2017 Sessions
Madrid Experience Add-On – $995
Madrid Add-On 1: June 13 – June 17
Madrid Add-On 2: June 27 – July 1
Two Week – $3,895
Summer 1: June 16 – July 2
Summer 2: June 30 – July 16
Summer 3: July 14 – July 30
Four Week – $6,995
Month 1: June 16 – July 16
Month 2: June 30 – July 30
Six Week – $9,995
Six Week: June 16 – July 30
Madrid Experience
Pre-Requisites
AP/IB Prep
What's Included
Flight Information
The Basque Country’s Seaside Gem…
Located on the beach in the lush rolling hills of northern Spain, San Sebastián is an inviting and enchanting city where old meets new. For years, European families have traveled to San Sebastián (also called Donostia) to relax, surf and enjoy the city’s pristine beaches and surrounding landscapes. Founded in 1180, the city serves as the capital of the Guipuzkoa province of Spain and has evolved into a culturally rich cosmopolitan destination; it is ideal for Spanish language and immersion students. The SPI high school study abroad program in San Sebastián allows you to truly experience life as a native – students live with a caring homestay, attend Spanish classes during the week, and travel to some of the country’s most amazing sites! The San Sebastián program will captivate and inspire you as you immerse with locals (or donostiarras), participate in a variety of exciting cultural activities, and soak up the beauty of this region and its culture. You simply won’t want to leave!
SAN SEBASTIÁN PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Academics & Leadership
ACADEMIC OVERVIEW
School: Local language institute
Course Hours: 40 Hours (2 Week), 80 Hours (4 Week), or 120 Hours (6 Week) of Spanish Language & Culture
Spanish Language & Conversation: Students are broken up by levels, and attend Spanish language and conversation classes Monday – Friday in the mornings. The courses focus on developing Spanish communication skills by simulating real life situations through interactive class activities that include writing, oral expression, film, music, food, and literature.
> Spanish levels 1 through AP/IB
> 5-15 Students per Class
> Certified native instructors with advanced teaching degrees
CULTURAL LEADERSHIP ENRICHMENT
SPI offers a unique cultural leadership enrichment component for our European programs. This component is geared toward connecting students with their local surroundings and language while engaging them in real-life skill building exercises. The component incorporates unique activities, excursions and daily group discussions with a focus on team building, leadership, personal growth, travel skills and cultural awareness.
> SPI Leadership Building Seminars
> European Travel Skills Workshop
> Exchanges with Spanish locals
> Spanish Culinary Experiences
Activities & Excursions
ELECTIVE ACTIVITIES
In addition to SPI’s cultural leadership enrichment program, students will have the exciting opportunity to enhance their experience abroad by participating in optional elective courses and activities! Electives range from sports activities to unique cultural events and are designed to further engage students into the local culture and, of course, just have fun! Exact electives will vary per program and are based on student interest and weather. Upon arrival abroad, students will choose which electives they wish to participate in.
San Sebastián Elective Activities:
> Elective Courses: Flamenco/Latin Dance, Surfing Course (Beginner to Advanced), Photography Composition Course, Spanish & Basque Cooking and Gastronomy
> Additional Potential Electives: Gym, Basque Art & Architecture, Running, Soccer, Volleyball, Tennis, Swimming.
*Optional elective activities may have an additional cost
TRAVEL EXCURSIONS
From visits to world class museums to magnificent hikes through lush mountains, students explore the most important monuments, cities and natural wonders in the San Sebastián region. Weekend and cultural day travel excursions help students dynamically use the language of study and interact with the local community.
San Sebastián Travel Excursions:
> Madrid
> Toledo (Madrid Extension)
> Segovia & Burgos
> Bilbao
> Biarritz, France & St. Jean de Luz
> Zumaia
What Alumni Say…
“This has been a fantastic experience! This trip has not only gave me an opportunity to be very independent living so far away from home, but also has built my confidence speaking spanish. Learning at the institute greatly expanded my knowledge of Spanish culture and colloquial expressions. Also, I made many new friends from all over the world!”
John, Oregon
“My homestay made my trip really special. They were so welcoming and we spent hours after each night’s dinner talking to them. They taught me endless information from vocabulary, cultural information to the best place to go out to eat.”
Valentina, London, England
“I would definitely recommend SPI San Sebastian. It was a great place to explore and there was always something new to try. Yet at the same time, I felt the city getting smaller and more navigable just a few days into my stay.”
Eli, California
Safety & Supervision
ON-SITE DIRECTORS & STAFF
Directors and on-site staff are professional multilingual educators and caring leaders who serve as international “moms and dads”. We maintain a highly personal student to director ratio of typically one director for every eight students. Directors actively participate in all aspects of the immersion experience focusing on student well-being, cultural adjustments, and daily check ins to ensure active student participation.
DAILY SUPERVISION & FREE TIME
To ensure student safety, on-site directors are available 24 hours a day and carry local cell phones at all times. Directors check-in with students on a daily basis in the mornings, afternoons and evenings and monitor all aspects of the program. At SPI, we believe in the educational value of giving students a structured amount of free-time on certain afternoons. Students are expected to abide by SPI’s standards of conduct at all times and we implement a “buddy system.”
CURFEW: 11 PM on Weekdays and 12 AM on Weekends
YOUR DAY ABROAD IN SAN SEBASTIÁN
Morning
8:00 – 9:00 Breakfast at Homestay & Travel with Roommate to Classes
Enjoy a light breakfast of breads, cereal, and juice/coffee. You will either walk or take a short bus ride to classes M-F.
9:30 – 1:30 Spanish Language, Culture, and Conversation Courses
Be amazed at how quickly your Spanish improves with SPI’s master instructors at the institute in San Sebastian. Classes are both engaging and fun.
Afternoon
2:00 – 4:00 Afternoon Comida and Siesta or Break
After classes, enjoy lunch with your homestay. In Spain, the main mid-day meal is the heaviest, so bring your appetite!
4:30 – 7:00 Electives & Cultural Leadership Enrichment Activities
From surfing to photography and exchanges with locals, there are afternoon activities for everyone! SPI’s program also incorporates a leadership and cultural enrichment component where students will interact with the local community. (There is structured free time on some afternoons after activities).
Evening
7:00 – 8:00 Meeting with Directors and Evening Free-Time
In the early evening, you will have an informal group meeting to review tomorrow’s activities with directors.
8:30 – 10:30 Evening Meal & Conversations With Your Homestay
Enjoy the evening practicing your Spanish while talking with your homestay around the dinner table. You will have some free time after evening meals to meet up with other students for ice cream or an evening stroll.
SAN SEBASTIÁN ITINERARIES
Madrid Experience Add-On
*Add to Summer 1 or 2, Month 1 or 2, or 6-Week. Dates and pricing information above.
Day 1 Depart for Madrid, Spain!
Meet your fellow students and get ready to embark on the study abroad journey of a lifetime!
Day 2 Bienvenidos a España and First Day Immersion Tour of Madrid
Enjoy your first private SPI tour of the breathtaking architecture, culture, and cuisine of Madrid! Visit some of the city’s most acclaimed sites such as Puerta de Sol, Parque del Retiro, and Palacio Real and Gardens while immersing yourself into the language and daily Madrileño way of life.
Day 3 Full Day Excursion to Toledo
Discover the undeniable charm of the medieval city that was once the capital of Spain! From Toledo’s amazing Alcázar fortress and 13th-century Gothic Cathedral to its beautiful City Walls and many other wonders, you’ll undoubtedly leave Toledo in awe of its sheer beauty and history.
Day 4 Art, Architecture, and Shopping Tour of Madrid!
Mix history with contemporary as you experience the ‘hip and chic’ side of Madrid! Marvel at Picasso’s Guernica painting, then dar un paseo into some of Madrid’s most stunning neighborhoods, plazas, and parks with stops to enjoy a café con leche at an outdoor patio and shop along Madrid’s grand boulevards.
Day 5 Regular Program Students Arrive. Continued Madrid Touring.
Get to know the rest of your group while continuing to explore the wondrous city of Madrid.
San Sebastián 2-Week
Add Madrid Experience to Summer 1, Summer 2, Month, or 6 Week Program
*Dates and pricing information above
Day 1 Depart for Madrid, Spain!
Meet your fellow students and get ready to embark on the study abroad journey of a lifetime!
Day 2 Arrive to Madrid & First Day Tour
¡Bienvenidos! Enjoy a thrilling cultural, art, and architecture tour of breathtaking central Madrid. Start putting those Spanish skills to work by connecting with locals!
Day 3 Visit Segovia & Arrive to San Sebastián
Visit Segovia’s impressive Roman Aqueduct and Alcázar before heading to San Sebastián to meet your homestay.
Day 4 First Day of Spanish Classes & Orientation
Meet your Profesor/a and class after a language placement exam in the morning. Discover your new ‘home’ during an afternoon orientation tour of San Sebastián.
Days 5-8 Regular Classes, Elective Activities + Leadership
Continue improving your Spanish fluency through morning language and conversation courses followed by afternoon leadership and electives activities.
Day 9 Travel Excursion to Biarritz, France
Discover the beauty of this stunning city situated just across the border in the French Basque region. Biarritz will amaze you with its pristine beaches, incredible shopping districts, and unparalleled French cuisine!
Day 10 Quality Time with Homestay & Friends
Spanish Sundays are the perfect day to dar un paseo along the waterfront, lounge on the beach, and take in the local culture while enjoying a café con leche on an outdoor patio.
Days 11-15 Regular Classes, Elective Activities + Leadership
Be amazed by the progress you’ve made in your language skills and ability to thrive in a new culture!
Day 16 Return to Madrid & Final Dinner
Bid farewell to your beloved Spanish homestays before you depart for Madrid. En route, stop in the city of Burgos to explore its rich history and one of Spain’s glittering jewels of religious architecture, the Catedral de Burgos. Upon arrival in Madrid, marvel at the awe-inspiring art of the Prado museum before a final group dinner.
Day 17 Depart Spain for Home
¡Buen viaje! Return home with amazing memories of España!
San Sebastián 4-Week
Add Madrid Experience to Summer 1, Summer 2, Month, or 6 Week Program
*Dates and pricing information above
Day 1 Depart for Madrid, Spain!
Meet your fellow students and get ready to embark on the study abroad journey of a lifetime!
Day 2 Arrive to Madrid and first day tour
¡Bienvenidos! Enjoy a thrilling cultural, art, and architecture tour of breathtaking central Madrid.
Day 3 Visit Segovia & Arrive to San Sebastián
Visit Segovia’s impressive Roman Aqueduct and Alcázar before heading to San Sebastián to meet your homestay.
Day 4 First Day of Spanish Classes & Orientation
Meet your Profesor/a and class after a language placement exam in the morning. Discover your new ‘home’ during an afternoon orientation tour of San Sebastián.
Days 5-8 Regular Classes, Elective Activities + Leadership
Continue improving your Spanish fluency through morning language and conversation courses followed by afternoon leadership and electives activities.
Day 9 Travel Excursion to Biarritz, France
Discover the beauty of this stunning city situated just across the border in the French Basque region will amaze you with its pristine beaches, incredible shopping districts, and unparalleled French cuisine.
Day 10 Quality Time with Homestay & Friends
Spanish Sundays are the perfect day to dar un paseo along the waterfront, lounge on the beach, and take in the local culture while enjoying a café con leche on an outdoor patio.
Days 11-15 Regular Classes, Elective Activities + Leadership
Be amazed by the progress you’ve made in your language skills and ability to thrive in a new culture!
Day 16 Travel Excursion to Zumaia or Zarautz
Explore the picturesque seaside pueblito of either Zumaia or Zarautz. These lovely, quaint towns will deepen your appreciation of northern Spain and its unique culture and history.
Day 17 Quality Time with Homestay & Friends
Relish life as local Spaniards do by eating un helado while basking in the coastal sun or spend the afternoon at the Spanish cine.
Days 18-22 Regular Classes, Elective Activities + Leadership
Spanish fluency is in your grasp and San Sebastián has become your ‘home away from home’!
Day 23 Travel Excursion to Bilbao
Expand your love of the Pais Vasco by traveling to the city of Bilbao to visit the world-renowned Guggenheim museum and explore its captivating history and culture.
Day 24 Quality Time with Homestay & Friends
Take advantage of your last full Spanish Sunday with your homestay and friends by going out for tapas or exploring a new part of the city!
Days 25-29 Regular Classes, Elective Activities + Leadership
Dreaming in Spanish yet?! Your Spanish fluency has allowed you to discover another world!
Day 30 Return Madrid and Final Dinner
Bid farewell to your beloved Spanish homestays before you depart for Madrid. En route, stop in the city of Burgos to explore its rich history and one of Spain’s glittering jewels of religious architecture, the Catedral de Burgos. Upon arrival in Madrid, marvel at the awe-inspiring art of the Prado museum before a final group dinner.
Day 31 Depart Spain for Home
¡Buen viaje! Return home with amazing memories of España!
San Sebastián 6-Week
Add Madrid Experience to Summer 1, Summer 2, Month, or 6 Week Program
*Dates and pricing information above
Day 1 Depart for Madrid, Spain!
Meet your fellow students and get ready to embark on the study abroad journey of a lifetime!
Day 2 Arrive to Madrid and first day tour
¡Bienvenidos! Enjoy a thrilling cultural, art, and architecture tour of breathtaking central Madrid.
Day 3 Visit Segovia & Arrive to San Sebastián
Visit Segovia’s impressive Roman Aqueduct and Alcázar before heading to San Sebastián to meet your homestay.
Day 4 First Day of Spanish Classes & Orientation
Meet your Profesor/a and class after a language placement exam in the morning. Discover your new ‘home’ during an afternoon orientation tour of San Sebastián.
Days 5-8 Regular Classes, Elective Activities + Leadership
Continue improving your Spanish fluency through morning language and conversation courses followed by afternoon leadership and electives activities.
Day 9 Travel Excursion to Biarritz, France
Discover the beauty of this stunning city situated just across the border in the French Basque region will amaze you with its pristine beaches, incredible shopping districts, and unparalleled French cuisine.
Day 10 Quality Time with Homestay & Friends
Spanish Sundays are the perfect day to dar un paseo along the waterfront, lounge on the beach, and take in the local culture while enjoying a café con leche on an outdoor patio.
Days 11-15 Regular Classes, Elective Activities + Leadership
Be amazed by the progress you’ve made in your language skills and ability to thrive in a new culture!
Day 16 Travel Excursion to Zumaia or Zarautz
Explore the picturesque seaside pueblito of either Zumaia or Zarautz. These lovely, quaint towns will deepen your appreciation of northern Spain and its unique culture and history.
Day 17 Quality Time with Homestay & Friends
Relish life as local Spaniards do by eating un helado while basking in the coastal sun or spend the afternoon at the Spanish cine.
Days 18-22 Regular Classes, Elective Activities + Leadership
Spanish fluency is in your grasp and San Sebastián has become your ‘home away from home’!
Day 23 Travel Excursion to Bilbao
Expand your love of the Pais Vasco by traveling to the city of Bilbao to visit the world-renowned Guggenheim museum and explore its captivating history and culture.
Day 24 Quality Time with Homestay & Friends
Take a well deserved siesta and continue practicing your Spanish with your homestay family!
Days 25-29 Regular Classes, Elective Activities + Leadership
Dreaming in Spanish yet?! Your Spanish fluency has allowed you to discover another world!
Day 30 Travel Excursion to Pamplona
Walk down the same streets that play host to the Encierro or Running of the Bulls! and see why Pamplona is one of Spain’s most famous destinations!
Day 31 Quality Time with Homestay & Friends
Spend your Sunday relaxing on the beach, riding the waves, or hiking along la costa!
Days 32-36 Regular Classes, Elective Activities + Leadership
Continue improving your Spanish proficiency as you start to carry on fluid conversations with native speakers.
Day 37 Your Choice of Travel Excursion
For your last Saturday, you get a choice to which exciting city you’d like to re-visit! Dive further into the contemporary art obras at the Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao or return to France for delicious macaroons!
Day 38 Quality Time with Homestay & Friends
Take advantage of your last full Spanish Sunday with your homestay and friends by going out for tapas or exploring a new part of the city!
Days 39-43 Regular Classes, Elective Activities + Leadership
Have fun and enjoy the games and conversation during your last week of total Spanish immersion!
Day 44 Return Madrid and Final Dinner
Bid farewell to your beloved Spanish homestays before you depart for Madrid. En route, stop in the city of Burgos to explore its rich history and one of Spain’s glittering jewels of religious architecture, the Catedral de Burgos. Upon arrival in Madrid, marvel at the awe-inspiring art of the Prado museum before a final group dinner.
Day 45 Depart Spain for Home
¡Buen viaje! Return home with amazing memories of España!
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