Advantages of going abroad

We at Carlos V Language School in Seville - and yours truly as a former exchange student and foreign intern - have long known that  travels, studies and internships abroad are absolutely enriching experiences and that everyone should spend a longer period studying, living and/or working in another country at some point in their lives. But now we have it in writing: The Spanish State Secretary of Education, Vocational Training and Universities, Marcial Marín, confirmed during a festive act within the Erasmus+ program on Monday that the unemployment rate amongst former Erasmus participants is 23% lower than that of people who haven't spent time abroad.  

Employers all over Europe and of course the participants themselves can only confirm this: People who spent time abroad during their education are more open-minded, creative and solution-oriented. They adapt better to new situations and don't shy away from difficulties and intercultural differences. Communicativeness is one of the greatest strengths, which helps them stand out against competitors in selection processes and convince companies, clients and business partners. 

Furthermore, people who have lived abroad as exchange students, interns, volunteers or au pairs have lots of exciting stories to tell. This makes them interesting, friendly and social people who everyone likes to be around. So a stay abroad has a positive impact on one's social surroundings. While living in another country, of course there can be tensions, cultural shocks, misunderstandings and problems. But these can be overcome through open communication and collaboration, teaching the participants to deal with difficult situations.

Apart from the social competences or soft skills, exchange students also acquire specific professional or academic skills which they wouldn't have access to in their home country. Foreign universities often employ different teaching and research methods, and foreign companies use different machines, devices and programs and have a different work culture. Your resume is definitely improved by a foreign experience. 

A great way abroad are organized exchange programs like Erasmus+. This program organizes mobilities for European students, apprentices, pupils and teachers. If you want to start slow, you can check out language travel. With these, you learn a language and discover the culture and customs of the country. Whatever you choose, a stay abroad is always a great idea!

Spanish course in your country vs. Immersion programme in Spain

When you decide to learn a new language, the first thing you probably consider is enrolling at a local school or even getting a private tutor. In fact, especially young learners look to digital sources first and may download an application, podcast or computer programme. All of these are great ways to get a first contact with the language. But most students will soon notice that the language doesn't really form part of their everyday life. They go to class once or twice a week, dedicate a few hours to homework and studying, and that's it. It's similar for students who study languages at school. While most schools put more and more emphasis on foreign languages, they still teach them as isolated subjects which most children forget about as soon as they leave the classroom. Dedicated language learners can achieve a decent level of the target language by going to classes and/or using digital resources, they may even deepen their knowledge by watching films or listening to music in the language or making a native pen friend. But at some point they will realize that they've reached a limit, a sort of "platform" from which they can't progress any further, no matter how hard they study. And that's because one can only learn so much of a language without actually visiting the country and "living it". The foreign language will remain something abstract and external to the learner until they've experienced it in its cultural context.

This is why the best way to learn a language is to do a language immersion programme in a country where the language is actually spoken. There, you live and breathe the language outside the classroom, as well, and the daily life offers numerous opportunities to practice what you have learned. And because a trip abroad can also be intimidating, especially for beginners and young students, the Language School organizes the entire stay and makes its students feel at home while being completely immersed in the Spanish culture. But of course we'd say that about ourselves - let's have a look at what our students say:

I like the city very much, and the Spaniards, because they are so open... in Poland, people are a bit more uptight, but here, the atmosphere is different, people greet you on the street - ¡hola que tal! – and when you enter for example in a bar, everyone is very friendly. The atmosphere in the school is great, too. The staff are very friendly and always help you out when you have a question - I recommend travelling to Seville with all my heart!  - Dominika, Poland

I've had a wonderful experience in your school because from the beginning everyone has been very friendly and the teacher, Maria, is very professional and explains the lessons very well. We've covered so much in only two weeks. Before, I didn't speak any Spanish  and now it's much better. A great progress - I love it! -  Kevin, France

I was in Seville for two weeks with Erasmus+. This was my first time in Spain. I like Sevilla. I love the people here, they are so kind and they smile all the time. I like the family where I lived with my classmate. The made delicious food for us all the time. This was a great experience for us. I think we could see so many new places, I loved it. I hope I will come back to Sevilla sometime. So I want to say thank you. - Ildiko, Hungary

My internship and language course in Seville were one of the best experiences in my life so far. During the language course, I could improve my knowledge of Spanish and learn a lot about Seville and Spain. The classes were tailored to our strengths and weaknesses and very intensive, because we were a small group. I'd recommend anyone to do a language course or an internship abroad because you learn so much more if you're in contact with the language all day. - Anna, Germany

When I first arrived in Seville, it was love at first sight. The streets, squares and monuments make it a unique city. In the Carlos V language School I took a very good week-long Spanish course. In fact, I hadn't expected to learn this much Spanish in such a short time. - Beatrice, Italy

La Noche en Blanco

Next Friday, on the October 7th, Seville hosts “La Noche en Blanco” ("A night in white") promoted by the association “Sevillasemueve”. This event, which comprises more than 130 activities, and is the successor of the former "Long Night of the Museums of Seville".

This activity is dedicated to culture, and for the occasion the streets, squares and museums of the cit fill with music, film, literature, heritage, fashion and history to turn the night into a magical and unique spectacle.

As in previous years, the activities take place in different parts of town such as La Alfalfa, Calle Regina, Triana or in the surroundings of the Lope de Vega Theater. Moreover, as a novelty this year, two venues as mythical as the Museum of the Fine Arts and the Real Alcazar of Seville, which is one of the Seville monuments declared UNESCO World Heritage Site, have been added: the Cathedral and the Indian Archives. During the activities, participants can visit the museums and performances until dawn.

Previous editions of the event have harvested resound success and the number of visitors has increased continuously from one year to another, proving thesuccess of the city's initiative to promote culture.