This summer, I spent a month studying abroad in Spain. I have studied Spanish since high school, but I have never had the opportunity to immerse myself in the language and culture of a Spanish-speaking country. I decided to participate in the AIFS study abroad program in Madrid to improve my language skills and learn about Spanish culture through immersion. As part of the program, I took two classes at Universidad Nebrija in Madrid: a Spanish grammar course and a Spanish literature course. Both courses were highly engaging and taught entirely in
Spanish, which definitely furthered my goal of improving my Spanish proficiency. I also learned a lot about Spanish culture and history from my professors, especially in the literature class. The literature professor, Ana, put great emphasis on understanding the historical context of literature
during different eras, and I found it very interesting to hear how history taught from the Spanish point of view. Both of the classes were small in size, particularly the grammar class, so getting involved in class discussions was easy for me, and I learned a lot simply by talking to my professors and classmates.
Academics were only a small part of the whole experience, of course. I spent most of my time
abroad exploring the city of Madrid, traveling around central Spain, and chatting with my host
family. I loved looking at the historic architecture and walking down centuries-old streets while
hunting for the best spot for empanadas in downtown Madrid or a shaded place to nap in Retiro
Park. My program included walking tours of various neighborhoods in Madrid, such as Las
Letras, where great Spanish authors, poets, and playwrights once lived, and it was fascinating to
hear about all the history that had taken place right where I was standing. I spent hours
wandering in the Prado and Reina Sofia art museums, and my classmates and I became regulars
at the taqueria across the street from the university. I also went with friends to see a theater
production of Mamma Mia, which ended up being one of my favorite memories. We sat in the
very top row of the huge theater and tried our best to keep up with the rapid Spanish dialogue.
Outside of Madrid, I had the opportunity to visit Toledo, El Escorial, Salamanca, and Segovia. In
Toledo, I explored both winding, narrow streets and crowded thoroughfares as the city prepared
for its famous Corpus Christi celebrations. One afternoon after class, I spontaneously joined a
group of students from Auburn visiting the beautiful monastery at El Escorial, a huge
Renaissance-era complex set against a backdrop of mountains. Every city I visited had a
cathedral, and they were all magnificent. However, my personal favorite by far was the cathedral
in Salamanca. Not only was the intricately decorated architecture breathtaking, but we were able
to climb up through the cathedral, onto the roof, and into the bell tower! The views were
spectacular and well worth the many flights of stairs. During the final weekend of the program, I
visited Segovia, which is home to an ancient Roman aqueduct and a medieval castle. The
aqueduct, in turn, is home to hundreds of birds, which constantly fly around the structure. I don’t
think I’ve ever seen that many birds in one place! The castle, the Alcázar de Segovia, was
beautiful as well, and the view of the entire city from the top of the tower was incredible.
I stayed with a host family during the program, and I would highly recommend the experience to
any student on a language immersion program! My host mom, Belén, did not speak any English,
and her son Ángel spoke only a small amount. Chatting with my host family over dinner was
invaluable for improving my Spanish, and I noticed a significant difference between when I
arrived and when I left. Both Ángel and Belén were extremely friendly and great cooks, and I
will miss talking to them and watching Spanish game shows in the living room.
Overall, my experience in Spain was a great one. I am now much more confident with the
Spanish language, and I have learned a great deal about the history and culture of Spain. I would
highly recommend immersion experience to anyone learning a language, and I will carry the
memories of this trip with me for the rest of my life.