Hero
Madrid, Spain

Honors Spanish Language & Culture

Language & Culture

Dates

-

4 weeks

Costs

$7,550

Highlights

College credit option

Daily cultural activities

Homestay

Weekend excursions

Application Deadline

Request Information

Dates

-

4 weeks

Costs

$7,550

Highlights

College credit option

Daily cultural activities

Homestay

Weekend excursions

Application Deadline

Request Information

Overview
Up for a unique challenge in Madrid? Join other advanced Spanish learners and live a full immersive experience.

While all our Language & Culture programs offer immersion and college credits, this Honors program is for students with the drive to grow their Spanish and cross-cultural understanding to the max! As an Honors student, you will:   

  • Take a language proficiency test to ensure you have enough fluency to speak in Spanish at all times. Only intermediate and advanced Spanish speakers will be accepted.
  • Honor your Language Pledge to strictly use only Spanish both in and out of class. 
  • In a weekly survey, reflect on your language learning and set goals to stay challenged. 
  • Live in a homestay and go on cultural activities and excursions only with other Honors students. 

Now, let鈥檚 switch to Spanish. If you can continue reading the following without a translation tool...

隆Ap煤ntate al programa ahora mismo y goza de la buena vida en Madrid! 

Tu vida en la vibrante capital de Espa帽a ser谩 una experiencia como ninguna. Vive completamente inmerso/a en la lengua castellana y su rica cultura entre madrile帽os y sus costumbres. Descubre un lugar rico en arquitectura, arte e historia y explora los barrios de la ciudad con j贸venes madrile帽os. Disfruta de la exquisita gastronom铆a de la regi贸n y ve de compras donde los madrile帽os compran. Prepara y comparte cenas con tu familia madrile帽a mientras conversas sobre temas de inter茅s. 隆Forma un lazo de amistad para toda la vida! 

A Summer for Fun, Friends, and Your Future

Live the Language

Have fun experiencing authentic immersion in the Spanish language and culture.

Network

Meet new friends with advanced Spanish skills and gain a new family. Make lasting memories and connections.

Get Inspired

Launch your future today! Challenge yourself to make greater gains in your Spanish. Shine on college applications.

Destination
  • Madrid Calle Gran Via Street skyline
  • High school students sitting on the steps of Madrid Plaza
  • High school students dancing in class in Madrid

The Destination

Welcome to Madrid, the bustling cultural capital of Spain with architectural gems, world-renowned art, 蹿煤迟产辞濒 fanatics, and exquisite food.  

Madrid is a walkable city with eye candy at every turn. In the historic heart of Madrid, a walk through the shop- and caf茅-lined Plaza Mayor always pleases, including a stop for fried squid sandwiches or churros con chocolate. At the nearby Mercado de San Miguel, more good tastes await in this lively tapas market. Just blocks away, Puerta del Sol, site of the 15th century gate to the city and El oso y el madro帽o sculpture and symbol of the city, offers a bustling slice of modern-day life. To the west is the enormous Palacio Real with its 3,148 rooms, the largest royal residence in Western Europe. To the east is a 300-acre green oasis鈥擱etiro Park. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is replete with gardens, monuments, fountains, and even a Glass Palace.  

Madrid is also home to two of the world鈥檚 best soccer clubs and world-famous art museums, such as Museo del Prado and Reina Sof铆a, along with excursions outside Madrid to Segovia and the seaside city of Valencia.

Cultural Awareness

黑料网911wants all our students to feel welcomed, supported, and empowered to succeed while studying abroad. No matter where you choose to study abroad with CIEE, our staff will be on hand throughout your program to provide advice, resources, and support.

 

Social feed above may feature posts from all 黑料网911Study Abroad programs, including college programs.

Itinerary

Sample Itinerary

Activities

Sample Activities

High school students posing in the turrets of a castle in Madrid

Just imagine all the fun you鈥檒l have!

  • Bike on cobblestone walkways along the Manzanares River or row a boat across Retiro Park Lake, public spaces enjoyed by madrile帽os year-round.
  • Taste the different regions of Spain in fun cooking classes where you鈥檒l make dishes such as tortilla de patatas, gazpacho, and crema catalana.
  • On excursion to Valencia, hit the beaches for swimming or volleyball and savor Spanish paella. Relax on a boat tour on L'Albufera Lake, and see the ninots, gigantic 鈥渄olls鈥 burned each year in a traditional festival.

Please note activities are based on past programs and subject to change at CIEE's discretion to adapt to local circumstances and participant feedback. Our goal when arranging activities is always to enhance your experience.

Testimonials

What Students Are Saying

  • "This program changed my life and altered my future's course for the better. I know I want to pursue a career involving Spanish now and travel back to Madrid and travel more in general. I've made friends for life and have seen more than I thought I would see in a lifetime."

    Siena M., Global Navigator Alum

  • "My Spanish class in Spain was taught ONLY in Spanish! I really enjoyed learning new concepts. I occasionally needed to ask for clarification, but when I finally got the concept, I was very proud of myself!"

    Kyren S., Global Navigator Alum

  • "I came to Spain to strengthen my Spanish and today I was told by a local that my Spanish is very good. If you actually want to improve in your target language, you will."

    Yasmin B., Global Navigator Alum

  • "This program was honestly the best experience of my life. I explored a new culture, learned so much, and made the most memorable friends, close enough to be family."

    Hannah I., Global Navigator Alum

Photo for blog post
From CIEE

Working in a Real Artist's Studio in Madrid!

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The whole concept of spending time "abroad" usually calls to mind visits to world-class museums, platters of authentic local food, and tours touching upon all the local monuments, landmarks, and... keep reading

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Get inspired by reading the top 10 benefits of studying abroad and why high school is the perfect time to consider it!

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By High School Summer Abroad at CIEE

Prepare early for your study abroad adventure and apply for your first passport. Here鈥檚 how!

Eligibility

Eligibility

  • Participants must be 14 years old and above.
  • Program open to all current鈥痟igh school students鈥擣reshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors鈥攚ho have:
  • Completed high school Spanish Level 2 or higher by the start of the program, and
  • Attained a minimum ACTFL proficiency level of鈥疘ntermediate-Low on the pre-program STAMP test that determines language proficiency. 

Don鈥檛 Meet the above Criteria? See our other Spanish Language & Culture programs in Barcelona, Madrid, Palma, Seville, Buenos Aires, and Merida. Pick one as your second-choice program to increase your chances to travel to a Spanish-speaking country next summer. You will be asked to transfer to another program if your STAMP score is too low for the Honors program. Please sign up for the earliest possible STAMP test date. Information about the STAMP administration鈥攊ncluding test dates鈥攚ill be released in the spring.   

For scholarship eligibility requirements, please check our Scholarship page

For more information, refer to the detailed Program Essential Eligibility Criteria.

Dates & Fees

Dates & Fees

Application Fee

$25

Optional College Credit Fee

$250

Learn more about how to get college credit for your future college degree.

Program scholarships and tuition include iNext Travel Insurance, but do not cover the cost of flights. Find additional details about what鈥檚 included with your tuition.

More questions? Find answers, get application support, sign up for virtual presentations or contact us.

Program

Application Due

Start Date

End Date

Costs

Program Summer Session I 2026 4 weeks Start Date End Date Costs $7,550
Program Summer Session II 2026 4 weeks Start Date End Date Costs $7,550

Ready to change your life?

What's Included

Interactive Classes

Housing

3 Meals/Day

(Dietary Needs Accommodated)

All Ground Transportation

(Once In-country)

Optional Flight Chaperone

(Flight Cost Not Included)

Pre-departure Advice and Orientation

Access to WIFI

(No international data plan or SIM card included)

All Cultural Activities and Excursions

Comprehensive Medical and Travel Protection

24/7 Emergency On-site Support

Staff

Our Staff

Eero Jesurun

Center Director

Eero Jesurun, Ph.D. completed his B.S. and M.A degrees from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service. Eero studied at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid where he obtained a Ph.D...

Program Leaders guide and support our High School Summer Abroad participants through every step of their program.

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