Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Great experience but only for people who want to focus on Spanish February 19, 2023

By (Spanish, Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/15/2022 to 12/23/2022 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Madrid

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I learned how difficult it is to live somewhere that doesn't speak your native language, learned a ton of Spanish, and yes it was worthwhile.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? None

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Fantastic educational experience. Challenging, but not too much work, great teachers, and lots of resources to help.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Some of the policies implemented by the administration made no sense to me - in particular the one about missing class.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I stayed at a residencia (Claraval) and it was super clean, quiet, and had a great central location.

* Food:

Not the biggest fan of Spanish food.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I only took classes with International students so I wasn't super integrated. If you want greater integration, take courses at the local universities.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

FANTASTIC health care. I was so impressed with the healthcare resources in Spain. So accessible. Thought it was better than the US.

* Safety:

Madrid was safe.

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

I would choose the same program retrospectively because I'm so happy with how much my Spanish has improved. With that said, it was SO hard adjusting to Madrid. The program has such a big focus on the Spanish language and it's hard to thrive socially if you're on the lower ability level Spanish. I probably would've been happier abroad if there was less of an emphasis on the language and more leniency with English.

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? more than 200
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? live with a host family or make sure your kitchen is big enough/useable

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? 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? Be patient with the proccess!

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Dorm
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Location
  • Ability to Travel
  • Classes
* What could be improved?
  • Policy about absences
  • Administration
  • Diversity of course offerings
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? The program is extraordinarily strict on missing classes. If you miss one class, then you get a point off your grade. Additionally, if you are sick, you have to get a doctor's note to excuse your absence. Even if you had COVID, you were expected to come to class with a mask. Very strange.

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Art in the Prado
Course Department: n/a
Instructor: Ruth Gallego
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: Great class!
Credit Transfer Issues: no issues
Course Name/Rating:

Literature and Culture
Course Department: n/a
Instructor: Paco
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: Great class!
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Advanced Communication
Course Department: n/a
Instructor: Carmen
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: She's a queen
Credit Transfer Issues: no issues
Course Name/Rating:

European Union
Course Department: n/a
Instructor: Sejio
Instruction Language: Spanish
Comments: I learned a lot about Spanish culture and European culture through this class- but I wish it was more participation based.
Credit Transfer Issues: n/a