Students Study Abroad in Spain

By NICK BAKER, LOGAN BECKERLE, and CHLOE LIND

This term, ten seniors left campus, embarking on a Global Initiatives program in Madrid, Spain.

The program is one of a select few term abroad programs offered by Global Initiatives for seniors advanced in foreign languages. A key aspect of the program is the pairing of students with local host families located near their Spanish school. Instructor in Modern Languages. Mark Trafton, the trip faculty chaperone, outlined some more of the program’s core details: “Family stay is the most important [component of the trip], excursions is another part. Of course, daily classes play a large part. The fourth part is the cultural immersion that comes from just adventuring on their own.” 

Additionally, the role of the Exeter faculty chaperone is to supplement their education with an adaptation of the Exeter Spanish curriculum: “My role as a faculty member is principally as an educator,” said Trafton. “I teach our course in the morning, which receives homework through Canvas as if they were on campus. Our students do reading and language study. They often do spoken work and interviews outside class.”

The trip’s emphasis on students living with host families was lauded by students as one of their favorite parts of the program.“Living with my host family has provided me with an even deeper immersion into Spanish culture,” said senior Anya Rao. “I look forward to our nightly dinners where I get to converse with my host family. [They] have been integral to my experience here because these small moments are where I get to learn about the unique aspects, customs, and experiences of living in Spain,” continued Rao.

Senior Aveen Burney conveyed a similar sentiment: “My host family has welcomed me into their home, introduced me to local traditions, and made sure I feel comfortable …. I’ve learned so much about Spanish culture through them.”

Students on the trip attend the Collegio Santa Maria la Blanca, taking courses in a slew of subjects taught in Spanish and immersing themselves with Spanish peers. “My courses push me academically since everything is in Spanish. It’s definitely an adjustment, but I can feel my language skills improving every day. Simple things like ordering food, navigating public transportation, or chatting with locals have become more natural, and it’s so rewarding to see that progress,” described Burney,

  Much of the trip’s educational benefit is also gained outside of the classroom. “We’ve had several excursions throughout Madrid which essentially traced the history of this city … starting with prehistory right through the first dynasties of kings of moderate Spain from the late 15th century to the early 16th century,” noted Trafton. 

The program is also not confined to Madrid. “I’ve loved going on trips, discovering the country’s rich history, and experiencing firsthand the vibrant energy of Spanish culture,” described Burney.

“Our first excursion out of Madrid was our first weekend, and that was two days in the Basque country, which was on the North Coast. The difference between Madrid and the Basque country is night and day in terms of politics, attitudes, and climate history,” explained Trafton.

Alongside the successes and newfound joy brought by their tenure in Spain, students inevitably also faced challenges adjusting to life abroad. However, they largely overcame these challenges with useful experience.“My Spanish is improving immensely everyday because I am using the language consistently. When I first arrived here, I would get nervous to speak in Spanish when I was ordering things in a restaurant or asking questions in class because I didn’t know the exact right words. However, now, I feel more confident because I have learned a significant amount of Spanish through experiential learning.” said Rao. 

The students attending the trip have also had to adjust to various cultural norms.  “For many students, it seemed interesting to them to get kissed on the cheek twice by a peer when first meeting them. That is something that’s not part of our American Anglo-Saxon culture,” mentioned Trafton. 

Despite some of the challenges the students studying abroad in Spain have had to contend with, those have been overshadowed by the rich memories and appreciation for Spanish culture informed by the program. Whether it be dancing through the rain-soaked streets of Madrid or simply conversing with their host families at dinner, the students attending the Madrid Initiatives program trip will carry the unforgettable experience with them for the rest of their lives. 

“I have many funny stories in my back pocket now, from serendipitously playing guitar with a saxophone player in Retiro Park to running through the streets of Barcelona on an excursion in the rain,” said Burney.