Abby Robertson

A.B. in Spanish and B.S. in Psychology, minor in Anthropology '22, studied in Valencia as an Honors International Scholar, currently working abroad in Requena, Spain with the North American Language and Culture Assistants Program (NALCAP).

A memorable international experience at Georgia was going on small, one-day excursions with my study abroad group throughout Spain while studying in Valencia. I found that I really enjoyed experiencing and learning about the histories and cultures of various cities throughout the country, such as Albarracín, Sagunto, and Segovia. These experiences challenged me to not only utilize my Spanish speaking skills, but actively put myself in situations where I could practice and learn. Looking back, it was really meaningful for me to see the places and the histories that I learned about in the classroom, and I value that opportunity greatly.

Studying language, literature, and culture at Georgia prepared me to navigate new environments, both within the U.S. and internationally. Being in situations where I had to go out of my comfort zone every day was nerve-racking for me when I studied abroad, and I can’t imagine having the courage to do so without having taken language and culture classes at UGA. Overall, my language and culture studies at UGA were instrumental in building not only my willingness to challenge myself, but my confidence in doing so.

I encourage students at Georgia today to take advantage of what the university has to offer to assist you your language-learning process. Living in Mary Lyndon Hall to participate in the Spanish Language Community my sophomore year, for example, helped me to take that initial step of language immersion by both listening to and speaking Spanish outside of the classroom. Practicing asking questions in class, or going to speak with professors about any doubts, has not only assisted me in developing confidence in my skills, but helped me learn that it is okay to be wrong. In all, actively seeking out and engaging in various resources and opportunities available by the Romance Languages Department and university in general has been instrumental in my Spanish learning process.