Self-revealing Past Review

By Hannah Krutiansky (Middlebury College) - abroad from 09/03/2018 to 12/15/2017 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Madrid

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

It was not the most eye-opening experience because I had already spent time abroad with my family in Argentina. Since I went in with a high level of Spanish, studying abroad in Madrid was not the most challenging. However, I got very close with the Jewish community there and most of them were from Arab/North African origin which is a lot different than the Judaism I know in the states so I learned a lot through that.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program?	1 month - 6 months

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?	Yes It was the perfect combination of having the support of the Sede prim but also taking classes in the local university, where I got close with a lot of other international students, however we always spoke Spanish together. So even though they were not Spaniards I was still having a cultural experience because I was not with Middlebury students speaking English. Also living with a host family I got daily interactions with the local culture.

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?	about 150 euros a week
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Try to eat out as limited as possible!

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?	Fluent
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?	SPAN 0315
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?	When you are in Madrid speak with whoever you can in Spanish! People at grocery stores, people who you meet at the university, your host family.

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 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?	Orientation week with local Spanish students The opening and closing event (inauguration and final cocktail) People at Sede Prim were always eager to help
* What could be improved?	More unity between Autonoma and Carlos III students The mid-semester trip lacked activities
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	I think everything was explained pretty well before I left, I also asked a lot of questions. But I wish I had known that in some university classes there would actually be a decent amount of work it was often articulated to me that there would be hardly anything.

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 Nearly Native or Trail Blazer Craving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.'

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:	Advanced Spanish Syntax
Course Department:	Sede Prim (grammar class)
Instructor:	Beatriz Del Valle
Instruction Language:	Spanish
Comments:	It was the right level of challenging. It used the surrounding area for assignments. For example we had to go to a market and found out information about certain products and speak to students from a local university who studied the same thing as us. The teacher knew the material and was well-papered. We had homework assignments, exams and papers.
Credit Transfer Issues:	No sure! Still getting that sorted out.