Program Reviews

I had the most amazing experience here at the University of Alcala Instituto Franklin. I took four 3-credit courses in the spring semester. All of my professors were really engaged and informative on the material and were passionate about what they taught. I enjoyed the out-of-classroom experiences included in my classes as well. The four-day set up was nice as well to enjoy our weekends and explore the country and other areas of Europe. I would recommend Alcala to anyone wanting to study in Spain. The staff was extremely supportive and helpful whenever I had a question or needed assistance.

The program exceeded every expectation I had and ultimately became one of the most rewarding experiences of my academic career. What made it so special was the way it successfully combined education, cultural immersion, and personal growth into one experience. Too often, study abroad programs can feel either overly academic or overly focused on tourism, but this program struck the perfect balance between the two. I was constantly learning, both inside and outside the classroom, while still having the freedom to explore new places, meet new people, and fully enjoy my time abroad.

One of the strongest aspects of the program was its structure and flexibility. The schedule was organized in a way that allowed students to stay engaged academically while still leaving room for independent travel and exploration. Because of that flexibility, I was able to travel almost every weekend, which significantly enhanced the overall experience. Visiting different cities and regions gave me a much deeper understanding of the culture, history, and diversity of the Spanish-speaking world. Every trip became an opportunity to practice my language skills in real-life situations, whether that meant ordering food, navigating transportation, speaking with locals, or simply engaging in everyday conversations. Those moments often taught me just as much as the classroom did.

Academically, the program was both challenging and rewarding. I learned a tremendous amount throughout my time abroad, particularly with my Spanish language abilities. Before the program, I felt reasonably confident in my Spanish, but living in an environment where I was consistently hearing and speaking the language every day accelerated my improvement dramatically. By the end of the program, I noticed major gains in my fluency, comprehension, and confidence. I became far more comfortable speaking spontaneously and communicating in situations that would have intimidated me before. The immersive environment made learning feel natural rather than forced, which was incredibly valuable.

Beyond academics and travel, the people involved in the program made the experience even more memorable. The instructors and staff were supportive, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in helping students succeed. They created an environment where students felt encouraged to step outside of their comfort zones while still feeling supported throughout the process. I also formed meaningful friendships with other students in the program, many of whom shared similar interests in travel, language, and cultural exchange. Those relationships added another layer to the experience and made every excursion, class, and activity more enjoyable.

Overall, I cannot recommend this program highly enough. It proved that learning and fun do not have to be mutually exclusive and that the best educational experiences often happen outside of a traditional classroom setting. I left the program with stronger Spanish skills, greater independence, unforgettable memories, and a much broader perspective on the world. It was an experience that challenged me, helped me grow personally and academically, and gave me opportunities that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Being a Biology and Spanish double major, it was great to dive into a culture that I was unfamiliar with. What I loved the most about my experience was visiting the places I learned about in my classes, going to the museums to see the paintings we talked about, and participating in activities which are part of the Spanish culture. Along with this, just walking around town, going to different cities, and interacting with native speakers is something I really appreciated, even in the classroom. This helped me develop better proficiency in the language and some people even think I am a native speaker now!

When you are a Bulldog at Butler University, it’s hard to leave your vibrant campus life behind for a full semester. Still, choosing to study abroad became one of the most rewarding decisions of my college experience.

Thanks to Calie Dickey and staff at Butler's Center for Global Education, the decision quickly became a no-brainer. I took my international business and Spanish studies from our campus classroom all the way to Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain. Living life as a Madrileña, every day brought something new. Spanish language immersion was central to my goals, and living with my incredible second family as a host daughter in their home became the most impactful part of my experience.

My family welcomed me into every part of their lives - their gastronomy, daily rhythms, friends and family, evening street culture, and cherished traditions. I learned that Spaniards can always find something to celebrate. During my time abroad, three things stood out:

• Discomfort turned into confidence
• Curiosity turned into cultural exploration
• Strangers turned into family

As a student at the Instituto Franklin-UAH, I was challenged in nearly all Spanish-speaking courses and connected my daily experiences with coursework in Spanish poetry and traditions. I also completed a marketing internship with local business Buceo Alcalá, where I grew as a professional in my secondary language - proving to myself that growth lives on the other side of discomfort, even amid cultural and language barriers.

The International Business major in me was eager to absorb everything around me. Before I departed, even my former colleagues at Eli Lilly and Company were excited to send me off. I was later invited to visit our Government Affairs team at the international office in Alcobendas, Spain, an unforgettable opportunity to see one team working across seas. My time with Teresa Millan and her team Cristina Escudero Marquez, and Claudia Penzol López will always be cherished.

Now back in Indianapolis for my final semester as a Butler undergraduate student, the golden question remains: “Do you miss it?” And while yes, I miss the adventure, the unknown, and the beauty that is Spanish living, I am grateful to be home. I smile with contentment for the life-changing memories and apply my broadened perspective to my life every day.

Instituto Franklin provided a great study abroad experience both academically and socially. The staff are professional and helpful. It is clear they want every student to have a great experience. The university and the city of Alcala's environment are incredibly unique. There are endless monuments and historical sights to see. The proximity to Madrid and the opportunity to see the rest of the country were ideal. I cannot imagine having a better experience and would recommend studying abroad here to anyone.

My experience here was amazing and I can really only say positive things about being here. The most amount of cultural shock I experienced came from the cost of food here. When my friends and I went to a restaurant called Indalo, we were able to get Tampas and a drink for as little as 3.70 euros. This was awesome and it became a loved place between my friend group. I would tell people who want to come here in the future to try and learn Spanish. Its possible to be here without Spanish, but the experience will be so much better with knowledge in the language that's most spoken here.

This experience truly was a once in a lifetime experience for me. Being able to get out of comfort zone and teach in an entirely different country is something that I truly believe will make me a unique first year teacher. This program allowed me to work on my teaching skills and strategies while also learning new ways. This program also strengthened my knowledge of the ESL approaches and made me view things in a different perspective. Being in a different country also allowed me to work on my Spanish language and also becoming accustomed do a different culture than I am used to in the States.

This is by far the best study abroad program I could have chosen. Alcalá de Henares is the perfect location to study abroad. It is clean, safe, and has the feeling of a small town, but is also so close to Madrid which makes it so easy to explore and travel. There were many opportunities to travel around Spain through Instituto Franklin and Erasmus, which the Institute makes extremely easy to join. I felt supported at all times when it came to academics and living abroad in general. I would highly recommend this program to anyone looking to study abroad in Spain.

I absolutely loved my time studying at the university in Alcalá de Henares! The staff at the university and with Instituto Franklin are amazing and very supportive. The classes can be challenging at times, especially around midterms and finals, but the work load is light enough where you have plenty of time to travel. I stayed with a host family and had a great experience, but I have friends that stayed in the dorms and the facilities looked great. I highly recommend participating in ERASMUS, their events are a great way to meet people. Alcalá is also in a great location, only a 40 min train ride into Madrid. This made traveling really easy, and it was nice not to be in the city all the time. All around great experience, I would highly recommend this to college students who want to study Spanish in Spain!

Teach and Learn offers the chance to earn an affordable Master’s degree in a cross cultural context. You can expect a supportive and dedicated cohort of peers and administrators. While the academic rigor is not as intense as I hoped, the value of the experience, which combines degree granting courses with teaching practicums, certainly advances career prospects while also offering personal enrichment. The Universidad de Alcalá is a well respected and historic university located just outside of Madrid city center.