My Time in Madrid July 28, 2025

By Mary E (Spanish, Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/20/2025 to 12/20/2025 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Madrid

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

I gained not only a high level of Spanish fluency, but also the confidence to be able to live abroad and make travel plans, take classes in a foreign university, and navigate life in a city. I also made memories that I'll cherish for a lifetime across Spain and Europe.

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.	I had a fantastic time at Middlebury. The emphasis on learning the language and true cultural/linguistic immersion made the program so worthwhile in terms of my Spanish development. I truly made lifelong memories while in Spain and became essentially fluent.
* Host Country Program Administration On-site administration of your program
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	I was placed with a host family who ended up becoming like real family to me. They were so welcoming, warm and caring and helped me settle into life in Madrid easily.
* Food:
* Social & Cultural Integration: How integrated did you feel with the local culture?	I joined the women's soccer team at the local university, and that made all the difference in terms of my integration into the local culture. I was able to forge real friendships with my teammates and went out with them, visited their homes, etc.
* Health Care: How well were health issues addressed during the program?	I had to go to the doctor following a stomach illness I got in Morocco, and it was really easy to find a doctor in-network, get a prescription, and have it filled at a local pharmacy.
* Safety:	Madrid is extremely safe.
If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program?	Yes

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)	I had a full meal plan with my host family, which made things really easy. The expenses mostly had to do with international travel on the weekends, which did add up quickly; however, it would be easy to live very cheaply in Madrid if one didn't travel as much as I did.
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	$350 on weekend travel, $50 in other food/expenses
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Probably just cutting down on the amount of travel you do if you are trying to be budget friendly! Also booking very close trips and avoiding areas that are very popular at certain times (like Germany during Oktoberfest and Barcelona for Halloween.)

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?	Advanced
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?	300-level spanish class
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 a host family and join some kind of local group/club!

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 Americans 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?	Emphasis on Spanish learning Option to take classes at a local university
* What could be improved?	More leniency with timeliness while learning to navigate a new city Less harsh grading system
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	N/A

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:	Grammar
Course Department:	Spanish
Instructor:
Instruction Language:
Comments:	This course was extremely challenging and, while I learned a lot, the stress from the difficulty of the course did negatively impact my enjoyment of it.
Credit Transfer Issues:	N/A

Course Name/Rating:	Arte en el Prado
Course Department:	Spanish
Instructor:	Ruth Gallego
Instruction Language:	Spanish
Comments:	This class was a fantastic opportunity to get into the Prado every week and learn about not only the history of Western art but delve into Spanish art history in particular. I would recommend it to anyone!
Credit Transfer Issues:	N/A