the professors were flexible with our language abilities, understanding of our personal time, and attentive to us as students. All of my courses from the University of Seville were valuable and transferred directly to my home university.

For housing, I spent the first semester in a host family, and the second semester in the ISA residencia. I am grateful to have lived with a host family first semester, as it paid huge dividends in my speaking abilities and was convenient for meals. However, living at the residencia was at times more comfortable and allowed for more connection with other students. I would recommend any abroad student to stay with a host family if they only have one semester!

I would recommend Seville over just about any other city in Spain, as it is an extremely safe, tight-knit community. The streets are steeped in culture, and the nightlife is unmatched. I miss it daily!

Overall, my experience with ISA was positive and highly recommended! ISA was definitely the most organized staff I worked with. Compared to my friends in other programs, ISA provided great personal support and planning.

Studying in Seville was the best experience I have ever had. I was able to fully immerse myself in another culture and make lasting memories and connections with new friends and other students I have worked and studied with. I was able to have a productive learning environment while also being able to have fun and visit other cities. I had a little bit of an issue with the language barrier, but my host family was very understanding and ensured that we were able to communicate properly. Since I was in the study center I felt life I had a great support system.

I chose to study abroad in Seville in the spring, and it was the best decision I could have made. In the spring, they have two festivals that cannot be missed. One of them is Holy Week but called Semana Santa in Spanish. Two weeks later, is their Feria de Abril which also lasts a week long! This was easily my favorite experience of my study abroad and I recommend it to everyone who is thinking about studying in Seville to stay that entire week. I was able to wear a traditional flamenco dress and hang out with Sevillanos. The social scene overall is lively and there is always opportunities to get to know other people/students. I never had a bad experience with the locals (even when talking to them in Spanish). The food is amazing and even when you get tired of Spanish cuisine they offer a variety of food all around the center. When I traveled around Europe, I always felt like Seville was my home base and by the end of every trip, I wanted to return back.

WOW! My time abroad was amazing. I would not have changed anything if I could. I loved my school, host family, roommate, and everything about Sevilla. One of my favorite parts about studying abroad was being able to be immersed in a culture without being a tourist. There is something so special about calling a foreign land a home. I was able to learn about life across the world and experience something so unique. I also loved living with a host family. It was in their home that I was able to practice Spanish in a way I have never done before.

My time in Sevilla, Spain was such a wonderful experience especially as my very first time abroad. I originally applied due to interest in the history course offered, but the sheer fun I had with my classmates as well as the relationship fostered with the staff in my time there was very heartwarming. I felt incredibly safe due to the gated housing. I had access to a lot of banks/ATMs, grocery stores, restaurants, and a lot of close by local attractions like the Alcazar and the Plaza de España. And coupled with the sheer atmosphere of being in such a beautiful country was the fact that the class was just as interesting. The professor really went out of his way to educate us and I'll forever be grateful for that.

Definitely go for it! It's okay to be nervous and scared at first, but I PROMISE you'll soon come to relax and love it so much that you'll promise yourself you'd come back!

You are missing out if you haven't heard the song "Sevilla Tiene un Color Especial" by Los Del Río. This song perfectly describes my experience in Sevilla with ISA. The song talks about how Sevilla has a special color, and I couldn't agree more. What made Sevilla so special? The people. The ISA staff, professors, and directors were all very nice; they made me feel like family and always helped, whether it was with academics or recommendations for shopping or food. Additionally, I had a host mom who helped me navigate Sevilla and travel throughout Europe.
The culture in Sevilla was fascinating and beautiful. For example, everywhere I went, people were singing or dancing to flamenco. Semana Santa was very traditional, and their tortillas were amazing. Furthermore, the classes were the most interesting I've ever had in my life. They were very active and engaging, and I learned so much. I even took flamenco classes! As I mentioned earlier, the professors were great!
Lastly, the people in Sevilla were very nice. I met many locals who included me in their plans and showed me around. Sevilla will forever have a special place in my heart. I learned so much by exploring a country very different from the ones I've been to. I would highly recommend people visit Sevilla, Spain, but only if it's with ISA.

Spending a semester abroad in Sevilla was one of the best experiences that I have ever had. All of the staff were very helpful and made a point to get to know all of us individually. The city is very safe and I made lots of Spanish friends that I still talk to regularly now that I'm back in the States. The classes were engaging and the professors were all very knowledgable. The city is very walkable and accessible which made getting around easy. Outside of the city centre there are a lot of small restaurants for a more local feel to the city and the food.

This experience was life-changing! I didn't know what to expect when I first got to Sevilla, so I came in with an open mind. That was honestly the best thing I could have possibly done. Upon arrival, the program staff and my homestay family greeted me with warmth. Although I didn't know Spanish and my homestay family didn't know English, we created a strong bond and were able to teach each other and learn from each other. I learned so much about myself going abroad, and it gave me confidence and a new perspective on how I approach life.
Throughout the program I met some incredible people who I still keep in touch with today. We bonded over shared experiences and traveled together throughout Spain. It was amazing because it sort of provided a safety net and secure space, knowing that you all have shared emotions! We all had so much fun together and didn't want to leave!