Before studying abroad, whether it’s semester long, year long, or summer term, the question of how classes will be structured always comes up. As a student studying in Madrid, Spain for Summer 1 term (one month), I was curious about how the program would fit two 3 credit 300-level classes into four weeks. During orientation and leading up to the trip, we were told to bring what we usually use for school, and I brought my laptop, writing tools, and a composition notebook.
Now that the trip is coming to an end, I’d say that the courses are pretty project heavy. I am taking Spanish Literature, and a Spanish culture class which is like Spanish history and both taught in Spanish. After each unit, which takes about 1/2 a week to a full week, we’re given quizzes to see if we retained the information, along with occasional homework assignments due the following day. Other than that, final projects and midterms were presentations about information talk in class, usually as a group project.
Besides assignments, attendance is a big part of the grade since there aren’t that many assignments going into the grade book. Class attendance is important, but also attendance to activities/excursions scheduled within the program.
Thankfully, none of the courses I have taken have felt rushed or like there was an overwhelmingly amount of information dumped onto me at once. The classes here are a bit early, but that gives us time to have the rest of the day to explore, go to activities, to homework, and take a siesta!