IES Abroad Barcelona Summer – Language & Area Studies

The time that I spent there was unforgettable. That summer was filled with so much joy and new experiences. I took two classes over there and I felt that was very fair since I had plenty of time to experience what actual life was like. I thoroughly enjoyed the classes that I took I feel as if they have made me push my Spanish skills further and I am overall happy with the courses.

I had a wonderful summer in Barcelona with IES Abroad. Almost everyday I was busy adventuring, exploring new areas of the city, and tasting delicious food. My Spanish classes were one of the highlights. My professor always had an exciting lesson in store. Some days we sang songs to practice pronunciation and tenses, other days we learned traditional Catalonian dances. We even played games like Headbandz and recited tongue twisters. I also enjoyed the weekly field trips. With each of my classes (Spanish and Barcelona: The Cosmopolitan City), we went on weekly outings to visit historical sites, various neighborhoods, and museums. Some days we even went out for a treat like chocolate and churros. Unfortunately, COVID did cause a few restrictions to cultural and language immersion. Living in a residence hall was difficult, as it prevented many of the everyday interactions we would have with locals if living with a host family. I missed the chance to speak in Spanish over meals and engage with daily routine/customs. Likewise, COVID also prevented further learning and immersion through language groups and volunteer positions. On the bright side, my ability to communicate in Spanish in restaurants and shops greatly improved, as these were the occasions when I used Spanish! I still found Barcelona to be a fun place to live and study in for the summer despite the limited opportunity for cultural and language immersion.

Studying abroad is undoubtedly one of the best experiences I have had while in college. From the beginning, it was important to me that I find a program that would provide a solid academic foundation, while enabling me to immerse myself in the culture of my host country. IES exceeded these expectations. My classes were rigorous, yet not overbearing. My professors were intelligent but helpful, and the administration constantly had the best interests of the students at heart. Being in a city like Barcelona, where so many cultural activities and events are occurring, I really tried to explore and to do things that I would not have the opportunity to do in the United States. Through course excursions, as well as program trips (such as the one to Tarragona), I was able to immerse myself in Spanish culture and make memories that will last a lifetime. I highly recommend IES to students that wish to study abroad in the future.