Improve your Spanish language skills with formal training as you explore Madrid and Andalucía’s vibrant cultural landmarks and hidden treasures.
Embark on a journey through Spain, where history, culture, sustainability, and community engagement come alive. Your adventure begins in the vibrant capital city Madrid, where you’ll explore iconic museums and neighborhoods. Dive into Spanish flavors, trying paella and tapas, before continuing to the province of Andalucía in southern Spain, where you will begin intensive Spanish language classes.
From Madrid, you will travel to Granada, a city renowned for its rich heritage, stunning architecture, and vibrant cultural life. Granada is a melting pot of history and tradition, offering a unique backdrop for your exploration of community initiatives. You’ll participate in intensive Spanish language training, sharpening your skills to better connect with local communities and fully immerse yourself in the experience. Each day offers new opportunities to explore the city, engage with local leaders, and participate in interactive workshops that emphasize the significance of inclusive community-building.
Experience the warmth and hospitality of Granada during your weeklong homestay, allowing you to connect with local families. These homestays provide a unique chance to forge connections and make a lasting impact, deepening your understanding of the community’s social fabric.
Your group will develop your Spanish language skills through 25+ hours of exposure and practice through formal classes, experiential learning activities, host community interactions, peer-to-peer practice, and more. You will have formal language instruction in the historic city of Granada. You will attend exclusive small classes divided by level at the Centro de Lenguas y Educación Intercultural. In addition to formal instruction, you will learn through music, film, city scavenger hunts, field trips, and organized activities such as playing sports with local students.
Return to Madrid for final reflection and language practice before departing for home.
This journey is a vibrant blend of cultural exploration, language learning, community engagement, and social impact.
The Experiment’s programs are designed to build skills that will help you succeed. In Spain, you will learn:
Technical Skills
Interpersonal Skills
The country itself was almost as beautiful as the people living within it who opened their arms to me without a second thought. I was overwhelmed by the mesmerizing scenery, the fascinating history, and the intricate language that filled every street.
This itinerary is only a sample and is subject to change. Because of factors such as group size and availability of in-country offerings such as festivals, your experience — including sites visited and the number of days spent in each location — may differ somewhat from the one presented below.
Orientation in Madrid and Córdoba
During the orientation period, you and your group will stay in a centrally-located hostel.
Host communities and homestay in Granada
Intensive Language Training in Granada
During this period, you will stay with a homestay family during the weekend.
Program Group Reflection and Wrap-up in Toledo
During the reflection period, you and your group will stay in a centrally located hotel.
Departure
The Experiment’s group leaders go through a rigorous selection process and have extensive experience with youth education, local expertise in the country or region of their program, language abilities, knowledge in their program theme, travel logistics and management know-how, and experience with health, safety and risk management.
Megan received her bachelor’s in Spanish and Sociology with a sub-plan in Law, Justice, and Social Change from the University of Michigan. As an undergraduate student, Megan enjoyed volunteering as an English Conversation Circle facilitator to help international students find community and connect with US culture. She’s also proud to be a first-generation college student and was an active member of First-Gens @ Umich. Megan’s first experience abroad was for a summer internship to teach English at the University of Minho in Braga, Portugal. She then studied abroad for a semester in Granada, Spain, and completed a summer internship in Barcelona. In 2021, she returned to Portugal for a year as a Fulbright English Teaching Assistant at the University of Madeira. Upon returning to the US, Megan has enjoyed helping engineering students at the University of Michigan plan and prepare for successful research and study abroad opportunities. Megan is passionate about learning languages, intercultural exchange, and working with students.
The Experiment's programs are led by accomplished and experienced faculty and staff who typically live in the country of study. Program leaders are responsible for instructional content, classroom and field experiences, and daily program operations.
Arturo Tapia believes that education is the best way to make the world a healthier place. He is a passionate and energetic educator who values the importance of culture and art.
Arturo holds a master’s degree in cultural tourism management and local development, and a bachelor’s degree in art history. In addition to being a frequent guest speaker for the Faculty of Education at the University of Granada, he has extensive experience as a cultural heritage guide. On the local level, Arturo has developed educational projects for schoolchildren and adults through local organizations and the University of Granada.
