My favorite part of the program was the weekend excursion to the Pyrenees. It was absolutely gorgeous!

I enjoyed being in a completely different culture and exploring an amazing city

I loved exploring the city and finding new things. Everywhere we went there was a surprise to be found.

My favorite part of the program were the two excursions to Costa Brava and Valle de Boi.

The weekend excursions were absolutely wonderful. I couldnt have had a better trip.

I enjoyed every aspect of the program!

I enjoyed living in Barcelona and not feeling like I was a tourist. I felt like I was apart of the city.

I enjoyed the daily trips we took in my literary course. It was amazing to read about these locations rich in culture then less than an hour later go visit that place and compare the representation in literature to the actual place.

I loved living with a host family. I feel like I really got to experience the culture (and the food!!) by living with my host parents.

The weekend excursions were my favorite part of the program!

My favorite part was being able to bond with my teacher and the other classmates during class and on the excursions. I also liked how we ended class at noon. We had the whole day to plan things and go to the beach. My spanish skills got better throughout the summer. I was forced to use my spanish skills with my host family because they did not know any english!

My favorite part of this program was the city of Barcelona itself. I loved getting acclimated to the diversity of cultures that existed in Barcelona and learning more Spanish than I've ever learned in the United States due to the exposure. I enjoyed the house family stay because it provided a safe place to have access to even more spanish speaking and going into the program not knowing anyone was also beneficial.

I loved getting to push myself outside of my comfort zone every single day. Whether it was in the classroom, talking with locals, or being truly independent for the first time, I always felt like something great was about to happen. I can't describe the feeling of accomplishment and growth at the end of my trip- this was hands-down the best decision I've ever made.

My favorite part of my study abroad experience was my fellow students and teachers. The students I studied abroad with helped me grow in my Spanish abilities, allowed me to adjust quickly, and always made me feel comfortable and not stressed. The same goes for my teachers. Indira was a light to all of her students and always made sure none of us were struggling.

Being able to travel to other countries, either on the excursions or not, were the most rewarding experiences. Each country has a different culture, and being able to see so many different cultures in such a short time/distance was remarkable.

Being immersed into a Spanish culture was the most rewarding aspect of my experience.

Some elements of the program that I found were the most rewarding was going on the excursions with the class and living with the host family. I got really close with my host family. It was sad when I left, but my host mom said that I was welcome to stay with her if I ever come back. I feel that I am more independent and I am not afraid to ask for help when I need it.

Living with a host family was the most rewarding experience of the program. I was able to fully immerse into the culture and create a strong bond with the family.

I found the most rewarding to be the amount of spanish I picked up from just having conversations with locals and learning from different interactions. Being an observer is key when you are abroad to fully understand different social cues, pronunciation, etc. I liked getting close my with professors as well. Being a nontraditional student in a non native speaking country, this helped me have piece of mind.

Make the most of your time abroad! You're here to learn and experience, so don't cut yourself short. The best way to grow and fully immerse yourself in the culture is through the language. So even though you're only "required" to speak in Spanish in class, do it everywhere: with your host family, with locals, with other students. I promise your skills will improve so much more. Plus, you earn the respect of native speakers! Talking on the street is so different from talking about analysis or examining a novel in the classroom, and you'll love coming back home with new slang.

I found my interactions with my host family to be very rewarding, they were very kind and helped me develop my Spanish-speaking skills. Also getting to interact with various native speakers throughout each day, and of course all of the cool things we got to see and experience.

Use the month before going on this trip to practice your grammar because that part of the course is very intensive and moves extremely fast. In fact, if possible take a review class online or meet with a tutor to make sure you have the basics down.
Be realistic with your budget so that given the opportunity you can hop a quick flight to another region of Spain and get another look at the cultural differences.
Going out is great but try to check out the local places instead of the tourist hangouts.
Explore!! Put yourself in situations that force the use of the language.

Research the city before you go and you will be rewarded, Barcelona is big and don't expect to figure it out in a few days. It takes weeks.

When learning a new language, it's important to TRY!! You don't always have to be right, and it's OK to ask questions. That really helped facilitate the development of my language skills.

I learned a lot about myself in general, and I learned so much about the culture in Barcelona.

I learned to keep your belongings as close to you as possible and always be aware of the people by you. Especially at the bars, clubs and on the beach. Learn how to use the public transportation system. It will help you get around the city faster than walking! Even though you can pretty much walk anywhere in Barcelona. If you ignore the vendors then they will not bother you. Don't be afraid to use your spanish skills on the streets, even if they aren't great. It can be really fun! Don't be afraid to try different foods. You will be surprised at what you might like! Your phone doesn't always work, so make sure you know your way around or know how to ask for help! 6 weeks goes by so fast, so make the best of it! Europe is amazing and it is a whole other world over there. Very different from America. Always carry a water bottle and fill it up every chance you get because water is not free nor are restrooms! Ice is very hard to find in Barcelona, along with air conditioning. Pack very few clothes because you will wear the same thing every day. Also, leave space in your luggage because you will shop.. a lot. Don't bring any jewelry, you will just lose it. Also, I did not wear any makeup while abroad. You don't need it. Save up as much money as you can, because I guarantee that you will spend it all. Stay in Barcelona for a few weekends but you should also travel to other places in Europe.

I learned how to be independent. I often found myself exploring the city alone and it was extremely rewarding as well. I grew as a person.

I think the most important thing to do when you do a program like this is to make sure you don't treat it like a vacation. You are there to learn and there are so many enjoyable things to do but if you spend all your time speaking English and going to the beach, you wont use this once-in-a-lifetime experience to the fullest.

I learned that I was a lot more independent and capable than I thought. I was nervous about being on my own in a foreign country, but I quickly found out that my previous Spanish education had prepared me very well, and it was easier to adjust to a different culture than I had thought.