Alexis’s Spring Semester in Granada

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Desperate to comply with within the footsteps of a school pupil who studied overseas in Spain? We just lately caught up with Alexis from Concordia College Chicago, who did a research overseas program within the flamenco-famous metropolis of Granada throughout the spring semester. 

Uncover how Alexis’s expertise with AIFS Overseas formed her tutorial future and offered inspiring cultural experiences! 

Selecting a Research Overseas Program Vacation spot & Time period

Wish to research overseas however unsure the place and while you wish to go? Join with our staff—our research overseas consultants will enable you to slim your selections! 

Right here’s how Alexis selected Granada: 

“I selected Spain as a result of I wished to finish my Spanish language research in a Spanish-speaking nation. Whereas I additionally thought-about different choices AIFS supplied, resembling Costa Rica and Argentina, I discovered that Argentina had extra biology and science-focused courses, which didn’t align with my tutorial pursuits. Spain, however, supplied courses in Spanish that match each my language research and my enterprise main/minor. I particularly picked Granada as a result of it offered the longest length overseas in comparison with different cities in Spain, particularly since I opted for the early begin, which gave me a number of additional months overseas. I’d extremely suggest this program to those that have an curiosity in Spanish literature and are open to considering outdoors the field. My courses in Granada had been totally in Spanish, which was good for my language degree, and I appreciated how my professor pushed me to go deeper into literature and additional develop my understanding.” 

In case you’re like Alexis, it’s possible you’ll select a time period so as to escape unhealthy climate again dwelling! 

“I selected the spring time period as a result of I wished to flee the tough Chicago winter, and I additionally wished the chance to journey as soon as this system ended. Since considered one of my most important targets was to have an extended keep overseas, spring was the one possibility that labored for me, because it supplied a long run in comparison with the summer season time period, and it additionally allowed me to increase my time after this system concluded. Spring additionally coincides with extra festivals, holidays, and typical tourism ranges in Spain. I totally loved experiencing Semana Santa in Spain, in addition to the Feria de Sevilla and different native, culturally wealthy holidays and festivals. It was a novel expertise that made my time overseas much more memorable.” 

Lecturers Overseas 

Learning overseas is a wonderful alternative to immerse your self in a brand new tutorial tradition and take courses that is probably not supplied at your own home college. Hear Alexis describe her tutorial expertise in Granada: 

“I studied on the Universidad de Granada in Spain, and my expertise was extremely optimistic. The professors had been extremely certified of their respective fields, and it was clear that they had been passionate concerning the topics they had been instructing. One side I actually appreciated was that, regardless of being a international pupil, my professors didn’t deal with us as typical language learners. A minimum of in my case, it by no means felt like they had been simplifying the content material for non-native audio system. As an alternative, they taught the fabric as if we had been native college students, however in a means that also felt accessible and acceptable for our degree of understanding. This method made the courses really feel extra partaking and difficult, and I appreciated the extent of respect and expectation they’d for us as college students.” 

Your courses overseas are additionally an excellent likelihood to fulfill AIFS Overseas members and different worldwide college students, as Alexis explains: 

“The courses had been a mixture of AIFS college students and different worldwide college students… The College of Granada has a devoted constructing for worldwide college students, which created a novel surroundings the place we may join with friends from all around the world whereas specializing in our research in Spain.” 

Research overseas programs regularly provide distinctive native views, permitting you to dive into the native cultural and historic context in a means that evokes deeper studying. Alexis’s favourite class in Granada was one such course: 

“The category that stood out to me essentially the most was Spanish Civics and Tradition, as I discovered an incredible quantity from it. One of the crucial eye-opening elements was studying concerning the Francoist interval, part of Spanish historical past I hadn’t studied earlier than. It was fascinating to dive into the historical past of Spain, significantly the advanced political and social adjustments that occurred throughout that point. The category not solely offered a deeper understanding of Spain’s previous but additionally sparked a private curiosity in Spanish historical past that has continued to affect my tutorial work. In reality, a 12 months later, I discovered myself incorporating most of the concepts and insights from that class into my senior undertaking and honors thesis. The information I gained on this course had an enduring affect on my research and my method to analysis, and it stays one of the crucial useful and thought-provoking courses I took overseas.” 

Language Studying 

Language proficiency is not required for almost all of our packages; nevertheless, many college students elect to take language courses overseas. Even folks like Alexis, whose first language is Spanish, can develop their language expertise: 

“Spanish is my first language, so transitioning to Spain was comparatively straightforward for me. Nevertheless, the primary adjustment I needed to make was getting used to the assorted regional dialects, significantly the variations between the Spanish spoken in Spain and the Mexican Spanish I’m accustomed to… One of many issues I appreciated about this system was that you just didn’t must have superior Spanish expertise to be eligible. Granada supplied totally different packages primarily based in your Spanish proficiency degree, so college students at varied phases may discover a class suited to their skills… This flexibility helped create an surroundings the place college students of various language ranges may thrive and have interaction within the tutorial expertise at their very own tempo.” 

Housing 

Housing is included in all AIFS Overseas packages, which may take a variety of the stress out of planning! Hear Alexis describe her expertise in a homestay in Granada: 

“My housing lodging in Spain was a homestay with a roommate, and total, I actually loved the expertise. One of many issues I appreciated essentially the most was the chance to study native holidays, traditions, and customs, which I really feel is one thing that those that keep in residences or dorms would possibly miss out on. Dwelling with a bunch household allowed me to see how locals rejoice sure occasions and expertise on a regular basis life from a Spanish perspective. 

One of the crucial impactful cultural experiences I had whereas finding out overseas was residing with a bunch mother. This expertise helped me develop in methods I hadn’t anticipated. Not solely did I get to immerse myself within the native tradition, however my host mother additionally offered invaluable perception into day by day life in Spain—issues that you just wouldn’t essentially be taught from a textbook or in a classroom. From native customs and traditions to easy, on a regular basis habits like mealtimes, I used to be capable of expertise Spain in a way more intimate and private means.” 

Making Associates Overseas 

When you’re welcome to research overseas with associates from dwelling (the extra the merrier!), setting out by your self gives extra alternatives to make new associates, as Alexis did: 

“I did the early begin program in Granada, [which] offered a very nice alternative to construct friendships with others proper from the start, because the group was smaller and extra intimate. This gave me the possibility to attach with folks in my program, in addition to fellow college students at college. One of the crucial rewarding elements of my expertise was the relationships I constructed, not simply with my friends, but additionally with my professors. These connections have benefited me even past my time overseas, as they’ve offered me with assist, recommendation, and a deeper understanding of the tutorial world.  

One thing that actually helped me throughout my time overseas was reminding myself that everybody in this system was in the same scenario; we had been all in a brand new nation, attempting to navigate a brand new tradition and make new associates. This shared expertise made it simpler to succeed in out to others, and I discovered to not be afraid to speak to folks. Everybody was seeking to kind connections, and it made the method of discovering associates a lot smoother. So, my recommendation to future college students can be to embrace the chance to fulfill new folks and keep in mind that you’re not alone on this expertise. Don’t hesitate to place your self on the market and discover your ‘folks’ in this system, since you’ll all be going by comparable challenges and moments of progress collectively.” 

Cultural Appreciation 

Wherever you resolve to research overseas, you’ll have ample alternatives for distinctive cultural experiences. Simply residing in a brand new metropolis is a cultural expertise in and of itself! Hear how Spanish tradition and morning traditions has helped Alexis even after returning dwelling: 

“One factor I actually admired concerning the tradition in Spain was how they valued taking time for themselves, particularly within the mornings. In Spain, breakfast is a crucial and social a part of the day, and it gave me an opportunity to decelerate and luxuriate in a peaceable begin earlier than diving into my busy schedule. I admired how the Spanish method to meals was not rushed, and the way they made house of their day for moments of rest, even when only for a fast espresso or toast. This apply of taking time for myself, particularly within the mornings, grew to become one thing I actually loved. Once I returned dwelling, I made a aware effort to include extra aware moments into my routine, particularly by dedicating time within the morning for breakfast and slowing down, quite than speeding by the day. This mindset shift helped me really feel extra grounded and intentional in my day by day life, one thing I hadn’t prioritized as a lot earlier than.” 

Weekend Journeys 

Do you know that while you research overseas, you’ll be able to journey outdoors of your host nation? So long as you’re not lacking courses, you’re free to journey as a lot as you’d like! Beneath, Alexis describes her favourite journey throughout her semester in Granada: 

“I took a variety of memorable weekend journeys throughout my time overseas, however one which stands out essentially the most was to Budapest. It was an unimaginable expertise to go to the beautiful Buda Citadel and discover the historic palace. I beloved strolling across the metropolis, taking within the lovely structure, and soaking within the wealthy historical past… The environment in Budapest was so distinctive, and I felt like I used to be residing in a storybook as I wandered by its charming streets.” 

Why AIFS Overseas? 

Our housing choices, immersive packages, and on-site assist workers are only a few causes why college students select AIFS Overseas and are so pleased with their choice. Hear why Alexis selected us for her semester overseas: 

“Once I first began exploring research overseas choices, I rapidly realized that my college didn’t have a devoted individual or workplace to information me by the method, which meant I needed to take issues into my very own arms and do a variety of analysis alone. I spent hours looking totally different packages and attempting to determine what can be the most effective match for me. Finally, I had a dialog with my tutorial advisor, and through our dialogue, she talked about that AIFS had been extremely popular in her time and that Concordia had a partnership with the group. This piece of knowledge actually piqued my curiosity, so I made a decision to discover the AIFS Overseas web site. I hung out trying by the assorted locations they supplied, rigorously contemplating every one, till I lastly got here throughout Granada, Spain. I used to be drawn to it as a result of it appeared to supply precisely what I used to be searching for in a research overseas expertise, and that’s how my journey to finding out in Spain started.” 

Alexis’s Recommendation for Learning Overseas in Granada 

For anybody contemplating finding out overseas in Granada, Alexis leaves you with the next recommendation: 

• “Embrace the Language: Observe your Spanish as a lot as attainable. The locals are pleasant and can respect your effort to talk their language. 
• Stroll and Discover: Granada is a metropolis greatest seen on foot. Get misplaced within the cobbled streets and you’ll want to take a look at the beautiful views of the Alhambra. 
• Benefit from the Meals: Reap the benefits of Granada’s free tapas with each drink! Strive native dishes and discover the markets. 
• Adapt to Native Time: Spanish life is slower, with late lunches and dinners. Don’t rush—benefit from the relaxed tempo.” 

Are you a pupil able to take the leap and research overseas like Alexis did in Granada with AIFS Overseas? We’d love that can assist you begin your journey! 

Right here at AIFS Overseas, we all know a factor or two about serving to faculty college students research overseas. Our packages are extremely inclusive, which takes a variety of the stress out of planning. From coordinating your housing to offering issues like cultural and social actions, excursions, complete insurance coverage, 24/7 emergency assist, on-site workers, and extra, you’ll take consolation in figuring out you’ll have assist all through your complete expertise overseas.