Communicating in Spanish while exploring historic towns during study abroad in Spain.
The history and culture of Spain
– Angela Mclenan, SPC Student, Spain Program, June 2019
Studying abroad in Salamanca is more than learning Spanish. It is an adventure deep into the history and culture of Spain from the people who know it best!!
From day one, the welcoming hugs from my host family and familiar faces of SPC made this an easy approach for a first time study abroad student. We started with a guided tour through the city and in following days we learned more in- depth history.
With all the new experiences to take in, you lose yourself to completely feel submerged in the culture while learning a language and continuing your college degree.
An invaluable learning experience
– Symantha Senn, SPC Student, Spain Program, June 2019
As a recipient of a study abroad scholarship, I have had an amazing opportunity these past three weeks to learn Spanish in Spain. Picture a little city called Salamanca where there are churches and ancient buildings galore, each with a different unique story.
Although it was the most intensive course I have ever faced, each professor that worked there was friendly and made sure that everyone understood the content. Learning a language is very difficult, but the experience that I have gained with this program is invaluable.
Being immersed in the culture of Spain and being wrapped in the beauty of Spanish was an amazing time and I am grateful to have been a part of another SPC study abroad program.
Immersion in Spain and its culture
– Skippi Mahas, SPC Student, Spain Program, June 2019
Studying abroad is an opportunity that should not be passed up. I had always wanted to participate in a program like this, so when the opportunity arose, I jumped on it and am not disappointed at all.
As soon as I stepped off the bus in Salamanca, my host mom greeted me with open, welcoming arms. It was a bit difficult to communicate with her at first because she didn’t speak English and I was nowhere near good enough to speak in Spanish. However, after a couple of days , communication was no problem.
Being immersed in the culture and language made learning Spanish so much easier. During the class, you learn a lot of information in a short period of time but practicing with your family and the people in the community helps more than you could imagine.
The instructors at Estudio Sampere are fantastic. They seem to really care about the students and are passionate about their jobs. I can’t even begin to describe it; instead, you should come to Spain next summer to see it for yourself.
Memorable challenges
– Ena Salkicic, SPC Student, Spain Program, June 2019
My time in Salamanca was quite an interesting one. I spent three weeks with a host mother living with two other roommates. Our walk to school was thirty minutes, but it was good because we got in a lot of exercise to compensate for all the carbs we ate, so I enjoyed it.
There were a lot of excursions on this trip which made it a little difficult to keep up with school work as my roommate and I moved up a level a week in the course.
There was definitely a lot of necessary studying and tutoring was offered every morning at 10:00 am in a café to work with the professors. If you are planning on going to Spanish III for this trip, I highly suggest being well-versed in most all of the tenses leading up to future and subjunctive.
Overall, I think this journey was definitely an eye-opener and will remember it for years to come.
Spanish-only immersion
– Kervin, Ryan Michael, SPC Student, Spain Program, June 2019
My experience with SPC in Spain was amazing. The program has students live with a Spanish-speaking family in an entirely Spanish-speaking environment. This has helped me learn Spanish significantly better than any classroom experience in the United States.
The immersion incorporated in this program really helps students experience a new culture and way of life. The Spanish classes are also great and the professors are very kind and helpful. They incorporate Spanish constantly, but are very patient and just want us to learn and understand Spanish.
The SPC España study abroad program is a great experience!
___
Thank you for sharing Angela, Symantha, Skippi, Ena, and Kervin!
Questions? Don’t hesitate to contact us. We are here to help you!
blog.spcollege.edu/international | 727-341-4735 | studyabroad@spcollege.edu
Cover image: Salamanca Spain. Photo by mmmmngai@rogers.com, Wikimedia Commons [CC BY-SA 2.0].
