I had 5 classes each day which included Grammar, Business, Literature and Art. These classes benefitted me greatly in regards to understanding the language and culture of Spain. Each day consisted of complete immersion in the language as teachers only spoke Spanish and English was not permitted within the classrooms. There has been great improvement in my language skills after completing this course and also by being in Salamanca, a place where English is not spoken by locals in restaurants or shops etc., therefore it was essential for me to speak Spanish and by doing so, my confidence in speaking the language has increased massively.

One of the best things about doing this course was all of the amazing people that I met from all over the world and we were all connected through the passion for learning Spanish. As a group we embraced the culture of Salamanca in the evenings as we would try different restaurants and enjoy local cuisine, such as Hornazo. I enjoyed taking part in the cultural activities available such as the trip to Segovia, pottery and city and cathedral tours. All of these activities tested my understanding of the language as everything was explained in Spanish and it was extremely rewarding to recognise that I could understand and communicate with locals with ease.

My time in Salamanca will always be remembered fondly as it was a life-changing experience for me. I have even more love for the language and Spanish culture. The course was helpful in allowing me to think about what future career I would like to have. We discussed careers in my business class and I heard about the jobs of some of my peers, for example, there was a diplomat in my class and it was inspiring to hear about her experience in this role. It really encouraged me to consider what options are available through the studying of languages.

Doing this course will benefit my degree greatly as I have had experience speaking the language to locals and have learned so much from the Spanish teachers. It was an intense course in which we had homework every evening, 2 presentations, an assignment and an exam. I am looking forward to going into my second year of studying Spanish in September as I have gained more confidence in speaking the language and understanding it. I am so grateful to have had this experience, to have had the opportunity to improve my language skills at an excellent university in Spain and to have met wonderful people who I hope to keep in contact with. I would strongly encourage everyone to do something like this if given the opportunity and it is thanks to the Jetset Award at Queen’s that this was possible.