International classroom experiences expose new learning, studying tactics
Senior marketing major Sophie Nelson discovers ways to learn abroad
Senior Sophie Nelson knew she wanted her own international experience after hearing stories from her parents who studied abroad in their college careers, and from her grandpa, who spent time as an expat. In the fall of 2024, she fulfilled that goal by spending a semester in Madrid, Spain, at Universidad Pontificia Comillas.
Originally from Minnesota, Nelson is majoring in marketing and international business with a Spanish minor. She grew up learning the language and demonstrated her proficiency by passing the Minnesota bilingual exam during her senior year of high school.
However, despite her studies, Nelson felt her Spanish-speaking skills weren’t being used as much as she had hoped. Immersing herself in a Spanish-speaking country allowed her to strengthen her fluency and fully engage with the language in daily life.
At the Universidad Pontificia Comillas, Nelson had a four-class workload. All her classes were taught in English, but she had the option to mix her schedule with some classes taught in English and others in Spanish. Classes were structured as 50 minutes long with a 10-minute break before returning for 50 more minutes. She took intro to international business, Spanish culture and history through visual arts, marketing management, and branding classes. In her branding course, Nelson gained valuable insights that deepened her understanding of market strategies and completed a project that stood out to her.
“We did a case study about Longchamp, how they stayed in the market and have gotten a competitive advantage,” Nelson said. “I found it really interesting because that is a company I have bought from. I feel that lots of times companies feel very big or out of reach, but this one felt more niche and relevant.”
Nelson found studying while abroad to be easier than when at KU. For the first half of her day in Spain, her friends and family back in the U.S. were still asleep, which provided her a time with no distractions to complete assignments or study. She and her university friends developed a routine of going to coffee shops with late hours and studying there in a group, which allowed them to explore the town.
Her university, however, had minimal homework assignments. Classes were split in half, with a lecture during the first half and in class activities during the second half that often acted as homework. Nelson found that this approach effective and enjoyed doing in class activities. Her professors would walk around the classroom, allowing her and other students to ask any questions they may have.
“It was a nice way to learn because they focused a lot on real-world companies and applying concepts, whereas in the U.S., I feel that it is a lot more of reading textbooks and trying to remember theories,” Nelson said. “In Spain, they looked at companies that are using specific marketing techniques, and we were able to study those techniques and notice what was being applied.”
During the semester, Nelson’s branding class welcomed a local ice cream shop owner as a guest speaker to talk about what it takes to run a small business and shared what works and what does not, along with how he built his brand. Other classes joined in to listen to him speak, and students got to try some of the shop’s ice cream after the presentation. Nelson said it was a good way to learn about local businesses.
Nelson encourages everyone to take the leap and study abroad. She entered her university experience alone, without knowing a single person, yet found herself forming meaningful friendships with people from around the world. Her journey taught her the value of stepping out of her comfort zone and embracing uncertainty.
“Take it day by day, even if you do not know the language,” Nelson said. “Even with my Spanish background, there were times I was confused. So try not to get in your head too much and know that you do not know everything, and it is okay to fail.”
Learn more about studying abroad in a School of Business program at business.ku.edu/study-abroad. For more information about specific programs, scholarships or more, contact Ian Adkins, international programs coordinator, at kubusglobal@ku.edu.
By Grace Ludes
