Three Ways Immersion Develops Language

My classmates and I in Madrid, Spain.

On my first day of Spanish class in Madrid, my fellow students and I came prepared with pens and notebooks. When my professor arrived, the first piece of instruction she gave us was to put our materials away. She said,

“The only thing we will be using today are our eyes, ears, and mouths.”

The feeling of panic was palpable in the room. None of us were accustomed to language classes that placed an emphasis on speaking. Although I learned so much about vocabulary and grammar in my high school and college Spanish courses, they didn’t do much to improve my speaking skills.

Total Immersion Keeps You on Your Toes

She proceeded to address the students randomly, asking them questions about what they like and dislike about Spain. She often used colloquial Spanish terms, which was a refreshing yet difficult departure from my classes in the States. The majority of us struggled with formulating sentences on the spot, but were able to answer her after a moment of reflection. When she addressed my friend and I, we looked at each other and immediately froze. With the combination of her unfamiliar accent and use of vosotros, we were at a loss for words.

The Freedom to Make Mistakes

After some laughs from the class, my natural instinct was to open up my notebook and look for the correct answer. In that moment, I realized that this exact situation is what I hoped to experience when I enrolled in the study abroad program.

I wanted to be linguistically challenged. Although I was grateful for the ability to decently express myself through written Spanish, it is not nearly as useful as speaking the language. I knew I would have to speak Spanish whenever entering a store or restaurant, so what better way to practice than in a classroom setting?

Language exchanges are a great way for students to practice Spanish in a casual, real-life setting.

Consistency Creates Confidence

I embraced the moment and answered my professor’s questions to the best of my ability. Later, I completed a difficult speaking exercise with my classmates. The more we practiced speaking, the easier it became Although the 6-week course was challenging, I gained so much clarity and confidence with the language. During my program, I attended numerous intercambios, or language exchanges with Madrileños seeking to learn English.

Each day in Madrid, I made a conscious effort to use Spanish whenever possible that helped strengthen and reinforce knowledge from my classes. During my fifth week in Spain, I finally felt comfortable using the vosotros tense and began to overcome my fear of making mistakes. After this valuable experience, I have full confidence that total immersion is the best way to fully develop speaking skills in the language.

Have you ever wanted to strengthen your Spanish speaking abilities and connect with another culture?

We offer 80 hours of intensive Spanish classes to any student who participates in our study abroad program in Lima, Peru. Check out our study abroad page to learn more!

The Major Benefits of EdOdyssey’s Month Orientation in Lima

When you first arrive in a new country, you may initially feel overwhelmed being in a new environment.  When I first arrived in Lima, I did not know what to expect, but I knew that I was not alone. EdOdyssey’s one month orientation program served as an amazing starting point to get adjusted to the city, gain more knowledge about Peru, and improve my level of Spanish.  

This extended orientation sets the tone for your experience in Peru and I recommend that you take full advantage of your time to gain as much from the experience.

Interactive Classes & New Friends!

One part of EdOdyssey’s one month orientation that I experienced was attending Spanish classes at El Sol, a language school in Lima.  Since I had not taken Spanish classes in awhile, this allowed me to reorient myself with speaking Spanish immediately. El Sol was not only beneficial with studying Spanish again, but also meeting new people and making new friends immediately.  

El Sol also offers several activities in and around Lima to participate in with your classmates and teachers, which was a great first peek at Peruvian culture, food, and traditions. This provided me with an immediate connection with all of what Peru has to offer!

Learning Through Experiences

While studying at El Sol, you will also be venturing on excursions and fun activities in the Lima area.  These day trips gave me a chance to see more than only my homestay and El Sol. Whether it was visiting museums, trying local foods, or swimming with sea lions, each activity helped in orienting myself with living in Lima.  

Within the month orientation, I became extremely comfortable with life in Lima. Even the small things that we did like bargaining at a market or learning Lima’s transportation options, provided great value for the rest of my time in Lima.  As a result of the orientation, I felt beyond well-adjusted going into my second month with EdOdyssey.

Starting Strong Before University Classes

Following the month orientation, you should feel as if it has created a solid foundation for you to start your classes at the university.  You should also have a great feel for your homestay and the culture and overall vibe of the city.

This orientation goes in depth to ensure that you are entirely comfortable in Lima and aware how to get around the city. It is an opportunity to get outside of Miraflores for perhaps the first time and explore areas that you may not know much about. What made this orientation so special was how personal it felt and how it is a natural transition to living in Lima.  

You will never feel like you are thrown into everything at once. Do not be afraid to adjusting to Peru, as you are never alone in your experience and can always communicate with the EdOdyssey team at any time. Live in the moment during your orientation and enjoy Lima!