High School in Spain

In a Instituto de Educación Secundaria (15-16) the core curriculum is usually Spanish language and literature, mathematics, geography, history, a foreign language and physical education. Optional subjects include music, technology, a second foreign language and social/moral studies. Students placed in a Bachillerato preparation class (16-17) study the core subjects including Spanish, a foreign language and history as well as specialising in one area, choosing between: natural and health sciences, sciences and engineering, social sciences, the humanities or the arts. All classes are taught through Spanish and students typically get used very quickly to what is going on in the class as their ear adapts to the language and their confidence and fluency increases.

Yes, in this programme we guarantee you a choice of one of your top 2 regional preferences.

Host families undergo a thorough selection process and our carefully screened by our partner Agency and the Local Co-ordinator. All host families are required to complete a detailed application form, following which they have a home interview and their references are checked. Many host families have been hosting for a number of years and continue to keep in touch with their students many years after they return home.

Sometimes placements can be confirmed quite quickly and if so you will receive all the details by emails as soon as the school and host family profiles are ready. The most important thing is to find the right match. This can sometimes take more time but you will have the details at the latest 4 weeks prior to departure, provided you have applied 3 months in advance of your departure. For applications received less than 3 months prior to departure, the placement details may not be available until close to your departure.

Places in schools are limited so we recommend the application process is started as soon as possible so as to not disappoint. The usual time frame to confirm a placement is 3 months and applications received outside this time frame application are subject to a late application fee of €100.

Not necessarily. We don’t guarantee that there will be someone the same age as you in the family, and in our experience even if this is the case it doesn’t automatically mean that you will have a lot in common with them. There is no such thing as a typical host family and just like your own family, they vary in size and composition with either younger children, teenagers or older children. The most important thing is that they are warm and welcoming and they want to share their culture and family life with you.  You will be spending most of the day with teenagers your own age at school and that is where you will make friends.

Absolutely! Check out our Student Blogs or contact us and we would be happy to connect you with a former student who can fill you in on how they got on and answer any of your questions.

We recommend that students do not interrupt their programme and go home unless it is for an extraordinary occasion. If there are school holidays while you are abroad, you will stay with your host family as they are aware of this and there is provision for this in the programme. It is often an excellent opportunity to spend time with the family and improve your language skills. Besides, if you go home you will start speaking English again and it will be much harder to settle back – therefore, we don’t recommend it.

We also don’t recommend for parents/relatives to visit unless it is at the end of the programme and if your family wish to visit you during the mid-term break, they must first contact TRIBE so we can inform our counterparts abroad. Our partner schools and host families take their responsibility of acting in locus parentis very seriously and we will require your parents to sign a parental release form which releases you out of the care of the programme to your parents’ care.

The simplest thing is to arrange to bring an ATM debit card. Most are accepted at ATM machines and it is the easiest way to access money.

Your host family will help you get to school on the first day and show you the way until you are comfortable with the route. Day school students usually live within 15-20 minutes of their school either on foot or with local transport. Boarding school students usually live within 20 – 45 minutes of their school, and return to their host family on Friday afternoon and come back to school on Monday morning either with the host family or on public transport.

There are a whole team of people who will be working hard to make sure your time abroad is successful and that you have a wonderful experience. This includes

The Local Co-ordinator who lives in the same area and provides support and supervision for the duration of your stay. The Local Co-ordinator will meet you after the first few days to see how you are settling in and will help you with sourcing extra Spanish lessons.

Your host family will help you if you want to join a local sports club or advise you on things to do at the weekend. You can also contact us in Tribe at any time as we have a 24-hour support line in case of an emergency. If you need anything, you can also contact your Local Co-coordinator at any time as well.

Students are required to take out comprehensive travel insurance prior to departure and supply evidence of same to Tribe Study Abroad. Students should also ensure they have their European Health Insurance card with them and provide a copy of the details to Tribe.

Booking Deposit €500 should be sent with application

Balance of Fees are due 4 weeks prior to departure.

Cancellation by Client

• €500 booking deposit is non-refundable.
• 50% Programme Fee 30 days prior to departure.
• 100% Programme Fee 15 days prior to departure.
• There will be no refund after the Programme Departure Date.

Please refer to our Terms of Business for more information.