The Authentic Madrid Student Experience

I sat down in a classroom that felt more unfamiliar than anything I’d ever experienced. All around me, Spanish students were gossiping so fast I wasn’t sure if they were even speaking Spanish. I caught the glance of a student here and there, leaving me only to wonder what they were thinking about me. Soon, our professor entered. He was older, but walked with a youthfulness similar to the students he greeted as he laid his belongings on the teacher’s desk. His smile calmed my nerves. I knew immediately that I was in the right place.

This semester I decided to take a class at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. In addition to regular IES Abroad classes, my program allows interested students to take classes at local universities. I’d always wanted to experience university life in a big city, and taking a class at “Complutense,” as many call it, was the perfect opportunity to do so. Joining a university class with only fluent Spanish students scared me at first, but as I learned, it’s completely doable even for a B-2 level Spanish speaker. My political economy class at Complutense has been one of my best experiences abroad, and today I’m here to argue why you should take a local university class as well. There are 3 big perks to taking a local university class:

Experiencing a new system of teaching and learning: Every university has its own unique style of teaching, class structure, and student life. Taking classes at Complutense has exposed me to this reality. One thing I love about my Complutense is how informal it is. Despite having 50 students enrolled in a lecture-like atmosphere, students can shout out and share their opinions honestly with the professor. At the start of each class, our professor even dedicates time to let students ask any questions they’d like about current events or political economy. Some of the most insightful classroom conversations I’ve ever been a part of have arisen because of this feature of the class. Being immersed in this very unique environment, I’ve developed new critical thinking skills and a greater appreciation for open conversation in the classroom.

Meeting and connecting with local students: IES Abroad classes are a great time, but you’re only surrounded by fellow study abroad students in those classes. One of the easiest ways to break that bubble is through a local university class. While I was at first intimidated and unsure if I’d make friends at Complutense, I soon realized how friendly and interested students were about my time abroad. I’ve met a host of people from all sorts of backgrounds who were eager to talk with me, and they too have shared so many interesting details about their lives in Madrid. None of these friendships and conversations would have been possible if I hadn’t enrolled at Complutense. 

Living like a local student: There’s nothing more European than hopping on a public bus filled to the brim with students on their way to class. Through Complutense I’ve fully immersed myself in Madrid’s student life. I ride the bus with my classmates, eat at their cafeteria, talk to students while they play chess and banter in between classes, and in the process I hear all the stories about their drama and what crazy things happened last night. Living this routine was exactly what I’d hoped to do before arriving in Madrid—I wanted to experience the big city student life. In the process, I’ve pinpointed what I like most about Complutense (a casual yet strong community atmosphere) and the things I think my home university does better at (school spirit!)

I’ve learned so much from my class at Complutense, and I couldn’t recommend taking a local university class more strongly to future study-abroad students.