Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

I learned a lot of Spanish Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/21/2017 to 12/21/2017 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Getafe

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Learned a lot of Spanish, experienced the culture. It was worthwhile

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

UC3M classes were not very rigorous but classes at Middlebury's Sede Prim were

* 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? Yes

I might choose Middlebury's UAM program instead

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)

cheaper than many other parts of Europe

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $65
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? 100 montaditos

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? Fluent
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? Spanish 300
How many hours per day did you use the language? 10+
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Meet locals/ go to language exchange events from Meetup.com

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?
  • Language pledge
  • Homestay
  • Location
* What could be improved?
  • Organization
  • Communication
  • Too many post-program surveys
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? The academic offerings that differ between Middlebury in Spain programs

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 Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Viajes científicas siglo XIX
Course Department: Periodismo
Instructor: I don't remember
Instruction Language: spanish
Comments: It was easy, and the only assignment was a final group essay. Generally pretty interesting too.
Credit Transfer Issues: half credit course can't give history distribution
Course Name/Rating:

Control de Calidad
Course Department: Empresa
Instructor: Villagarcia
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: It met only on Mondays, though the schedule said Monday and Wednesday. No homeworks, just midterm and final.
Credit Transfer Issues: Elective credit for Math
Course Name/Rating:

Ciencias para pensar mejor
Course Department: Interdepartmental (Leganes)
Instructor: Sanchez
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: Easy but strange
Credit Transfer Issues: Half credit classes don't count for distribution credit
Course Name/Rating:

Interfaces Usuarios
Course Department: Computer Science
Instructor: Javier Sanz Rodriguez
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: Javier was a terrible professor. There were a lot of programming homeworks but no support was given to learn the programming languages. Lectures were short, dry, and largely irrelevant to the assignments.
Credit Transfer Issues: Computer Science elective