SPAIN
SPANISH LANGUAGE EXPERIENCE
Language learning meets real-life Spain in Toledo, Madrid and Barcelona
Program Overview
The passions of Spain’s people are the fabric of daily life. This is a country with music in its soul, a love of fine food and wild landscapes and a special talent for celebration.
For the first half of the program, you’ll stay in the small city of Toledo. You’ll be surrounded by rich history, stunning architecture and medieval monuments. Sharpen your Spanish through a mix of immersion and formal instruction, then practice with passionate native speakers while volunteering on community projects.
For the second half, explore two of Spain’s most iconic cities: Madrid and Barcelona. Visit the Real Madrid soccer stadium, Sagrada Familia and Park Güell. Take part in a Flamenco class and show, a bike tour in Barcelona and a paella and tapas cooking class. Cool off by kayaking in the pristine waters of the Ruidera Lakes and swimming in the Mediterranean Sea.
On GLA’s Spain: Spanish Language Experience program you will:
- Improve your Spanish through language immersion
- Explore historic Toledo
- Take a Spanish cooking class and learn to make paella and tapas
- Kayak in the pristine waters of Ruidera Lakes
- Travel to Madrid to visit Bernabéu Stadium, watch a flamenco show and take a guided walking tour
- Take a fast train to Barcelona to visit Sagrada Familia and Park Güell and swim in the Mediterranean Sea
Program Menu
SPAIN
SPANISH LANGUAGE EXPERIENCE
Sample Itinerary
Let’s take a sneak peek at what your program experience might look like this summer! Please note that the order of activities may differ for each program session. The details provided here represent a general outline of what you can anticipate, though community service projects and activities are subject to change based on the needs of our local community partners, cultural celebrations and traditions, weather conditions and the specific requirements of the student group.
Day 1: Arrival
Welcome to Spain! GLA staff will greet you at Madrid Airport (MAD) and travel with you to your Home Base in Toledo. After settling into your room, you’ll meet your fellow travelers. We’ll enjoy our first Spanish welcome dinner together before resting up for an exciting day ahead!
Day 2: Orientation & Scavenger Hunt
Today, we’ll begin with an orientation and then split into Spanish groups based on skill level for our first class. After lunch, we’ll head into town for the first time. In groups, you’ll take part in a supervised scavenger hunt, practicing your Spanish by enlisting the help of locals to find the items on your list.
Days 3-8: Service, Language & Cultural Exploration
This week will blend Spanish classes, community service, and cultural activities, giving you the chance to practice what you’re learning.
Morning activities include:
- Exploring Toledo’s legends with a guided tour through its historic alleys and squares.
- Kayaking at the Ruidera Lakes.
- Visiting the iconic windmills from Don Quixote.
- Ziplining across the city skyline.
For service, we’ll volunteer at a local summer camp, teaching English through games, and with the Red Cross (or a similar group), helping clean up Toledo’s river.
In the afternoons, you’ll have Spanish classes with native teachers, and we’ll incorporate language practice into our daily activities around town.
Days 9-10: Madrid: Bernabéu Stadium, Paella and Tapas Class, Flamenco and More
Spend the weekend in Madrid! Start with a traditional Spanish paella class, where you’ll make your own delicious lunch. In the evening, we’ll visit the Bernabéu Stadium, home to Real Madrid. No trip to Spain is complete without a flamenco class and show, so we’ll visit an authentic “tablao,” learn some steps, and enjoy the vibrant performance.
On our second morning, we’ll take a walking tour through Madrid’s iconic streets. After lunch, we’ll head back to Toledo.
Days 11-13: Barcelona: Sagrada Familia, Park Güell, Beach Time!
It’s time to say goodbye to Toledo and Madrid and head to our final destination—Barcelona! We’ll catch an early high-speed train to the city.
Over the next few days, we’ll explore Barcelona’s top attractions:
- Visit Gaudí’s masterpiece, the Sagrada Familia.
- Stroll through Park Güell and take in stunning city views.
- Take a bike tour to see some of Barcelona’s main landmarks.
- Celebrate the end of the program by relaxing at the beach and swimming in the Mediterranean Sea!
Day 14: Departures
Before you know it, this 14-day journey will come to an end. Head to Barcelona Airport (BCN) today with lasting memories and knowledge that will benefit you for life! Staff will assist with check-in and stay with you until you’ve safely passed through security.
Program Map
SPAIN
SPANISH LANGUAGE EXPERIENCE
Community Service
Take part in a range of activities with local organizations. Projects will be based on local needs at the time but may include environmental cleanups along the river and parks in Toledo or volunteering at a shelter that supports people experiencing homelessness.
You’ll also support Spanish schoolchildren by helping them strengthen their English language skills. Spend several mornings at a summer camp in Toledo, where you and your peers will lead activities that help local children practice English and build valuable skills. Activities may include arts and crafts, a short theater performance, a family tree activity, an environmentally focused project and more.
Hands-on Learning
Take your Spanish to the next level with engaging classes taught by local teachers and myriad opportunities for rich cultural exchange. Immerse yourself in Spanish life through each excursion, from mastering a paella cooking class, the quintessential Spanish dish, to trying flamenco in a beginner class and watching a live professional performance.
The GLA Experiential Language Curriculum™ integrates Spanish learning into every part of the experience, helping students deepen their cultural understanding and make a positive impact. Through service projects, excursions and cultural events, this is language learning at its best.
Adventure
See Spain by land, air and water! Explore Toledo with a scavenger hunt and take in the city from above on an epic urban zipline. Experience local culture on a tapas tour, sampling authentic Spanish flavors along the way. Ride bikes along Barcelona’s coastline and kayak the serene Ruidera Lakes for a break from the bustling city.
Lodging & Meals
Your GLA Home Base is your “home away from home” throughout your time in Spain, with spaces exclusively reserved for GLA students and staff. In Toledo, your Home Base will be an enclosed, compound-style student dorm, featuring gender-segregated rooms and shared bathrooms with showers. In Madrid and Barcelona, the group will stay in hostels, with rooms shared by 2-4 students each.
Food is an integral part of life in Spain, and long, shared meals hold strong significance in Spanish tradition and culture. From diverse tapas to incredible seafood, the culinary experiences you’ll have in Spain will be memorable and unique to the area.
SPAIN
SPANISH LANGUAGE EXPERIENCE
Dates & Tuition
14-Day Program
2026 Session Dates
July 05 – July 18, 2026
July 21 – August 03, 2026
Program Details
Tuition Includes All In-Country Expenses
Airport pick-up/drop-off
In-country transportation
Lodging
3 meals per day
Professional full-time staff and experts
24/7 parent support hotline during program
Secondary medical and evacuation insurance
Cultural activities, lectures and excursions
Pre-departure materials and support
Educational materials
An application fee and $600 deposit are required
to hold your spot on-program.
Backed by our 5-Point Safety System™
GLA HOME BASE:
SAFE & SECURE LODGING
CARING SUPERVISION &
EXPERT LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
SAFE
TRANSPORTATION
HEALTHY FOOD
& PURE WATER
24/7 SUPPORT &
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Recommended by Students and Parents
“What made this program life-changing for me was the unique way that it incorporated service work with the vibrant culture. I feel like a gained a very deep understanding for Spain and its traditions, while also learning about many of the challenges the country faces that are sometimes overlooked. It’s something I’ll never forget. “
Skye T. | Student | 2016
SPAIN
SPANISH LANGUAGE EXPERIENCE
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