We just finished up midterms last week and it was definitely a reality check to go back to studying so much. In general, most of my classes’ grading primarily comes from participation and exams. There are not many, if any, smaller weekly or daily graded assignments. Rather, grades are a combination of performance on midterm exams, final exams, final projects and class engagement. While this does create less week-to-week homework, it also means that there is a lot more independence and responsibility placed on students’ shoulders to stay on top of the course content.

Developing this self-accountability required to do well in these courses is a bonus consequence of studying abroad. My classes are, however, all extraordinarily interesting and unique, which makes studying feel like less of a task and more like another avenue of cultural and language immersion. Through my study abroad program, CEA CAPA, I am taking a photography course that has allowed me both to learn photography techniques and gain practical experience while simultaneously gathering a collection of photographic souvenirs of my time abroad.

Through the University of Sevilla, all of my courses are in Spanish, which has helped immensely in growing my language comprehension abilities. I am taking a watercolor painting class, which has again allowed for some unique, handmade souvenirs, a class about women’s role in art across history, and a class about teaching methodologies that includes weekly practical experience teaching English to Spanish students in a local school. I thoroughly enjoy each of my classes abroad and have some really incredible and supportive professors as well.

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Learn more about this blogger’s study abroad program: CEA CAPA: Summer Liberal Arts and Spanish Culture in Seville