CIEE College Study Abroad in Barcelona, Spain

My time in Barcelona with the Language + Culture program through CIEE was an experience that I will be forever grateful to have had. There were organized trips multiple times a week and 24/7 resources in order to feel comfortable in a possibly uncomfortable change. I was quickly emerged into both the Spanish and European Culture(s), to the point where I did not want to leave- and to this day want to return back. My amazing time in Barcelona is largely owed to benefits of traveling with CIEE, the amazing people I met, and the beautiful places I was able to see along the way.

My experience in Barcelona through CIEE was incredible! I had the opportunity to immerse myself in a new culture, meet amazing friends, and go on numerous adventures. I lived in an apartment of 6 people and we all loved the experience. The guidance and information provided to us allowed us to quickly adapt to the new city.

The CIEE programming was organized and the staff was very friendly. The courses were all exciting and allowed me to learn a lot, while still leaving time to explore the amazing city. I was able to travel to several new locations and CIEE offered programming events that made it easy to meet people. I appreciated how I could quickly reach CIEE staff for any questions and concerns.

I made so many amazing memories and would definitely recommend the experience. I loved the independence of being in an incredible, new city, while also feeling very supported and comfortable.

During my experience traveling on the CIEE program: International Marketing in Barcelona, Spain, I felt like it was one of the most challenging, yet rewarding, experiences abroad. When leaving for my trip, my flight was canceled many times which caused me to feel anxious about future problems that might occur once getting to Spain. I do not speak any Spanish, but was relieved when arriving to Spain, because there were many people, who spoke some English, willing to help me find where I needed to go. I was living in a homestay, which I was excited to learn about the different aspects of the culture in Spain, as well as sharing my personal experiences back at home. Once I finally arrived to Spain, I felt a wave of happiness come across my body when I was driving in the taxi on the way to meet my host mother. The views were beautiful, and as someone who loves to travel, I was ready to begin my journey. This trip was a unique learning experience for me because I met many different types of people, learned the importance of understanding different cultures, and became extremely close with my roommate and host mother, which is never something I would have experienced without taking the opportunity to study abroad with CIEE. My unique experiences included: touring Sagrada Familia, which is the largest unfinished Roman Catholic Church, becoming friendly with, and getting to know the workers in the cafe where I would get my morning coffee, and the weekend trips to places in Spain, such as Menorca, provided by CIEE. I was able to come away from my abroad experience with a new set of life skills, an understanding of cultures that differ from my own, and create close connections to different people, which I still stay in contact with today.

The CIEE Business + Culture Program in Barcelona, Spain was absolutely outstanding all around. The program provided a fantastic mix of meaningful classes, fulfilling explorations of the surrounding area, and freedom to create your own experience. CIEE allowed me to learn more about not only different areas of Spain and Barcelona, but the history of several landmarks and places. The process of class selection was an independent process, yet easy to navigate. I found several opportunities to learn more about Barcelona as well as the whole continent of Europe through traveling and having positive in-person experiences. The location of our school was in a very convenient spot, as it was very close to the magnificent city of Barcelona.

I had so much fun during my semester abroad in Barcelona! I was able to take courses that met requirements for my majors; I took one of them at ESCI, a host institution, and the other 4 at CIEE. Barcelona has so many things to offer - I found something new each day that I explored around, and I never had a chance to be bored. When studying abroad, you also have the chance to travel A LOT. I'm glad I made the most of my time there and visited a bunch of other cities and countries! CIEE also offered some cool excursions, and I met a bunch of students from around the world. I'm very happy I had this opportunity and am already planning my trip back there!

I arrived to the program late after some circumstantial issues with my visa, so I was worried that I was going to have a difficult time finding close friends and adjusting to the program in some way, shape, or form. Luckily, everyone in this program is amazing so not only did I have no issues, but I was able to make some great friends right off the bat. The staff at CIEE is extremely helpful and always offering opportunities to get to know Barcelona better, as well as connect you with local students. Taking classes at UB was extremely daunting at first and I felt out of my element, but with the help of the great tutors CIEE offers and the professors and program directors, I was able to do well in all of my classes and thrive academically. I chose to live in a homestay with another student, which was one of the best decisions I made in the program. It was a great way to get authentic meals while practicing Spanish in a conversational environment, and the girl I lived with and I ended up becoming great friends. There's a lot of time to do your own thing, I was able to do a lot of traveling while I was there, and I honestly don't have enough good things to say about the program, CIEE definitely contributed to study abroad being one of the greatest times of my life.

I have absolutely nothing but positive memories with CIEE Barcelona. I did the homestay option and studied at the Facultat de Filología and loved both! The program naturally forces you out of your comfort zone and rewards you with a wealth of rich knowledge, fond memories, and friends of a lifetime. At times, the program was difficult, but CIEE Barcelona provides undivided, personal support for challenges in-and-out of the classroom. Alberto and the rest of the program staff are transparent with their students from day one, and they push you to dive into Spanish culture.

I would highly recommend this program to anybody looking to contextualize their understanding of the Spanish language and take fantastic classes at the Universitat de Barcelona. The memories I share with my program friends are ones I will never forget. Take advantage of everything Barcelona, Spain, and Europe has to offer! Alberto and the staff are just the best--I wish I could return to CIEE Barcelona!

CIEE ALA is the best program you can choose if you want to immerse yourself in Spanish language and culture. It is a unique study abroad program because it allows its participants to take classes at the University of Barcelona in Spanish, which is the best way to get to know other Spanish students and dramatically improve your language skills. The program attracts students who are eager to get out of their comfort zone and learn lots. The small size means that everyone becomes really close, and the leaders of the program are always there for one-on-one help. Would definitely recommend this program to anyone who wants to challenge themselves and have a fulfilling experience studying abroad.