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Eager to follow in the footsteps of a college student who studied abroad in Spain? We recently caught up with Brett from Flagler College, who did a study abroad program in the majestic city of Granada during the spring semester.
Discover how Brett’s experience with AIFS Abroad helped him expand his academic perspective and travel across Europe!
Choosing a Study Abroad Destination & Term
Choosing a study abroad destination and term can be a challenge because there are so many amazing options with AIFS Abroad. As a Spanish major, deciding on Spain was an easy choice for Brett. Here’s why he chose to study abroad during the spring semester:
“I went in the spring of my junior year. This was the best time for me to go based on the requirements I needed to meet at Flagler. It also allowed for me to have a nice split between my fall semester here on campus and a spring away. I also had the comfort of studying abroad during my junior year, so when I came back [home], there was plenty of time for credits to transfer.”
Academics Abroad
Studying abroad gives you the chance to immerse yourself in an entirely new university experience. Hear why Brett’s academic experience in Granada was so special:
“I attended Universidad de Granada – Centro de Lenguas Modernas. Truly, I wouldn’t change anything. It was all I could have hoped for and more. [On-site] AIFS staff in Granada are extremely welcoming and willing to help with anything. The professors are also more than willing to support and always encourage students to keep learning and practicing their language skills.”
As for his classes, Brett said the following:
“All of my classes were taught in Spanish. The class was entirely composed of international students, though they came from several different study abroad programs. All of the professors and staff members at the school were Spanish.
My political science class… is a course that I still reference at my home university. Islamic Culture was also eye-opening as it was one of the first classes I took that was dedicated entirely to learning about Islamic culture and its impact on Spain.”
Language Learning
As Brett explains, even multilingual people can benefit from language classes abroad:
“I speak English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese, though English is my native language. I had studied Spanish for about 8 years prior to living in Spain. I definitely feel that my skills and my confidence using the language grew. I lived with a host family and took my classes in Spanish, so using the language all day was beneficial.”
While knowing multiple languages can certainly be helpful, speaking a second language is not required to study abroad.
Housing
Housing is included in all AIFS Abroad programs—as Brett explains, there are three housing options available for our Granada study abroad programs:
“There were options for living in the residence halls at the University of Granada, living in the apartments, and living with host families. All of the options seemed to work well, though I lived with a host family (mom, dad, and two host brothers) and the experience was great!”
Making Friends Abroad
While you’re welcome to study abroad with friends from home, many students choose to set out alone. Just remember, if you’re like Brett, you’ll likely return home with more friends than when you started out!
“I connected almost immediately with members of my group—we spent the semester exploring Granada and traveling around Europe on the weekends and on breaks. I also feel that I made positive connections with professors and certainly with my host family! I still talk to all of them!”
Weekend Trips
Studying abroad allows you to take trips outside your host city and host country to travel and see even more of the world. While you’re welcome to travel by yourself, AIFS Abroad programs include trips and cultural activities within the program price. Hear Brett describe some of his AIFS Abroad trips and activities:
“The Sevilla-Córdoba-Gibraltar Trip was one of the trips that was offered directly with AIFS. While I traveled independently, this was a great opportunity to travel with the group. Gibraltar stands out as it is such an interesting mix of Spanish and British culture. I also attended the Spanish cooking workshop, the Arabic Baths, the tile-making workshop, and the day trip to a local beach town in Málaga, Nerja.”
In addition to AIFS Abroad trips and excursions, Brett visited the following cities outside of Spain during his study abroad semester:
- Valletta, Malta
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Vienna, Austria
- Marseille, France
- Marrakech, Morocco
- Gothenburg, Sweden
With no classes on Friday, Brett had plenty of time to travel!
Why AIFS Abroad?
There are many reasons to choose AIFS Abroad—our on-site support staff, numerous program options around the world, and inclusive programs that offer housing, trips, and social and cultural activities. If you’re like Brett, it may be because you know someone who went with AIFS Abroad and had a great experience:
“I was looking for an opportunity to study in Spain, and I heard nothing but good things from AIFS. I had previously visited the south of Spain, and I knew I wanted to return for a longer period of time. AIFS made that possible.”
About our on-site staff and resources in Granada, Brett said the following:
“Noelia and Alberto are great! They were always there if needed and always provided the support that was necessary to keep students going. They made this experience unforgettable… There is not a single thing I would change.”
Are you a student ready to take the leap and study abroad like Brett did in Granada with AIFS Abroad? We’d love to help you start your journey!
Here at AIFS Abroad, we know a thing or two about helping college students study abroad. Our programs are incredibly inclusive, which takes a lot of the stress out of planning. From coordinating your housing to providing things like cultural and social activities, excursions, comprehensive insurance, 24/7 emergency support, on-site staff, and more, you’ll take comfort in knowing you’ll have support throughout your entire experience abroad.