One of the most exciting parts for
me so far in the study abroad process was when I found the schedule of classes
for our fall semester. With about 26 classes available, there were many options
to consider. It was extremely exciting for me and I quickly printed the list
and taped it to Sibley’s door.
Like this picture, each option was tempting in
its own way, so how did we choose?
Well, we had to consider many
things such as Spanish major or Spanish minor requirements. We had a meeting with an advisor from the
Spanish department and many emails passed between us as we considered classes. We
went back and forth, trying to figure out the best variety of classes to meet
our needs. We asked current exchange students about their opinions and
considered their thoughts. In the end,
it came out perfectly, giving us each a mix of required classes and fun
classes.
Here is what we finally came up with:
Amanda: Business Spanish, Traditions of
Spain: Oral Communication, Spanish Art History, and Spanish Culture and
Civilization
Sibley: Advanced Spanish, The Global Dimension of European Soccer, Phonetics and Oral Spanish, and Spanish Culture and Civilization
Once we arrive in Spain, we will
take an assessment to be sure we are at the right level academically, and then
we begin! One of my favorite things about this program is the idea of combining
classroom learning with field trips. They really want to facilitate our
learning of all aspects of Spain by exposing us to the culture and local
history. This seems like an amazing way to learn as you can see in real life
what you learn within the classroom.