Month of Summer in Spain for 17-year-old
 

My son is planning on doing a homestay in Spain for 4-6 weeks this summer. We think we maybe found the right program for him to go through, but we're still not sure which town would be best for him. He wants a smaller town, but not so small that there's nothing to do. He enjoys shopping, natural scenery, and meeting new people. I think he's also looking for a town on the coast.

I just e-mailed you and it came back to me as undeliverable. So, I'll post. . .

Dear tamason,

My name is Claire and I post on the Fodor's website. I read your question regarding your son's study abroad program and wonder what program he is doing that allows them to choose their location. I did AFS for a year and coordinated their Spain summer programs for a while and the students could voice preferences, but the final decision was up to the host families and the organization. Is he doing a homestay? If so, the important question is not so much location as compatibility with hosts. Believe me, they make or break the deal.

Send me more details and I will be as thorough as possible.

Also, if he would like to get in touch with me, send him my way.

Hasta pronto,
Claire

Hi Tamason,

What cities are offered by the program you found? My son ( he'll be 17 next month) has done 2 different programs in Spain these past 2 summers. In 2004 he spent 4 weks in Salamanca with a program called TASIS. Last year he spent approx 5 weeks in Santander( North coast of Spain) and then a week traveling around Spain with a group from Choate( this is a prep HS in Connecticut which brings a group to Spain every year ). In Santander he stayed with a family.

He liked Santander so much that he's in the process of registering at the Universidad Internacional Menendez Pelayo in Santander to go back this summer for 4 weeks.

He liked both experiences but he prefered Santander and the beach is one reason why. It's beautiful and although the water is always cold ( even in late July) the kids don't seem to mind.

What is the name of the program you found?

The program is apple languages. It is a UK based program I believed. His other favorite program was LPI, but the dates didn't work out.

Oh yes, I considered LPI for this year but to be quite honest it is so much more expensive that if they just register directly with the university and get the lodging through them.