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Secondary School in Spain

Become fluent in Spanish through an authentic secondary school exchange programme in Spain.

Study Abroad with EIL
Non Profit Organization
Intercultural Learning
Personal Development
Improved Language Fluency

Spain is located in southwestern Europe, sharing the Iberian Peninsula with Portugal and bordered to the north by France and Andorra. With over 47 million inhabitants, Spain is one of the largest countries in Western Europe by area. The country offers a striking variety of landscapes – from the green hills and rugged Atlantic coastline of the north, to the sun-baked plains of Castile in the centre, the Mediterranean beaches of the east, and the Sierra Nevada mountains in the south. Spain is also world-renowned for its rich cultural history, festive celebrations, historic sites, and vibrant arts scene.

An extended stay in a Secondary School in Spain Programme is an ideal opportunity for Irish citizens to become fluent Spanish speakers at a young age and one of the most established routes for Spanish exchange students Ireland sends abroad each year. Students are fully immersed in the Spanish way of life and culture through daily attendance at a Spanish secondary school and by living with a Spanish Host Family. This Spanish exchange program Ireland route is particularly popular with Transition Year students. As part of EIL Ireland’s Secondary School Abroad network, this is one of the most established routes for Irish-based students.

The experience is further enhanced by the support of local representatives familiar with cultural differences and cultural adjustment. Participating in our Secondary School Abroad Programme:

  • Paves the way to excellent exam results in Junior Cert and Leaving Cert Spanish
  • Provides full immersion that allows students to become fluent at a young age
  • Encourages independence in young people
  • Broadens cultural horizons

Eligibility Requirements

In order to be considered for participating in the Secondary School Abroad, students must:

  • Be between 15 and 18 years old
  • Have studied the Spanish language for at least 3 years (A2 level CEFR – flexible, can be discussed)
  • Be mature and responsible

What's included in your experience

  • Airport Pick-up
  • Host Family Placement
  • Meals
  • School Placement
  • Individual Contact Person
  • Medical Insurance
  • 24/7 Emergency Support
  • Assistance with Application Process
  • Pre-Departure Orientation
  • Orientations during your time abroad
  • Re-entry Orientation
  • Continuous Support

What you are responsible for

  • Airfare
  • Vaccinations
  • Field Trips
  • Domestic Transport
  • School Materials
Spain-eil-ireland-secondary-school

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS!

Summary Information

  • Accommodation: Host Family
  • Duration: 8 weeks to a full academic year
  • Application condition: Students must have studied Spanish for a minimum of 3 years (A2 level CEFR) in order to be considered
  • Students must be between 15 and 18 years old
  • Application Deadline – contact our Study Abroad Team for details

About the Secondary School in Spain

The programme offers participants the opportunity to become fully immersed in the Spanish way of life and culture through living with a carefully selected host family and daily attendance at a Spanish secondary school (Instituto de Educación Secundaria, commonly known as IES).

It is open to students aged 15 to 18 who are interested in attending a Spanish secondary school.

There are limited places on this programme to ensure that students have the greatest exposure to the language.

The program includes:

  • Placement  in a carefully  selected school, including application, registration, school insurance fees and tuition
    costs
  • Full  board accommodation  with a carefully selected Host Family
  • Return transfers to and from nearest airport of host community
  • Monthly contact and constant support from the Local Volunteer and AFS staff
  • Local orientations
  • Group orientations
  • 24-hour emergency telephone service
  • Academic advice and counselling
  • Help with preparation for travel back to home country
  • AFS Health Insurance

The programme does not include:

  • Flights – The organisation of flights is the participant’s responsibility
  • School books and material fees
  • Local transportation fees
  • Spending money

The Host Family Accommodation

Students are housed on a full-board basis by local, carefully selected Host Families. Living with a host family gives students full insight into how Spanish families really live and provide complete immersion in the language and culture. Host families are carefully screened and selected by AFS staff all over Spain and are visited and regularly contacted throughout the student’s stay. As a member of the family, your child will share in the family’s daily life and take part in their normal day-to-day activities.

Host families will provide:

  • A genuinely caring environment
  • Clean and comfortable surroundings
  • Convenient access to schools
  • Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily
  • Shared or single bedroom

Spanish families’ motivation for hosting comes from a genuine interest in learning about other cultures and the belief that hosting a student from Ireland is the next best thing to visiting Ireland itself. Unlike an exchange programme, there is no guarantee that there will be other children in the family. Placements are always in safe residential areas and are mostly made in rural areas and medium-sized towns, very rarely in the centre of big towns. Students can be placed in any region in Spain, so they must have an open mind to this when applying, as there is no guarantee of geographical preference in the placement process.

Host families come in all shapes and sizes; single parents with children living in the house, nuclear families, older couples whose children are no longer at home, as well as young couples who may not have children are all considered potential host families. Our main criteria is a warm, caring, and comfortable home environment for students to be nurtured and thrive in.

N.B. Students and parents cannot reject a host family placement in favour of a new one. Once host family details are sent to the student, they are final; students and parents must agree to accept them without prejudice and to go into the programme with an open mind. Cancellations will incur loss of deposit.

The School in Spain

Public schools start in early September and finish in late June. All schools use a trimester system with breaks at Christmas and at Easter. All schools work on a five-day week, Monday to Friday. Public schools have a morning-only timetable. Classes start at 8:30AM, lasting approximately one hour each and continue on until 2:30 PM, with a one hour break around midday. Depending on the age of the participant and the course they have already done in their country, they will be enrolled in 4º ESO (last year of secondary education, 10th grade in the US).

There are three types of Bachillerato: Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Arts. Each one consists of three types of subjects: – Comunes (common ones), compulsory for all students whatever the specialization. – Materias propias de la modalidad (sub-courses)These are specific for each of the specializations. – Optativas (elective subjects) to complete the total number of subject. Before coming to Spain we will ask participants which type of Bachillerato they would prefer to be enrolled in.

Important Conditions

Important terms and conditions about going to school in Spain

  • Please note that friends will not be placed together. This programme is designed for individual placement. Emphasis is placed on full language and cultural immersion. If friends apply together, they will be intentionally separated and placed in different communities and schools.
  • Students may not return home for the duration of their programme. This includes Christmas and Easter holidays, and mid-term breaks. Likewise, all family visits must be limited to the end of the student’s programme, not at the beginning or in the middle. After years of experience, we find that such visits disrupt the adjustment process and can lead to further homesickness and integration problems. Students cannot go on international family holidays while on the programme. Of course, if an emergency, family bereavement or special circumstances arise, this will be null and void.
  • Please note that EIL may request students to take a Spanish aptitude test, which will be organised after receipt of the application. Should a student not be accepted onto the programme, deposits will be refunded.
  • EIL and our partner organisation in Spain reserve the right to send home any student whose health requires it or whose conduct is considered improper or offensive to the host family, community or school. Such conduct includes drug use, vaping, unacceptable sexual behaviour, excessive drinking, violation of the law or failure in schoolwork. In the event that the student is returned home, either alone or accompanied, parents or guardians are responsible for all expenses above those covered by the fee. In such cases, no refunds will be available. If a student chooses to end the programme early on his or her own accord, for reasons including travelling home for a holiday or during mid-term, no refund will be given.

Transportation

Students will be collected by their host family from the nearest airport or railway station to the host community, or from any alternative location agreed upon by the host organisation and host family. Some students may not be able to take a direct flight from Ireland and may need to connect at another airport or take a train to their host community. Students will need to make this journey on their own and unassisted. Once a placement has been made, EIL will inform you of the specified airport or railway station and confirm the official dates of the programme. Most often, the best recommendation on how to arrive will come directly from the host family once you contact them. Flights and local transport to the agreed station or airport are not included in the programme fees and should be booked by the participant and their parents.

Local and international transportation is not included in the programme fees. Students may need to take the bus to school and should ask their host families or EIL staff whether they need to budget for it in their spending while on the programme.

Prices

For further details, can you please contact Aileen at [email protected]

  • Flights, school books and materials, local transportation, personal items and spending money are not included in the price
  • Late application fee: €250
  • Deposit: 50% of the program fee

How do I apply?

To apply please contact us

and we will send you an application form to complete.

The application needs to include the following:

  • 50% non-refundable deposit
  • Copies of 3 most recent school reports (these may need to be translated into Spanish)
  • 4 passport photos plus at least 4 informal photos with family and friends
  • Medical/parental release forms
  • Health certificate, if undertaking treatment
  • Certificate of vaccination
  • Dear Host Family video not longer than 1 minute, in Spanish
  • Dear Host Family Letter in Spanish

Failure to include any application materials, as well as incomplete applications, will delay or inhibit your acceptance into the programme. Please make certain that all signatures are completed by student, parents, teachers, and physicians before sending to EIL.

Applications in full must be received at least 3 months in advance, or else you will be charged a €250 late fee.

Other Secondary School Abroad Destinations

Looking for a different country? Explore our other Secondary School Abroad programmes for Irish students:

FAQs

Im sure you have lots of questions and we will do our best here to answer the most common but if you have any specific questions a member of the Study Abroad Team would be only too happy to answer them for you.

Call me back - Study Abroad

You can fill out this form and a member of the Study abroad team will get in touch as soon as they can

  • :
    We will endeavour to call you at the time you specify. Please note that the office hours are Monday to Friday 9 Am to 5:30 PM
    We would like to send you some updates from time to time including programme offers & newsletters.

No, this is a one-way exchange. You will not have to host a Spanish student. Some Irish students remain friends with the host family and siblings and stay in contact, but there is no obligation to have them come to Ireland unless you make a personal arrangement amongst yourselves.

Further Information

  1. Contact Us