With our service learning tours in Sevilla, Spain, your high school students will be able to enjoy a unique opportunity to broaden their horizons, immerse themselves in the Spanish language and culture, gain valuable community service experience, make the world a better place, and develop their character by helping out less fortunate people in need—all while simultaneously living in one of the most beautiful, historic, and culturally vibrant cities in Spain!
Here in Sevilla, the capital city of Andalusia, your students will be able to volunteer with a variety of disadvantaged communities in a diverse range of settings in the morning. Then, in the afternoon, they’ll be able to attend hands-on cultural learning activities, tour world-class attractions, enjoy fun-filled recreational activities, and explore the city’s enchanting, cobblestone streets. Between volunteering and enjoying the Andalusian sunshine, your students will create lasting memories that will shape the way they see the increasingly globalized world around them, as well as their ability to make a positive impact on it.
Well, you don’t have to just picture it. Our pre-AP® Spanish program in Seville offers high school students all of the above and more!
In Sevilla, you and your students will be able to experience first-hand the birthplace of numerous iconic Spanish traditions, including flamenco, bullfighting, and tapas. The city presents visitors with an eclectic mixture of historic charms, modern amenities, traditional culture, and cosmopolitan vibrancy. As you walk down its winding, cobblestone streets, you’ll see horse-drawn carriages calmly sharing a lane with modern cars and retro boutique shops located right next to major retail brands. You and your students will see how history not only comes to life but also intertwines seamlessly with the lively contemporary trends and traditions of Sevilla. With over 2,200 years of history, Sevilla is an ideal location for high school students to go on service learning tour abroad. Here, they’ll find countless attractions to visit—including 10 palaces and three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. As you and your students spend time getting to know the city, you’ll discover narrow avenues overhung with charming, flower-filled balconies, picturesque squares lined with fragrant orange trees, and bustling local markets with plenty of unique, locally-made souvenirs for sale.
Dating back to the 12th century, this magnificent building is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, the burial site of Christopher Columbus, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Situated right in the heart of Sevilla’s historic city center, it’s just a five-minute walk from our headquarters. Inside, you and your students will find a massive nave (or central hall) that’s lined with 80 side chapels, featuring a variety of artwork, tombs, carvings, and altarpieces.
Soaring more than 340 feet above Sevilla’s historic district, this dramatic bell tower is one of the city’s most iconic landmarks. It was originally built as a minaret near the end of the 12th century, as part of the immense mosque on which the Sevilla Cathedral was built. From the top of the tower, you and your students can enjoy breathtaking views of the city below.
Dating back to the 14th century, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is both a majestic palace and a fairy tale-like complex of royal gardens. In the palace, you and your students will see one of the world’s finest examples of Mudéjar-style architecture, which combines Moorish and Renaissance-era influences. In the gardens, you will stroll through a peaceful array of courtyards, fountains, pools, and paths lined with orange trees, flowers, and hedges—along with the occasional peacock!
This historic neighborhood is full of narrow, winding, cobblestone streets that weave through enchanting old buildings and orange tree-dotted plazas, where you and your students will find charming little shops selling handicrafts, ceramics, tea, and other local goods. Also known as the Old Jewish Quarter, the neighborhood used to be the part of the city where Sevilla’s Jewish inhabitants lived. Today, it’s the perfect place to walk around, soak up the ambiance, and feel like you’ve stepped back in time!
Providing a picturesque filming location for one of the Star Wars movies, this massive, semi-circular, palace-like building is surrounded by a wide-open plaza, a spectacular fountain, and a scenic canal that is spanned by arched bridges and traversed by rowboats. Right next to the Plaza, you will also find Parque de María Luisa—a 100-acre park that features beautiful gardens, elegant fountains, horse-drawn carriages, and peaceful ponds that are home to a variety of birds. Here, we and our students often go on bike rides and scavenger hunts!
Built atop an underground archeological site that preserves the ruins of an ancient Roman settlement, this modern landmark is the largest wooden structure in the entire world. Because of its uncanny resemblance to a bunch of giant mushrooms, the structure is also known as Las Setas de Sevilla (the Mushrooms of Sevilla). After seeing the underground ruins, you and your students can visit the top of the structure, where you’ll enjoy breathtaking, panoramic views of the surrounding city.
The above list only scratches the surface of Sevilla’s many attractions. Other highlights include the following:
If you would like to pay in installments, first click on 4 INSTALLMENT PAYMENTS and then click on APPLY.
The total will be divided in 1 deposit due today and 1 final payment. The final payment will be due 8 weeks prior to the program start date.
The total will be divided in 1 deposit due today and 4 installment payments (with one payment due each month). The final payment will be due 8 weeks prior to the program start date. In the case where it becomes impossible to make 4 installment payments due to late application, students will have to make up any missed payments.
Service learning tours for high school students in Sevilla
Flexible
Required intermediate level of Spanish
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We really appreciate the teachers who take the time to accompany their students while attending our service learning tours for high school students. We also really appreciate the logistical challenges of bringing larger groups to Spain. To show that appreciation, we have a wide variety of incentives to offer teacher-chaperones. Here are some of the main possibilities: Free room and board via homestay, hotel, or apartment accommodation Free teacher workshops or classes Free attendance for all activities and excursions Free airfare Stipends Please note that these incentives are worked out on a case-by-case basis, and some terms and conditions apply. The nature of the incentives we’ll be able to offer to you will depend on the size of your group, the date of your arrival, and the nature and location of the program you end up selecting. To discuss the possible benefits in more detail, please contact us, and we’ll work them out together!
We really appreciate the teachers who take the time to accompany their students while attending our service learning tours for high school students. We also really appreciate the logistical challenges of bringing larger groups to Spain. To show that appreciation, we have a wide variety of incentives to offer teacher-chaperones. Here are some of the main possibilities:
Please note that these incentives are worked out on a case-by-case basis, and some terms and conditions apply. The nature of the incentives we’ll be able to offer to you will depend on the size of your group, the date of your arrival, and the nature and location of the program you end up selecting. To discuss the possible benefits in more detail, please contact us, and we’ll work them out together!
We take care of most of the organizational work for you. This can include the processing of payments for the program, which each student can take care of his or her own online; this way, you don’t have to handle any money from them. In the lead-up to the trip, your main role will simply be announcing the program in advance, spreading interest in it, holding an informational meeting about it for parents and students, and completing certain preparatory tasks, such as collecting copies of each participant’s passport. A Centro MundoLengua director can attend the informational meeting, either in person, by Skype, or by phone.
The short answer to the first question is “yes!” While you’re more than welcome to attend volunteer work, classes, and activities with your students for free, you can also use this time to explore Sevilla on your own. That being said, teachers usually come to the volunteer work site and check in with their students every weekday. Many teachers accompany their students on the cultural tours and activities as well. If a student becomes ill, a teacher will usually accompany him or her to the doctor, as additional support to a Centro MundoLengua staff member, who will always accompany the student in such a situation. Generally speaking, if any type of issue arises with a student during the trip, we will rely on the teacher(s) for advice and/or additional support.
If your group contains 10 or more students and adults, you can book your flights together through an agent with whom we work. Beyond that, we leave your flights up to you, so you and your group can have the flexibility to meet your own particular needs. Everything else is covered and arranged by us—airport transfers to and from the nearest airport, housing, volunteer projects, activities, etc. That being said, we’d be more than happy to provide you with advice or guidance, so don’t hesitate to contact us about making travel arrangements; we can help you find the option that works best for you! To reach Sevilla, there are three main options: Fly into Sevilla Airport, which has connections with major European airports in cities such as Madrid, Lisbon, and London. A representative of Centro MundoLengua will be waiting for you at the airport, and we will provide you with complimentary airport transfers to and from your group’s accommodation or a designated meeting point. Fly into Jerez Airport or Malaga Airport, which are about 1 hour and 2.3 hours away from Sevilla by car or bus, respectively. Centro MundoLengua can provide airport transfers to and from these airports. Fly into Madrid and then take a high-speed train to Sevilla. This trip takes about 2 hours and 40 minutes.
If your group contains 10 or more students and adults, you can book your flights together through an agent with whom we work. Beyond that, we leave your flights up to you, so you and your group can have the flexibility to meet your own particular needs. Everything else is covered and arranged by us—airport transfers to and from the nearest airport, housing, volunteer projects, activities, etc. That being said, we’d be more than happy to provide you with advice or guidance, so don’t hesitate to contact us about making travel arrangements; we can help you find the option that works best for you!
To reach Sevilla, there are three main options:
Our service learning tours for high school students in Spain are custom-built for each group of students to last however long they desire. Let us create the ideal program for you and your students based on your interests, preferences, and the amount of time you want to volunteer!
We will accompany your students on their first day of volunteer work and introduce them to all the key people they’ll be working with at the organization(s) with which they’ll be volunteering. At each organization, they will have a team of people on whom they can count for any questions or concerns. While teachers often accompany their students during the volunteer work sessions, this is not required.
The answer to that question depends on which organization(s) your students are working with. Some organizations allow students to work every day while others only allow them to volunteer on certain days. We will make sure your students have volunteer work scheduled for every weekday, which may entail you working with more than one organization.
Here’s what a typical day will look like for your students on weekdays. (For the weekend, see the answer to the next question below.) Note that the following schedule assumes that your group has opted for the homestay accommodation option. 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM: Breakfast With Their Host Family Students will enjoy a delicious, home-cooked breakfast with their host families. Perhaps they’ll have some classic Andalusian breakfast fare, such as tostada con tomate, aceite, y sal! 9:30 AM to 10:00 AM: Go on a Scenic Walk or Ride to the Volunteer Center Students will be able to take advantage of Sevilla’s walkable streets or accessible public transportation system, enjoying all of the city’s sights and sounds along the way. They’ll be sure to see some shops, restaurants, or attractions they’ll want to check out later! 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM: Volunteer Students will enrich their understanding of the world while helping out Spanish residents in need. Whether they’re serving meals at a food center, doing arts and crafts with marginalized youth, or assisting the elderly, they’ll have daily opportunities to make a difference as part of the global community. 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM: Return Home Students will head home for lunch with their host families—perhaps poking their heads into one of those shops or taking photos of that beautiful building that caught their eye on the way to class! 2:30 PM to 3:30 PM: Lunch With Their Host Family Students will share a home-cooked Spanish lunch with their host families. Perhaps they’ll have some gazpacho or a “Spanish omelet” (known here as “tortilla”). The meal will vary from day to day—and don’t worry: if they have any special dietary needs, we’ll make sure they’re met! 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM: Enjoy Some Free Time Students can embrace the Spanish lifestyle by taking a siesta—or use this time to hang out with their friends, explore the city, or talk to their host families—a great chance to practice their Spanish in an authentic setting! 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM: Afternoon Activity Students will enjoy cultural activities during these hours. Today, it could be a salsa lesson. Another day, it could a tour of a historic attraction. And another day, it could be a bike ride through a beautiful park. Every day is different! Spanish language classes can also be added to this program, and they would take place during this time period. 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM: Enjoy Some More Free Time Students will enjoy another chance to relax, talk to their host family, hang out with their friends, and/or explore the city together. 9:00 PM to 10:00 PM: Dinner With Their Host Family Students will have another opportunity to savor some Spanish cuisine with their host families. Perhaps they’ll have some paella tonight—or maybe some croquettes! This is also a great chance for them to talk to their host families about their days—providing them with yet another natural opportunity to practice their Spanish in an authentic setting! 10:00 PM to 00:00 AM: Attend the Nighttime Activity Students will be able to unwind from their adventure-filled day and have some fun with their friends from the program. Tonight, it could be a concert, a dance, or a dinner. Another time, it could be a tapas or movie night. Some of these activities can be made to be optional for students to attend, so if they want to just go home and relax, they’ll have a chance to do that too.
Here’s what a typical day will look like for your students on weekdays. (For the weekend, see the answer to the next question below.) Note that the following schedule assumes that your group has opted for the homestay accommodation option.
8:30 AM to 9:30 AM: Breakfast With Their Host Family
Students will enjoy a delicious, home-cooked breakfast with their host families. Perhaps they’ll have some classic Andalusian breakfast fare, such as tostada con tomate, aceite, y sal!
9:30 AM to 10:00 AM: Go on a Scenic Walk or Ride to the Volunteer Center
Students will be able to take advantage of Sevilla’s walkable streets or accessible public transportation system, enjoying all of the city’s sights and sounds along the way. They’ll be sure to see some shops, restaurants, or attractions they’ll want to check out later!
10:00 AM to 1:00 PM: Volunteer
Students will enrich their understanding of the world while helping out Spanish residents in need. Whether they’re serving meals at a food center, doing arts and crafts with marginalized youth, or assisting the elderly, they’ll have daily opportunities to make a difference as part of the global community.
1:00 PM to 2:30 PM: Return Home
Students will head home for lunch with their host families—perhaps poking their heads into one of those shops or taking photos of that beautiful building that caught their eye on the way to class!
2:30 PM to 3:30 PM: Lunch With Their Host Family
Students will share a home-cooked Spanish lunch with their host families. Perhaps they’ll have some gazpacho or a “Spanish omelet” (known here as “tortilla”). The meal will vary from day to day—and don’t worry: if they have any special dietary needs, we’ll make sure they’re met!
3:30 PM to 4:30 PM: Enjoy Some Free Time
Students can embrace the Spanish lifestyle by taking a siesta—or use this time to hang out with their friends, explore the city, or talk to their host families—a great chance to practice their Spanish in an authentic setting!
4:30 PM to 7:00 PM: Afternoon Activity
Students will enjoy cultural activities during these hours. Today, it could be a salsa lesson. Another day, it could a tour of a historic attraction. And another day, it could be a bike ride through a beautiful park. Every day is different! Spanish language classes can also be added to this program, and they would take place during this time period.
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM: Enjoy Some More Free Time
Students will enjoy another chance to relax, talk to their host family, hang out with their friends, and/or explore the city together.
9:00 PM to 10:00 PM: Dinner With Their Host Family
Students will have another opportunity to savor some Spanish cuisine with their host families. Perhaps they’ll have some paella tonight—or maybe some croquettes! This is also a great chance for them to talk to their host families about their days—providing them with yet another natural opportunity to practice their Spanish in an authentic setting!
10:00 PM to 00:00 AM: Attend the Nighttime Activity
Students will be able to unwind from their adventure-filled day and have some fun with their friends from the program. Tonight, it could be a concert, a dance, or a dinner. Another time, it could be a tapas or movie night. Some of these activities can be made to be optional for students to attend, so if they want to just go home and relax, they’ll have a chance to do that too.
Depending on your group’s size, preferences, and dates of travel, we can offer organized, staff-led excursions to a variety of different destinations in and around Spain. From Sevilla, there are many possible destinations that you and your students can easily reach by bus, train, or plane, including: Madrid and Barcelona—two most popular cities in Spain, which are home to world-class museums and attractions, such as the world’s largest royal palace and the unique architecture of Antoni Gaudí. Southern Spain: the ancient seaside city of Cadiz, the picturesque hilltop city of Granada, the garden-filled city of Cordoba, and the charming whitewashed village of Vejar de la Frontera. Central Spain: the Baroque and Gothic architecture-filled city of Salamanca, the historic riverside city of Toledo, and the fairy tale-like city of Segovia. Portugal: the peaceful, riverside village of Tavira, which is situated in the country’s scenic Algarve region, right near an idyllic beach. Morocco:the vibrant seaside city of Tangier, the lively port city of Tetouan, and the iconic blue-washed city of Chefchaouen (also known as Chaouen). Gibraltar: the world-famous Rock of Gibraltar and the British Overseas Territory that surrounds it.
Depending on your group’s size, preferences, and dates of travel, we can offer organized, staff-led excursions to a variety of different destinations in and around Spain.
From Sevilla, there are many possible destinations that you and your students can easily reach by bus, train, or plane, including:
With our optional add-on classes, your students will be able to level up their Spanish and have fun at the same time. Here are some of the key features of the program’s classes: Interactive, conversation-based classes designed for their specific level of Spanish. A friendly, experienced teacher who is a native Spanish speaker. A focus on both the Spanish language and culture. Opportunities to practice their Spanish skills in authentic, real-life settings, such as markets and shops.
With our optional add-on classes, your students will be able to level up their Spanish and have fun at the same time. Here are some of the key features of the program’s classes:
While your students don’t have to be fluent, they’ll need a high enough level of Spanish to be able to work at various organizations. We recommend they have an intermediate or advanced level of Spanish; however, there are certain volunteer opportunities that require very little communication in Spanish.
Before your students arrive in Spain, we’ll ask them to take an online placement exam. We’ll also ask them to tell us the number of years of high school Spanish classes they’ve completed.
For students (and you, the teacher, if you choose this option), it’s like a home away from home—with a few added benefits: enjoying homemade Spanish meals and practicing Spanish in a natural, real-life setting! Each host family lives in a middle-class home (most likely an apartment), where the student or teacher will find all of the standard amenities of modern life. Students will probably share a bedroom with another student attending the program, while teachers will enjoy a private bedroom. Both students and teachers will also probably share a bathroom (European homes tend to have fewer bathrooms than those in other countries). All meals are included with the homestay accommodation (other accommodation options are available). Special dietary needs can be met; all you need to do is inform us about them in advance. On top of meals, the host families will also take care of their guests’ laundry! Like families everywhere, each of our host families is different, so it’s difficult to generalize about them. For example, some have children and/or pets; others do not. However, you can rest assured that each of our host families has been carefully selected by our housing staff, and each of their homes has been personally visited by our housing director to make sure it will provide every student and teacher with a comfortable, enjoyable place to live, relax, dine, and gain first-hand experience of Spanish culture and hospitality. We maintain a network of host families with whom we’ve been working for many years, so it’s not like we’ll be putting anyone with a random Spanish family; you can feel confident that everyone will be in good hands! If you or a student needs any assistance during your group’s stay, our housing director will be available to provide support.
For students (and you, the teacher, if you choose this option), it’s like a home away from home—with a few added benefits: enjoying homemade Spanish meals and practicing Spanish in a natural, real-life setting!
Each host family lives in a middle-class home (most likely an apartment), where the student or teacher will find all of the standard amenities of modern life. Students will probably share a bedroom with another student attending the program, while teachers will enjoy a private bedroom. Both students and teachers will also probably share a bathroom (European homes tend to have fewer bathrooms than those in other countries).
All meals are included with the homestay accommodation (other accommodation options are available). Special dietary needs can be met; all you need to do is inform us about them in advance. On top of meals, the host families will also take care of their guests’ laundry!
Like families everywhere, each of our host families is different, so it’s difficult to generalize about them. For example, some have children and/or pets; others do not. However, you can rest assured that each of our host families has been carefully selected by our housing staff, and each of their homes has been personally visited by our housing director to make sure it will provide every student and teacher with a comfortable, enjoyable place to live, relax, dine, and gain first-hand experience of Spanish culture and hospitality.
We maintain a network of host families with whom we’ve been working for many years, so it’s not like we’ll be putting anyone with a random Spanish family; you can feel confident that everyone will be in good hands! If you or a student needs any assistance during your group’s stay, our housing director will be available to provide support.
Rather than a conventional dormitory, the student residence provides your group with a unique opportunity to live in a charming, historic building that merges traditional Spanish architecture with modern-day comforts. Built around a central courtyard, the residence features a number of common areas and amenities, including a living room with sofas and a television a dining room with ample seating for large groups a rooftop terrace with lounge chairs and a ping-pong table a kitchenette with a microwave, coffeemaker, and tea-making equipment multiple sitting areas for studying, relaxing, and socializing bedrooms with desks, wardrobes, air conditioning, and Wi-Fi Situated right in the heart of Sevilla’s historic city center, the residence is surrounded by numerous cafes, shops, art galleries, museums, libraries, plazas, cobblestone streets, and more, as well as attractions such as Las Setas (the largest wooden structure in the entire world), the Alameda (one of the city’s trendiest neighborhoods), and the Guadalquivir (the city’s picturesque river). The residence is a just a short, scenic walk away from Centro MundoLengua’s classrooms.
Rather than a conventional dormitory, the student residence provides your group with a unique opportunity to live in a charming, historic building that merges traditional Spanish architecture with modern-day comforts. Built around a central courtyard, the residence features a number of common areas and amenities, including
Situated right in the heart of Sevilla’s historic city center, the residence is surrounded by numerous cafes, shops, art galleries, museums, libraries, plazas, cobblestone streets, and more, as well as attractions such as Las Setas (the largest wooden structure in the entire world), the Alameda (one of the city’s trendiest neighborhoods), and the Guadalquivir (the city’s picturesque river). The residence is a just a short, scenic walk away from Centro MundoLengua’s classrooms.
Students will have at least 3 hours per day—sometimes more. It’ll just depend on what we’re doing that day, how much time they have to factor in for travel time, and whether they’re attending the nighttime activity, which will sometimes be optional.
Students will have 24/7 adult supervision and support while they attend our program. Thanks to our extensive, experienced, and knowledgeable network of teachers, directors, coordinators, and host families, students will feel very well-supported during their time with us here in Spain. Every day, a member of our staff will be present to check in with them and make sure they’re okay during their classes, activities, and excursions, and they’ll be able to contact someone from our staff for assistance 24/7.
Yes and yes! Your students will have opportunities to participate in language exchanges and/or sports games with local Spanish high school students. As for international high school students, there will most likely be students from other countries attending the same program and/or other programs that we run during the same time as yours. Our students typically come from a variety of locations in the US, Canada, and Europe.
