My language skills improved more than I ever could have imagined Past Review
By Maxwell C (Philosophy and Spanish, Tufts University) for
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Madrid
My study abroad was the best time of my life. I experienced tremendous personal growth and I consider myself very fortunate for having had the opportunity
Personal Information
| The term and year this program took place: | Spring 2009 |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The professors were excellent and the course material was generally good but it frustrated me to be in classes with the same 25 Americans every day. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The department on the Middlebury campus in Vermont did an adequate job. The department in Spain was phenomenal. The entire time I was there I they were concerned with my well-being and progress. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
I lived in an apartment with four other people, roughly my age. Two of the four were Spaniards and the others were Europeans with whom my only common language was Spanish. The apartment was in the center of Madrid and the accomodations were a bit tight but definitely adequate. Middlebury in Spain found me an apartment that coincided perfectly with what I was looking for. <br /><br /> Location was perfect--could not have been better. There were several things that happened while I was living there that were unpleasant (i.e. construction in the neighboring apartment, internet problems, broken washing machine that flooded my bedroom twice...) |
| * Food: |
Spanish food is excellent. If you have an open mind and are willing to try new things you will be very satisfied. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The nightlife in Madrid is fantastic. There are also plenty of public festivals and events year-round. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
I needed to go to the doctor several times as a result of a prolonged cough. The doctor's office recommended by the program was ideal: clean, high-tech, and English-speaking. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
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Finances
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* 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | <$100 |
Language
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| Language acquisition improvement? |
My language skills improved to a greater degree than I ever could have imagined. It was not a result of the program but rather a combination of luck (finding housing, jobs, etc.) and my own initiative. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | If you are looking for a program that will really help integrate you into Spanish culture and quickly improve your language skills, this is not it. I was surrounded by Americans who didn't take the language contract seriously. If, however, you want the comfort of being in an American-style program I would recommend the program to you. On paper, the program takes language and integration very seriously but the fact of the matter is that it is easy to spend an entire semester surrounded by Americans speaking English. |
