La Universidad
Universidad, as you might guess, translates to university. Sounds fancy, right? A few times, I’ve made the mistake of calling it “college.” I didn’t realize that “el colegio,” which looks like college, doesn’t have the same significance that it does in the States. In general, “colegio” refers to any schooling. “Universidad” means a third-level education that comes after high school and is geared towards a specific degree.
I go to Universidad de Antonio de Nebrija in Madrid. I’m taking four classes in Spanish. The first one is “lengua espanola,” which literally means Spanish language. (No, they don’t capitalize it.) This is my only class on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We tend to focus on grammatical topics that aren’t necessarily verb tenses, concepts like “ser vs estar” and “por vs para.” In another class, specific grammar problems, so far, we’ve been focusing on verb tenses. After a quick review of the imperative (commands), we’ve spent a lot of time forming the past tense. It doesn’t seem like it would be difficult, but when there are four different tenses to speak about the past, sometimes it can be a bit confusing. This is my first class on Mondays and Wednesdays. Right after, I have “panorama de la literatura espanola.” Most of these words are cognates: panorama of Spanish literature. I expected this class to be the most difficult for me. I expected to have to read entire novels and interpret complex poems. So far, this is one of my favorite classes. Our teacher does a fantastic job of explaining the historical context of a few literature works. Then we read a part, and she explains the rest of it. My last class is “Arte en el Museo Prado”. We focus on three specific artists and learn about the eras in which they painted. We get to talk about and critique art and even go to the Prado Museum three times.
Each week, we have three hours of each class, which is equal to 12 credits in the US. This is the least amount of college classes/credits I’ve taken. I have so much free time that I sometimes don’t know what to do. I have time to journal and watch Netflix! My latest class goes until 1:30, while some students don’t finish their school days until 7:30 at night. I have the entire afternoon and evening to do homework and explore the city. Not only am I taking fewer classes, but the homework load is a lot lighter. Some classes, like lengua espanola and grammar problems, assign homework every class period. Luckily, this homework takes maybe half an hour, depending on the topic and number of activities.
After classes, finding things to do that feel productive but require spending money can be challenging. Occasionally, we go to a cafe to have a different atmosphere while we journal or do homework. On other days, if the weather is nice, we walk around to nearby “barrios” or neighborhoods. Sometimes we walk to the shopping street and browse stores (and buy clothes). The best part about the schedule is that we only have classes four days a week, and on Thursdays, we end at 10:30. Because of this, we can make travel plans, even to visit other countries. Recently, we went to Portugal for the weekend and could take the cheaper bus option because of the time we had on Thursday. I’m planning a few more weekend trips in the future, too.
So far, I’m loving so much about Madrid, and I’m excited to be here another three months!
Universidad Antonio de Nebrija
Four weeks of classes have already gone by! Coming into this experience, I was not sure what to expect. I wondered how strict my professors would be, how much homework they would assign, if I would feel intimidated by the Spanish skills of my classmates, and in general, how much stress going to school in a new country would cause me. Looking back on these past few weeks, I have noticed several distinctions and similarities.
One of the most significant differences between school here and MLC is attendance. I have yet to skip any classes here, but my classmates are frequent skippers. Attendance holds a different weight here than in my classes at home. For example, Thursdays (my last day of school each week) have extremely low attendance. Many of my classmates skip courses on this day because they want to travel to other countries, which is totally understandable! We are allowed six skips per class, and only having each class three times a week, we could technically skip two full weeks of school without penalty. After six skips, our grade can be impacted significantly.
The rigorous schedule and hours of homework each night at MLC make school here feel relaxed and not like the most significant part of my life here. At MLC, my entire schedule revolved around how many hours of homework I had each night. I have never spent more than thirty minutes on a single assignment here. It has given me opportunities to explore Madrid (and many other places) and experience the culture. Mondays and Wednesdays are busy with classes from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm. Tuesdays and Thursdays just have one class right away at 8:30 am, giving me the rest of the day to explore Madrid and relax. I love this aspect of school because of the extra free time it adds to my schedule.
Because the classes I am taking here directly apply to my program at MLC, I was concerned about the grading system because I need every credit I am taking here. I quickly learned that the grading system here would probably not be my biggest concern because it is only graded on three levels: participation, attendance, and exams. Many of my final exams are going to be group projects, which will be enjoyable. Professors make it very easy to participate in class, and as long as I show up to class most of the time, I should not be concerned about my grade at all. MLC’s grading system holds students to a very high standard in order to get an A, while here, participating in class and simply completing the homework gets students good grades (based on my experience thus far).
The professors here are excellent! They are not strict or scary like I worried they might be, but they are so encouraging and actually hilarious. They are animated, excited, and and very passionate about teaching. Since all of my classes are in Spanish, I feel like I am learning so much from them. I am taking four different classes: a grammar class, a modern Spanish society class, an art class, and a literature class. All of them have been very enjoyable. Feeling as though I can understand the professors very well and participating in class has been encouraging for me as I continue to learn Spanish. I also have appreciated that the class sizes are very similar to MLC’s, if not smaller. I have, on average, twenty people in my classes, allowing for good discussions and participation. Overall, I pray that classes continue to go well and that I continue to learn Spanish more and more! I am excited to improve my speaking skills with native Spanish speakers not only inside the classroom but also outside of class.
I don’t have very many pictures related to school, so here are some that somewhat fit the theme 🙂
- Journaling at a cafe after class one day!
- Our video calls with fellow study abroad MLC students are something that I look forward to!
- Classes early in the morning give us lots of time to try cafes to “work on homework.”
THE WHOLE REASON WHY I AM IN SPAIN…Academics…Well, mostly 😉
Hola 🙂
Today I am tasked to write about academics!
Since high school, I have had a strong desire to study abroad, not only for the academics but for the incredible life experiences that come with it. As I continued on to MLC to pursue a degree in Spanish education, it seemed only fitting to choose a Spanish-speaking country to study in for a semester. I absolutely LOVE the people and the vibes of Central America, but I wanted to study in Europe so I could travel more here during this part of my life AND receive the Spanish credits I needed. So…here I am, 4 weeks completed of school in Madrid, Spain.
It is crazy to think that 4 weeks of living in a new country and studying the language I love have already gone by. On one hand, it feels the time has gone by so quickly, and we are running out of it; but on the other hand, it feels like we still have all the time in the world.
Honestly, I love school here. I feel that school here is very different from school in the States, especially MLC. I consider this a blessing because even though I love MLC and am so thankful for the school and wonderful professors there, I was in need of a change of pace.
Here in Spain, I have classes Mondays through Thursdays, beginning at 8:30 a.m. every morning. On Mondays and Wednesdays, class ends at 1:30 p.m., so I have a stretch of 5 hours straight of classes. On Tuesdays, I am already walking home and done with my school day by 9:30 a.m. and on Thursdays, we finish our class at 10:30 a.m.. (“Que guay..ehh?”). (This is something that Spaniards say to say – How cool!) The Mondays and Wednesdays do get a bit long, especially during our 2-hour blocks of classes. Our professors do give us a 10-minute break during the 2-hour block classes where we can stand up and stretch, or eat a snack, or use the restroom. I appreciate this very much! I do like having class earlier in the day so we have the rest of the day to do as we please, but many of the other students who are studying abroad have classes later in the day. Some even have class until 6 in the evening! This is a similarity of my classes at MLC, I would always finish class at MLC before 3 p.m. and here in Spain, it is the same! I do love my Tuesdays and Thursdays where I only have one class!
I am taking four Spanish classes here and I love them all! The first class is called Lengua Española. I have this class with Profesora Ana, who is my favorite professor. This is a class that focuses the most on linguistics and grammar of Spanish, while still incorporating lots of cultural lessons. I have the same professor for my second class, Panorama de la Literatura Española. She teaches this class SO WELL. In the last couple of weeks, we have spent time learning about the literature of the “Edad Media,” or the Middle Ages. We are moving on to the Renaissance next week. This class is so interesting because we are studying literature, but with the study of literature comes the study of history, so we have learned a lot about Spain’s history. My third class is called Arte en el Museo del Prado. In this class, we also are learning a lot about Spain’s history, since we are studying and conversing about three main Spanish painters; Francisco Goya, El Greco, and Velázquez. My last class is called Sociedad Contemporania de España, which focuses on modern society in Spain.
I love all of my classes and am so happy to only be taking classes in Spanish. At MLC, I felt that sometimes I could not pour the “academic energy” into Spanish I wanted to because I had homework for all of my other classes. I LOVE having classes in Spanish. I do feel that I am understanding everything my professors are saying, besides a few vocabulary words here or there. I am learning so much about the history of Spain and the culture here, which makes me have such a greater appreciation for where I am studying and living these four months.
Our class sizes are decently similar to those at MLC. Our biggest class has 15-20 students and our smallest has about 10. I enjoy this because it is more personable.
A big thing here that is different at MLC is attendance. We technically have 6 “free” skips for each class with no penalties, but after 6 our entire grade for a class drops to 66%. I have not missed any classes, but many of those in my classes have already missed a couple.
One thing I find very interesting is that, depending on the teacher, students should not eat food or have drinks, other than water, in class. This is seen as rude. Also, it is very rude to yawn with your mouth open, similar to the States..I think. I hope. Even if a class is interesting, we cannot help but yawn sometimes. There have been many times where I begin yawning and I immediately move my hand to my mouth because I do not want it to seem like I am bored.
I do not find the class content extremely hard, nor the homework though it does challenge me in the ways I was hoping. We have homework every week for every class, but it does not take more than an hour to complete for each class. The homework load is light in comparison to MLC, which I appreciate.
Overall, I am really enjoying school here and learning so much!
Thank you for your continued prayers! God has been so good to me!
Con Amor,
Alaina Wiedoff
Learning in Galway
Hello, I hope that you are doing well! I am doing well in Galway. I have lived in Ireland for almost two months and have adjusted to my new life abroad. I have had the privilege of traveling around Ireland, visiting several cities and magnificent sites. I have made new friends, gotten involved in a church and Christian society on campus, and also have been reading and writing voraciously. However, studying abroad isn’t simply travel, social activities, and leisure– there is an academic aspect to it. In this blog, I’ll discuss my educational experience by describing each class I’m taking and comparing my experience here with that of MLC.
Iconography: the Classical Tradition in Western Art
I start with my Iconography lectures each Monday and Wednesday morning (at 10 am). My lecturer is a soft-spoken Irish man whose voice is as soft as sheep’s wool. He is a firm believer in art appreciation and being able to see art clearly, so his lectures are conducted in classrooms with zero light or windows to see the projected images on the screen. As you can imagine, the combination of these factors make my Iconography lectures a battle to stay awake. Nevertheless, most of the classwork is based on independent research for an overall project. I am about halfway done with my project, an exploration of statues of David from the Italian Renaissance and how they reflect the mores of Florentine society during that period. The project culminates with a 3,000-word paper and a 20-25-minute presentation that I will give. Within my paper and presentation, I analyze the artwork and historical era and then make assertions based on my observations. I sound unbelievably pretentious when talking about art, making me feel more intelligent than I am!
Genre Studies: Satire and Sentiment in 18th-Century Literature
In my opinion, Genre Studies is an exciting course. We read poems, plays, and prose from the long 18th century. I attend two weekly lectures, one on Monday at 5 pm and the other on Thursday at noon. My lecturer is a vigorous 30-something Canadian woman. She has very entertaining lectures and breaks down complex concepts and ideas in an elegantly simple manner. My favorite poem that we have read is Johnathan Swift’s “Verses on the Death of Dr. Swift” (1731). The poem is about Johnathan Swift reflecting on his life and how he imagines certain people will react to his death. It has a very similar nature to that of the book of Ecclesiastes. I highly recommend it.
Studies in Medieval Literature
Studies in Medieval Literature is a two-part course that breaks down two legendary medieval works: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and The Canterbury Tales. I attend lectures twice weekly from 3 to 4 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Because it is a two-part course, I have had two separate lecturers. My first lecturer was a whimsical British man with great humor. He taught Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, an Arthurian legend written around 1375. The story is rife with Biblical allegory and deals with the uncanny issues of pride and chivalry. I highly recommend it. My second lecturer is an intense Irish woman and she has only given two lectures on The Canterbury Tales, but I am enjoying them. They were also written in the late 14th century, and reading Middle English has been challenging. I would compare it to trying to understand someone speaking to you underwater– you can understand most of it, but some parts are lost due to interference.
Exploring Shakespeare
Exploring Shakespeare is a somewhat interesting course. It is my only seminar course, and we meet every Tuesday from 4 to 6 pm. The class time can feel a bit long because my professor, a talkative Irish woman, half-lectures/half-discusses the Shakespeare plays we read and occasionally asks questions of the class. A lot of the time, it doesn’t feel like a seminar course. We have read Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Henry V. I have enjoyed the plays, especially A Midsummer Night’s Dream. This class is probably the most different from the experience I would have had learning Shakespeare at MLC because my professor (over)emphasizes the “sex, drugs, and rock and roll” aspect of Shakespeare.
So, how does the academic experience differ from MLC…?
Quite significantly. Let me explain:
- Attendance. Class attendance is optional in Ireland. I could skip every lecture and still pass a course if I wanted to. It would be tricky, but it could be done. At MLC, if you miss a single class, it feels like you missed a significant amount of knowledge (in my opinion). The attitude towards attendance is much more lax compared to MLC, which treats skipping class like a mortal sin. (I’m not saying that it’s a bad thing.) I have yet to miss a single lecture this semester because MLC has engrained a mindset of perfect attendance.
- Rigor. The academic experience is super relaxed compared to MLC. To succeed at MLC, you need to be disciplined with your academics– you can’t just blow off your daily assignments. Oh wait… I don’t have daily homework here. I have some reading to do each week, but reading isn’t truly homework for me. I only have to work hard for about two weeks in the entire semester. I honestly miss the academic grind of MLC because the structure forces you to be engaged with the courses. Also, my final grades are based on two to three grades. I have papers and presentations for all of my classes worth between 40 and 70% of my overall grade.
- Engagement. I am not engaged with my courses here like I am at MLC. Yes, I attend all of my lectures and complete my projects on time, but my studies are not an important aspect of my life. It is nice to be able to relax on my nights and weekends, but I also am not getting as much out of my courses. I also only have class from Monday to Thursday, giving me a three-day weekend every week. I yearn for class with Professor Grubbs and Professor Degner again (even though I grumble about their homework sometimes…).
- Size. Class size is much different; two of my lectures (Iconography and Shakespeare) have about 20 people, similar to MLC. However, my Genre Studies and Medieval Literature lectures have around 150 people each. Surprisingly, it’s not been a difficult adjustment– I sit near the front in every class, making it feel smaller than it is.
- Diversity. Galway is the most diverse place I have ever experienced in my life. Every day on campus, I hear at least three languages spoken (not including English). Galway is a popular destination for students from Asia, Africa, Europe, and North and South America. Through the Christian Society I am involved in, I have met and made friends with people from Italy, Portugal, France, Mexico, Canada, Nigeria, Thailand, China, Malaysia, Spain, India, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and many more. Surprisingly, I’ve made more friends from international places than from Ireland. It has also been a welcome surprise that I’ve been able to use my Spanish much more than I thought I would. Sometimes, I’ll casually start conversing in Spanish with strangers before or after class. Other times, I’ll eavesdrop on conversations by Spanish speakers who think I can’t understand them. It’s great fun to shock people because I don’t look like someone who can speak Spanish! I am also regularly complimented by native speakers for my “acento tan hermoso“– something that boosts my confidence!
- Individuality. The academic experience is much more individual than at MLC. At MLC, for better or worse, it is tough to “fly under the radar.” Almost everyone lives, eats, and studies in the same places. Even if it isn’t perfect, MLC is uniquely blessed with its collective mindset. I occasionally see people I know around campus here, but I miss going anywhere on MLC’s campus and always knowing someone. Also, the attitude of Galway’s student populace is much more egalitarian than MLC’s hierarchical structure. At MLC, it would be unfathomable for me to go on my phone during class and call my professors by their first names, but these things happen regularly in Galway. I miss MLC students’ respect for their professors and fellow students.
Overall, I have learned a lot about what I like and don’t like about academics from this experience. I have grown a greater appreciation for MLC. I enjoy the freedom I am given for other activities from this experience, especially reading and writing. So far, I have read 17 books in 2024 and have started writing a second novella. I’ve also spent more time studying my Bible, praying, and getting involved in the Christian society on campus. I’ve been asked to lead a Bible study on the book of Jonah, and I’m looking forward to using my gifts to teach others.
Please continue to pray for me. Thanks for reading!
Photos Explained:
- This is me using a quill. As you can probably see from the look on my face, I loved it.
- This is the view from the English department, looking over campus. It still can’t beat the view from 3rd floor Old Main, but it’s pretty good.
- This is a photo of what walking at night on campus looks like.
¿Dónde vive?
Hola!!
It has been a little less than 2 weeks since we arrived in Spain! I can say that I am doing very well and am very happy here. I miss all of my loved ones back home but am so grateful for technology so I can stay in touch with them. I will say I have already been stressing about money, something I often do. I am trying to remember that I am not throwing my money around AND I trust that God will guide me in this financial journey.
Now, I get to update you all about my living arrangements here in Spain!
I live in a residencia, also known as a dorm. I live with Emily and Sarah, and 6 other girls, all of whom are fluent Spanish speakers! This is kind of funny to me, but our whole residencia has a “vogue” theme, so there are posters everywhere of Vogue magazine covers and models. We each have our own room, with our own private bathroom, desk, closet, and a pretty large TV for the size of our rooms. I am not sure how they even fit it on the wall. We do share a kitchen and living room space. I have a window that I open up on sunny days, which I love. I have made my room somewhat homey, as much as I can with the large Vogue photos (LOL). I have put up some of my favorite bible passages, favorite paintings, and photos I printed before leaving home. I have added many photos of the people I hold dear to my heart above my desk.
I love having my own space but also being able to get to know other girls! (Bonus that they all are fluent in Spanish!) We have started getting to know some of the girls through passing or when we are cooking or sitting at the dinner table together. (Usually close to 9 p.m. dinners for us over here…that took a bit to get used to!) A couple of our roommates are from Spain, one girl is from Patagonia, Argentina, one is from Italy, and one is from Chile. We have quite the mix and are all learning from each other. It is both fun and intimidating to hear all of the different accents and dialects of Spanish from different countries. (Not going to lie, the Chilean accent is SO difficult for me to understand.) We have all talked about spending some time together sometime soon outside of our current home, which I would really love. If I am being honest, when I talk to them, I get really nervous about my Spanish since they are all so fluent and can talk so quickly with one another. I know that eventually, this feeling will pass! 🙂 All the girls are so understanding and encouraging of us speaking Spanish with them and like to practice English too once in a while.
Our residencia is about a 10-minute walk from school. This is one of the best things ever. (Okay, maybe not the best, but still we are SUPER thankful!) We love our walks to and from school because, for us, it is a form of exercise. We have been walking a lot which has been really impactful for both my mental and physical health. One of our ISA guides said we are in the perfect location, which made us again, so grateful.
There are a couple of differences from my dorm back at MLC. We each have our own room here, which I do really appreciate at times, but I do miss my girl Hannah too. (My roommate the last 3 years of college.) It has been nice having my own bathroom and getting ready space as well. We have a kitchen 10 steps away from our rooms and THIS has been a game changer. I have never really cooked or been helpful in the kitchen, but I knew that this area of life was something I really wanted to grow in while in Spain. We have been buying our own groceries and making almost all of our meals. We have stove top burners and a microwave, but no oven. (BIG BUMMER.) So, I have been learning and cooking with Sarah’s encouragement and guidance. (She is so patient…) I cannot wait to keep practicing and trying new recipes in the kitchen! That is something I never thought I would say!
Thank you again for keeping up with me!!:) God has been so good to us!
Con Amor,
Alaina
Here is my room with my window:) (spot the Vogue pictures haha)
