How the Spanish Major Has Prepared Me for the Future

Entering college at UMass Amherst, I was set on becoming a teacher. I had worked as a mentor for students of English as a second language in my high school, and I thought that was what I wanted to pursue in the future. However, after a full year of being an education major, I discovered that my true passion was not for teaching, but for language instead. 

My favorite classes in high school were always my Spanish classes. Being able to communicate in a language that allowed me to think differently was always intriguing to me and I knew that in college I needed to continue. After taking some general education requirement classes, I decided to become a double major in Spanish and Linguistics. Originally, I was hesitant to make the switch because I was unfamiliar with jobs related to these majors. However, once I started taking classes I realized I was on the right track. 

One of the first Spanish courses I took at UMass was Conversational Spanish (SPAN 301). I took this class to improve my Spanish-speaking abilities, but I gained so much more. My professor was from Colombia, and I was always so interested in the different words and phrases she would use because I had never heard them before. I would compare her speech to previous teachers I had in high school, who taught me Spanish from Spain, and I was always eager to discover more differences in the Spanish-speaking world. Taking this class sparked my interest in phonetics and phonology, and when I took those linguistics courses, I decided that I wanted to pursue a career in an area related to them. 

The Spanish Program at UMass also provided me with the opportunity to participate in a UMass-specific study abroad program in Salamanca, Spain. This program allowed me to expand my Spanish skills, and gain real-world practice with the language. Returning to UMass, I had more confidence in my language skills. Similarly, I also had the option to study abroad for a semester in Granada, Spain, and I decided to go. Both of these abroad experiences helped me gain a wider perspective on the world and have first-time experiences in a language other than English. For example, I had to discuss my phone plan with a company on the phone in Spain, and I have never even done that in English. There are words and phrases I learned just by having that conversation that I could not even translate to English, but I know their meanings. Additionally, my courses in Granada helped me solidify my plan for what I wanted to pursue as a career in the future. I loved my classes, specifically ‘Spanish Linguistics’ and ‘The Diversity of Spanish in the World.’ My curiosity expanded through each class session, and I discovered that I wanted to combine my love for phonetics/phonology with my passion for Spanish and helping others and pursue a career in Bilingual Speech-Language Pathology. 

Furthermore, the most impactful Spanish courses I have taken on the UMass campus have been my integrative experience classes. In the first part of the two-class course, Professor Luis Marentes helped us understand the career possibilities for Spanish majors beyond teaching and provided us with multiple opportunities to get involved with different Spanish-speaking communities in Western Massachusetts. From that class, my main takeaway was that Spanish majors are unique because we can use our bilingual perspective to create a community. There are endless opportunities for students in this major, they are just not as familiar to us as teaching. Similarly, the second part of my integrative experience with Professor Albert Lloret was more reflection-based. Reflecting on our time as Spanish majors is essential because we learn more about ourselves and how we can apply our experiences to the future. I am grateful for both of these courses, and I truly believe that without them I would be lost.

Ultimately, I am extremely happy with my decision to switch to the Spanish Major. The advisors and professors have always been incredibly supportive of me, and they have provided me with opportunities for the future that I did not even think were possible. I have connected with people who are passionate about language just as I am, and I am confident that this major has prepared me to take on the working world.

How to Adjust to a Foreign Place

Staying in a new country for a long period of time can be a daunting experience for anybody. In my case, I was more excited than nervous when I first arrived. After about a week, however, I started to feel a little homesick, but I found that being as adventurous as I possibly could and seeking out other people was the best way to make myself more comfortable. 

For example, when I first arrived, one of my professors told our class about an “intercambio” option at our university. This is an arrangement where she would put us in touch with a Spanish student from our university so that we could practice our Spanish and these native students could practice their English. I ended up being paired with an adult student who had gone back to school after working for a little while. She took me under her wing and became like a second mom to me while I was there. She was an English major, and when I told her I was from Massachusetts, she was so excited to talk to me about native american and colonial literature. She showed me around the city and gave me information about all of the holidays and festivals that took place in Sevilla while I shared what living near Boston was like. 

One of the biggest differences to which I had a hard time adjusting while I was in Spain was my living environment. I was living in a “residencia,” so my host parents didn’t live in our apartment, but they came over everyday to cook lunch and dinner for us, clean our rooms, and do our laundry. During meal times, they never ate with us; they would cook by themselves, set the food down for all 16 of us, and clean up by themselves. I offered to help them clean several times, but they always turned me down. I had a hard time adjusting to this type of environment because I felt like a constant inconvenience to them. They were always doing so much for us, and I felt like I wasn’t doing anything in return. Even the people in my program that stayed in a dorm had a cleaning service that came to their room every two weeks. Obviously, this is not true in the United States. I wouldn’t even expect my own parents to cook and clean up after me. Having other Americans in my apartment that were feeling the same way made this adjustment a little easier. We all knew that we felt the same way, and although there was little that they would let us help with, knowing that there were other people there who were experiencing and feeling the same things that I was made me feel better. 

These little details can make all the difference in a new country. They may seem like obvious and insignificant pieces of information, but for me, they were elements that helped me to create a home away from home.

Cross-Disciplinary Connections

When we talk about language, we have a tendency to view it as an art form that belongs in the Humanities & Fine Arts category. Language studies are always considered to be completely unrelated to the sciences, but why? 

When I first arrived at UMass, I had not yet declared my major, and people would always ask me what type of track I was thinking about pursuing. Almost every new person that I met asked, “do you think you want to major in something in the humanities or in STEM?” I didn’t think that there was anything abnormal about this statement at the time, but now I have to wonder why these two fields are mutually exclusive. 

After I declared Spanish as my major, I was searching for a minor or another major to complement it. I was unsure what I wanted to do after I graduated, but I felt like an IT minor would be beneficial no matter what kind of career I ended up choosing. I thought that I would have to take a bunch of computer science classes that had nothing to do with Spanish, but I was wrong. One of the first courses that I took was a linguistics class where we analyzed language patterns with coding software. Learning about new languages in this way completely changed the way that I approached my Spanish classes. It gave me a more finite understanding of the major and it helped me to identify the patterns and attributes that exist in all languages, not just Spanish. We often assume that because languages are based on free communication, they must lack logic, but this is simply not true. Every language started from a basic set of rules, and as time has gone on, we have molded these systems to fit our specific needs, just like the evolution of technology and other scientific innovations. So, why is it that people assume that if you’re good at math, you must be terrible at writing? The best answer that I have come up with is: there is no basis for this theory. It is completely false. 

I also took an English class this semester that focused on Adobe InDesign. We spent the semester learning about different publishing techniques/practices and for our final project, we were assigned with creating a book from scratch. Again, it had never occurred to me to consider that language and technology could complement each other so well. When someone says that they work in publishing, most people would automatically assume that they read all day long. The reality behind this career is that yes, it does involve a great deal of reading, but it also requires technical skills. A book can’t be printed unless someone types, organizes, designs, and edits it first, and more often than not, you have to know how to troubleshoot in case you encounter any problems with the software. 

I think part of the reason why I still enjoy studying languages so much is because they can be both a free form of communication and an applied science. I am so glad that I decided to take classes outside of my major and the humanities and fine arts “hub”  because I have been able to form connections between different disciplines and find a wide range of career options that I am interested in. The best advice that I can give to current humanities majors is this: don’t listen to people that say that language and math/science are two different fields. They are just wrong. 

Spanish as Part of My Ethnic Identity

My perceptions of the Spanish-speaking world have changed a lot these past years as a Spanish major. When I decided to major in Spanish, I thought most of my classes would have been focused on grammar and the language itself, however, I have taken so many classes around culture, literature, and history.

I grew up speaking only Spanish at home – my family is Salvadoran, so at home I would be exposed to my Salvadoran heritage and culture. Therefore, I’m a Spanish heritage speaker. I can speak, understand, read and write in Spanish, but I struggle with grammar because I was never taught that in school the way I learned English. Because of this, many Hispanic/Latinx students may be exposed more to the English language than their Spanish heritage language. They are taught to read, write, and orally communicate in English in school and public areas, whereas in Spanish, they may only acquire it from family at home, other relatives, and maybe friends.

This is what influenced me to major in Spanish as it is part of my own ethnic identity. Little did I know that my perceptions of the Spanish-speaking world would change this much–I have learned more about other Latinx cultures aside from my own. When I studied abroad in Spain this past summer, I was immersed in a culture where they speak the same language, but with a different dialect and culture. I know many words and expressions that Salvadorans use, but now I have been exposed to so many other Spanish dialects that I have loved learning about. Being in college, I have met so many individuals from different Spanish-speaking countries and I have learned so much from them–their dialects, customs, and traditions. This has made me want to continue to engage and learn from the Spanish-speaking world.

More and more Hispanic/Latinx students have been attending public schools in the United States, which means that there is an increasing need for trained Spanish teachers to work with Spanish heritage speaking students. Deciding to double major in Spanish and Community Education & Social Change has really impacted the way I view the language, my community, and myself. Furthermore, I have learned that when heritage speakers have a limited foundation in Spanish literacy, they often encounter difficulties in acquiring fundamental skills in English–which is necessary for pursuing a higher education in America. Proficiency and literacy in Spanish at advanced levels are crucial factors that influence academic success and achievement. Thus, heritage speakers with high proficiencies in their first language are likely to acquire higher levels of conceptual abilities in their second language. Fluency in two languages is a significant advantage, as it enables individuals to expand on their cognitive abilities. This expansion of abilities will allow Hispanic/Latinx students to succeed academically and pursue advanced education.

Spanish heritage speakers tend to struggle with language anxiety in and outside of the Spanish classroom because of their low proficiency levels; this is due to limited opportunities to practice Spanish in the community and in educational settings. Teachers who have awareness of Spanish cultural dialects will be able to properly educate Spanish to heritage speakers. As a future educator, I hope to help other heritage speakers who may have the same experience. Majoring in Spanish has created a sense of community for me, as the Spanish language and my Salvadoran culture are a big part of my ethnic identity.

What to Know before Studying Abroad in Spain

Two summers ago, I studied abroad in Salamanca with UMass’s Summer in Salamanca Study Abroad program with API. In the months preceding the trip, I spent hours researching what to wear, what to bring, how to pack, how to act, and anything else you might wonder before studying abroad. This research, though important, was more or less unhelpful. Often, I was reading from the perspective of someone who didn’t mind sticking out as an American. My goal for my trip was to blend in as much as possible. By this, I mean that while I was in Spain, I wanted to be a Spaniard, and with this goal in mind, I learned many things. Please keep in mind that every area and city in Spain is not the same. I am not a Spaniard so I cannot speak on all of Spanish culture, however, this is just what I have learned through my own experience. With that being said, I am going to tell you what I wish I would have known before going abroad.

First, we will start with how to pack and what to wear. Though this may seem trivial, as Americans, I will make the generalization that we do not know how to dress (here I am quoting the Spaniards I have known over the years). If you want to fit in in Spain, you must dress the part. Just look nice! Do not go out in pajamas or sweats. If you are going in the warmer months, do not wear jean shorts. Nobody wears those, at least where I was staying. Stick with flowy pants, dresses, and skirts. If you are going in the colder months, bring clothes to layer, and don’t just live in athleticwear. As for packing, I recommend bringing as little as possible and buying clothes there. Obviously bring the basics and things you know you will wear, but shopping in Spain is a wonderful experience and I highly recommend underpacking rather than overpacking. Also, most importantly bring a COMFY pair of shoes. You will be walking far more than you are used to and having a comfy pair of shoes is almost as important as bringing your passport. This is definitely not the time to try out a new pair of cute shoes.

Next, it’s important to know that Spaniards are very curt and straightforward. They are not excessively polite as Americans are, which means they are not being rude, they are being normal. For example, after I had been staying with my host mom for a couple of weeks, we were walking together and suddenly she burst out “Why is your nose ring SO big?!” (For context, my nose ring was a small silver hoop, no bigger than any normal nose ring and you can barely see it in photos.) I looked at her utterly terrified because the way she said it seemed like she was angry. I responded by telling her I didn’t think it was THAT big and I asked if it offended her. She said that it didn’t offend her, she just didn’t like it and she wouldn’t let her daughter do that. (Funnily enough, she had a tiny diamond stud in her nose.) I walked away from the situation quite horrified because I thought she was offended, but really she just wanted to let me know how she felt and that was it.

Also, words like “please,” “thank you,” and “I’m sorry” are reserved for more meaningful situations. Americans are known for saying these things all the time whereas Spaniards don’t do this. For example, if someone bumps into you on a bus or train, they will not stop to say “Oh no, I’m so sorry” or “Pardon me!” because it is generally assumed that if someone bumps into you, they did not mean to do it. When ordering at a restaurant, you do not say “May I please have…” or “Can I have… please,” you would say “I want,” “I’ll have,” or “I’d like.” (in Spanish obviously). Lastly, do not tip. It is not something that is done. When I was in Spain, I would go out with a bunch of girls to dinner and when the bill would come, there would be a huge debate about whether or not we should leave a tip. They would say “But I feel bad, I’ve never not tipped before” and it was this whole argument. Quite frankly, it was rather embarrassing. You shouldn’t try to apply your culture to other cultures. You don’t tip in Spain because people like hairdressers, waiters/waitresses, tattoo artists, etc. all have entire careers where they are actually paid. They get benefits such as healthcare and they get a livable wage. They do not need to make money off of the customers. Also, when you go to dinner, you should choose one person to pay and you can pay that person back if you’d like, but it’s very uncommon to ask a waiter to split the bill. Depending on where you are, they might not even know how to do that. It’s common in Spanish culture for one person to pay because friends often take turns paying. So, if you ask a waiter to split your bill eight ways, they will probably look at you like you are crazy.

At the grocery store, you have to put all of your things in a bag yourself and you have to bring your own bags. You will go to the cash register, they will scan your things, charge you, and then you must move out of the way for the next customer. You must race to grab your things and move out of the way before the next customer has finished their transaction. I’m not going to lie, it is quite stressful the first time you do it. Also, pharmacies are their own separate store. It is not like in the U.S. where you can go to a convenience store and there will be Advil and stuff like that. You have to go to a pharmacy specifically, and everything will be behind the counter. You must tell the attendant what you want and they will bring it for you. I actually thought it was really nice because you don’t have to spend forever trying to figure out what you want, but others on my trip found it pretty annoying. 

If you stay with a host family, it will likely be difficult to adjust to the Spanish eating schedule. They generally do not eat breakfast. Maybe a slice of toast with their coffee, but not often. Lunch is the biggest meal of the day, normally around 2 or 3 and it is normally eaten at home. Dinner is not usually until 9 or even 10. For me, this was not necessarily a huge adjustment because growing up, I did not usually eat breakfast and I would not eat lunch until I arrived home from school around 2:30 or 3. Since coming to college I have begun eating breakfast, but at the time that I went, it wasn’t a big change. However, a lot of the students on my trip had a huge problem with it. Students demanded that their host families make them breakfast and they would snack all throughout classes and until lunchtime. A lot of students also didn’t like that dinner was so late. It was a pretty large area of complaint among my companions and many students complained to the program about it. Once again, I think this is an issue of trying to apply your own culture to another person’s culture. You should not study abroad if you are not prepared to change your way of life and your way of thinking.

My last piece of advice is to have so much fun and be yourself. You will likely not be a twenty-something in Spain again and the people you meet will likely never see you again. Learn all that you can, ask all of the questions. You are there to learn and if someone is mad at you for asking too many questions, then find someone else to answer your questions. Live in every single moment, whether it’s an excursion, reading in your bed, or an exam, because all of it lasts for such a short time and will become a small space of time in your memory. Learn who you are when you are pulled from everything you know, and be someone you would be proud to know. Studying abroad will change the way you think and the way you view the world and you should be grateful for every moment.

By Adelyn Hoyt

WWOOFing as an Integrative Spanish Experience

During the first section of this course,  the class component you are supposed to take before you study abroad,  we had members of the second part of the class that I am posting from now (494RI) come in and talk about their study abroad experiences. One of the students spoke of his experience studying abroad and volunteering at a mango farm in Colombia through a program called WWOOF, or World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms.  The basic premise of this program was that volunteers from wherever could come work on registered Organic Farms for  a decided upon length ( anywhere from a day to multiple months)  in exchange for “free” food and board. Instantly, as someone who loves nature and gardening, my interest was piqued. I sought out a similar experience for myself to have during that following winter break. 

My goal was to have a trip where I could meet others from different cultures and backgrounds, and to potentially have an experience where I could practice my Spanish language use. I couldn’t afford to travel all the way to Colombia at the time, and also felt that it might not be entirely safe for me to travel there by myself. Instead, I researched opportunities within the country and landed upon a turmeric farm in Central Florida. I was excited because it looked like a very welcoming space, the work sounded fun, and the people who had left reviews before me were from all over the world: Germany,  France, Mexico, Canada, etc. etc. . 

I spent two weeks on the farm in January 2023.  I would definitely say that it was a life-changing experience, and that I got very lucky with the hosts I signed up with and the other volunteers who I ended up working with. The work was easy, safe, and fun–  almost meditative. My total cost for the trip was just under $200, which included a plane ticket and some gas money I offered to the other volunteers there who drove us around in their cars. I essentially was able to pay for everything else, a bed and three delicious meals a day, through my work. We were only working around 9 hours a day, 5 days a week. In our free time, the other volunteers and I would go for runs, cook and bake together, hike in the surrounding woods, visit local water holes and swim, and play guitar and sing around campfires. The work was so enjoyable that some of us would do more of it in our free time–more time out in the fields digging up the roots, washing the roots, and preparing them to be sent out to the vendors. It was like camp, but better. 

Though many volunteers came and went during my time there and I made many friends that I still stay in contact with to this day, there ended up not being anyone else on the farm with me who knew how to speak Spanish. However, I do believe that if an individual signed up for an experience through WWOOF,  they could make it an integrative Spanish learning experience as well if they selected a location within a Spanish-speaking country or with hosts that speak primarily Spanish. I was lucky and had already completed my integrative experience for my major the summer prior in Madrid in 2022, but I could see WWOOFing as a viable route to completing the integrative major requirement in a very unique, cost-effective, and enjoyable way.

I would definitely recommend this idea to anyone looking for a fun, hands-on getaway, and to future Spanish majors as an opportunity for them to complete their integrative experience component of the course! 

By Livia Iwanicki

Realizing my Cultural Privilege

It wasn’t until I was encouraged to reflect on my cultural enlightenment from being a UMASS student that I realized how fortunate I was to have been raised in Dorchester. In highschool, I was part of a program called METCO, which allowed inner city kids in Boston to travel to suburbs to study. I attended school in Brookline. Because of that, I grew up around a wide variety of ethnicities and received an education that ranged to be representative of different populations.

My school was very liberal and used a lot of its time and resources to shed light on historical and educational discrepancies. My US history course teacher made sure to tell both sides of the story and express that the textbook had a tendency to white wash history and therefore would fill in the gaps, whether that included brutality or affluence. I also took an African American history course in my senior year and throughout my years was in a seminar for Black and Latinx students. We had student body assemblies for minority and lgbtqia+ communities every year, with panels from professionals and student and faculty participation. I also had the opportunity to travel with a group called “The Floating Doctors” through a program at Brookline High. We traveled with medical staff to remote indigenous villages and were able to see the ways that other cultures lived and their liveliness. We weren’t there with a sense of pity or believing ourselves to be saviors but just to inform them about health practices and learn about their ways of life without assessing whether it was “wrong” or “right.”

Something that was along the lines of all of this at the university was in Sut Jhally’s Race, Inequality and Representation course. It’s a course that I highly recommend for cultural and historical insight. He touches on a lot of Black History that wouldn’t usually be known among students who don’t have prior experience with the topic. I even learned some things that I didn’t know about Black History, like how Martin Luther King wasn’t pursued and heavily pursued by the FBI until he opposed the Vietnam war and started speaking on issues of class.

By Kaitlyn Harris

Living in Costa Rica

Studying abroad in Costa Rica has profoundly shifted my perspective on the Spanish-speaking world. Prior to this experience, my knowledge was primarily limited to the language and a few cultural stereotypes. However, living in Costa Rica unveiled a vibrant and multifaceted world I had never fully appreciated.

The most notable change has been recognizing the immense diversity within the Spanish-speaking world. I came to understand that each country has its unique cultural identity, shaped by its history, geography, and people. The customs, traditions, and way of life in Costa Rica were distinct from what I had previously encountered in textbooks, shedding light on the rich tapestry of Hispanic cultures.

Moreover, my grasp of the Spanish language transformed from a mere academic skill to a practical and essential means of communication. Immersed in everyday conversations, I became attuned to regional dialects and colloquial expressions, making me more fluent and culturally sensitive.

Costa Rica’s commitment to environmental conservation, its breathtaking landscapes, and the profound influence of nature on its culture made me realize the intimate relationship between environment and culture in the Spanish-speaking world. This insight prompted me to delve deeper into the eco-conscious attitudes and practices of other Hispanic nations.

Lastly, the warmth and hospitality of the Costa Rican people revealed the profound importance of relationships in Hispanic cultures. Their strong sense of community and family values emphasized the significance of human connections, prompting me to reevaluate my own priorities and the value of interpersonal bonds.

In summary, my study abroad experience in Costa Rica has expanded my view of the Spanish-speaking world by highlighting its rich diversity, deepening my connection to the Spanish language, fostering my awareness of the environment-culture interplay, and underscoring the importance of relationships within Hispanic societies. This transformative journey has enriched my perspective on this dynamic and multifaceted global community.

 Here’s a list of my favorite experiences I had while I was there:

Manuel Antonio

  • Met a shaman and, had it not been for the lack of time, would have undergone an energy reading. He told me about his time spent in Denver and his sister, who spreads awareness of their tribe in New York.
  • Saw monkeys throughout town and sloths resting on the beach
  • Went parasailing!

Puerto Viejo

  • I sat by the ocean with live Calypso music in the background under the twinkle lights of the restaurant behind me
  • Tried some jerk chicken from the street vendors who bathed in the sun playing dominoes and drinking

Montezuma

  • Watched a fire show and spoke with local musicians
  • Went to a fugata party with those same locals late into the night

Bocas del toro

  • Danced the night away in clubs that sat right above the water and soaked in the most beautiful views

Guatemala

  • Climbed a live volcano and ate marshmallows roasted from its heat
  • Watched chocolate being made from scratch
  • Watched a weaver in action
  • Visited a Mayan honey farm

La Fortuna

  • Rested under a gorgeous waterfall and bathed in hot springs

Jaco

  • Talked through the night with Nicaraguan immigrants

By Kaitlyn Harris

Advice for Future Majors

I gave a presentation recently in my Spanish class that you take as a requirement to end your chapter as a Spanish major. The first thing that it made me reflect on was the fact that throughout my time in college, I haven’t necessarily landed on a definite path. Sometimes this is something that worries me, especially when other people ask questions but I’ve realized that it’s a gift in how many paths there are for me to take. And aside from that decision, I also realize that I was extremely fortunate in the majors that I chose despite my current state of ambiguity. Being a Spanish major has allowed me to undergo a lot of personal growth. The opportunities that were afforded me due to studying Spanish and the mindset that I adopted as a Spanish major were pivotal in how I navigated my college years. So when I’m asked to give advice the majority of that advice revolves around how majoring in Spanish has an effect on your personal life and core values.

My first piece of major advice is to have a core reason for choosing it as a major. I say this, because in my own experience, I had a lot of people who were asking me why I chose to major in Spanish, especially due to the fact that I am not of Latina descent. And that is not to say that other people’s opinions should govern your decisions, or make you doubt your reasoning, but for me, I liked to have something of substance to tell people asking me about my major, because that helped me get a sense of why it was important for myself. And that is another part of why having a core reason is important. When you have a major that is relatively broad and allows for you to have so many different career paths and life paths, it is vital that you go into it with a sense of how you want it to affect you. It could benefit you in your pursuit to live abroad, work abroad, in your day-to-day interactions serving as a supplement to your life, for cultural knowledge, or to simply gain a new skill. This connects to my next piece of advice, which is similar, and it is that you shouldn’t let other people’s opinions impact your goals and experiences. What made me think of this piece of advice was that when I chose to study abroad  A lot of people expressed their fear of living in Latin America, and that fear is expressed when I speak of traveling to many destinations but having spent months there, making memories and not having a single scare of my own I can’t imagine setting those sorts of limitations on someone and other people’s opinions are often projections.

My greatest piece of advice would be to travel, and if you can’t go abroad to find a local community or even just a store or a restaurant with native speakers. I went to Costa Rica and during my time there I think I experienced some of the most personal growth That I’ve had in my life. Whether it was with the other study abroad kids and having my patience challenged or learning to live with another family, which had its good and bad side, I learned a lot about myself. I think that, in terms of living with a host family, the only thing that I could say was bad (if I was to go so far to even say that) was that I missed feeling like I had my own space. But aside from that, we had a lot of freedom to explore the country and I think we all gained a sense of independence and self-assurance. My favorite memories are those in which I was speaking with locals and I think I went out of my comfort zone to do that because I get nervous about speaking with native speakers sometimes. So going abroad is definitely something that will stretch your limits and give you confidence for future experiences.

Lastly, for the purposes of learning Spanish itself, I would give the advice that you should be using external tools. Personally, I watched a lot of telenovelas like Sobreviviendo a Pablo Escobar and Siempre bruja. It’s also helpful to watch things that are related to a field that you want to go in or are in a geographic location that you want to visit because it’ll give you specific vocabulary that is used.

By Kaitlyn Harris

My Experience Abroad in Spain

Before arriving to Spain, I didn’t know what to expect. This was my first time traveling outside of the country in years and I had to do it alone! I was very nervous, especially since the only other country I have traveled to is El Salvador, where my family is from. I was so eager to immerse myself in a whole different culture and learn from the people, traditions/customs, and food!

Upon arriving here, I realized how kind people were to me. I traveled a day earlier from the whole group, so I remember arriving at the airport in Madrid alone and having to figure out how to get to my Airbnb. I had no phone service and was only able to use my phone with wifi. However, people around me were so helpful; my Uber driver helped me so much as soon as he got to the airport to pick me up and take me to the Airbnb. My host at my Airbnb was also very kind to me and helped me get things I needed for this trip. The following day, I met with the rest of the group. We went to Salamanca together on a bus and when I first arrived, I immediately fell in love with the city and its architecture. There were several times in which I went to a cafe, store, restaurant, or bar, and people made me feel comfortable and welcomed.

A typical day for me in Salamanca went like this:

Classes start at 9:00 am and go on until 1 or sometimes 2 pm. I stayed with a host family and had three other roommates. Before class, we would have breakfast and then walk together to the school. My first class was Lengua Española, and this class lasted 2 hours. First period is always the longest class, so we are given a 10-15 minute break towards the middle of class. My second class started right after. I took Historia de la España Contemporánea. After this class, we had to go straight to our next class, which was Literatura Contemporánea for me (this was my favorite class by the way!). On days where I did not have our discussion class for API, I would be out by 1:10 pm, otherwise I would get out at 2:10 pm. When class was over, I would walk back home and have lunch with my roommates and host family. After lunch, which is typically at 3 pm, everyone would go take their siesta! Taking midday naps is suggested in Spain, so I definitely took advantage of that whenever I could! Later in the day we would usually have an activity or group excursion through the API program. At 9 or 10:00 pm, our host mom would serve us dinner and my roommates and I would sit and talk about our day together. It was a nice way to end the day (and yeah, there were some nights we decided to go out and meet with friends after dinner!).

Traveling to other cities on the weekends was definitely one of my favorite parts of the experience. We traveled to Galicia, Segovia, and Santiago de Compostela. Studying abroad allowed me to place myself in a whole different world where I got to learn so much from the people and their culture. If you want to study abroad, make sure you go with an open mindset and be willing to try new things. I promise you it will definitely make your experience more enjoyable and one you will never forget. I look forward to traveling there again in the future!