Why Take This Program?

Exploring the shores of the Balearic Sea in Barcelona and the edges of the Atlantic coast of Lisbon, we travel across this diverse land of art and culture. From the romantic writings of Miguel de Cervantes in Don Quixote to the magical realism of Gabriel García Márquez’s, One Hundred Years of Solitude, you will be mesmerized by the genius and depth of human creativity. Whether inspired by a glorious sunset in the Algarve or enjoying an afternoon in Gaudi’s Park Güell, this program is sure to engage and leave a profound impression on your life.

Dates

Travel Dates

Early July–Late July, 2024

Program Dates*

Late June–Early August, 2024

*Program dates include online sessions to prepare students prior to travel and synchronous interviews to complete final assessments after travel. Dates are subject to change.

Locations

Courses Offered

english  Mandatory

Contact us for course equivalencies in your school board.

Staffing

9:1 Student to Staff Ratio.

Departure City

All MEI programs depart from Toronto's Pearson Int'l Airport.

✈ This program also offers an option to depart from and return to Calgary on a flight accompanied by a teacher. This option has an additional fee (see application form for details).

Program Fee

Program Cost *
$4,377.00
Travel Cost
$2,918.00
Total
$7,295.00 USD

Refunds + Cancellations

We've made it easier to plan your education while minimizing your financial risks. Read more.

Availability

Open

Program Photos

What people are saying

Every morning I wake up with a zest for life because I know each day will bring something incredible. This trip has completely redefined the way I feel about education. I’ve learned more in the last three months than I have in the previous five years. Academically, for me, it was fascinating to study Economics in Asia. I never would have imagined that I’d have teachers who ride in a tuk-tuk with you at 4 AM so we can see a sunrise at Angkor Wat. MEI is school in the most epic way possible.

Chloe Jackson

Student, English in Spain and Portugal 2018

Program Itinerary

Explore this program's detailed itinerary for a sense of the journey ahead!

Online Foundation Work

Program Preparation

Reading lists will be posted on your program site in early May. Online pre-departure sessions with your teachers and classmates begin one week prior to departure. These virtual sessions are designed to introduce you to your classmates, teachers, and course work. Our goal is to prepare you to hit the ground running and reduce your workload onsite.

Departure

Day 1: On the day of departure, we meet at Toronto's Pearson International Airport or Calgary International Airport, depending on your chosen flight option. Here, we unite as a group to distribute coursepacks, T-shirts and MEI Journals. After a meet and greet, we board a flight to our first location.

Barcelona

Day 2–7: Barcelona has been an inspiration for writers and artists for over two thousand years with its vibrant colours, unmatched architecture, and Catalan cuisine. Here, we develop our writing skills and practice character development along Las Ramblas, poetry in Gaudi’s Park Güell, and travel writing in La Sagrada Familia, all between lunches along the Mediterranean and dinners in the Gothic quarter. If we’re lucky, we may even catch a glimpse of the world famous soccer team.

Costa Brava

Day 7–11: The deep blue of the Mediterranean affords us a respite from the energy of Barcelona as we settle into our hotel along Spain’s rugged coast. Sunrises along the beach and an afternoon climb through coves and hills that dot the coastline make for an excellent location to focus on academic analysis of our primary summer readings. Masterclasses on essay writing and one-on-one editing sessions allow for tailored feedback that help hone our skills in finding literary meaning. The coastline provides the ideal backdrop for our final family dinner as we share stories about our summer adventure.

Madrid

Day 11–15: We continue our travels with a stay in Spain's beautiful capital—Madrid. Cervantes' Don Quixote is our literary backdrop as we discuss the development of the modern novel. Whether wandering its elegant boulevards, exploring the Prado museum, or admiring the city's golden glow as the sun sets, this Spanish metropolis captures the imagination and is a perfect location to start our English program.

Lisbon

Day 15–21: Next, we depart for Portugal and arrive in its illustrious capital—Lisbon. Here, students refine the branding of their blog sites and continue to post advanced social media content. Performing artists fill the streets, and Portugal’s famed Fado music can be heard each night in this ancient port city. Our classes vary between finding and capturing hidden gems with various lenses and developing students’ ‘Carpe Deim’ projects.

The Algarve

Day 21–26: The Algarve provides us with a beachside village where we balance our time between completing academic work and exploring the footpaths and caves along the coast. This southernmost region of Portugal sees almost 3000 hours of sunshine a year, making this an ideal location to settle into writing workshops, presentations, and evening podcasts on the beach. Departure from Lisbon Airport on Day 26

Online Final Evaluation Week

Upon your return, you have time to complete additional research and pull your work together before your final one-on-one online assessment. This week allows you to reflect on your travel experiences and integrate them into the course material. MEI staff have found this style of evaluation enjoyable and the most authentic way for students to demonstrate their knowledge and academic skills.

Program Map

Barcelona

Day 2–7:

Barcelona has been an inspiration for writers and artists for over two thousand years with its vibrant colours, unmatched architecture, and Catalan cuisine. Here, we develop our writing skills and practice character development along Las Ramblas, poetry in Gaudi’s Park Güell, and travel writing in La Sagrada Familia, all between lunches along the Mediterranean and dinners in the Gothic quarter. If we’re lucky, we may even catch a glimpse of the world famous soccer team.

Costa Brava

Day 7–11:

The deep blue of the Mediterranean affords us a respite from the energy of Barcelona as we settle into our hotel along Spain’s rugged coast. Sunrises along the beach and an afternoon climb through coves and hills that dot the coastline make for an excellent location to focus on academic analysis of our primary summer readings. Masterclasses on essay writing and one-on-one editing sessions allow for tailored feedback that help hone our skills in finding literary meaning. The coastline provides the ideal backdrop for our final family dinner as we share stories about our summer adventure.

Madrid

Day 11–15:

We continue our travels with a stay in Spain’s beautiful capital—Madrid. Cervantes’ Don Quixote is our literary backdrop as we discuss the development of the modern novel. Whether wandering its elegant boulevards, exploring the Prado museum, or admiring the city’s golden glow as the sun sets, this Spanish metropolis captures the imagination and is a perfect location to start our English program.

Lisbon

Day 15–21:

Next, we depart for Portugal and arrive in its illustrious capital—Lisbon. Here, students refine the branding of their blog sites and continue to post advanced social media content. Performing artists fill the streets, and Portugal’s famed Fado music can be heard each night in this ancient port city. Our classes vary between finding and capturing hidden gems with various lenses and developing students’ ‘Carpe Deim’ projects.

The Algarve

Day 21–26:

The Algarve provides us with a beachside village where we balance our time between completing academic work and exploring the footpaths and caves along the coast. This southernmost region of Portugal sees almost 3000 hours of sunshine a year, making this an ideal location to settle into writing workshops, presentations, and evening podcasts on the beach.
Departure from Lisbon Airport on Day 26

What's Included

Fee Breakdown

Program Cost *
$4,377.00
Travel Cost
$2,918.00
Total
$7,295.00 USD

* Program cost does not include non-refundable $95 registration fee.

** Based on air fares, land tariffs and currency exchange rates as of July, 2023. Please note the possibility of increases in airfares and land costs prior to departure. Any increase must be borne by the individual participant.

Program Costs

  • Ministry-approved credit(s) upon successful completion of the course(s)
  • Custom course pack
  • Student Login
  • MEI journal
  • MEI T-Shirt
  • Digital yearbook

Travel Costs

  • Hotels and accommodations
  • Breakfast and dinner daily
  • Entrance fees to all course-specific sites
  • Return airfare from Toronto's Pearson International Airport
  • Approximate airline departure taxes, surcharges and fees
  • Airfare between countries
  • Transportation between hotel locations via private coach
  • Transportation for all listed program excursions

Program Fee Does Not Include

  • Lunches
  • Insurances
  • Gratuities
  • Local Transportation
  • Course texts
  • Medical Insurance and Cancellation Protection†
  • Non-refundable Registration Fee

† All students travelling with MEI Academy are required to purchase Medical and trip cancellation and interruption Insurance.

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