Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Erin's Spanish Immersion Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 09/02/2019 to 12/16/2019 with

UC3M / Universidad Carlos III de Madrid - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I feel I am much more confident as a learner and general person. I lived far away from anyone else so I had to get comfortable doing my own thing and speaking Spanish with strangers.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

amazing host family -- only wish the apartment was closer to the center

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I loved my program and my Spanish definitely improved, even if I didn't speak Spanish 100% of the time.

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? Probably around $200 with travel

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? Intermediate
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Advanced
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? 300 level Spanish
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? If you want a full immersion definitely do a host stay or an apartment because you will likely speak English in the residencía

Direct Enrollment/Exchange

* Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? Direct Enrollment

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Host Family
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • My host family -- LOVED them
  • new Midd friends I made
  • the FOOD
* What could be improved?
  • more support picking classes
  • class times (8 am is tragic)
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I knew that getting an apartment, though incredibly stressful for one week, is very worth it at the end. I feel like the home stay was pushed too heavily and the apartment wasn't pushed enough.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Historia Contemporánea
Course Department: Sociología
Instructor: Jose Luis Domingez Lopez, Beatriz de las Herras Herrero
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: The class was super interesting and split up into two parts: lecture with Beatriz and práctica with Jose Luis. I learned a lot and the final was interesting but participation was graded very heavily and aggressively in Jose Luis' class.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Sociedad y medioambiente
Course Department: sociología
Instructor: Mercedes Pardo Buendía
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: The class was incredibly easy but it was also quite boring.
Credit Transfer Issues: