Incredible experience in a great city with great people Past Review

By A student (Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/29/2016 to 12/16/2016 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Getafe

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

I gained perspective and a desire to see much more of the world. I also was able to significantly improve my ability to speak Spanish and learned a lot about Spanish culture in particular.

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?	I did a home stay and it was an incredible experience. The family clearly was doing it for all of the right reasons and helped my Spanish improve.
* Food:
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	The program provides healthcare and in my experience it was easily accessible and easy to navigate.
* Safety:	Never felt unsafe. During the holiday season there was noticeably more security.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes I loved being in Madrid because it is such a big and lively city, but I liked taking classes in Getafe with all Spanish students

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)

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?	I had taken three 300 level Spanish electives
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 with native speakers and either live in an apartment with native speakers or do a homestay.

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?	Homestay Classes in Getafe Mid semester excursion
* What could be improved?	Grammar course Orientation
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	It is easy to navigate the city so there is no reason to be worried

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 Outright Urbanite A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Sociedad y Medioambiente
Course Department:	Sociología
Instructor:	Mercedes Pardo Buendía
Instruction Language:	Español
Comments:	This class was very easy. the teacher was passionate about the material but presented it in a very elementary way. There were many international students in the class so it was taught at a slow pace and participation was encouraged. We were assessed by a few homework assignments and a paper.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Economía de la Integración Europea
Course Department:	Economía
Instructor:	Carlos San Juan Mesonada
Instruction Language:	Español
Comments:	This course was challenging because I had to learn a whole new vocabulary of Economics words in Spanish. The concepts themselves were not terribly difficult but at times it was difficult to understand the way they were being taught. The teacher was knowledgable but seemed a bit lazy. I did not participate much in this class. I was assessed by three quizzes, a group paper and presentation, and a final exam.
Credit Transfer Issues:

Course Name/Rating:	Cine y Televisión en España
Course Department:	Comunicación Audiovisual
Instructor:	Juan Carlos Ibañez Fernandez
Instruction Language:	Español
Comments:	Not very challenging, only had to watch the movies, write one paper and take one final exam. The movies were all pretty interesting. The teacher was very smart and a good lecturer. He was also very understanding with foreign students.
Credit Transfer Issues: