Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

4 months of personal growth, new experiences and broadening of perspectives Past Review

By (Swarthmore College) - abroad from 08/27/2018 to 12/22/2018 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Getafe

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained a great deal from my experience abroad. I learned to integrate myself in a culture and adapt to a different lifestyle. I learned to communicate in a different language and not be afraid to make mistakes. I learned to stay calm and overcome challenges. I learned to seek out learning opportunities outside of the classroom.

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.

I did not find the clases to be particularly rigorous or extremely hard, more so just different. I the difficulty of the material was similar to the clases I have taken at my university in the United States but there was much less work involved and a lot of the learning was left up to the student.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The directors at the school in Spain were very helpful, supportive, kind and enthusiastic. They went out of their way to make sure that the students were prepared and had very resource available to them. I always felt comfortable talking to them and they were very welcoming to any concern that we had. They really helped ease the process of getting situated in the program and adjusting to living in a new country.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I did a homestay and lived with a host family. My host family was a women and her 7 year old son and I became very close to both of them. My host mom was very accommodating and made my living situation very comfortable. I always felt at ease in the house and had everything I needed there. I developed an incredible relationship with my host family and spent a lot of time with them during my time in Spain. They were a very important part of my experience in Spain.

* Food:

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did physical therapy the entire time I was abroad to treat a pre-existing injury. The process for getting treatment and coverage was fairly simple and I had a lot of help from Middlebury. Middlebury had a relationship with a health clinic nearby which made scheduling appointments very easy. The program insurance covered all of the sessions. Physical therapy in Spain was very similar to the therapy I have received in the US and I felt that it helped greatly with my injuries.

* Safety:

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

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? $75

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? Upper level Spanish course at Swarthmore College (Advanced)
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? Make it a priority to only speak in the language while you are there. Even talking to US students, only use Spanish because small amounts of talking in English can disrupt your immersion. Make an effort to talk to the locals, they really enjoy talking to you and its the best way you can practice.

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
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?
  • Living with a host family
  • Taking classes at a local Spanish University
* What could be improved?
  • Communicating the schedule, I was unaware of many of academic fridays and days of no class until day before
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Take advantage of everyone opportunity as it comes up because you never know when you'll get the chance again.

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!