Spend your January term in Salamanca, Spain — a stunning medieval city renowned for its golden sandstone architecture, vibrant student culture, and crystal-clear Castilian Spanish. This intensive J-term program, hosted at the Universidad de Salamanca's Cursos Internacionales department, is open to students at all levels of Spanish proficiency, from absolute beginners to superior speakers. Whether you're just starting out or polishing advanced grammar and professional vocabulary, you'll be placed into a course tailored precisely to your level based on a pre-departure placement exam.

At the Universidad de Salamanca — founded in 1218 and the oldest university in Spain — you'll study in a newly renovated historic facility featuring high-tech classrooms, an auditorium, and student lounges steps away from the iconic cathedrals and main university buildings. Beginning students focus on foundational grammar, communicative activities, vocabulary building, and language lab practice, while intermediate and advanced students explore sophisticated grammar structures, oral and written skills, business Spanish, and Spanish culture and history alongside their language coursework. All courses are taught by USAL faculty and shared with international peers, creating a dynamic, globally connected classroom environment.

Beyond the classroom, you'll engage with Salamanca through curated cultural activities and excursions included in your program fee. Take a hands-on Spanish cooking class featuring traditional regional dishes, explore the Old and New Cathedrals with their legendary hidden carvings, and wander the historic halls of the university itself — searching for the famous frog carved into its ornate façade. Optional excursions are also available for an additional fee, giving you even more ways to connect with the city and surrounding region.

Your housing options include a student residence with three daily meals, a homestay with a local family for an authentic glimpse into everyday Spanish life, or independent housing if you prefer to arrange your own accommodation. From the moment you arrive, WorldStrides' experienced on-site team — including a Resident Director, Student Services staff, and an Academic Director — will be there to support you through orientation, daily life, and any challenges that arise. The program also includes 24/7 emergency assistance, mental health telehealth support, international insurance, and access to the WorldStrides Connections mobile app.

This J-term is ideal for any undergraduate student who wants to maximize a short winter break by making genuine academic and linguistic progress in an environment where Spanish surrounds you everywhere — in the classroom, over tapas, and while biking through the Castilian countryside. With 2–3 recommended U.S. semester credits transferable upon home university approval, it's a powerful and memorable way to advance your Spanish skills while experiencing one of Europe's most beloved historic cities.