{"id":2531,"date":"2014-09-22T19:02:44","date_gmt":"2014-09-22T19:02:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/?p=2531"},"modified":"2014-09-22T19:03:30","modified_gmt":"2014-09-22T19:03:30","slug":"what-to-know-before-studying-abroad-in-spain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.listenandlearn.org\/blog\/what-to-know-before-studying-abroad-in-spain\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Know Before Studying Abroad in Spain"},"content":{"rendered":"

Studying abroad is an enlightening experience\u2014it grants individuals the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in a new culture\u2014and it can even be argued that it is the most effective way of learning a\u00a0foreign\u00a0language.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>

Photo by David Iliff<\/a> License- CC-BY-SA 3.0<\/p><\/div>\n

And you\u2019re considering it? Great! Maybe you\u2019re interested in total language immersion, or perhaps you simply crave the unknown \u2013 you lust for the adventure of living and learning abroad. Don\u2019t worry; we\u2019ve been there.<\/p>\n

Countries across the globe offer the excitement and rich cultural experience you dream of, but the peninsular nation of Spain is particularly unique. \u00a0With widely varying landscapes, abundant cultural diversity, and a high influx of international students\u2014nearly 74,000 per year! \u2014studying abroad (and\u00a0living in Spain<\/a>) can truly enhance your life.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Preparation, though, can be stressful and, at times, frustrating. So, if you\u2019ve decided on Spain and need some advice about what to do next, check out our top tips:<\/p>\n

Visas<\/h2>\n

Applying for a visa can feel formidable, but the process is fairly simple. The\u00a0consulado\u00a0<\/i>(consulate)\u2019s\u00a0website<\/a>\u00a0lists all the requirements. \u00a0Wade through the heaps of information until you find the \u2018Student Visa\u2019 section, and take notes.<\/p>\n

Okay so you know what\u2019s required,\u00a0but..<\/b>.<\/h4>\n

The website notes that the processing time for student visas is approximately\u00a0seis\u00a0<\/i>semanas<\/i>\u00a0(six weeks). \u00a0While you may receive your visa early, more than likely, you won\u2019t. \u00a0The Spanish government is notorious for its\u00a0ineficiencia<\/i>\u00a0(inefficiency), thus many recommend submitting your application at least\u00a0ocho semanas<\/i>\u00a0(eight weeks) prior to departure.<\/p>\n

Finding affordable airfare<\/h2>\n

There are all kinds of theories about which days are best to purchase your tickets, but ultimately you just need to do some exploring on the web. Mid-week flights are likely the cheapest, and sites like\u00a0SkyScanner<\/a>,\u00a0Expedia<\/a>,\u00a0Kayak<\/a>, and\u00a0Orbitz<\/a>, are extremely helpful.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re planning in advance try\u00a0AirFareWatchdog<\/a>, a site that sends you an email when the flight you\u2019ve requested drops below a certain price!<\/p>\n

\"StudyAbroad\"<\/a><\/p>\n

What to study and where<\/h2>\n

The beauty of studying abroad in\u00a0Espa\u00f1a<\/i>\u00a0(Spain) is that you have choices in regard to where you go and what you study. With several highly esteemed universities in different parts of the country, it is important that you choose a program that suits your expressed interests.<\/p>\n

That being said, there are two things you should consider when determining the purpose of your semester abroad: your current language level and your language or academic goals.<\/p>\n

If you aren\u2019t sure about the status of your language skills, check out our\u00a0<\/b>Spanish Language Test<\/b><\/a>!<\/b><\/em><\/h4>\n

These considerations are important first steps because not only do they dictate the\u00a0tipo de programa\u00a0<\/i>(type of program) in which you enroll, but also\u00a0adonde<\/i>\u00a0(where) you decide to go.<\/p>\n

M\u00e1laga<\/h3>\n

Welcome to the entryway to the\u00a0Costa del Sol<\/i>, a strip of culturally explosive cities along Spain\u2019s southern Mediterranean coast. A popular European holiday destination, M\u00e1laga has far more to offer than a sultry Spanish sun and sweet-talking Spaniards.<\/p>\n

Culture Courses in Spanish<\/h4>\n

La Universidad de M\u00e1laga\u00a0<\/i><\/a>(The University of M\u00e1laga) or UMA, is an esteemed university with nearly 40,000 enrolled students. To enroll in the culture classes you must first take a placement test and place into an advanced class. Ensure that your language skills are up to par,\u00a0contact us<\/a>\u00a0and find a native speaking tutor near you, or check out the Spanish language classes we offer!<\/p>\n

Barcelona<\/h3>\n

Ahh, Barcelona,\u00a0sofisticada y metropolitana\u00a0<\/i>(sophisticated and metropolitan), this expansive\u00a0ciudad<\/i>\u00a0(city) is home to the nation\u2019s highest ranked university:\u00a0Universitat de Barcelona<\/i><\/a>\u00a0(UB). With nearly 70,000 enrolled students and 106 departments, it consistently welcomes a vast number of\u00a0international students<\/a>\u00a0to its campus.<\/p>\n

Academic Courses in Spanish<\/h4>\n

It is important to note that Barcelona and its famed university are located in Catalonia where two languages are officially recognised:\u00a0Castellano<\/i>\u00a0(Spanish) and\u00a0Catal\u00e1n<\/i>. Only 30% of the courses offered are in\u00a0castellano<\/i>, but\u00a0no te preocupes\u00a0<\/i>(don\u2019t worry), there are still plenty to choose from!<\/p>\n

Brush up on your Spanish!<\/h2>\n

Whether your primary goal is to learn Spanish or simply to use it in an academic context, brushing up on your language skills never hurts. If you\u2019re interested in getting acquainted with the culture before heading off or you would like to practice your conversational skills, take a look at\u00a0where we offer courses<\/a>\u00a0and find a native Spanish speaking tutor in your area!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Studying abroad is an enlightening experience\u2014it grants individuals the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in a new culture\u2014and it can even be argued that it is the most effective way of learning a\u00a0foreign\u00a0language. And you\u2019re considering it? Great! Maybe you\u2019re interested in total language immersion, or perhaps you simply crave the unknown \u2013 you lust(\u2026)<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t \t\t\t\tCONTINUE READING »<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":2532,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[236,17,28],"tags":[195,37,285],"class_list":["post-2531","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-must-know","category-news-politics-religion-history-law","category-culture-travel","tag-spain","tag-spanish","tag-study-abroad"],"yoast_head":"\nWhat to Know Before Studying Abroad in Spain<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Studying abroad is an enlightening experience and is possibly the most effective way of learning a foreign language.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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