About the City
Located on the beach in the rolling hills of northern Spain, San Sebastian presents itself as an inviting, enchanting city where old and new meet. For years European families have traveled here to relax or surf on the city's pristine beaches. San Sebastian was founded in 1524, and the old town, "el casco antiguo," is built on a sandy isthmus connecting the mainland with the steep peninsular point of Monte Urgull Park. The park is encompassed by the 16th-century fortress of La Mota and makes for peaceful walks and provides breath taking views of the Cantabrian Sea. "La parte nueva," the new part, spreads inland along the banks of the river and is a hub for high end shopping and art galleries. The Palacio de Miramar, the Spanish royalty’s former summer residence, has been used for some years by the University of Basque Country as a small campus site in San Sebastian. The city serves as the capital of the Guipuzkoa province and has evolved into a culturally rich cosmopolitan destination that is ideal for Spanish language immersion.

VIEW MAP OF SAN SEBASTIAN & EXCURSION SITES! 

What Students Say
"Learning to surf in San Sebastian was awesome! The beaches there are so beautiful, and it was great that the school was so close to them so we could go chill after class."

"I loved my host family in San Sebastian! My Senora was like a Spanish version of my own mom. It really helped my Spanish to go home and practice with my family. I still keep in touch with her via email, which is helping me keep up what I learned!"

"The food in San Sebastian is amazing! My Senora was the best cook! It was also fun to go and try all the different Tapas, I learned a lot of new food vocabulary that way."

Prerequisites: Must be completing grades 9-12 and have at least two years of high school Spanish or equivalent. Academic Information: School: TANDEM-San Sebastian Curriculum: Spanish Grammar, Conversation, and Culture. Classes are taught Monday-Friday, 4 hours a day, by teachers who hold advanced degrees in teaching Spanish to foreigners. Classes are with other program participants and are broken up by skill level. Academic Credit: Students receive 40 contact hours on their transcript that they may use to petition for up to 4 hours of college credit. TANDEM San Sebastian: Tandem San Sebastian is part of the TANDEM world organization of accredited language schools. They provide students with a diverse social program that complements their high standards of foreign language learning. Tandem is accredited by the Instituto Cervantes of the Universidad de Acala. Students will have access to free internet at the school. Homestay Family: Homestay families are carefully selected by the housing coordinator at Tandem as well as screened by SPI. The families are well experienced in hosting foreign students and are committed to help in learning the language, serving you great food, and adopting you into their way of life. Remember that families come in all shapes and sizes and an open mind to try new things is important.

Summer 1&2: Day 1 Depart USA for Spain. Day 2 Arrive in Madrid MAD Airport. Transfer to your hotel located in the heart of the city's art district. Join your group for an orientation lunch followed by a small walking tour around Madrid. Visit the famous Prado Art Museum, the modern Reina Sofia, stroll through the Plaza Mayor and take an evening tour around the city. Day 3 After breakfast depart for Segovia and Burgos. Visit the Alcazar Castle where Columbus obtained permission to sail to America and see the famous Roman Aqueduct! Enjoy an incredible evening in Burgos strolling around the lively streets with Spain's famous Gothic cathedral in as the backdrop. Day 4 Visit the Burgos Cathedral and see where ‘El Cid’ made his mark. Travel to the old town of Bilbao to visit the famous Guggenheim Museum and the Arenal. Arrive in San Sebastian to meet your host family. Enjoy the first night getting to know your family. Day 5 Start your first day of classes. You will take an informal placement test to determine your level. Spend the afternoon exploring the city on a guided orientation tour followed by a typical "Chocolate con Churros". Days 6-9 Regular morning classes followed by various afternoon activities. Possible activities include: Beach Volleyball, Surf Lessons, a visit to the local Aquarium, hike to Monte Urgull Park and Cafe Social with locals to practice Spanish. Day 10 Full day excursion to France. Visit the seaside paradise of Biarritz, you might get to experience some of the Basque French language and culture. Enjoy a stop in St. Jean de Luc, an even quainter beach paradise, on your way home. Day 11 Enjoy a relaxing Sunday with your host family. Days 12-16 Regular morning classes followed by various afternoon activities. Possible activities include: Salsa Dancing Lessons, a Boat Trip to Basajes, Volleyball Tournament and Cafe Social. Day 17 Travel to the historic city of Toledo. Explore the historic sites with a guided tour to the Cathedral, El Greco, Alcazar and the City Walls. Enjoy your final dinner with your group. Day 18 Wake up early and travel from Toledo to the Madrid Airport via private bus. Depart Madrid for USA. *Summer Month is 32 days in length and will repeat some excursions and activities but with the opportunity to participate in alternates. For more details on the Summer Full Itinerary, please contact info@spiabroad.com

SUMMER 1: Maria Sosa Rodriguez Bishop Lynch HS, Dallas, TX Doran Wofford Bishop Lynch HS, Dallas, TX Linda Johnson Parish Episcopal HS, Dallas, TX Andrew Jennings Parish Episcopal HS, Dallas, TX SUMMER 2: Celeste Weary - Head Director SPI Program Advisor, Austin, TX Ana Hermoso - Asst. Director Hotchkiss School, Lakeville, CT