SPC student, Tiffany Elliot, shares her experience in Salamanca, Spain with St. Petersburg College after receiving a study abroad scholarship:
“Vamos chicos!” Oh, that sweet melody that glides off our professor’s tongue. It’s the call that lets me know we have wandered far enough and it is time to move on to the next glorious location. What will we see? Will it top this place? Can it be more enchanting then the last spot? It has officially been one week since our group has arrived in Salamanca but, it feels as if a month has passed. My days are filled with adventure, culture, and interpreting hand gestures with the limited Spanish vocabulary I have. My pessimistic mind has been given a dose of positive reinforcement with all the new vocabulary I have been able to pick up.
Before the journey of studying abroad began, my Spanish comprehension was slow and if I was honest, it was barely existent. We had to cram one semester into three weeks hence, I was not sure I could truly learn anything in such a short period of time. However, in just a few days into the program, I can surprisingly pick up a few key words. My days are immersed in the soothing tones of the Spanish language and I get plenty of opportunities to practice. Between my loving Spanish family, my seemingly short classes, and ordering dinner at restaurants, I have become accustom to reaching into the corners of my brain to grasp the words that once eluded me.
I have changed! I am sure my percentage of brain power has increased! Each day is jam packed with new information about linguistic studies and culture. Twenty-three strangers have now become family, as we gawk in harmony at the historic buildings that engulf Spain. Our long walks turn into joyous adventures through small towns, castles, and hilltops. Am I still in school? It does not seem as though I am racking my brain trying to learn. In fact, it feels as if I am just enjoying the journey and learning with ease.
Studying Spanish in Spain is a simple concept and yet, it is a brilliant one. As a student I am not just hearing about the history of Spain I am viewing it, touching it, and truly understanding it. My ears are learning to detect the difference in accents and the ways a word can be pronounced. I’m learning more with less effort by being immersed in the language. I’ve come to realize that learning is all in the journey!”-Tiffany Elliot, SPC student, Spain 2018
Questions? Don’t hesitate to contact us. We are here to help you!
blog.spcollege.edu/international | 727-341-4731 | studyabroad@spcollege.edu