Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Every day I wish I could go back to Madrid! Past Review

By (Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/15/2018 to 06/02/2018 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Madrid

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Improved Spanish level, new friends from around the world, ability to live on my own, YES

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.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

* Food:

They didn't provide us with any food but the cuisine in Madrid is delicious.

* 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

Although the administration can be problematic and I didn't love all of my classes, it's a really great program, especially if you want to improve your Spanish.

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 euros
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Make sure you live in a place where you have access to a kitchen because groceries are typically very affordable and you'll save a lot of money cooking for yourself vs. eating out or getting a meal plan.

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? 324
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? Live with native speakers! Even better if you can find an apartment with people your own age because you are more likely to be friends and spend time getting to know the culture through their eyes.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Other
* 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?
  • Madrid as a city (El Retiro especially!)
  • Improving my Spanish
  • Making new friends
* What could be improved?
  • Administrative attitudes
  • Housing processes
  • accessibility of housing costs
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I learned not to live in a residence. They are a giant waste of money! Opt for an apartment, if possible.

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:

Sintaxis Avanzada
Course Department: Spanish
Instructor: Carmen Carballo
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: It was not super challenging. We had no field trips. The teacher was fine. I participated in class less than I would have at my home institution because I didn't feel that the professor liked me much. We were assessed with papers, exams, and oral presentations.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Contemporary Spain through literature and culture
Course Department: Spanish
Instructor: Francisco Layna
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: It was somewhat challenging because the concepts were very abstract. Paco took us on a walk around the neighborhood once so that we could see different aspects of the city related to the poems we were reading. He is an incredibly intelligent man, but sometimes the coursework was unclear. We were assessed with papers and a midterm exam.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Blogging en España
Course Department: Spanish
Instructor: Armando Figueroa
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: It wasn't necessarily super challenging but it was the best Spanish class I've ever taken. Armando created mini grammar quizzes based on the mistakes we made in the papers we turned in to him which was far more useful than any grammar book I've ever had. We talked about current events every day which helped me feel more connected to Spain. I participated a bunch because it was a tiny class. We were assessed with papers and a final project.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Farmacología de la Conducta
Course Department: Facultad de Psicología
Instructor: Jamie Iglesias and Alicia Gonzalez Baeza
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: It was challenging because it was I science course in a second language, but I don't think it would have been terribly difficult if it were taught in English. The teachers were both very knowledgeable and well-prepared. There weren't many opportunities to participate in class but I did all the work. We had three papers/homework assignments and a final exam worth 70% of our grade.
Credit Transfer Issues: Not yet, that I know of.