Stay in the Moment February 28, 2024

By A student (Conservation Biology, Middlebury College) - abroad from 08/22/2023 to 12/21/2023 with

Middlebury Schools Abroad: Middlebury in Madrid

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

I not only got to know another city and culture, but I got to know another family which was an incredible experience. I also learned so much Spanish which I will carry with me forever.

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	They were AWESOME
* Housing: How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?	Amazing, my host family was incredible
* 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 The students in my program were amazing and fun, the people who worked at our school could not have been nicer and more supportive, and I loved my host family so much.

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 entirely sure what defines a "student's budget"
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week?	300+
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants?	Eat in too, you don't have to eat out all the time.

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?	a 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?	Immerse yourself in it and live with a host family!!

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	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?	Host Family School Madrid
* What could be improved?	Classes were super hard and grading was tough
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program?	To go to one of the local universities.

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 Linguist You 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:	España en Perspectiva
Course Department:	History
Instructor:	Angela
Instruction Language:	Spanish
Comments:	This was an incredibly challenging course but I also have never learned so much in 1 semester.
Credit Transfer Issues:	no.

Course Name/Rating:	Literatura
Course Department:	Literature
Instructor:	Paco
Instruction Language:	Spanish
Comments:	This class was super challenging as there was not really any structure to it.
Credit Transfer Issues:	No.

Course Name/Rating:	Spanish Class
Course Department:	Spanish
Instructor:	Carmen
Instruction Language:	Spanish
Comments:	Carmen is an incredible professor and was able to teach us so much about Spanish culture and the Spanish language at the same time.
Credit Transfer Issues:	No

Course Name/Rating:	Arte - en el museo del Prado
Course Department:	Art
Instructor:	Ruth Gallego
Instruction Language:	Spanish
Comments:	This was such a cool class! Being able to go to the museum every single week to actually look at the paintings we were studying was incredible.
Credit Transfer Issues:	No