Preparing to be Immersed in a Foreign Language

Words and photos by Nicole Bernache, who studied abroad with ASA in Sevilla, Spain, during the spring semester of 2025.

Before my semester abroad in Sevilla, I wanted to make sure I felt as confident as
possible in my Spanish. As a Spanish major, I had already spent years studying the
language in a classroom setting, analyzing grammar, reading literature, and having
conversations in class. Those courses gave me a strong foundation, but I knew that being
fully immersed in Spanish every single day would be completely different. Looking back
now, I’m really glad I spent time preparing before I left, because it made the transition to
life in Spain less intimidating.

One of the biggest things I did before going abroad was review key grammar
concepts that I knew I would use constantly. The subjunctive tense, for example, had
always been one of those things that made sense when I studied it on paper, but never
came naturally in conversation. Before leaving, I went back over when and how to use it,
especially in expressions of doubt, emotion, and recommendations. I also reviewed the
difference between the preterite and imperfect tenses, since that was something I still mixed up sometimes, and is something that comes up very frequently in everyday conversation.

To build my vocabulary, I started using tools that made Spanish part of my daily
routine. I was already familiar with Duolingo, but I began using it more regularly to practice
quick vocabulary rather than grammar. I also added the Spanish Dictionary app widget to
my phone’s home screen, which gives a new Spanish word every day. It sounds simple, but
that daily exposure made a big difference. Seeing new words regularly helped me build my vocabulary naturally without feeling like I was studying.

Another thing that helped me prepare was getting used to hearing Spanish in a more
natural, conversational way. I started watching a TV show (New Girl) to get used to the
rhythm and speed of dialogue. I kept the captions in Spanish instead of English, which
forced me to connect what I was hearing to what I was reading. Whenever I didn’t know a
word, I would pause and look it up if I couldn’t figure it out based on context clues. It
slowed me down at first, but it helped me get used to different accents and speech
patterns. Once I arrived in Sevilla, I noticed how much easier it was to follow
conversations, even when people spoke quickly or used slang.

When I look back on my semester in Sevilla, I can see how all of that preparation
paid off. My classes were still challenging, but I felt more comfortable speaking up and
participating. Even simple things like ordering food, asking for directions, or chatting with
locals felt more natural than they would have if I hadn’t prepared as much.

Of course, I still made plenty of mistakes, but I learned to laugh them off and see
them as part of the process. The goal was never to be perfect; it was to communicate,
connect with people, and keep improving. By the end of the semester, I could feel a real
difference in my fluency and comprehension, and it was amazing to see how much
progress I had made.

If you’re preparing to study abroad in a Spanish-speaking country, my best advice is
to start small and make Spanish part of your everyday life before you go. Listen to music,
read short articles or books, watch shows with Spanish subtitles, or add a vocabulary app
to your phone. The more familiar you get with the language now, the more confident you’ll
feel once you’re immersed in it. My semester in Sevilla showed me that preparation really
does pay off, and it made my time abroad even more rewarding.

Thanks, Nicole!