Case Study: Chloe Salmon, Seville, Spain – 2025
Sevilla case study – Chloe Salmon
I have had the most amazing experience of my life studying abroad in Seville, and I feel like the experience genuinely has changed my life. I was so insanely nervous before I arrived, and the visa process scared me so much that I truly thought that going abroad was the worst decision I could have made. Despite all of my apprehension, I really have had the experience of a lifetime, and I am so grateful that I decided to commit to the year abroad.
I have learned so much in terms of my Spanish ability as well as my knowledge of the culture, history, and lifestyle, which is so unique to Andalusia. Undoubtedly, my favourite part of this experience was the gift of confidence that it gave me, both in my level of Spanish and also just generally. I feel as though I have changed for the better, and this is wholeheartedly down to the experience of my year abroad, and everything I was able to see and do these past few months. From the Portuguese Algarve, to the Mezquita-Catedral in Cordoba, to the Alhambra in Granada, to a home away from home in the shape of Gibraltar, and to my favourite city in the world, Seville, none of this would be possible if it wasn’t for the support of language teachers, and the support of the John Speak Language Trust.
Without the encouragement and support from the Trust, the experience I had during my time away certainly would not have been the same, as their continued communications helped me to improve my Spanish, and also gave me the opportunity to reflect every month on what I had been able to achieve.
I could not recommend the city of Seville enough. From my flat, I had a view of the Plaza de España, and every night I would walk around the Plaza, which is, in my opinion, the most stunning place in the world. Seville is so well connected, and the city isn’t too overwhelmed with tourists, which means you can properly immerse yourself and experience the city like a local. La Universidad Pablo de Olavide was so different to my University in England, but it was interesting to experience university in a different way. Although it was definitely challenging at times, the group work forced me to open-up to native Spanish speakers, who were always happy to help me if there were parts that I found more challenging.
I have met the most amazing people in the form of other international students and native Spanish students, and I already have plans to fly back to Seville to visit them.
If anybody were to have doubts regarding their year abroad, I would encourage them to embrace it as my Erasmus experience really has changed my life.
Thanks to the Trust I was able to live with much more financial freedom, which allowed me to say yes to so many more experiences, and to visit places I would have never visited otherwise.
Sevilla se ha quedado con mi corazón y no veo la hora de regresar!!