If you want to learn Spanish and volunteer abroad, you do not have to choose between a language course and a meaningful project. At Mondify you can do both on the same trip, in Córdoba, Argentina or on San Cristóbal Island in the Galápagos, Ecuador. Classes teach you the language. The project gives you a real reason to use it.

This guide explains how combining Spanish and volunteering works, which projects you can pair with a Spanish course, what it costs and how to get started.

• You use Spanish for real tasks. Talking with colleagues, following instructions and asking questions are very different from repeating phrases in a classroom.
• Classes and practice reinforce each other. What you learn in class on Monday, you can use at your project on Tuesday.
• You live with a local family. Host family accommodation with three meals a day is included in our programs. Read about what living with a host family is really like.
• Your time helps someone. Depending on the project, you could be helping rescued dogs, supporting therapy sessions with horses or teaching English to students.

1. Start with a Spanish course and add a project. Choose one of our Spanish courses in Córdoba or the Galápagos. If you book 4 weeks or more of a Spanish course in Córdoba, you can add a free volunteer experience (check the current terms on the course page).
2. Start with a volunteer project and add Spanish. Volunteers on projects of 4 weeks or more get free online Spanish classes before they travel. We also strongly recommend adding one of our Spanish courses, which are available to program participants.

Not sure which one fits you? Book a call and we will build the combination with you.

Your schedule is arranged around your volunteer project. If you volunteer in the morning, your Spanish classes are in the afternoon, and if you volunteer in the afternoon, your classes are in the morning. Everything runs Monday to Friday, so you keep your weekends free to explore.

For example, the veterinary and animal care project runs 4 hours a day, and the Dynamic Spanish Immersion Course has 3 hours 45 minutes of classes a day. Your exact timetable depends on the project and the course you choose, and we organise it with you before you travel.

For most projects, no. Knowing Spanish is an advantage, but it is not a requirement for most of them. Some projects may limit volunteers with very little Spanish, which is why we recommend taking a course. If you take one of our Spanish courses, you do a short written and oral level test so you are placed in the right group. See the Dynamic Spanish Immersion Course and the Rapid Language Mastery Program for the most common options.

Here are some examples. These are only a few options: we can build other combinations on request, according to each student’s interests.

• Spanish + veterinary and animal care (Córdoba). You split your time between a local dog shelter and a veterinary clinic. You help care for abandoned dogs and shadow a local vet. The project runs 4 hours a day, Monday to Friday. Veterinary and animal care program.
• Spanish + equine therapy (Córdoba). You assist in therapeutic horseback riding sessions and help care for the horses. No previous experience is needed, and it suits students of psychology, physical therapy, occupational therapy or veterinary medicine. Equine therapy program.
• Spanish + radio journalism (Unquillo, Córdoba). Work at a public radio station and practice Spanish with real colleagues. Journalism program.
• Spanish + public health and medicine (Córdoba). Clinic-based medical volunteering. Medical program.
• Spanish + human rights (Córdoba). Support a human rights project. Human rights program.
• Spanish + teaching English (Galápagos). Teach English to local students. Teach English in the Galápagos.

You can browse every project on our volunteer and internship pages, or read our guide to the best Spanish immersion programs.

The project fee and the Spanish course are listed separately on each program page, in US dollars. As an example, this is the fee for the veterinary and animal care project in Córdoba:

Longer stays cost less per week. For Spanish course prices in Córdoba and the Galápagos, see our price tables. Tell us which project and course you are considering and we will send you a quote for the full combination.

• Accommodation with a host family and three meals a day
• Airport transfers
• 24-hour local support and international emergency assistance
• Project equipment and materials, training and workshops with local staff
• Social events and Wi-Fi
• A participation certificate (or a Spanish pass certificate)
• Visa assistance and advice, pre-departure preparation and help with documents

Not included: flights, visa costs where applicable, and medical and travel insurance.

Our projects are open from age 16. Participants under 18 need parental authorization. Many projects do not require previous experience. Our team meets you at the airport and supports you during your stay, with local staff available 24 hours a day.

1. Choose your project and dates. Projects run all year and start dates are flexible. Tell us what you are interested in and we will help you choose.
2. Talk to us. Book a call, message us on WhatsApp or use the contact page.
3. Sign up. Complete the online application form. A USD 295 deposit secures your place and is deducted from the total cost. We recommend signing up at least three months before departure, and you can pay the balance in installments.
4. Prepare. We advise you on packing, visas and what to expect. See the full process in how it works.
5. Arrive. We meet you at the airport, take you to your accommodation and assign a tutor for your activities.

Yes, you can volunteer for as little as one week, although each project has its own minimum duration and we recommend staying as long as you can.

It depends on the project. For example, the veterinary and animal care project runs 4 hours a day, Monday to Friday.

With a local host family, with three meals a day included.

No. Medical and travel insurance are not included, so you need to arrange them together with your flight.

Yes. The examples above are only some of the options. Tell us your interests and we will suggest a project and a Spanish course that fit. You can also read more in our frequently asked questions.

Tell us what you want to do and we will suggest the right combination of project and Spanish course. Book a call or learn more about us.