A vibrant city, though academics often fell flat Past Review

By (American Studies, Middlebury College) - abroad from 02/02/2018 to 06/17/2018 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Cordoba, Spain

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
My experience abroad was worthwhile because I had other friends in my program and in Europe and because I learned a great deal about myself and what I want for my future, but not because of the university i was studying at or the academic courses I was taking.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

This program was not academically rigorous.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

There was little to no on-site administration of this program.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I was ultimately satisfied with my living arrangements, but the process of finding housing was disorganized and chaotic.

* Food:

The food in Cordoba was inexpensive and accessible.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

This program required students to live with non-english speaking students and to speak only Spanish, but opportunities to immerse oneself in local culture and community were largely un-fascilitated.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The healthcare system was affordable and navigable if you were proficient in Spanish, otherwise there was little assistance from program staff aside from basic orientation to local clinics and hospitals.

* Safety:

For me - a white, athletic, bearded man - Córdoba was a very safe city. I experiences no harassment or theft and witnessed no crime while I was living there.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Though, for many reasons, I would have preferred to be in Madrid, there is nothing like spending time in a smaller city to get to know - and fall in love with - Spain.

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)

Food and living expenses were cheap in Córdoba and I had little trouble with money.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $40
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Cook in your apartment and always get a free tapa with your drinks! Fly budget airlines and take buses over trains if you can.

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

This program required us to only speak in Spanish.

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 level
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? Find native speakers to practice with and watch lots of Spanish TV.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
* 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?
  • Location
  • Local culture and history
* What could be improved?
  • Academics
  • Program support
  • Orientation prior to departure
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I knew we would have relatively little support or structure in Córdoba, but just how little support and structure we had was surprising. I wish we had had at least one staff person on site and had had at least one weekly cultural program or opportunity.

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:

Sintaxis Nivel Avanzado

Course Department: UCO Idiomas
Instructor: Esther
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: This was my favorite course because Ether taught us about culture and history as well as language. It was my favorite language class I've ever taken.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

El Llegado Artistico de Al-Andalus

Course Department: Art History
Instructor: Alicia
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: This course was one of my favorites because Alicia is used to teaching Middlebury students. It was not highly rigorous, but provided good opportunities to work with Spanish students.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

La Historia Actual de España

Course Department: History
Instructor: Multiple
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: This class cycled through three different instructors over the course of the semester and consisted of long-winded lectures and a final exam that was worth 80% of the grade. I did not enjoy this course.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Historia de los EE.UU.

Course Department: History
Instructor: Multiple
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: This course cycled through three instructors over the course of the semester and ultimately became extremely disorganized and aimless. It was interesting to learn about the USA in the context of Spain, but that was not a focus of the syllabus.
Credit Transfer Issues: