Study in Madrid!!! August 12, 2022

By A student (IGS Europe, Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/13/2022 to 06/03/2022 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Madrid

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

I wish I had studied abroad for an entire year. I loved learning about life in Madrid, and by the end of the semester feeling like I belonged there. You also learn so much about how you live independently.

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?	In Madrid, we should be able to live in apartments. Having Spanish roommates is the perfect balance between cultural exposure and not having to worry about parental roles while abroad.
* 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 loved having a mix of classes at the Universidad Carlos III and Sede Prim.

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?	$50
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Use public transportation! Uber adds up!

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?	Spanish 300 course at Middlebury College
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?	Watch shows in Spanish, podcasts, music! If you find fun and seamless ways to integrate the language into your daily life, you'll notice a dramatic improvement in your skills.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live? Select all that apply	Dorm
* Who did you live with? Select all that apply	Local Students International Students
* 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?	The city itself! Learning the language People/friends
* What could be improved?	Living situations (I wish we had the option to live in apartments)
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	I wish I had brought less things with me. I have a habit of overpacking and surprised myself about what I actually needed. Once you're there, you'll also come back with things you purchased and it's great having the option of extra room.

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:	Immigration, Multiculturalism, Human Rights
Course Department:	Universidad Carlos III Getafe
Instructor:	Yolanda Alfonso
Instruction Language:	Spanish
Comments:	Most of the lectures were very boring with so much text on her presentations. However, she was very understanding that we were international students. We had one major project (A group paper and a presentation) which was very manageable!
Credit Transfer Issues:	No issues!

Course Name/Rating:	European Politics
Course Department:	University Carlos III Getafe
Instructor:	Arnau Gutierrz Camps, Aleksandra Sojka
Instruction Language:	Spanish
Comments:	Highly recommend this course! It is very similar to a Midd program with daily readings and discussion based sections. The professors were also incredibly engaging with great organization and a range of projects, including a EU simulation.
Credit Transfer Issues:	No!

Course Name/Rating:	European Union
Course Department:	Sede Prim (Midd School in Spain)
Instructor:	Francisco Seijo
Instruction Language:	Spanish
Comments:	Great course! We learned a lot about realities in Spain relative to the EU. I would highly recommend this course.
Credit Transfer Issues:	No!

Course Name/Rating:	Sintaxis Avanzada
Course Department:	Sede Prim (Middlebury School in Spain)
Instructor:	Carmen Carballo Sanchiz
Instruction Language:	Spanish
Comments:	I loved this course! We learned important colloquial grammatical structures that I would notice myself using immediately after class! The work was very manageable, with daily activities, lecturas, or presentations.
Credit Transfer Issues:	No!