AIFS Abroad in Granada, Spain: Semester

The AIFS Spring 2023 Program in Granada was one to remember. AIFS staff was helpful every step of the way, from picking us up from the airport to getting us settled in our accommodation. They also planned a variety of trips and cultural activities for us to learn more about the rich culture and history of Spain. Classes were a perfect level of challenging but not stressful. You will be placed according to your level and will learn a lot, but there will not be a whole lot of homework. Knowledge of Spanish is not required but be prepared to learn a lot. This program is for anyone who wants to learn a lot and have tons of fun!

I went to Granada this past Spring for the AIFS Abroad program and it was an amazing experience! Granada is a beautiful city full of lots of rich history. It was a great place to go as a college student because food and drinks were super affordable. Granada is known for its Tapas culture, where every time you order a drink (alcoholic or not), you get a free tapa, or small plate, to enjoy with it. This was a great way to sample the local cuisine! Granada is a fully walkable city and everywhere you need to go is within a 30-minute walk. There is some public transportation but walking is the best way to explore the city. The academics at the University of Granada's Centro de Lengua Modernas were rigorous but the workload was light to allow for time to explore the city and travel on the weekends. A basic knowledge of Spanish language is helpful but do not let that deter you! You will be surprised at how much you pick up from both classes and just living life in this beautiful city! Overall, Granada is a beautiful place and AIFS did a great job providing assistance and planning fun activities for us!.

Hola! My name is Sammy and I studied abroad in Granada, Spain in the Spring of 2018. I went through AIFS and can say it was by far the best program I could have gone with. From the pre-departure process to my arrival back in the US, I felt that I was constantly helped with each new experience. As for the location, Granada was truly the hidden gem of Spain. Everywhere you go, there is something new to see and get to embrace so much of their culture just walking through their streets. I lived with a host family and loved every part of it. I felt so welcomed and like one of their family members. I was able to learn so much about their culture and traditional foods. I had classes from Monday to Thursday and this allowed many students to take up on their weekends to search more of the town or explore more within Europe. The campus I was in, also consisted of many other students from all over the world who were also exchange students. Aside from taking all my courses, I also was able to complete a little over 45 hours of my internship at a local hospital as a medical student. I had the honor to scrub in surgeries and closely work with the doctors there. It was by far one of the most life changing experiences for me to get the opportunity to have this internship as an opportunity. AIFS changed my life in every aspect and would do another program in an instant and will forever have a second home on the other side of the world.

When I decided to study abroad in Granada, Spain, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was nervous and anxious but also really excited to discover my new home for the semester. When I first got off the plane in Spain, I immediately felt at ease. The AIFS staff were incredibly kind and helpful as I adjusted to my host country. My host family in Granada was amazing. They were very accommodating and kind and made me feel like a member of their family almost immediately. Some of my fondest memories of my time abroad are of me sitting on the couch with my host parents and host siblings watching Spanish game shows on TV. The University of Granada was also an amazing place to go to school with interesting classes and good professors that encouraged us to learn as much from being in the city of Granada as we did in the classroom. The AIFS Program introduced me to new places on weekend excursions and helped me make the most of my time in Granada by introducing me to workshop and volunteer opportunities. By the end of my trip, Granada had become my second home. I knew all of the best places to get tapas, could navigate the Albaicin (a maze-like part of the city) like a professional and had made some amazing friends. Overall, my study abroad experience has changed my life for the better and Granada will always be a place that I go back to.

Granada, Spain is the best location to study abroad and going with AIFS is the best way to do it. The help that you have in the city is unbeatable. From being able to go to the staff members for cultural questions, restaurant recommendations, or help with the language, they are always there for you. They were always so willing to help and they made my experience what it was. Also, the optional excursions are amazing. Being able to go to Morocco with a guide and my friends was something that I wouldn't have been able to do without this program. Also, my host family made everything feel comfortable and they treated me like I was their own. They helped me feel like a local and I'm so glad I chose to stay with a family. They also cook the best local food! Overall, this program was amazing and AIFS does a great job.

Going abroad to Spain has been my dream since I first started studying Spanish in middle school. To be able to live out this dream literally, boosted my confidence in the fact that I know I can make my dreams a reality. While I was there, I realized my passion for the language grew so much stronger and that my dream of actually permanently moving abroad could be made true. This experience opened my eyes to a whole new world of possibilities and I did stuff I never thought I would do. My confidence was so much higher there than ever before. Coming back, I think about it every single day and as I get closer to having to job-search, I know I'm not going to limit myself to any particular location. I am a completely different person with a much more open mind than before going abroad and I think if anyone has even considered going abroad, then they should do everything in their power to make it happen. You absolutely cannot regret going to a foreign country while you're in college. The program far exceeded my expectations. They were there when I needed them, but we weren't required to do anything or stuck to any sort of schedule except for school. We were just given an abundance of options. Having everything included such as accommodation and food, really helped with budgeting.

Granada was the best place to study abroad! I lived with a host family, took all my courses in spanish, and immersed myself in the culture. The on-site resident directors with AIFS were AMAZING!!! They went with me to the doctor when I got sick, helped us with our schedules, and guided us on where we should shop and places we needed to eat at. The excursions they plan were very well planned and very fun! I knew nothing about Granada before heading over there and had never left the country before so I was very nervous to leave but I am so glad I chose AIFS in Granada. I felt completely supported and enjoyed every part of my experience! My host family was great and loving, my classes were not as hard as I was expecting, and the culture and life in Granada is rich! I would recommend Granada to everyone but especially to those who want to go to a spanish speaking country and come back speaking the language. Granada is an amazing place to learn the Spanish language.

Studying in Granada, Spain with AIFS was the best decision I could have made! From start to finish, I felt comfortable with the entire process. The application was straight forward and whenever I had questions, my admissions counselor was quick to respond and alleviate my confusion. While in Spain, the on staff was extremely friendly and they were available for any questions about the city or the adjustment process. When choosing my program for my semester abroad, the value of the AIFS program gave me the best option. This program was the least expensive, which was something I was looking for. Despite that, I was still given many opportunities in my study abroad. The program included excursions to Sevilla, Córdoba, Gibraltar, walking tours around Granada, and even Alpujarras. Going on these added so much more to my experience because I was able to see outside of the city and experience other pieces of Spain and its culture. AIFS even provided opportunities to blog or be a photographer for AIFS and even to volunteer while abroad. One of my favorite parts were the “intercambios” organized by our program directors where we were able to meet with native Spanish speakers to practice the language and make new friends. Upon return, AIFS allowed students to apply to be an Alumni Ambassador to promote study abroad on campus. AIFS does not leave students high and dry at the end of the program, but they create a family for the returning student, so they can know they are not alone. I could have gone to Granada with any program, but I will never regret going with AIFS.