Language Immersion in Madrid September 13, 2024
By A student (Middlebury College) - abroad from 01/16/2024 to 05/22/2024 with
Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Madrid
What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Worthwhile.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I loved Madrid but the immersion program was not my first choice, make sure to do your research / feel ready to spend a lot of time in Spanish. |
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) |
I lived in an apartment so I was paying for groceries, spent around $50 weekly on groceries (could have cut down). Transport super affordable. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | Necessary expenses, $60, but more if including fun excursions and activities. Rented a room for around $600 plus utilities. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | NA |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| 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? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | 300 |
| 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? | Movies and shows, don't be afraid to just speak. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Highly recommend apartment style living with local students. |
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 LinguistYou 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! |
Individual Course Reviews
| Course Name/Rating: |
Spanish Short Stories |
| Course Department: | Literature |
| Instructor: | Unknown |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | Clear explanations and help with grammar, cold called. Based on one new short story each day which we analyzed as a class. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Gender and Sexuality in Spain |
| Course Department: | Gender Studies |
| Instructor: | Mayoko Ortega |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | Enthusiastic instructor, interesting readings. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Spanish Painters |
| Course Department: | Art |
| Instructor: | Vela |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | Lots of museum visits, clear explanations from professor, though he was sometimes unorganized in lectures. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
| Course Name/Rating: |
Advanced Grammar |
| Course Department: | NA |
| Instructor: | Carmen |
| Instruction Language: | Spanish |
| Comments: | Great professor, easy to follow and lots of resources / examples provided. Very clear grading standards. |
| Credit Transfer Issues: |
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