AIFS Abroad in Salamanca, Spain: Semester

Studying in Salamanca marked a very special point in my life. The months I spent there did not only help me realize of how much I love Spanish, but it made me fall in love with the culture and people of Spain!
I found that classes can be as challenging as you want them to be, you just have to find the right balance and not be afraid to expose yourself to the language.
One of the great opportunities of living here is that you meet people from all over the world. I was lucky enough to choose a large host family, and ended up with friends from all over. Within the 3 years after this experience ended our close group has been fortunate enough to meet twice across the globe.
Salamanca is close enough to anywhere you want to go, and the people are very friendly. If your thinking on going there, just do it! You won't regret it.

Studying abroad in Salamanca, Spain was one of the best times in my life. The city, the culture, the people, everything there is amazing. You learn so much more about the world and about yourself by having this experience. I highly recommend this program to anyone interested in studying abroad.

This program helped me better learn Spanish, become acquainted with Spanish culture, and so much more. It was incredibly planned and living with my host family was the best experience I could have ever imagined. The only thing that would have made it better would have been if we could have somehow gotten the fellow program students to speak in Spanish for the duration of the study abroad. While it was great to learn and speak Spanish with natives in Salamanca and in class, the American program students would speak English with one another during program events. Other than that, this study abroad was phenomenal.

My time in Salamanca was life-changing. I lived with a host family that I keep in touch with today (4 years later) and have gone back to visit. It was such a privilege to be able to study at one of the oldest universities in Europe.

Through making friends in Salamanca, my classes at the university, and my time spent with the host family, my Spanish skills greatly improved.

I made lasting friendships and lifelong memories. I would encourage everyone to go!

I think that to be completely honest I think anyone going to Salamanca is going to have an amazing time no matter what program the go with. But I have had such an amazing time with AIFS. The staff is always helpful and take us on trips or give little perks like taking us out to tapas or chocolate con churros. But apart from the program Salamanca is still one of the best places I have ever been. Walking around the city I feel surrounded by culture and history. I walk through the plaza (which is said to be one of the most beautiful in the world...no joke) and I have to make myself stop and realize that although I walk though every day it is still amazing and beautiful and I need to take it all in. I only have about a month and a half left and I hate to think that on May 18 I will be leaving and I don't know when I'll be back. I want time to stop in this moment because at this moment I can't think of a better place to be.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I arrived in Salamanca... But what I got couldn't have been better. With classes in the mornings (with coffee breaks, of course) we had the afternoons free everyday. Meeting up with friends for leisurely walks, grabbing ice cream in the plaza, and endless conversations never got old. On days we felt more tourist-y we would visit the convent, cathedral, or university library. A never ending supply of places to go and things to see. I wouldn't change a thing about Salamanca. Sure, their accent may take a while, but every single person I spoke Spanish to was just so happy I was speaking, that they helped me with any words I struggled on, and even would teach me the "Spanish" way of saying it. Nicest people in the world. Going to Salamanca was by far the best choice I could have made for my Sophomore year in college.

It was always a dream of mine to visit Spain and after spending a year in Salamamca with AIFS I couldn't think of a better way to have fulfilled that dream. The program and the staff are incredible, they go out of their way to make sure you enjoy your time abroad. The academic advisor is one of the best advisors I have ever had, he makes sure that you are enrolled in classes that are not only appropriate for your language level but also interesting to you. Meeting and getting to know the locals was the best thing I could have done. The Salmantinos are extremely sweet, funny, and always willing to help you with what ever you need.

Studying abroad in Salamanca was the best decision I've made during my academic career. It was not only enriching on an academic level, but on a personal and cultural level, as well. I very much grew as an individual and made friends from literally all over the world. The University is fantastic, and the classes offered are definitely some of the best that I've ever taken. The AIFS staff there are also incredibly helpful; they mix fun and support in great way and arrange all of the necessities for you, like living, group travel, and extracurricular activities like cooking and dance lessons. We also did several dinners and tapas outings together. I wouldn't be able to write a review for Salamanca without mentioning the nightlife. I've never had so much fun in my life! It was such a fun-loving global community with so many opportunities for socialization. And as a city, Salamanca is just beautiful. The architecture is breathtaking and it's very conveniently located for travel and visiting purposes.