IES Abroad Salamanca – Language & Area Studies

My experience abroad was deifinitely scary at first, navigating Madrid Barajas airport was not a challenge I was expecting but nonetheless it helped me to be able to manage myself in a foreign country. Transitioning to life in Salamanca wasn't too difficult especially since I come from somewhere between a small town and a big city. I initially chose the homestay option as I wanted to get more acquainted with the everyday culture, but unfortunately the lifestyles of myself and my host parents didn't really match up. I am sometimes more of an introvert (especially in new situations/places) and like to have a safe space to decompress and they were expecting someone who was more outgoing, explored a lot, and stayed out much later than I initally would. Then, moving into the residence hall was a straightforward process that didn't take too much time and I felt so comfortable having my own space (especially having my own bathroom!). Plus, I was near all of my friends in the program. In addition to being close to my program mates, I also got to meet more local students and it was nice to have the typical college experience with them instead of simply staying with people who you were always familiar with that were in your program. I think my biggest issue was that I wasn't forced to be speaking in Spanish as much as I had wanted to. Speaking spanish with people in your program can be awkward at times but it's definitely worth it, but when all was said and done, all of my colleagues were speaking English. For me, the language was something I would adopt during the day and then at night it was usually back to English. This might be biased since my last language immersion experience was with 0 English speakers and I was forced to speak in Spanish 24/7, which isn't realistic for everyone. Overall, IES made everything very accomodating and they were the nicest people I had ever met. I could go to them with anything and even developed bonds with them as mentors. I would absolutely do it again and I reccomend it to anyone even if you're a beginner in the language.

After waiting what seems like forever, I finally embarked on my journey abroad to Salamanca, Spain in the Spring of 2020. Although it was not on my radar at first glance, Salamanca stole my heart and a permanent stamp in my mind. The culture and history it has to offer are unlike any other place I have visited and the academic opportunities are endless. It wasn't until my time abroad that I learned to appreciate all the tedious grammar structures that get harped on in Spanish class. Salamanca was the perfect learning environment in more ways than one. The classes offered by IES Salamanca were challenging, yet just right and the cultural experiences they planned really allowed me to explore and learn all about the Spanish culture and way of life. I cannot recommend Salamanca enough, whether you are in the beginner or more advanced Spanish level-- it has something for everyone.

I can't imagine a better place to learn and grow than the beautiful city of Salamanca, Spain. It's the perfect size for a community feel with the autonomy to go on many an adventure in the city. My host family was incredible and very sweet - I felt right at home in their house and enjoyed the opportunity to practice Spanish in and out of the classroom. The courses at IES were rigorous and I feel thankful for a tiered-level program that allowed me to work with students of similar ability. I also enjoyed the variety of classes offered. Attending courses at the partner institution, USAL, was incredibly helpful in gaining credit for my home university and advancing my spoken and written Spanish communication. I loved my time in Spain and I can't imagine a better place to have been!

I had a great experience studying abroad with IES. I got the chance to experience a new culture, and never felt unsafe or alone. The IES Salamanca staff is helpful and well-organized, and gave us the chance to go on enriching field trips within Spain. I chose to stay in the residence hall, where I enjoyed living in a single in close proximity to other students, but I know that those who stayed with host families also had great experiences. Salamanca is walkable, beautiful, and rich with history without being overly touristy. For me, it was the perfect city to study abroad in.

As a first-generation Latina student abroad, it was definitely a new experience in general. Although the ability to interact with people from all over the world and learn about not only Spanish culture, but other cultures as well as I went to school and practiced a Spanish that was different to mine was such an awesome experience. Salamanca is such a relatively small but beautiful town with a lot to offer for abroad students and IES did a pretty good job in terms of support and guidance for my time in Salamanca.

IES Abroad Salamanca runs a good program. All of the staff members know their stuff and will be there to help you with all the practical details of life abroad. At the same time, the staff are personable and put a lot of effort into getting to know you as an individual. I particularly appreciated the efforts of the staff when my computer and wallet got stolen (Salamanca isn’t dangerous, I was just being stupid); due to the timely help I received from the staff at the IES center, I was eventually able to recover all of my lost items. Salamanca is also a great city to study in. The size is perfect, the Castilian Spanish is easily comprehensible, and there is a big student population which keeps things lively. The only downside might be the winter weather, which is quite cold. The course offerings were interesting and fairly easy.

I first traveled to Spain when I was 16. I went to Madrid and absolutely loved it. I had intended on going to another country, but when I stumbled upon IES Salamanca program information, I knew I had to come back. Going to Salamanca was one of the best decisions I have made, because it is the perfect town for young adults to find themselves in an international space. Salamanca consists of two major, well-known universities which means there are a ton of young people from all over the world who came to study at these universities. I was able to meet new people, practice my Spanish and enjoy the cultural atmosphere of an amazing town. Salamanca is nice because it's safer than a city with just as many opportunities to have fun. There is a bus, but essentially everything is within walking distance. It also connects very easily with Madrid, so if you want to travel on the weekend, it's very manageable. I met some great people through IES and made friendships that will last a lifetime. I highly recommend this program!

My experience in Salamanca was incredible. I was terrified to go abroad with a disability, but everyone at IES made me feel safe and comfortable. I learned so much Spanish, learned to be independent, and traveled by myself. This program was life changing and I would highly recommend it.

I had a wonderful time in Salamanca-the sights, the culture, and the people were all fantastic. From being able to travel all over Spain with the program to being able to take classes in the local (and very prestigious) universities with local students, I enjoyed my time and would love to return to Spain. Our program almost all of us staying in homestays with local families around the city. This arrangement was probably one of the best aspects of the program, because we were able to adapt much more quickly to Spanish culture, food, and times with a supportive family that provided excellent meals for us, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. (Okay, so Spanish breakfast is basically just a piece of toast and some juice, but lunch and dinner are fantastic) Classes were a major part of our life in Spain, and it was exciting taking classes at La Universidad de Salamanca, the third oldest university in Europe. My classmates were definitely interested in getting to know me and the other foreign students better, but I didn't realize just how many students from other countries in Europe also came to study here-the Erasmus program is very developed. Of course, there were some difficulties that I had to adjust to-Spanish meals generally consist of a very small breakfast (definitely not what I'm used to), and then a huge lunch and dinner. Also, meals are exceedingly meat-heavy, so vegetarians beware. ^_^ I had a little trouble adapting because I generally don't eat much meat, but I grew to really enjoy it. However, it is good to supplement your diet with some fruits and vegetables on the side-there are numerous shops scattered around the city that are both excellent and cheap. The program academics were honestly a little lacking compared to my experiences in the US, but it gave us more time to explore the city and acclimate ourselves to the new culture. Overall, I had an excellent experience, and would definitely suggest this program to others.

Salamanca is known for its enriched history, centuries of culture and its acceptance of all people. In my first few hours in Salamanca, I was easily acclimated with the exhilarating environment of young students from multiple locations in the world along with the loving environment from the residents of Salamanca. I recommend Salamanca for any college student, but especially those who are hoping to become Spanish majors or minors. I miss Salamanca and all it has to offer every day and I hope to make it back there in the future.

This past fall (2016) I had the opportunity to spend a semester abroad in Salamanca, Spain with IES Abroad. After four months there as well as talking upon return with many friends who studied abroad elsewhere with other programs, I must say I had an absolutely fantastic experience. While I could go on forever about all the positive experiences I had in Salamanca, I will highlight a few that make Salamanca with IES Abroad unique. First, Salamanca is the the perfect city for a study abroad experience. There are limited tourists, but also plenty of activities to keep one busy. It is an absolutely gorgeous city and I also enjoyed that everyone spoke Spanish first rather than English. The nightlife is also as great as they advertise. Another benefit of IES Abroad is the complete immersion in the Spanish culture. They offer an optional Spanish Club in which students pledge to speak only Spanish for the remainder of the semester. This improved my ability to speak Spanish more than I ever imagined. They also offer numerous activities to get involved with the local community and local students, as well as travel throughout the region. However, perhaps their best asset are the mentors they provide to help us integrate into the culture. These mentors are college-aged students from Spain who do things such as helping us with homework to showing us the best places to party. They helped make my abroad experience absolutely fantastic. Finally, their host families are amazing. My Spanish mother was the sweetest women and an excellent cook. She always made me feel at home while also really showing me the intricacies of the Spanish culture. The only reason I didn't give the program a 10 out of 10 was due to the difficulty of doing science/math classes at the university. While you can technically enroll in STEM classes (I wanted to take one for my biology major), they are difficult with respect to scheduling and previous relationships with the staff of these departments. Therefore, if you absolutely must study a science or math while abroad, perhaps a different program would suit you better. However, I was happy to take a semester off from science classes and fully immerse myself in language and literature classes at the University of Salamanca. Overall, I would not do my abroad experience any different! Salamanca is a precious city, and IES Abroad does everything they can to make sure you experience it at its full potential.

I had an incredible experience in Salamanca during the Fall of 2016. The city itself is beautiful and has such a good atmosphere being a mix of a college and residential town. I lived in a homestay and still keep in touch with my host parents at least once a week. I highly recommend taking classes at the University itself and not just within IES to broaden your cultural experience.

IES Abroad is a great program. I had a really good time and was fully immersed in the culture. My Spanish definitely improved over the semester and the program administrators were very kind and helpful.

Although it may sound cliche, I can honestly say my time in Salamanca was life changing. I took two classes at La Universidad de Salamanca, which is considered the "Harvard of Spain"; I absolutely loved one of my professors. He was so great at working with abroad students, willing to see them in office hours, advise about class schedules, and was very passionate about what he taught, which made it very easy to come to class and be engaged the entire time. I made incredible friends, had the best host family I could've asked for, and had unparalleled adventures. If a small town feel is what you're looking for, Salamanca is your place. There is so much to do, you'll want to stay on the weekends and immerse yourself in the culture: there are theatre events, lots of shopping, and plenty of sights (which your Spanish friends may constantly remind you are older than your country). I just returned, and I'm already planning on returning as soon as I can.

Salamanca is an incredibly beautiful city. Prior to my trip, I had never travelled to Europe. The beauty of Salamanca set my standards for the rest of Europe very high. Although Madrid, Paris, and Rome were beautiful, no other place during my travels compared to this city. The city is so well preserved that it is like stepping back in time. The first weekend I spent there left me completely in awe. I spent the first week going to class and then purposefully getting lost and exploring all of the hidden treasures of the city. The best way to explore is to just wander. The city is the perfect size to get lose without feeling unsafe. I recommend spending one day taking as many photos as you can and another day just taking in all of the parts of the city that can't be captured in a photo.

I had a wonderful time in Salamanca! The opportunity to take classes at USAL (la Universidad de Salamanca) was incredible, as well as the home stay that I had. The city is a beautiful place to live and has a great atmosphere that isn't as crowded as other cities but still provides plenty of things to do. Studying abroad is the greatest decision I have ever made, and would highly encourage others to study abroad as well!

Making the decision to study with IES abroad in Salamanca, Spain during my spring semester of 2016 was one of the greatest decisions of my life. Having studied abroad with a different institution in Madrid during the fall semester of 2015, I was well prepared to start the second semester of my abroad experience in a totally different city that carried with it a very historically unique college-town vibe. Being just one of two incumbents familiar to the study abroad experience, I enjoyed my role in being able to assist other students with their endeavors alongside the incredible teaching and administrative staff of IES abroad Salamanca. Granted I knew what to expect in regards to studying abroad and its learning process, Salamanca itself was a city that I had visited just once before and was not all that familiar with. The administrative staff and group of Spanish student mentors at the local university assisted myself along with the other study abroad students in every step of the way, from picking us up at the airport, to walking us through orientation to hosting our fare-well departure ceremony at the programs end. At times I did feel as if my freedom was cut short to meet this program’s expectations, however, these mandated obligations such as frequent meetings with IES abroad teachers and administration regardless of need did nothing but bring out the best in me over the course of this program. Though I did not get as many opportunities to travel Europe as I had the semester prior, there is nothing I would have changed about my overall experience with IES Abroad. In electing to directly enroll in the University of Salamanca and to live in the dormitories with Spanish natives, I was assured to have the most authentic, culturally immersed experience possible over the course of this 16-week program. The most difficult part of this experience was not the beginning, but rather the end. Finals were difficult and adaptation can be rocky, but saying goodbye to some of the best friends I had ever made and leaving the peers who enabled me to achieve what I had achieved was the most difficult of all. Nonetheless, on the plane ride home in reflection of everything that I had accomplished it was evident that this experience was without a doubt beyond worthwhile.

Studying in Salamanca was an incredible experience. Salamanca is a beautiful city with tons of history and awesome student life. The IES classes were all in Spanish, which was really helpful for language immersion. I loved the IES staff, and they planned great excursions. Additionally, staying with a host family was such a unique experience, and I highly recommend this option.

Salamanca is a beautiful city full of Renaissance and Baroque architecture. Walking to class everyday was in itself a magical experience as I passed by intricately constructed cathedrals, libraries, and university buildings. The IES staff welcomed us to Salamanca from the start with open arms. Every staff member was available 24/7 to answer questions or concerns and they really made me feel at home in a new place. They also offered cultural activities for free to do every single week that allowed me to see concerts, comedy shows, and more. In addition, the IES mentors became some of my closest friends while abroad. They helped me choose classes at the local university and gave me advice during orientation. Afterwards, I ended up planning a trip with some of the IES mentors because they were so friendly and easy to talk to. I think this is what made my study abroad experience truly unique. The IES classes were informative and the professors were extremely knowledgable. I would highly recommend this program for anyone looking to dive into the Spanish language and culture. I can say after leaving that I will most certainly be back because of my amazing experience.

My semester in Salamanca, Spain was as perfect as I could have imagined it. IES made sure to really take care of their students, ensuring that everything was as it was expected to be, and taking our comments and concerns into consideration. I felt comfortable in the IES center, and by the end of the semester, I felt that I really got to know everyone who worked there (including my professors and the graduate student who was working with them!). I also felt that I really knew the city of Salamanca by the end of the semester. I was blown away by the beautiful gold buildings and the history of the city, and I was able to spend a ton of time exploring and getting to know the city in which I was living. My living situation also exceeded my expectations - my host mom was phenomenal, and she really took care of my housemate and I. She was always available to talk, and she taught us how to cook authentic Spanish dishes! Through my studies, my living situation, and my ability to get to know the city, I felt that I was really immersed in Spanish culture and given plenty of opportunities to speak Spanish. I felt that this program allowed me to do and experience everything that I wanted. The academics were challenging, but still gave me enough time and freedom to learn more about Salamanca and explore the city. I would recommend it to anyone who is looking to really strengthen their Spanish and become immersed in Spanish culture!