Reflecting on my experience

Image

Why I wanted to study abroad:

I am a Spanish major here at UGA and I knew I wanted to have the experience of learning Spanish through immersion. I took the time to explore the four different UGA in Spain programs and eventually decided that I really wanted to participate in a homestay to have the most immersive experience possible. So, I picked the UGA in Seville program which is a 6 and a half week homestay. I was really nervous going into the trip, and I was really scared that I might not get along with the family I was staying with. I was worried I'd have trouble communicating my needs and having in depth conversations. I did not know exactly what these next few weeks had in store, but I knew that I was excited.

My experience while abroad:

It was definitely an adjustment initially, it took time getting used to living in another family's house and only being able to speak Spanish at home. My roommate Fontana and I agreed that after our first in depth conversation with out host family we felt like our brains were completely fried. But we adjusted quickly. Our family treated us with so much kindness, compassion, and love. The first time we met, we all cried about how much we loved our dogs. Our host mom, Inma, is a very charismatic, lively, and loving person. She told us all about her family, interests, and hobbies. We spent many nights talking about Bridgerton and Jane Austen, her favorite book is Pride and Prejudice or Orgullo y Prejuicio. We absolutely fell in love with the city and quickly began to feel like home. We felt so accomplished when we felt more and more comfortable expressing ourselves in Spanish.

What I gained from my experience:

It was just as much of an adjustment coming home from the experience as it was arriving there. It was so nice being in a walkable city, with so many public transportation options. Coming back home to a suburban life felt like a slap in the face. However, I was so excited to see my family and get to fill them in on all the details we hadn't gotten to talk about.

  • Immersion
  • Travel Oppurtunities
  • Cultural Experiences

Return to top

Benefits to Immersion

Here are some of the incredible benefits of immersion

01

Learning on the Spot

You pick up on new terms very quickly because you are speaking in real time, and in real settings.

02

Colloquial Terms

You learn colloquial terms and you stray away from the textbook version of the language.

03

Gaining confidence

You gain so much confidence in your ability to speak and interact with people.

04

Deeper Connections

You form deeper connections with people around you because you speak the same language.

05

The Place

You learn so much more about the place when you are not limited to English.

06

Quicker Learning

You learn quicker because you are using your speaking skills more often.

07

Authenticity

You gain a more authentic experience with the language than you would in a classroom.

08

Encouragment

The immersion experience encourages you to leave your comfort zone.