Living in Spain since September has taught me so much. I came to the country with the expectation that I would be fluent in Spanish by the end of my grant in June. I’m not so sure that I’ll be fluent (how do you even define “fluent?”), but I do know that I’ve significantly improved! Being immersed in the language - speaking it at home, work and everywhere in between - has helped me with learning new vocabulary and grammar structures. I’ve gotten better at listening to others when they’re speaking, and actually understanding what they’re saying (rather than just hearing a string of sounds and then panicking when I have to respond). I think that my accent has improved, despite still not having the ability to roll my r’s! The most important linguistic lesson that I’ve learned is that I should be confident in my abilities and not be afraid to make mistakes.
I’ve also learned so much about the Spanish culture - from how to tell different regional accents apart, to the politics of Catalonia, to greeting people with a kiss on the cheek. I’ve explored different regions of Spain, and have experienced different customs, foods and events there.
