CIEE College Study Abroad in Seville, Spain

I had never left the United States before I went to Sevilla last spring. I couldn’t have had a better first abroad experience. Upon my arrival I was definitely overwhelmed since I hadn’t spoken Spanish in a while and the Sevillan accent was hard to decipher at first. My host family made me feel at home right away. They were wonderful resources and loved to share Sevillan culture with me. I took advantage of all the weekend excursions that were offered and really enjoyed traveling all around Andalucia. I definitely improved my Spanish skills and just became more confident overall after navigating a new country with the support of CIEE staff members and my hosts.

CIEE Seville was great! The program really cares about its students and makes it an unforgettable and fun experience. I lived with a host family and would definitely recommend other students do that as well. The business classes taught me a lot about the markets in Spain and I really enjoyed the gastronomy course. Excursions were all very fun and well thought out- you can do everything from food tours, to visits to other cities, to hiking, and so much in between. It was very easy to meet other students and make friends. You also get a lot of opportunities to connect with other students from Seville.

As cliché as it sounds, CIEE's Liberal Arts Program Sevilla changed my life and I believe it is the best program in Spain.

I lived with a host family in the center of the city, which allowed me to practice my language skills, get to know what daily life is like, and try regional, home-cooked foods. I felt comfortable like I was in my own home and still maintain a relationship with my host family even though I am back in the USA.

On the academic side, I enrolled in classes directly at the Universidad de Sevilla. This was one of the best decisions I ever made. My Spanish language skills improved immensely to the point I can now speak fluently. Moreover, I was able to connect with Spanish students in my class who became my best friends while I was abroad. These classes transferred back to my home university without any problems

CIEE was a phenomenal program provider. When I got COVID after a month of being in Spain, CIEE was quick to respond and get me the help I needed. They made the process so easy and I could not have imagined what I would have done without their support. This is only just a snapshot of the organization, professionalism, and experience of CIEE's staff in Sevilla. CIEE's planning of day trips around Andalucia was exceptional, allowing us to see places like Cordoba, Cadiz, and Ronda. Additionally, CIEE plans many activities within Sevilla that allowed us to get to the city's history, traditions, and attractions.

I can only say positive things about CIEE and its programs. I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to study abroad in Spain.

My experience with CIEE in Sevilla was truly unforgettable. The beauty of the city, wonderful cultural events, and language immersion made my spring semester of junior year easily the best part of my college experience. Being immersed in the Spanish language not only drastically improved my skills, but made me feel at home. Having the opportunity to live with a host mom was my favorite thing about the program. We developed an amazing relationship through the many meals we shared together, time we spent watching her favorite shows, and conversations we had about our lives. Her impact on me will always be cherished.

The staff at CIEE made the transition from attending an American university to a Spanish university as comfortable as possible. They were warm and welcoming to all of their student and ensured that we know their role in helping us have an amazing semester. Taking classes taught in Spanish at CIEE, as well as the University, greatly improved my comprehension skills and made it easier to build fluency. Having the ability to communicate with the locals and build relationships with other exchange students from around the world gave me friendships that will last a lifetime.

Sevilla is breathtaking. The architecture of the buildings gives a glimpse into the city's rich history. CIEE provided activities and excursions throughout the semester to explore everything Sevilla has to offer. In the spring semester, students get to experience La Semana Santa and La Feria, two of the biggest festivals celebrated in Sevilla. Students can be immersed in the beautiful culture of Sevilla and learn more about the history of Andalusia while engaging with the locals and participating in the Andalusian lifestyle. These memories studying in Sevilla with CIEE were truly unforgettable and made it the experience of a lifetime.

I truly had an incredible experience in my semester abroad in Sevilla with CIEE. Beyond navigating a new place and having fun traveling, exploring, and other such things, I felt that this program gave me a unique opportunity to gain a level of autonomy, as well as a level of peace and self-confidence among some manageable challenge. My program in particular, as a Spanish minor, required that all my classes were in Spanish, and that I would do a homestay with a family that only spoke Spanish. I think that in my experience, the thing for which I'm most grateful to CIEE is the way that housing was handled. I know that my experience in a homestay is a bit of a particular one, but it was one of the best parts of my experience. My host family was kind and supportive, they offered me a healthy, exciting environment to improve my Spanish speaking, and they gave me the freedom to live as I saw fit.
Additionally, I'd like to note that CIEE's faculty were always incredibly supportive and understanding of students' circumstances. It was clearly that they genuinely cared about as students and people.

My experience studying abroad in Seville with CIEE really changed my outlook on life. I lived in a homestay and attended the University de Sevilla and had a true immersion in the Spanish culture by attending culture experiences, like Feria and Semana Santa. The weather is absolutely stunning even in the winter months, and the people in the city have personalities just as warm. CIEE supported struggling students within my program and really encouraged us to try new things. If I could, I'd go now!

My experience with CIEE was wonderful this past Spring in Sevilla, Spain. I felt like there was so much pre- and post-program communication and support. There were numerous info sessions where students could attend, and people at CIEE were in constant communication with me for any inquiries I had. I made so many friends on the program from the United States and Spain, and those relationships have carried with me back to my college campus. CIEE throughout the semester, hosted numerous cultural activities such as wine tastings, excursions to local cities, food classes, dance classes and more.

Deciding to study abroad in Seville was one of the best decisions I ever made. My time there with CIEE literally could not have been any better. The support staff was amazing, and they provided us with countless activities and ideas for things to do throughout the city. We also got to go on excursions to explore the surrounding areas. I took weekend trips to Portugal and Morocco when I had the chance, and I would highly recommend anyone studying abroad in Europe to take advantage of the ability to travel so easily. The friends I met during my program will be friends for life. Additionally, I found it very easy to adjust to the culture, even while living in a homestay. My host parents were exceptionally kind and helpful. The city of Seville was the perfect place to live as a foreign student. The city is on the smaller side, and almost entirely walkable, so you don't have to worry about finding transportation to get around. There are endless activities to take part in, beautiful streets to explore, and restaurants to eat at. People are friendly and welcoming to Americans. Overall, I would recommend this experience to anyone and everyone. It really changed my life.