Challenging August 14, 2025
By A student (Spanish, Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/06/2025 to 06/20/2025 with
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Cordoba, Spain
Yes, I learned a lot of resilience and made friends within my program.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
the classes were hard because they were in spanish not because the classes were hard content wise. I was severely bullied by various classmates and was given no support from Middlebury or my professors in Cordoba. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
There is basically no support once you are in Cordoba. The Madrid office basically can't help you with anything. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I liked my apartment. My landlord would come into our apartment unannounced and chastise us, there was no real privacy. He also was xenophobic. |
| * Food: |
No problems, I cooked for myself. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
There was a TON of anti-American rhetoric, no wanted to talk to Americans due to the actions of the Trump Admin. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
No problems |
| * Safety: |
I felt very safe! |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
People were not friendly in Spain. |
Finances
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* 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) |
I am privileged and had no issue, Cordoba is pretty cheap. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 100 euro |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
Lots of encouragement |
| 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? | multiple 300s |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 0 |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Cordoba uses a unique accent that is tricky! |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Advanced Spanish Syntax |
| Course Department: | UCO Idiomas |
| Instructor: | Maria Jesus |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | She was great! there could have been more organization. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: | No |
