Why did you choose this program?
I wanted an opportunity to change my career path from a dissatisfying corporate job to a rewarding career that can take me traveling around the world and enable me to gain cultural experiences in Spain.
Instituto Hemingway had preplanned excursions included in the program that allowed me to do even more traveling and check off some things that were already on my bucket list, without the hassle of planning more things by myself. Not to mention, the pre-departure support, day of traveling support, and on-site support allowed me to be confident in my safety and ability to endure so a large adventure all on my own!!
What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?
The Instituto Hemingwa provided me with top quality information travel assistance, support staff and teachers who were extremely knowledgeable and made the whole experience extremely worthwhile.
They organized my program and also the accommodation in a fantastic shared apartment next to school, and assisted with holiday and activity options.
What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?
If I were to do the course again, I would definitely choose a professional organization that is well-credentialed and respected like Hemingway. It makes it so much easier having a strong support base and experienced team.
I would definitely allow for more travel time either before or after the course, so you can get to appreciate the country you are visiting.
What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?
The program is very solid and lots to fit in every day, as it is a compact course.
Having said that, there were still afternoons off and a couple of free days to chill. And an average day consisted of about 4 hours at school with a mixture of theory and practical class observations and activities.
After school, you would generally need to do 2 hours of homework or reading.
Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?
I guess my only fear was not finishing the course or not being able to do the assignments and lesson plans in time. But the course structure and support of the teachers was a huge benefit in allaying my fears. This made a big difference in my ability to manage the course effectively and get everything done.
