Becca Churchill

Becca's Experience in Spain:

Award recipient in Summer 2019

I studied abroad in Segovia, Spain for four weeks, and it was probably the best month of my life so far. My time in Segovia could not have gone better, unless you include staying there longer. I have learned so much through not only the Spanish Culture, but from my host family, the locals, my classmates, and my awesome teachers, Luis and McConnell as well. This experience is definitely one I’ll always remember.

To start off, the Spanish Culture has taught me about life, earth, manners and so much more. Specifically, I’ve learned that family is very important, naps are always needed, and that I like more foods than I originally thought. I have also learned better ways to conserve energy and water, how to open a door in Spain (after three weeks of constant struggle,) and how to play “La Rueda de la Fortuna.” My host mom taught me all about the weather around Spain as well. Every night, and then again in the morning, my host mom would tell me the degrees for the next day in celsius, no matter where I was going. I quickly learned that 8 degrees is very cold and that 32 degrees is extremely hot. She also taught me to try everything even if you don’t think you’ll like it, to cut all my food with a fork and a knife (even chicken wings,) and that it’s okay to have two desserts! From her, I have learned to be cautious at all times, but to still have fun. I am going to miss my host mom and her cooking so much.

My study abroad experience has already made such an impact on me, I can’t even imagine how much it will impact me as a teacher. As an Elementary Education major with a Spanish minor (which I actually just finished while studying abroad) and an ESL add-on, this trip taught me more than I’d ever thought I could learn in a month. I learned what it is like to be on the other side of things; a foreign student trying her best to learn their native language. This put a lot of things in perspective for me. This experience humbled me and gave me even more sympathy and compassion for students learning English as a second language. After eight years of Spanish classes, I still struggled at times trying to communicate with the locals. Due to this, I learned how to use my skills to my advantage. For instance, if I didn’t know a specific vocabulary word, I used the knowledge I did have about the topic and worked around the word to explain what I was trying to say. I believe this is a helpful tool to have as a teacher because not everyone is going to understand what you are trying to teach the same way. Everyone has a different learning style and with this experience I feel as if I am now better equipped to take on different situations that come my way. Living in Spain taught me how to quickly adapt to new things as well. For example, we all had to adapt to the different lifestyle Spain has to offer such as their daily routine, their cuisine, and the time difference. I surprisingly really enjoyed the way Spaniards lived; more specifically that they like to sleep in, eat huge lunches, close stores so they can take a siesta, and just how laid back they are.

I have realized that since returning, I am now even more appreciative of other cultures than I was before. To me, being culturally aware is a huge part of being a successful teacher. I believe that having global knowledge will truly aid you when trying to get to know each of your students. Through these first hand experiences, I have grown culturally, professionally, and intellectually. I feel as though I will be a better teacher due to the interactions and relationships I’ve made while studying abroad.