Nerja

Nerja—an idyllic setting for learning Spanish in Spain

Nerja is the perfect place to study Spanish, meet new friends and have fun at the beach! Start in the vibrant city of Malaga, before heading to Nerja for a two-week homestay and Spanish study abroad program. Spend mornings taking classes and afternoons enjoying a variety of fun activities & excursions. You will also have an overnight stay in Seville and spend your final night in magnificent Granada.

• Program Location: Nerja, Spain
• Student Age: 14—18 years
• Language Prerequisite: Two years of high school Spanish
• Housing: Homestay (with families)
• 2012 Program Dates: July 28 — August 13
• Program Price: $4450 (not including airfare)-chaperoned group airfare is available
• For complete pricing details, see our Spain Program Fees

Nerja combines beach vacation with Spanish study!

Nerja is one of Andalusia’s best-loved coastal resorts. Originally a typical Spanish fishing village, with narrow cobbled streets and whitewashed houses, Nerja is now a bustling, but safe and compact town. At its heart is the impressive Balcón de Europa (balcony of Europe), a palm tree lined promenade with cliff top views of the Mediterranean, a setting that wouldn’t look out of place on the French Riviera!

Our Nerja program perfectly combines all the fun, relaxation and sightseeing of a beach vacation with a serious program of Spanish classes at a highly reputable local school.

Your Nerja Experience at-a-glance:

• Two weeks in Nerja living with host families
• Morning language classes at Escuela de Idiomas, a well-respected school highly regarded throughout Europe as one of the best providers of Spanish language classes
• Afternoon and evening activities include swimming, kayaking, beach volleyball, salsa lessons, tapas tasting and cooking workshops
• Excursions to nearby towns & villages
• An overnight trip to Seville with a visit to the Cathedral
• Getting to know local Spanish college students during our Language Partner sessions
• Finally spend an amazing day and night enjoying historic Granada

Discover Nerja on the official website www.nerja.es and see its location on Google Maps

What will living with a Spanish family in Nerja be like?
Nerja is a great place for a homestay program because it is so compact and safe. The families all live within easy reach of the school and the center of town. You will usually stay two students to a family and will eat all your meals with your hosts—a great opportunity to converse in Spanish and experience Spanish family life.
Read more about Housing Options ››

How will I spend a typical day in Nerja?
Monday through Friday, classes are 9am—1pm. After a short daily meeting you will return to your family to eat lunch. In Spain, mealtimes are a lot later than in the US—lunch is generally at 2pm and dinner at 9pm. For this reason, our “afternoon” activities (such as an excursion to the Nerja Caves or volleyball at the beach) usually take place between 5pm & 7pm. Between 7pm & 9pm you can either relax at home or have free time in the town, and during the few hours before the weekday check-in at 11:30pm, an evening activity is planned, such as a salsa class or a Language Partner session.

How are classes organized in Nerja?
Escuela de Idiomas, a marvelous place to study Spanish, is located right in the heart of the town. Although its architecture is historic and grand, with a beautiful courtyard garden for outdoor classes, the school itself is modern with outstanding facilities. You will be taught in a small class appropriate to your level, with students from a range of countries including Germany and Holland. The emphasis in your classes will be on improving your spoken Spanish ability through conversation and games. There will also be plenty of opportunity for grammar review and consolidation with your excellent teachers.
Read more about Spanish Language Classes ››

We have a full list of your Frequently Asked Questions that you can check out. Our team is happy to answer any question you may have—call us at 866.343.8990 or you can chat with us live—simply click the chat box bottom-right of this page!

Fun, cultural activities & exciting excursions!

Based in the south of Spain, our Nerja program allows you to see so many of the highlights of Andalusia. All our activities and excursions are chosen to be educational but fun. They will give you a good sense of the true essence of Spain, and this region in particular.

• Take part in a number of fun sports activities: kayaking, beach volleyball and soccer
• Visit the picturesque village of Frigiliana and taste local Andalusian culinary delights
• Have fun learning some new skills – salsa dancing and Spanish cooking!
• Spend the afternoon at a local water park, and an evening watching Spanish movies
• During your overnight excursions, watch a flamenco show in Granada and go souvenir shopping in the Barrio Gottica in Seville (the narrow streets in the historic center)
• End your fantastic Andalusian adventure watching a flamenco show in Granada

Check out some of our Activities & Excursions for our Spain 2012 Summer Programs in more detail!

Language Partners—a very popular part of our trips

During your two weeks in Nerja you will get at least two opportunities to spend time with a local Language Partner:

• Language Partners are typically university students, chosen by our Local Leader
• Their role is to help you to improve your Spanish through talking, as well as through exploring Spanish life and culture while having fun
• You will be in a group of two or three and spend a few hours visiting a local sight or café together
• You will have the chance to ask questions about what it’s like to be a young person living in San Sebastian, and your Language Partner will also be eager to talk with you about your life as a US teenager

Many of our students report back to us that this was one of their favorite activities!

“Going out to tapas with the language partners, learning salsa, and relaxing at the Arab baths were my favorite activities.”
Alex W, Nerja 2010

“I tried new food, learned about the local culture, visited historical sights, practised the language and got to know about Spanish life!”
Chelsea P, Nerja 2010

“I think living in a Spanish home made the trip a lot more interesting and a better learning experience. I also really like having the company of a mom and home cooked meals.”
Kristin D, Nerja 2010

“I would recommend ECI to anyone. My daughter had a fantastic time and we did not worry about her at all!”
Mishelle P, Parent, Granada/Nerja 2010

“I loved the Nerja Caves, the beach, the traveling days to Granada and Sevilla…everything! And it was fantastic having class outside! Our chaperones were kind, helpful, funny and unique. It was very easy to respect and learn from them! I am glad I chose ECI and will recommend it to my friends.”
Phoebe B, Nerja 2008

• Ready to reserve your place? Then simply Apply Online via our secure form – a small deposit secures your place.
• For more details on our offerings, download the Spain 2012 Program Guide.
• Have a question or need additional information? Our team is happy to answer any question you may have—call us at 866.343.8990 or you can chat with us live
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• See more videos and photos from our trips on Youtube or on Flickr