I’m taking four classes with the IES program – Economics of the European Union, Literature of the Golden Age, Spanish Art History of the 20th Century, and Spanish Grammar. They’re all with other American students but are taught in Spanish by professors from the University of Salamanca.
The economics class is a little tricky since we don’t know much economics terminology in Spanish. The professor is really nice, though, and helps us out a lot. He’ll stop often to make sure we’re understanding everything (whoever understands a concept first has to translate it for the class since he doesn’t speak any English).
In my literature class we’re going to read Don Quijote and Lazarillo del Tormes and a few other works. It’s going to be very challenging since we’re reading the original versions in old Spanish. I’m excited to finally read Don Quijote, but I think I’m looking forward to Lazarillo del Tormes most because parts of it take place in Salamanca (the name of the river that runs through Salamanca is called Río Tormes). There’s a statue of the character Lazarillo in the city that I haven’t gotten a chance to see yet – very important book for the city.
I’m really enjoying Art History – it looks like it will be a slightly easier class. I’m going to learn so much, though, because I’m starting out knowing literally nothing about the subject. It works out perfectly because I’m planning a trip to Barcelona with some friends the week after we study Gaudí!
The Spanish grammar class is a pretty boring subject, but the professor generally makes it pretty fun. Usually the class is just one long conversation, but we also have lots of presentations, papers, and other assignments.
I’m also taking one class directly through the university (with both Spanish students and international students) called Spanish Hebrew Culture. I also visited a sociology class about immigration and was really torn on which one to take. The immigration class would have been interesting but incredibly challenging. I decided that, since I’m staying for the year, I can take some more challenging university courses next semester once I’m more comfortable with my Spanish.
The university courses are very different from the IES courses – in general, they’re harder because the professors don’t stop to define vocabulary or repeat concepts. They’re also bigger – about 60 students or so (versus 10 in the IES courses). My economics professor told us he actually prefers teaching IES classes to his regular classes because there’s so much more class participation in the smaller groups. Another interesting thing I noticed – the professors address the IES classes with the informal “vosotros,” but use the formal “Uds” for the university courses.
Some random tidbits:
- You can’t get free water at a restaurant here! They also charge you for the bread and olives they bring out at the beginning of the meal. That was a shocker when the bill came! At least there’s no tipping in Spain!
- There aren’t public restrooms! Luckily, I have access to all the university buildings or I don’t think I’d make it. Apparently it isn’t a problem here, though, because Spaniards don’t drink as much water as Americans. Several people have told me that they know you’re an American if you carry a water bottle around. It was really funny when one of our professors pointed this out and every single one of us had a water bottle sitting on our desks.
- I’ve gotten to meet lots of international students from all over Europe who are also studying Spanish and I’ve concluded that Germans are the nicest. Everyone has been really nice, but the Germans in my classes have been particularly friendly. They do make me feel pretty bad about myself, though, because almost all of them are learning Spanish as their third language.
- I see at least one mullet a day – it’s a serious problem. Someone told me they came back into fashion in Spain because of Fernando Torres. At least he got rid of his – I hope the rest of Spain follows suit!
- This sounds like a really dumb thing to get excited about, but the blinds here are amazing – they block out ALL LIGHT. I’ve closed them at midday and it makes my room literally pitch black.
- Salamanca had an amazing fireworks show that put American shows to shame. None of us had ever seen anything like it – it lasted for 45 minutes! There were about 10 times when I thought we were watching the finale (and the actual grand finale was so elaborate and bright that it looked like daytime around us). Alas, the Spaniards weren’t as impressed as we were – all our host parents said that the show wasn’t as good this year and that there had obviously been huge budget cuts.
