Middlebury School in Spain

I very much enjoyed my time in Córdoba, the program was smaller than other programs in Spain and it felt like we got fairly close pretty quickly. The town was a maneagable size while still having several place to visit. Kim Griffin is one of the kindest and most supportive people to run an abroad program, she was there at every step of the way making sure that we felt supported academically, emotionally, and in general. She drove me to the hospital when I had a minor health concern, she showed us many parts of Córdoba that she had a deep knowledge of, and she hosted us at her house for an end of semester pool party.

My study abroad in Cordoba helped me grow, pushed my boundaries, and highlighted the parts of my life that I deeply value. I was able to view the world through different perspectives and challenge my ideas of what normal was. Finding new ways in which I fit into communities that looked different from the ones I grew up around helped me find different parts of myself. The global variety of people I was able to meet, talk with, and form deep relationships with, helped me understand myself in brand new ways. Additionally, Spain has so many different places with their own distinct cultures, histories, and communities. Being able to explore the different parts of Spain enriched my study abroad beyond my experiences in Cordoba. Studying abroad completely transformed how I will approach new people and situations in the future and fueled my desire to learn more about the cultures, languages, and people that form the world.

I lived with a host family during my time in Madrid with Middlebury College. It was amazing and I loved my host family. They cooked the best meals and cared a lot about me. I still am in contact with them. :) As much as it was challenging, the grammar class helped me perfect my Spanish whereas, in the other classes, I was using my Spanish and learning about a variety of subjects. These courses were very interesting and gave us the chance to immerse ourselves more in Spanish Culture with classes on the anthropology of Spain, literature and art of Spain, Arte del Museo del Prado, and more. Most importantly, I improved my Spanish so much and feel so comfortable in it. I loved this program and would have stayed for a second semester if I could!

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Going abroad was a one in a lifetime opportunity to visit another country and be able to travel the world. I was able to visit over ten different cities in different countries for the first time. The support from the faculty was great for managing academics, the nightlife was amazing, and the city of Madrid is absolutely stunning. While courses can seem limiting, there is a lot of creative freedom within them. I would recommend, just make sure you brush up on your Spanish.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time in Madrid, and also liked the experience of the Middlebury program. Those in charge of the Middlebury program were some of the most welcoming and kind people I have ever met. I do believe the program was very rigorous and demanding in terms of schoolwork, requirements, and grading. Their cultural engagement opportunities were amazing, and my time in Madrid was made better due to the Middlebury program

I think that Córdoba is probably Middlebury College's most underrated study abroad program in Spain. Generally only a few students in the program decide to study in Córdoba, but I think that this program provides one of the most language immersive and culturally rich study abroad experiences. The Universidad de Córdoba offers a wide variety of classes, including some specifically about the city and its landmarks. These courses allowed me not only to fine tune my language schools but also to learn about the city I was living in. All of my classmates and roommates were warm and inclusive. Although Córdoba is a relatively small city there are lots of places to explore. I found some of my favorite bars, restaurants and cafes when I got lost wandering through the winding streets of the city. I would most definitely suggest Córdoba to anyone who wants to study abroad in a true Spanish city.

I came to Spain principally because I wanted to become fluent in Spanish. And, to a certain degree, I did achieve that goal (as in I can now understand most of what the Spanish-speakers in the US are saying on the street and can communicate with them at a reasonable pace though I'm obviously still somewhat slow). You can't help but become immersed in the language because Córdoba is not that big a city, and it's also gorgeous and full of fantastic art and history. I do wish the program administration had an active base within the city, because they were all located in Madrid so it kind of felt like we were on our own after orientation (though the directors did visit us from time to time to catch up). We also had to find our own housing once we got there (though with the aid of a native Cordovan contracted by Middlebury) and I ended up with an awful living situation because the landlord wasn't completely honest when I signed the lease. But it is a great real-world experience, and if you're passionate about art history (especially Islamic art and architecture), definitely worth considering.

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The Middlebury School in Madrid was an awesome experience. The school was very well run and professors were great. Middlebury worked hard to make the transition from a US classroom to a Spanish one very easy and I had a great time.