Originally Posted by mark_sheffield

Erasmus Program in Spain


Hi everyone,

I am looking into doing an ERASMUS program in Spain.

For anyone who doesn’t know what the ERASMUS program is it is basically a 12 month work experience program that is funded by the ever so generous EU to allow undergraduates to obtain work experience in another EU country.

I am trying to work out the kinks with the ERASMUS department at my university but I have a few questions about Spain in general that I would like some help with:

1) Obviously by going to Spain I hope to improve upon my Spanish language skills. I have only completed a Level 1 part time course which covers the most basic of topics. I am also trying to improve using the Rosetta Stone software in my spare time. However I am worried that I am not yet competent enough to be able to move to Spain.

2) I am unsure of whereabouts I should be looking to move to in Spain. Top of the agenda is an area where proper Spanish is spoken and not Castilian or Basque. I would also need an area where there is a suitable amount of host organisations so I don’t imagine I would be able to move the Spanish countryside. I am also looking for somewhere where the weather is nice.

For the above reasons I have been looking at Malaga. Having never been to Spain before and knowing very little about the country as a whole it is possible that this is a bad choice.

I have run the idea past a few people and they have said that Malaga is full of English chavs and should be the last place on earth I should be looking at. I have also seen some TV programs and remember watching an episode of Ramsays Kitchen Knightmares detailing how every other restaurant was an English greasy spoon cafe. One guy said he sold 700 portions of chips a week to all of the Brits. However on the plus side it has a similar sized population to Sheffield (about 500,000) and a year round nice climate. Nevertheless I believe it would be most beneficial to live in a town with a large-ish student population so that I could easily make some friends. I don’t believe Malaga will meet this criteria.

3) Although the EU is hopefully providing the funding I will not be getting run-over by the gravy train and therefore need to be living somewhere that is relatively cheap.

I realise that all of the above is a lot to ask of any location and that it is highly unlikely that such a place exists. If anyone has any suggestions I would be more than happy to hear them.

Thank you for taking the time to read my post.

Mark

Originally Posted by mark_sheffield

Erasmus Program in Spain


2I am unsure of whereabouts I should be looking to move to in Spain. Top of the agenda is an area where proper Spanish is spoken and not Castilian or Basque.