I arrived in Santo Domingo January 7th as part of a study abroad program. When I arrived I spoke very little spanish and understood even less. As part of my program I take 3 hours of spanish class a day, 5 days a week and now 3 months later my professor (who speaks no english, only spanish) is telling me that I have progressed well. When I am in the classroom I can understand her almost entirely and in my host families house I can understand about 75 percent of what is said. That is about where it ends. While I do feel like my spanish speaking and understanding has improved, I still can not go out into public without a spanish speaking companion and hold a conversation with a native, aside from simple tasks such as grocery store runs and the like. I understand more words and am able to guess what is being said more but there are frequent times when I don't understand a single word, and with one month left here I do not feel comfortable at all with what I accomplished what I came for. My host mom tells me that all of her students left speaking near fluent, so I feel like I am behind. However, it wouldn't be the first time she has exaggerated facts. Can someone please tell me, am I on track, or am I completely spanish stupid?