AIFS- 6 week Summer in Barcelona Past Review
By Catherina Buechler (Texas A&M University - College Station) - abroad from 06/01/2018 to 07/14/2018 with
AIFS: Barcelona - Universitat Autònoma Barcelona
I became so much more independent and self confident. My Spanish improved and I really felt so incredibly self sufficient.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
I would want a program with more international students. It was hard to escape the "study abroad bubble" with only a group of Americans. |
Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
Barcelona was expensive if you went to bars and clubs every night but if you bought food at the store and didn't eat out too often, it was very inexpensive to live there. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 50 euros |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Buy and cook food for yourself! You will get tired of restaurant food and it is SO EXPENSIVE. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | Beginner |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish 201 |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Go out of your way to use the language. If you rely solely on the program to improve your language skills you will be disappointed. Also in larger, touristy, areas you will find that most people speak English. This is a disadvantage because you are not forced to speak the language, you have to work to overcome this obstacle. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 0 |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | That I would be the only person from my school and one of few people from my state. Also that European apartments are LOUD, getting used to sleeping there was definitely a change. |
Reasons For Studying Abroad
| To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you. |
The Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
