<p>I can add a couple of comments that might be useful. Although you’ve gotten some pretty good advice already here, I would recommend a couple of other things.</p>
<p>If you want to go to Spain or Latin America, one program has more options than any other, with extremely good support, and at a lower price than the programs mentioned - ISA. They go to 10 cities in Spain, and to Mexico, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, Chile, Argentina, and Peru. Their website is <a href=“http://www.studiesabroad.com%5B/url%5D”>http://www.studiesabroad.com</a>. </p>
<p>Before you pick this program, or any other, compare them side by side in terms of cost and services, to see which one gives the best for the money. A great website for finding programs is <a href=“http://www.goabroad.com%5B/url%5D”>http://www.goabroad.com</a>, along with <a href=“http://www.studyabroad.com%5B/url%5D”>http://www.studyabroad.com</a>, and <a href=“http://www.iiepassport.org%5B/url%5D”>http://www.iiepassport.org</a> to search for all the programs out there. </p>
<p>My students have found that a host family is one of the best ways to improve your language skills, learn about the local culture, eat well, and be safe abroad. If you are the kind of person that can avoid the pitfall of hanging out with your American friends all the time, it may not matter what your housing option is. Going with a group can make it too easy to miss what is happening in your host country and makes you lazy by always speaking English with your American friends. </p>
<p>There’s something really great about improving your language skills that you won’t get if you just go to an English speaking country. Language is culture, and by learning a foreign language you will have to see things from another point of view. But the language will show you the way if you listen carefully. I think it’s a richer experience. I’ve learned 6 foreign languages by living abroad and I think it’s the best experience personally. But any program abroad is good. Just go!</p>