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Salamanca 1

Salamanca dorm & True Immersion in San Sebastián program

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Pure Spanish learning in beautiful Salamanca

Salamanca 1 is an excellent Spanish study abroad program, and one of our most popular, promising a great overview of this remarkable country. Spend 3 nights in Madrid, followed by two weeks of classes in Salamanca, a True Immersion Week in San Sebastián, and finally 6 days of touring in Andalusia & the Costa del Sol. During your two weeks of classes with daily excursions & activities, you will stay in a centrally located Spanish student residence (dorm).

  • Program Location: Salamanca
  • Student Age: 14—18 years
  • Language Prerequisite: Two years of high school Spanish
  • Housing: Student residence (dorm) & Immersion Week in San Sebastián
  • 2012 Program Dates: June 27 – July 26
  • Program Price: $6625 (not including airfare)—Chaperoned group airfare available
  • For complete pricing details, see our Spain Program Fees

Salamanca—a perfect location for a high school summer abroad program

Spending your summer abroad in the culturally rich Renaissance city of Salamanca is an amazing experience. Staggeringly beautiful, Salamanca has a very youthful spirit and energy. In summer, the Plaza Mayor, a stunning 18th century baroque square, is the heart of the city – full of young people, families and tourists, all enjoying sightseeing, shopping, or simply sitting in cafés people-watching!

  • Three exciting nights in monumental Madrid
  • Travel to Salamanca via the beautiful medieval walled city of Avila
  • Two weeks in Salamanca staying in a centrally located student residence (dorm)
  • Morning language classes at Mester Language School, with the opportunity to earn three units of university credit
  • Afternoon and evening activities & excursions – swimming, soccer, salsa dance lessons, tapas tasting, cooking workshops, horseback riding…and more!
  • Getting to know local Spanish young people during our popular Language Partner sessions
  • A True Immersion Week in San Sebastián, living with a volunteer family, and speaking only Spanish – an absolute highlight of the program!
  • An additional five days of travel to some of the most amazing destinations in Spain, including Cordoba, Seville, Granada, and the beautiful beaches of Nerja on the Costa del Sol

Discover Salamanca on the official website www.salamanca.es and see its exact location on Google Maps.

Absolutely unique to ECI—total Spanish immersion with a volunteer family!

Our True Immersion Week—total Spanish immersion with a volunteer family.

  • We are very proud of our True Immersion Week in San Sebastián—it really is completely unique among high school study abroad programs!
  • What better way to improve your Spanish language skills than to spend one week totally immersed in Spanish language & culture
  • After honing your Spanish skills during two weeks of classes at Mester Language School, spend one week in the San Sebastián region, in the north of Spain, with a carefully chosen volunteer Spanish host family
  • During this week you will be the only US student in the family and will spend your time completely immersed in Spanish family life, speaking only Spanish
  • No organized activities during this week with your ECI group, giving you the best chance to significantly improve your fluency
  • Learn more about True Immersion Week and see how it could change your life!

“Immersion was my favorite week; I became immersed in the culture while rapidly improving my Spanish skills.”
Vallena L, Salamanca 2010

What makes our Salamanca student residence so special?
Our Salamanca residence (dorm) is very conveniently located a one-minute walk from the Plaza Mayor. Clean & comfortable rooms, three communal rooms with cable TV & DVD player, and two sun terraces. Excellent home-made meals plus the use of a small kitchenette for preparing snacks. Also reading room and free Internet access.
How are the trips chaperoned?
Our chaperone team is made up of a Local Spanish leader and usually two US teachers. The US chaperones will fly over to Spain from the US with the group, and be with you throughout your European adventure. Both you and your parents will be given their cell phone numbers so they can be reached at any time in case of an emergency. Our chaperones are carefully chosen and many return to lead our trips year after year. They all undergo an annual training session where they learn all our ECI policies on a variety of issues, many of which are in place to ensure your safety.
What happens during the True Immersion Week?
Your True Immersion Week is probably the most important component of the program, helping you achieve your goal of improving your level of Spanish fluency. Your two weeks at Mester Language School will lay the foundation for this valuable experience. For the next week in San Sebastián you will become a part of that family and live the life of a Spanish teenager. There are no group activities – this is your unique opportunity to become immersed in Spanish family life and culture.

Please feel free to call, email or chat live if you have a question. Alternatively, check out all our FAQs

Take part in a series of fun and cultural activities & excursions!

This 4-week Salamanca program has plenty of opportunity for you to discover the amazing sights of your program town as well as some of Spain’s cultural, architectural and historical highlights. Starting your adventure in Madrid will allow you to experience, among other things, one of Europe’s finest art museums, The Prado. You’ll enjoy the True Immersion Week before your final five days of travel with visits to the magnificent cities of Granada, Cordoba, and Seville, and ending at the beautiful seaside town of Nerja on the Costa del Sol.

  • Enjoy the many sights of Madrid including the Royal Palace and a visit to the Real Madrid soccer stadium
  • Take part in a number of fun sports activities in Salamanca, including swimming, horseback riding and soccer
  • Experience other local Salamanca activities include a guided tour of the city, a “ghost” walk, movie nights, and tapas tasting with Language Partners
  • Visit the magnificent city of Segovia for a full day excursion, including a guided tour and free time to explore
  • Learn new skills during a Spanish cooking workshop, a salsa dance class and a Spanish art class
  • During your travel portion, visit Arab baths in Cordoba, a flamenco show & the world famous Alhambra in Granada, and the Alcazar Royal Palace in Seville
  • Spend the last days of your trip relaxing at the beach in Nerja, visiting the impressive Nerja Caves and kayaking – a perfect end!

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

Language Partners—one of the most popular activities of our trips

In Salamanca you will have at least two opportunities to spend time with a local Language Partner:

  • Language Partners are usually university students, chosen by our Local Leader
  • Their goal 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 is like to be a young person living in Salamanca, 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!

“The Language Partners were always happy to see us. Getting to know each other was fun. Getting a tour of Salamanca and going to the Tapas bars was awesome.”
Sarah W, Salamanca 2009

“I really liked staying in a dormitory, it made out group really close to each other and I’m sure the friends I made here in Spain will last a lifetime because of it. Among my favorite activities were the cooking class and the bullfighting class. They were both really engaging, entertaining and fun. Go to Salamanca! It was the best summer experience I’ve ever had!”
Vance C, Salamanca 2010

“This summer was probably one of the best summers of my life. I had so much fun and made best friends while exploring an amazingly interesting culture.”
Jane P, Salamanca 2010

“This trip was just what my daughter needed to grow in her independence and judgment in the year before she goes away to college. She came back more self-assured and knowing she can overcome obstacles and with a real sense of accomplishment.”
Stacy P, Parent, Salamanca 2010

“ECI changed my life. Every aspect of it was perfect. I learned more about Spanish, culture and how to live my life than anything else I did before. Every single day was priceless.”
Jonathan Z, Salamanca 2008