Studying (sometimes) abroad and exploring every corner of Spain June 18, 2023

By A student (Architecture, Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/28/2022 to 01/29/2023 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Cordoba, Spain

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?

Yes, very worthwhile. I learned a lot about myself and was able to practice independence and time management while living alone, traveling alone, and being pushed out of my comfort zone to meet people and make new friends in a foreign language. I gained a lot of confidence in my independence.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	2 weeks - 1 month

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?
* 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?	No I would maybe choose a different city in Spain or want to go to South America

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?	$150-200
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Buy plane tickets early if you're going to travel! And grocery shop instead of eating out, it will save a lot.

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?	Advanced
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
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?	Make friends/engage in the local community - it's easier to be motivated to speak with them in Spanish than to speak with your peers and classmates from the U.S.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Apartment
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Local Students International Students
* 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?	I liked the rigor of the classes, I felt like I was able to travel and explore without drowning in school work but enough that I was still learning. I liked the infrastructure that Middlebury has for us with the School in Spain, I felt comfortable with all of the Middlebury staff and assistance. The freedom to explore and figure things out on my own.
* What could be improved?	I think the city of Cordoba isn't the best site for a school abroad, maybe Sevilla or Granada More infrastructure to connect us with the local community/other university students. More Middlebury-sponsored travel to other cities/regions of Spain
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	I was told but I didn't fully believe how much it is really on YOU to put yourself out there in the community and talk to people and make friends - they won't just come up to you like in elementary school.

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:	Christian and Islamic Art in the Medieval Age
Course Department:	Art History
Instructor:
Instruction Language:	Spanish
Comments:	This course was awesome - definitely made use of the location and we were able to go on many field trips to different sites around the city to put into practice and give examples of the art and architecture we were learning about. There was more oral presentations than I was expecting so I participated more than I probably would normally but I felt like we were assessed fairly.
Credit Transfer Issues:	No issues, I would suggest taking classes that truly interest you instead of trying to satisfy major or minor requirements. If you're abroad, take advantage of being abroad.

Course Name/Rating:	Historia, Formas y movimientos del Cine
Course Department:	Cine y Cultura
Instructor:
Instruction Language:	Spanish
Comments:	I liked that this course mixed up the lectures with watching clips of movies so there was a lot of examples for whatever we were learning about. The professor was very knowledgeable but it was more of a lecture-style course so I didn't participate very much at all. We were assessed through papers and exams.
Credit Transfer Issues:	n/a

Course Name/Rating:	Música, identidad e ideología en la cultura audiovisual
Course Department:	Cine y Cultura
Instructor:
Instruction Language:	Spanish
Comments:	This course was super interesting and allowed me to think about film in a way that I hadn't before (audiovisual), however it seemed like the professor (though knowledgeable) was fairly new and didn't always know how to manage the class. I enjoyed the interactive aspect, watching movies and clips throughout the class period for examples and the assessments was a combination of weekly assignments that were engaging adequately put our learning to practice and bi-weekly quizzes on the material we were learning. Assessments felt very fair and were a good way to use the material.
Credit Transfer Issues:	n/a