--- description: "Spend your gap year learning a language abroad: become fluent, earn a certificate for your CV and have the time of your life. Compare long-term language courses in Spain, France, Italy, England and Malta." title: Language course abroad during your gap year | Extralingo image: https://img.imageboss.me/extralingo-main-uploads/cover/1200x630/fp-x:0.5,fp-y:0.5,quality:82/ila-school-28082015-29-quality-1024x683-extra-large-large.jpg?mtime=1718480467 --- [Skip to content](#main) All bookings are covered by the Extralingo Promise Key takeaways - A long-term language course is one of the best ways to become fluent during your gap year. - Lessons in small groups, with plenty of free time to explore, travel and meet people. - An official language certificate adds real value to your CV and future studies. - Many schools offer discounts for longer stays and exam preparation courses. - You can combine several destinations, for example Spanish in Spain followed by French in France. ## A language trip during your gap year Looking for an unforgettable gap year that combines travel, new friendships and personal development? Then a language trip is exactly what you need. You learn a new language, discover the local culture and make friends from all over the world. Language courses abroad are fun and interactive. Instead of sitting through long lectures, you do lots of speaking, exploring and practical tasks. Besides the lessons, you'll have plenty of free time to explore the city, enjoy the beach or go out at night. It's a life-changing experience that also prepares you for the future. ## The benefits of a language course in your gap year ### Truly master the language You don't just learn from a book, you apply everything in real life. By speaking with native speakers every day, your language skills develop much faster than in a classroom alone. With a few months abroad, many students reach a level they can use in their studies or work. ### Broaden your cultural knowledge You get to know the local culture, traditions and customs. You explore the city, enjoy the food and art, and meet the people. It makes you open to other perspectives: a language trip truly opens your world. ### Add value to your CV Many schools prepare you for official language exams such as DELE, DELF, CILS or Cambridge. A recognised certificate shows universities and employers that you used your gap year well. ## How to plan your gap year language course 1. **Choose your language and goal.** Do you want to become fluent, pass an exam or learn the basics of a second language? 2. **Decide how long you want to go.** Most gap year students stay between 8 and 24 weeks. Longer stays often come with a discount per week. 3. **Pick one or more destinations.** You can also split your gap year between two cities or two languages. 4. **Choose your accommodation.** A host family helps your language most; a shared apartment gives you more independence. 5. **Book and ask questions.** Message the school directly through Extralingo with any questions before you book. ## Popular destinations for a gap year Lively cities with plenty to do for months on end are popular among gap year students. - [Malaga](https://www.extralingo.com/en/language-schools/spanish/spain/malaga) - [Valencia](https://www.extralingo.com/en/language-schools/spanish/spain/valencia) - [Barcelona](https://www.extralingo.com/en/language-schools/spanish/spain/barcelona) - [St. Julians](https://www.extralingo.com/en/language-schools/english/malta/st-julians) - [Brighton](https://www.extralingo.com/en/language-schools/english/england/brighton) - [Florence](https://www.extralingo.com/en/language-schools/italian/italy/florence) - [Nice](https://www.extralingo.com/en/language-schools/french/france/nice) - [Tarifa](https://www.extralingo.com/en/language-schools/spanish/spain/tarifa) - [![]()

Learn Spanish in Spain

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Learn French in France

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Learn Italian in Italy

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Learn English in England

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Learn English in Malta

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All destinations

Compare language schools in dozens of other countries and cities.View schools →](https://www.extralingo.com/en/find-your-language-school) ## Language trips for every stage of life - [![]() 18–24 years

Language trips for young adults

Read the guide →](https://www.extralingo.com/en/language-trip/young-adults) - [![]() 25 years and older

Language trips for 25+

Read the guide →](https://www.extralingo.com/en/language-trip/25plus) - [![]() Cultural programmes

Language trips for 50+

Read the guide →](https://www.extralingo.com/en/language-trip/50plus) Not sure about your level? Take one of our free language tests and find out which course level suits you before you book. [Take a free language test](https://www.extralingo.com/en/language-tests) ## Frequently asked questions
What can I expect from a language course during my gap year? An intensive and interactive learning experience, with experienced teachers in small classes so you get plenty of attention. Besides the lessons, you'll have lots of time to explore, travel and join the school's activities.
Which levels is a language course suitable for? All levels. Whether you're a complete beginner or already fairly fluent, you always start the course at your current level after a placement test.
What level can I reach? That depends on your current level, the intensity of your course and how long you stay. Take one of our free language tests to find out where you stand, and ask the school how many weeks you need to reach your goal.
How long should a gap year language course be? Most gap year students stay between two and six months. Many schools offer lower weekly prices for longer stays, so check the prices for different durations when you compare.
Can I get an official certificate? Yes. Every school gives you a certificate of completion, and many offer preparation courses for official exams such as DELE, DELF, CILS and Cambridge English.
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Chamber of Commerce: 69857652 · VAT number: NL858040463B01 Address: Eeuwigelaan 3, 1861CL Bergen (NH), The Netherlands Email: [support@extralingo.com](mailto:support@extralingo.com) · [Customer Service](https://www.extralingo.com/en/contact) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","description":"Breadcrumbs list","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","item":"https://www.extralingo.com/en","name":"Book a language course abroad","position":1},{"@type":"ListItem","item":"https://www.extralingo.com/en/language-trip","name":"Everything you need to know about a language trip abroad","position":2},{"@type":"ListItem","item":"https://www.extralingo.com/en/language-trip/gap-year","name":"Language course abroad during your gap year","position":3}],"name":"Breadcrumbs"} {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://www.extralingo.com/en/#website","url":"https://www.extralingo.com/en","name":"Extralingo","description":"Find and book language schools worldwide at the best prices","publisher":{"@id":"https://www.extralingo.com/#org"},"inLanguage":"en"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://www.extralingo.com/#org","name":"Extralingo","legalName":"Extralingo B.V.","vatID":"NL858040463B01","url":"https://www.extralingo.com/","description":"Extralingo uses technology to make the language travel market accessible. 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