Foreign Language Study Abroad
Find the Right Foreign Language Program for You
Learn a Foreign Language Abroad with CIEE
Are you looking to study language abroad? Fast-forward your language skills by completing a foreign language study abroad program. On CIEE’s language programs, you’ll immerse yourself in local cultures, learn dialects, and express yourself in one of a dozen languages, including:
- Spanish
- French
- Mandarin
- Arabic
- Korean
- Portuguese
- Japanese
- And more!
With more than 100 foreign language programs across 30+ locations, you'll complete foreign language courses, connect with community members, and experience the local culture firsthand. From advancing your Mandarin language skills in Shanghai to learning to speak like a Parisian in the City of Light, CIEE offers a program every language learner will enjoy!
Whether you’re a beginner or Heritage speaker, discover a language program that fits your skill level and goes beyond the classroom through local engagements, excursions, and more!
Foreign Language Study Abroad Programs
20 Programs Found
- Study Program
Take your studies to the heart of dynamic Sydney at Australia’s oldest university: The University of Sydney!
- Big City
- Host Institution
- Life by the Sea
- Study Program
Our trimester program at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney is designed for students seeking a shorter but equally enriching study abroad experience.
- Big City
- Host Institution
- Life by the Sea
- Study Program
- Part-Time Internship
Enjoy a semester in Santiago taking courses at any (or all) of our three, Latin American-leading partner universities.
- Big City
- Mountains to Hike
- Shanghai, China
- Study Program
Fast-forward your Mandarin language skills
- Big City
- Language Immersion
- Life by the Sea
- Study Program
- Part-Time Internship
Spend your semester living and learning in Prague, one of the top cities in the world for students to have an unforgettable study abroad experience.
- Ancient City
- Host Institution
- Small City
- London, England
- Study Program
Designed for students across a wide variety of studies – particularly humanities, social sciences, and engineering.
- AACSB-Accredited
- Art Capital
- Big City
- Host Institution
- Study Program
Spend your winter break embarking on a fascinating journey in the heart of the Renaissance.
- Ancient City
- Mountains to Hike
- Small City
- Study Program
Ring in the New Year and spend your winter break in Tokyo, Japan’s vibrant capital city.
- Big City
- Bike Friendly
- Rabat, Morocco
- Study Program
Explore Morocco’s rich history
- Life by the Sea
- Small City
- Study Program
- Multi-Location Offering
During this Open Campus Block program you’ll learn about the liberal and progressive policies of the Netherlands in CIEE catered course
- Big City
- Bike Friendly
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Study Program
Take your studies to Glasgow, Scotland’s commercial and cultural epicenter and one of the friendliest cities in the world!
- AACSB-Accredited
- Host Institution
- Small City
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Study Program
- Part-Time Internship
Spend your semester living and learning in the capital of Scotland, Edinburgh.
- Host Institution
- Life by the Sea
- Small City
Frequently Asked Questions About Foreign Language Study Abroad
We may be a bit biased, but we think CIEE offers some of the best foreign language learning programs that allow students to travel abroad and learn their desired language firsthand. Our most popular foreign language learning programs include:
- Summer Global Internship Language Immersion (Barcelona, Spain)
- Summer Accelerated Chinese Language (Shanghai, China)
- Russian Language + European Studies (Tallinn, Estonia)
- Summer Intensive French Language (Rennes, France)
- Chinese Language + Asian Studies (Taipei, Taiwan)
- Advanced Arabic Language (Amman, Jordan)
- Summer Arabic Language (Rabat, Morocco)
There are several advantages of studying a foreign language, including:
- Improving brain and memory health
- Increasing problem-solving skills
- Expanding your ability to connect with more people around the world
- Increasing empathy toward others
- Helping with personal and career advancement
Check out this TED Talk on 4 reasons to learn a new language by John McWhorter.
There are many factors that influence how long it may take you to learn a new language, including your environment, dedication to studying, and your existing and desired language level. Depending on the language you want to learn and the level you’d like to reach, experts estimate that it could take anywhere from eight to 92 weeks or more.
While the best foreign language to learn is quite subjective, we can provide you with a list of some of the most popular foreign languages to learn (excluding English), based on the number of native speakers.
- Chinese
- Hindi
- Spanish
- French
- Arabic
- Bengali
- Portuguese
- Russian
- Urdu
- Indonesian
- German
- Japanese
CIEE conveniently offers several language learning programs inclusive of many of the languages listed above. Explore all CIEE’s foreign language programs and apply today!