Hello! My name is Anna Kessler and I’m a rising junior at the University of Pittsburgh. I’m majoring in Natural Sciences with minors in Spanish and Social Work, and I’m working towards certificates in Global Health and Conceptual Foundations of Medicine. This summer, I will be studying abroad at the University of Alcalá in Alcalá de Henares, Spain for 4 weeks to take courses in Spanish and improve my conversation skills.

While I’ve been taking Spanish classes since middle school, I decided to continue learning Spanish throughout college because of its applicability within many fields in the United States. The number of native Spanish speakers in America is continuing to grow, and being able to communicate in Spanish allows you to connect with a much larger percentage of the population. Not to mention, there are many benefits associated with learning new languages, such as improved memory and greater performance in other academic areas.

I also attribute my interest in becoming fluent in Spanish to my goals of working in the field of public health. I plan on becoming a genetic counselor after completing my education, which involves working with a diverse array of people from many different walks of life. The ability to communicate with patients in both English and Spanish can tremendously increase my outreach in the community, which would allow more people to benefit from my services.

During my time in Alcalá de Henares, I will be taking six credits that consist of two Spanish classes: Phonetics and Phonemics, as well as Spanish Civilizations. The former will specifically explore oral language and sounds used in the Spanish language, while the latter will cover the history of Spain from its ancient formation to modern day. I’m excited to learn about both Spanish language and culture in a strictly Spanish-speaking environment to improve my communication in Spanish.

When I’m not in class, I plan on spending my free time exploring Alcalá as well as Madrid, which is only a short drive from campus. Living in such close proximity to the capital of Spain is an incredible opportunity to experience authentic Spanish culture. I also look forward to taking trips to other notable cities in Spain such as Barcelona and Toledo. Furthermore, the University Alcalá takes students enrolled in their summer session on various excursions, such as a visit to the Reina Sofia museum and a tour of the city of Segovia. I hope to take advantage of my time in Spain by visiting as many popular sites as possible!