Working and studying in Spain

Julia Golden '15, Teaching Assistant

Major: Psychology, Spanish minor

Study Abroad Program: PRESCHCO-Smith College, Córdoba, Spain

Internship: Academia Manhattan

I had been interested in working and studying abroad in Spain since I first began Mount Holyoke. Though I’m sure I would have had a wonderful experience in any Spanish-speaking country, Spain had become my goal. I chose to study abroad with the program PRESHCO through Smith College for because I loved the location in historic and sunny Córdoba in southern Spain. PRESHCO offered amazing opportunities for cultural enrichment, including extra dance and cooking classes as well as weekend excursions to numerous Spanish cities.

After PRESHCO ended, I did not want to leave Spain, so I found an internship teaching English at the Academia Manhattan, an English language school. My main goal was to improve my Spanish, and I definitely believe that I achieved this goal in both my study abroad program and my internship.

Studying abroad was certainly a rewarding experience. By the end I felt as though I had built a new community for myself and had greatly improved my Spanish skills. Teaching English, as well, was incredibly rewarding. I worked in the school for two months, and in that time, I watched so many people progress in their English skills.