¡Increíble! Past Review
By Benjamin Witkowski (University of Wisconsin - Whitewater) - abroad from 01/11/2018 to 05/26/2018 with
AIFS: Granada - University of Granada and Internship Program
I gained the ability to see the world in a different reality different from that of the English one I was born into.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
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: |
Granada is the safest city I have ever lived in and felt comfortable walking through the streets at 5am. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Look, to simply put it, and from the complaints of students from other programs, AIFS did it best and it truly shows. |
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) |
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| 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? | Honestly, just be mindful about your spending—just because that croissant looks really good does not mean you need to buy it; it’ll taste like the rest |
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 |
I stepped off the plane knowing the absolute minimum of the Spanish language, y ahora mismo, puedo hablar, leer, escribir y sobre todos, comunicar con la gente que habla español. |
| How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? | None |
| How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? | Advanced |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Spanish 2 from my sophomore year of high school |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | 10+ |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | So, if you want to learn the language, the first rule and lesson you will learn is to have patience and to be patient. Learning a new language is honestly easy. However, it takes time… A LOT OF TIME. So relax, and use every opportunity to use your language—that was second: use the language as much as possible. The third and final tip of advice is to simply think in your desired language with every passing moment! It sounds like a lot, but before you know it you’ll be judging people and appreciating flowers and ordering food just like a local. Also one extra tip is to not talk to the Americans that you come with, unless they’re willing to use the language as much as you want to use it. In the event that they don’t, simply reach out to the local organizations around the city and become involved with the citizens of the new area. |
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? | 10+ |
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? | DON’T PACK SO MUCH STUFF!!!!!!! Pack your bags, and then take half of that. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
