Before studying abroad in Madrid, I knew that being surrounded by Spanish every day would help me improve. However, I did not fully understand what that improvement would actually look like. Before arriving, I imagined language growth as something very obvious, such as suddenly becoming fluent or understanding everything around me effortlessly. In reality, my Spanish improved in more gradual and unexpected ways throughout the semester.
One of the biggest factors in this growth was everyday immersion. Living with a host family meant constantly hearing Spanish in natural conversations instead of only hearing it in a classroom. At first, even simple conversations sometimes felt difficult to follow because of how quickly people spoke. Over time, though, I began recognizing repeated phrases, understanding conversations more naturally, and responding more quickly without translating every sentence in my head first. These changes felt subtle at the beginning, but eventually I realized how much more comfortable I had become.
At the same time, I have definitely noticed clear improvements in my Spanish overall. Speaking feels much more natural and less intimidating than it did when I first arrived. I am able to express myself more quickly, and my listening comprehension has improved significantly as well. There were moments during the semester when I realized I could follow conversations, television shows, or fast-paced discussions much more easily than before. Sometimes I would understand something immediately without mentally translating it into English first, which was a really rewarding feeling because it showed me that the language was beginning to feel more automatic.
Studying abroad also taught me that language learning happens outside of formal studying more than I expected. It happens while ordering food, asking for directions, listening to metro announcements, or talking with friends during everyday activities. Some of my biggest moments of improvement came from ordinary situations rather than from memorizing vocabulary lists or completing grammar exercises. Being surrounded by the language every day forced me to adapt in ways that would have been difficult to recreate in the United States.
At the same time, I also learned to be realistic about language growth. Studying abroad does not mean someone will automatically become fluent within a few months. There are still conversations that move too quickly, words I do not know, and moments when I struggle to express exactly what I want to say. However, I learned that progress is not always about perfection. Sometimes progress means feeling more confident speaking, understanding conversations faster than before, or realizing that everyday communication no longer feels as overwhelming.
By the end of my semester in Madrid, I realized that immersion works because it makes the language part of daily life. Spanish stopped feeling like something I only practiced for class and became something connected to my routines, conversations, and experiences. While I still have more to learn, I am leaving Spain with far more confidence in my abilities and a much better understanding of how language growth actually happens over time.
Zachary Williams
Spring 2026
GW Madrid (GW Study Program)
Milken Institute of Public Health
Public Health Major